Alexander

Hi all,

In the process of re-badging the rear of my Corrado. It's been smoothed so I've got no holes to use, which is fine - I'm going to just snip off the tabs of any badges I get, and I want to stick em back on nice and secure, but not in such a way that the paintwork would be damaged if I decide to take them off again.

I was thinking about those double-sided sticky foam things, but then I thought that would make the badges sit a bit proud of the bodywork. What about a thin layer of silicone sealer or something like that?

Any input appreciated!

Crikey! Yeah definitely feeling a bit better about my bill now...

I'm lucky that I have a mechanic I can trust who is cheap and very very good, but I'm thinking I really need to start doing more stuff myself, being a bit more bold, and saving myself a packet in the process.

The only drawback - you have to build it yourself

Erk! See this is what I was hoping for, lots of people with bigger bills than me!

I'm sure it will be worth it dude, it'll be like essentially having a new car. Since I bought my C (for £3000) I must have spent about £800 getting it all fettled and sorted, but I was kind of expecting to so I put a bit of extra money aside. That said, I really hope that's the last I have to spend on it for a few months (although it desperately needs some decent bloody tyres... )

Just picked up the G60 from my mechanic, it's had:

New brake hoses and flexi hoses

New brake fluid

Black Diamond front discs and uprated pads

New rocker gasket

New cambelt/tensioner

New Supercharger Belt

New power steering belt

Couple of small oil leaks sorted

Price all in was £595.00 which hurt a bit! But I was considering that it could have been a lot worse, and it was all necessary stuff.

I was thinking, I bet some of you long time Corrado owners have some monster bills - what's the biggest garage bill you've ever had?

Veedub21 - sterling chap who continues to help me source bits! Even tried to find me some parts while at his local scrappy. Excellent dude!

Sounds like a piss-take to me. If you knew the asking price it's a bit out of order haggling with some dude who was just there to give you access to the wheels. Poor show.

They said the nearest washer was in their Bolton dealership and they couldn't get it to me by Thursday :(

Ringing Darren back in the morning so I'll see if he's got the part # of the PG bolt and see if I can order one of those from VW in time... Bum!

Apparently it's not so much of a washer as a packer - it's about 8mm thick and makes up for the fact that the DX bolt doesn't have a shoulder and the original stretch bolt does (you can see it in Darren's pic at the top of the thread).

Just spoke to Darren actually and he says they're not using the DX bolt any more, they've moved on to the PG bolts (?) which are better designed.

Tried ordering the bolt and washer from VW a couple of weeks back as the car is going into the garage on Thursday this week. Got the bolt but they can't get hold of the washer - it's on factory back order apparently.

I assume I need the washer or the new bolt is useless? What a pain. Anywhere else I can get hold of this washer?

Driving out of Halfrauds on saturday - a young dad was excitedly pointing at the C and telling his (disinterested) kids what it was as I went past :D

Yeah I do that - start liquidating your assets, ebay anything that's no longer getting used.

Also, remember that ALL cars cost money to keep on the road, even newer ones. You might get rid of the C, get a diesel Golf or something and it could still end up costing you a fortune in niggling problems. At least you know the Corrado and you know what it's current problems are. New cars are an unknown quantity. I DO NOT TRUST THEM.

Had a good day! :D

Repaired wiring to boost gauge - now lights up again!

Replaced interior light bulb - you wouldn't believe how irritating it is not having an interior light in the winter.

Removed, and resecured central handbrake tunnel and fit new plastic handbrake cover

Replaced driver's side door striker pin - door now closes as if it was new!

Err.. taxed it! 99.00 to Mr Brown.. :(

Didn't get round to washing it, so that's a job for tomorrow. Also if I'm feeling brave I'm going to take the passenger door to bits because there's a really loud and annoying rattle in it. Just about the only one in the car so I've got to sort it!

Don't sweat it dude - this is why we have credit! :D

I know kind of what you mean though - I should sell my Golf to help pay for the G60 but I can't bear to part with it. It's safely parked in my garage round the back of my house so it's not getting rained on or anything, but I spent SO much time and money getting that car right I can't let it go!

At the end of the day it's only a car though dude. Our cars are our hobby, so they cost us money, so sacrifices have to be made. Beans on toast for the next couple of weeks eh!

No thrashing of a g60 req'd, can drive them really lazily, mine will pull cleanly and strongly in 5th from 25mph.

 

Just remember to keep the revs and engine load down until oil has reached 80 degrees and treat it to regular oil and filter changes.

 

You won't regret going G60 :lol:

I second this - coming from a Golf GTI 16v (which you really had to thrash the tits off), the G60 will happily cruise around at 40 in 5th, it's really weird. It loves being at low revs and has loads of low-down torque. I've not even driven mine fast yet (combination of getting to know the car, plus damp conditions and cheap-ass tyres) but looking forward to opening her up a bit if I get into a situation where I can. G60 FTW!

