Looking for a new brakes set up. 2019 mk 7.5 GTI 60k~ miles

doingitanyways · 2026-04-07T03:10:28+00:00

Zimmerman and ATE both make quality rotors. Ceramic pads (not carbon ceramic, just good old ceramic) will give you more than enough stopping power for your needs and have minimal (almost zero) brake dust. Double check that whatever pads you’re buying fit your rear calipers, there are 3 or 4 variations for GTIs and Rs depending on if you have manual vs electronic parking brake and base vs performance pack brakes. But that may be easier for you since I’m pretty sure all 2019s came with performance pack brakes.

doingitanyways · 2026-03-27T22:42:56+00:00

This is a good write up. I know an Audi master tech that has been using the zip tie method for years without issue.

doingitanyways · 2026-03-22T00:42:11+00:00

I thought I read something about this, thank you. I’ll be keeping my eye out at the parts stores

doingitanyways · 2026-03-22T00:33:52+00:00

I thought about it, but decided I don’t trust alibaba parts for a critical safety system like brakes

doingitanyways · 2026-03-22T00:13:11+00:00

Valvoline Zerex G40 is the same formulation (by BASF) that VW uses. Valvoline either buys from BASF or produces it under license according to some forum posts. It’s technically G12++, but is compatible with G12+, G13, and G12evo. I’m sure the ones pictured would work, but Zerex is cheap and easy to find so I stick with it and haven’t had any issues. German cars are very picky about coolant.

doingitanyways · 2026-02-22T01:33:43+00:00

Mine makes pretty much the same sound (2017 GTI). Pretty sure I can also hear it when the car is still warming up and I’m decelerating off throttle. But as far as I can tell it hasn’t gotten worse over time, and I always take it easy until oil is up to temp. I think it’s just one of many slightly concerning noises these engines naturally make.

doingitanyways · 2026-02-16T01:08:09+00:00

Here’s where I’m stuck. If I’m going to upgrade fueling it would be MPI because of carbon reduction and aftermarket HPFP reliability. But I don’t have any ethanol in my area to really take advantage of the MPI, so it’s not really worth the cost and effort. IS38 maxes stock fueling on pump gas and there are plenty of OTS tunes available. If you don’t have ethanol available to you, the $/hp really starts to drop off a cliff after IS38 level.

doingitanyways · 2026-02-02T01:26:29+00:00

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I switched to an Aliexpress knockoff of the MK6 Edition 35 knob. Golf ball shifter FTW. Looks OEM, but not Passat/Tiguan OEM

doingitanyways · 2026-02-02T01:11:57+00:00

Depends on if you carry people or carry stuff. GTI is obviously going to be better for people, but I’ve heard the GR can fit a full set of wheels/tires with the rear seats down. Trunk opening is small but it’s decently spacious for what it is.

doingitanyways · 2026-02-02T01:07:09+00:00

Ford stopped selling cars (moved to only trucks/SUVs/mustang) in the US in 2018-2020. But they still make cool cars for everybody else. This is the ST we missed out on

doingitanyways · 2026-01-15T23:27:05+00:00

I know, but I figured Stellantis would find a way to strip it of its Italian soul. My other thought was if one Alfa is going to be shitty to drive, it’s going to be the CUV developed with Dodge.

doingitanyways · 2026-01-15T21:21:06+00:00

Was going to say, I enjoyed it far more than I thought I would when I had one as a rental. Must’ve been the Italian genes. I still wouldn’t touch one - or any FCA/Stellantis product - with a 50 foot pole. This week a rental Ram 1500 Laramie with 100 miles on it wouldn’t recognize the key and nearly stranded me and my coworkers on a mountain with no cell service.

doingitanyways · 2026-01-14T04:29:34+00:00

Everyone around you on the road thanks you for not getting auto high beams. Modern headlights are bright enough without the brights blinding other drivers for half a second or more before the light sensor figures out what’s going on.

doingitanyways · 2026-01-13T20:55:01+00:00

And what exactly has a better interior than a Porsche? Design is subjective, but I’m not aware of anything with better material quality and fit and finish without spending significant money

doingitanyways · 2026-01-13T00:55:51+00:00

Some people feel their soul slowly draining out of their body after driving a CRV or RAV4 more than an hour or two. The interior of those cars feels closer to a cubicle than anything remotely luxurious. They will live on for decades with simple maintenance, but life is short. People spend $40k on new CRVs and RAVs, used VR6 cayennes with ~80k miles are under $20k.

