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Picked up a 2003 W8 wagon off Cars and Bids in Nov. Car was in PA and finally got delivered last week. 102.5K on the odo. Single owner up to 2019 then had a second owner briefly.
It’s been a few days and I’ve put over 100 miles on this beast including some pretty aggressive driving including getting it up over 100mph. I’ve spent hours crawling around it including on ramps, etc. Here you go and there is no TLDR:
Mechanical issues:
Scan/codes:
Minor crap:
Overall impressions/comments:
What I’ve done/will do:
I'm a forum nerd and have been for over 20 years for various things I've been into. I have 2 other VWs (both 2018s, and Atlas and a 4Motion Sportwagen that is tuned and has the Golf R turbo swapped in). Had a MK4 Jetta we bought new in '99 and kept for 14 years/220K so a lot of this car reminds me of that one.
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It’s been a few days and I’ve put over 100 miles on this beast including some pretty aggressive driving including getting it up over 100mph. I’ve spent hours crawling around it including on ramps, etc. Here you go and there is no TLDR:
Mechanical issues:
- Gear oil leak from where the prop shaft exists the trans/4Motion unit. Seems like a straightforward fix with a new seal that probably costs $10 but you have to remove the exhaust and it’s rusted out so may need to deal with that at the same time I do exhaust.
- D. side front CV boot is torn – needs to be fixed. Makes noise during full-to-lock turns.
- Small oil leak from oil pan gasket and drain plug – they probably didn’t replace the crush washer but the pan gasket doesn’t look hard to do.
- Power steering leak from line fittings on pump – I’ll just leave it alone/watch the fluid level.
- AC High pressure valve keeps popping a code, first time I found it was just unplugged (no idea why) but it’s still throwing an intermittent code. Not sure the compressor is working but it’s cold out, no clue…will have my shop test it when it’s in to get a state inspection so I can register it here in VA (it’s a PA car).
Scan/codes:
- Actually there were no codes as of tonight (is that even possible?).
Minor crap:
- Central AC flap door code is intermittent – I hear doors moving behind the dash and one sounds like it sticks before it finally clangs into place. Guessing that’s it.
- D. side headlight washer comes out but doesn’t spray.
- R. washer fitting in the d. side compartment where the CD changer etc. wasn't staying together so now I know where the fluid went…right on that huge wiring harness to the amp! Taped this together and seems to be sorted.
- D. side vanity light on the sun visor has a bad switch.
- Belly pan is missing – ordered a new one with hardware.
- The typical interior crap with this gen VW that is ubiquitous but your kids will find all of them even when you tell them to not touch anything b/c it all breaks when you touch it.
- The vacuum line that went to the engine mounts was unplugged and tied up to the bottom. Figured out where it went but the d. side looks like it may be pinched in the mount – it had a new tranny at some point so they must have had to move the engine and it got caught when they put it back in. Easy to re-route with a new line and a fitting.
- It’s missing the goof-ball sized donut spare – just the steel wheel back there.
- It sat in the rain overnight and low and behold – wet carpet on p. side as well as A pillar. Checked the sunroof drains and that side was slow/no-go. Got it flowing. Dried it all out. May cut off the nipples on those rubber outlets for the drains and I’m going to seal the cabin filter housing for good measure which could have also been involved as I had the filter out/mucked with the cowl.
Overall impressions/comments:
- The headlights are appalling – and this was the top-of-the line Xenon lights. I refinished them so they are nice and clear so at least they look cool. Don’t drive at night…check.
- It drives great, v. heavy feeling in the front. F. sway bar looks like It’s off a ¾ ton Chevy truck but the rear looks about like the stock one off my Sportwagen that weighs 600 pounds less.
- Brakes are excellent but the rotors probably need to be surfaced at a min and the pads are looking a bit thin.
- Overall the handling is surprisingly good.
- I got to listen to my Miami Vice soundtrack tape I bought new at Birdland Records and Tapes in 1985.
What I’ve done/will do:
- The tires are bo-bo Chinese jobs so I’ll be putting some proper tires on it this week and I ordered a spare from Tirerack (this week)
- Put some yellow vinyl on the fogs (done).
- Put a huge K&N cone filter on the MAF pipe in place of the air box (done), sounds great but I’ll need to figure out a heat shield at some point.
- Replaced the shitty Jiffy Lube wipers front/rear (done).
- Cleaned the cabin filter under the cowl (done).
- Picked up some used Monster Mats on Ebay (done).
- Picked up a used CD changer and cartridge on Ebay (done).
- Going to do some kind of exhaust – it’s pretty rusted out so I think all new pipes so may as well do something cool….Magnaflow X pipe with mufflers will sound good and won’t be too obnoxious.
- It needs tint – will do week after Christmas.
- I re-finished the headlights with one of the kits you buy, easy and looks much nicer. They weren't terrible but needed a refresh.
I'm a forum nerd and have been for over 20 years for various things I've been into. I have 2 other VWs (both 2018s, and Atlas and a 4Motion Sportwagen that is tuned and has the Golf R turbo swapped in). Had a MK4 Jetta we bought new in '99 and kept for 14 years/220K so a lot of this car reminds me of that one.
. no jack stands...