It should also slot onto 4 metal screws in the floor. These have a kind of plastic button thing that screw onto them. Over time, they become loose and lose their thread, so they don't hold the plastic in place. Stick 'em on with araldite.

I owe you a virtual pint dude. Just took it off and could see where it'd been stuck previously to the four plastic buttons, but had come away. Re-glued the "frame" to these, let it set then remounted the plastic tunnel and it's solid as a rock! Had a good afternoon fixing little bits and pieces, feeling quite satisfied (I'm sure it'll only be temporary mind you). :D

Bulb should just push into the back of the gauge, i've got a TIM gauge and it's just a small bulb with a rubber protector on it.

 

Pull the gauge out and take a good look before stumping up for a new one :?

Bang on! Thanks mate. Bulb was fine - pulling the gauge out of the dash made it glaringly obvious that one of the wires had come adrift! Fished it out of the dash, reconnected and we're all good to go.

Definitely ordering some of this on monday!

Gotta love VW engines - my Golf GTI's on 178k and it still runs like a sewing machine (a fookin' quick sewing machine, like)... :D

This morning a quick check tells me the gauge itself is working fine, it's just the bulb thats gone. Are the bulbs replaceable or would it be better just to buy a new gauge?

Yeah me too! I've been told it works fine but I'm scared of opening it in case it won't shut and I'll end up getting rained on!

Cheers! Yeah they look the business.. very OEM but with pretty fat tyres on they look very mean, very "muscle car" in my opinion!

Might as well update the thread with my first two weeks of Corrado ownership, the highs and lows:

Well, couldn't actually drive it for most of the first week, as the coilies were too low to get over speedbumps! Bought and fitted some nice new banded GB plates to replace the German ones, gave the interior a thorough cleaning (headlining came up a treat) and removed bits of redundant ICE. Managed to get it into my mechanic who raised the ride height by 25mm and it goes over anything and the ride is a lot less harsh (more "firm" now)... he gave the car a full check over and this is all we found:

* needs new discs and pads (getting black diamond discs) and brake fluid

* couple of brake hoses are perished

* two small oil leaks that need investigating

* only one of the two horns works

* crank bolt needs changing

* clutch bitepoint is really low, probably fixed when brakes are flushed?

So it's going in next thursday for that little lot. Probably about £500 worth of work there including parts, but I've budgeted for this.

After it'd been to my mechanics for a couple of days, I got the wheels laser aligned, got my first chuftie from one of the car salesmen at the dealership which has the alignment rig! Then it was off to the local car electronics place to get the Toad CAT1 alarm recertified as the previous owner had mislaid the certificate (or I did). Long day, very expensive but after that the C was back on my drive and actually usable!

Since then I've just been driving it around and getting used to the power, and the noise! I didn't realise the G-Lader was so flipping noisy! I'm planning on getting some decent under bonnet foam as at the moment it has none. Also I keep spotting more and more bits missing out of the interior, but this can be an ongoing process. The power is just stupid however - I've not managed to put my foot down even a little bit without spinning the wheels, it's even worse in the wet! This is with Eagle F1s (I think) on the front as well. Loads of fun though, and as I build my confidence it gets easier to drive. I'm deliberately being careful with it as the last thing I want to do is throw it in a ditch. My mates love it, especially when you do build up some boost and change gear and the PSSHT comes from under the bonnet!

Probably not of much interest, but I know there's a few new Corrado owners lately on the forums so I thought I'd just update you with my progress! :D Thanks a lot to all the forum dudes who've been very kindly answering my stoopid questions!

Ha ha yeah the joys of vintage motoring...

Got my noggin sorted thanks, fitted an original plastic handbrake sleeve that I got off ebay. Looks a bit better. I'll be removing/refitting the center tunnel on the weekend, and if I get time, taking the doors to bits to solve a couple of horrible rattles!

Doh.

Driving home from work tonight, suddenly notice my center console is darker than usual- the boost gauge isn't lit up anymore. Not sure if the bulb has gone, or if the whole thing is no longer working but either way it's a bummer because it's an autometer one, which I think are quite pricey?

So... few questions:

1) The gauge and the volt/oil pressure ones beneath it in the factory slot get really warm when the heater is on, the volt and oil ones actually steam up a bit. I'm guessing this isn't good - could it be caused by the holes in the back of the dash not being sealed when they were installed?

2) Will it be possible to just change the bulb in the boost gauge if that's all that's wrong with it?

3) If the gauge has snuffed it, can someone recommend me a good place to buy a new one???

Cheers all!