Installing Floor Mats, Emblems, Logos, and DSG Service

It was finally time to install all the new parts that had been piling up since the last post. The car’s been gradually improving, and this round of changes made a big difference—both visually and mechanically.

I started with the floor mats. The original ones were in terrible shape—rugged, worn down, and the passenger side had a warped spot that stood out horribly. The new GTI mats, direct from VW, are a brighter gray than I expected, but I think they'll darken with use and a few washes.

Next up were the emblems and badges. The car came with blacked-out VW logos and a red front GTI badge. No badge at all on the rear. It looked cheap and completely wrong for a special edition car.

So I removed the black logos and replaced them with proper chrome OEM logos. I also installed matching chrome GTI badges on the front and rear. The change is subtle but it brings the car back to its factory-correct look—and honestly, it looks way more refined.

The final job was the DSG service. Since it’s unclear when the transmission was last serviced, and it’s approaching the 100,000 km mark, this was overdue. We drained the oil, replaced the filter, and refilled it with OEM fluid. The DQ250 can be tricky to level correctly, but we followed the proper procedure.

Shifts now feel smoother—especially at low speeds—and I’m glad to finally check this off the list.

The car is finally starting to feel like a proper Edition 35 again. More work ahead, but it’s getting there.