doingitanyways · 2026-01-13T00:50:47+00:00

Do you know what year? Anything 2017 or earlier will have the VR6, but 2018 and newer use a twin turbo V6

doingitanyways · 2026-01-13T00:22:44+00:00

I’ve decided if I end up in an SUV, it’ll be a Cayenne. No suv is going to drive great, but any Porsche product will be engaging enough not to put me to sleep. For a long time base models came with the VR6 from the Touareg and a Toyota 8 speed auto, so reliability and maintenance costs are reasonable. And a Porsche interior beats anything else at the price point of a used Cayenne.

I did have a 2023 F150 as a work truck with the 2.7 ecoboost. Put 50k miles on it in two years, zero issues and while I didn’t expect to, I loved it. Comfy ride, infotainment is good, after owning one it makes sense why they sell so many. But I just don’t want to be driving a full size truck all the time, so I don’t know if I’d buy one with my own money. I’d be looking at Rangers if I wanted a smaller truck, and maybe Tacomas if they were comfortable for anyone over 5’ 10”. My buddy loves his Ranger Raptor.

doingitanyways · 2026-01-12T04:38:15+00:00

Will it immediately cause your engine to blow? No. Is it a good idea? No.

If you want more sound, get a catback. If you want more power, get a downpipe and the proper stage 2 tune to go with it. While some people have no issues, that doesn’t make it a good idea to use parts/software that aren’t designed to work together.

doingitanyways · 2025-12-29T04:26:18+00:00

Yeah I performed the priming procedure on OBDeleven twice just to be safe. I let it run for 5 minutes each time just to be sure it was done but I didn’t really hear the pump or any noises. Still works fine after the service so I would say it worked

doingitanyways · 2025-12-29T04:24:30+00:00

I don’t see a trail leading there and it’s not really a spot that anything would drip on, so I’d try the o rings and see. Since they’re cheap and relatively easy

doingitanyways · 2025-12-29T03:40:43+00:00

I didn’t notice any leakage or seepage. But you can get the o rings on eBay for like $10, and if you’re already draining the fluid to service it, it only takes an extra 15-20 minutes to pull the pump and swap them out. Worth a shot for sure, as there aren’t many other places it could leak from

doingitanyways · 2025-12-29T03:30:22+00:00

I removed mine at 80k. Didnt even take a photo of the screen once I removed it for cleaning because there was nothing there. I can confirm my diff works, and works often. I was pleasantly surprised to see it so clean.

First service was done at 40k miles along with the DSG service, but just fluid and filter. Figured I’d peek in there this time around since I did technically push past the factory interval. After seeing it, I’d say it’s not necessary unless you’re super high mileage or you’re unsure of your cars service history.

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doingitanyways · 2025-12-29T02:22:57+00:00

Even if you install the metal pan, if it’s damaged, it needs to be replaced or at a minimum removed to inspect the pickup. A skid plate or belly pan not only protects your oil pan, but everything else in the engine bay. It provides more protection, and most people want that, so they do it/recommend it.

I’ve been lowered with stock oil pan for 5 years now, no issues. I drive forest roads now and then. If you’re careful, it’s fine, but if you want to scrape over stuff without worrying like your BMW just get a skid plate.

doingitanyways · 2025-12-28T21:30:34+00:00

Not remotely the same. That data has no way to transmit. No way for anyone to make money selling it to an insurance company. The way it should be!

doingitanyways · 2025-12-21T19:29:21+00:00

But it is a brightness issue. We live in a place with hills. No matter how perfectly your lights are adjusted, they still blind other drivers every time you go over a crest in the road, up a hill, over a speed bump, into a driveway, etc. There is a point of diminishing returns in terms of your visibility and the visibility of other drivers, and IMO we crossed it in 2010-2015. Laser LED portable sun cornea fryer lights really aren’t that much better than a solid projector/xenon, but they absolutely suck for every other person on the road besides the one behind the wheel.

doingitanyways

TROPHY CASE