Timbo

Hmm yeah, that's true. Pretty sure I have an M14 die somewhere too...

It absolutely is a rip off from VW, and often you ARE getting the same thing at an inflated price, but at least that way you're getting some sort of affirmation of quality. I would buy after market parts all day long (and have done, in the past) if I knew what I was getting, but it's so much of a lottery that I tend to go to a dealer for a lot of things. Having said that I did just get two new drive shafts off ebay as the prices VW would charge there are predictably going to be ridiculous. Time will tell if that was sensible, I guess.

I'm doing the whole rod. The trouble is that they are different lengths for different models (obviously), but knowing which rod and TRE combo matches the 406mm the (VR6) Corrado wants, is difficult to work out. I did spend an hour or two looking at service manuals for other VW models, but that got boring pretty quickly. I'll probably just go with Lemforder as people are broadly saying good things about them.

Yeah, especially since these are Mk3 parts too, and you would have thought there are still a fair few of them kicking about. Sounds like the consensus is either TRW or Lemforder then? (I know the steering rack was originally made by TRW, but this is no guarantee that they're still doing good work 20+ years later.)

Well the tie rod ends (the main thing to fail the MOT) were on the car for roughly 18 months, so about 4000 miles at the most. They were Febi, from http://www.vwspares.co.uk. I remember when I got them looking at the "seam" around the rubber like this one... ...and thinking "hmm, not sure I like the look of that". Sure enough both sides had split along the middle and were full of road grit. So I won't be going for Febi. (Yes I know that's Meyle and it's not a VW end; it's just an example.)

I need new track rods, and will probably do the drop links at the same time. Unfortunately, both are now obsolete; the parts guy at VW even did a dealer search to check for any stock. Nada. Having previously been burned by crappy pattern parts, I don't know what to do. I'm pretty sure Topran stuff is basically cheese, and I'm a little dubious of TRW. VW Heritage are going with Meyle... anybody got some experience/advice? Thanks.

Got one off StoneJag; thanks though!

I'll take them.

Maybe I can buy the cylinder head off you lilfuzzer? ;) (Or whoever ends up buying it.)

:( Thanks.

Do you still have the cylinder head?

...could be interested.

I've got the car to bits to fix a bunch of unrelated things and I've noticed a fairly substantial oil leak from the head gasket. It'll be fine for now, but in that I have everything to bits it would be silly not to fix it at the same time. Rather than get my own head skimmed and/or reconditioned, I thought I would check on the off chance in case anyone has a straight swap that's already had some work done. Anything is considered and I'm willing to spend a reasonable amount (don't take the **** though :).) TIA.

Sounds like you've been there, done that. Did you use a particular website?

Yes, I'm leaning the B12 way. I read a bunch of independent reviews saying the KW V1s are on the hard side. I'm assuming these are the right ones: http://www.bilstein.de/en-uk/products/sport-and-threaded-ride-high-adjustable-kits/bilstein-b12-pro-kit/ i.e. the ProKit not the Sportline?

Looking like the consensus is KW V1s or Bilstein B12s? Hmm.

Yeah that about sums it up. It would be nice to reduce the understeer and body roll (I imagine this is more anti-roll bar territory really), but I don't have any desire to be constantly fiddling with settings. Basically I don't want to compromise handling in favour of aesthetic ride height changes. Having said all that though, I wouldn't mind things being a little firmer, if it means an overall more pointy car. Budget wise? I don't know really, if I was to replace the standard VW shocks I imagine I wouldn't be getting much change out of £600-1000? So let's go with that. TIA

So I just failed an MOT on a leaking (standard) shock. Which is a good excuse to get some new ones. Assuming I want something that isn't going to rust in 5 minutes, so stainless, I don't really care about "stance", but I do care about handling... what are my options? I could of course read all 100 pages, but I'd rather not :).

Mass Air Flow meter. The cylindrical thing between the airbox and the throttle.

No one?

As title. The one with the metallic lettering.

My Chinese lights are the best I've ever owned, FWIW. They're all the same COB LEDs at the end of the day anyway; they're all made in that part of the world. I'm not saying every light that comes from China is great, but they're not all "shyte" as you claim.

Yeah those things are made of Kryptonite or something. It's amazing how well they last.

Gnnnnnargggh.

That's some courtesy car!