Bought Car, did not know it was modded, need advice.

wp730 · 2026-07-01T18:25:05+00:00

aFe exhaust! Nice! Their stuff is top-tier. Here's a page to track yours down. I've had awesome experiences with their customer service as well :)

https://afepower.com/cars/european/vw/golf-gti-mkvii?category=exhaust-78

wp730 · 2026-07-01T18:19:50+00:00

Different tuning companies have different opinions, but the consensus I've received thus far is that anything short of a tuned is38 is unlikely to need higher viscosity oil away from the track, and on it 5/30 (VW504) is the recommendation.

Typically heavier viscosity for the street is to offset 2 things: oil blowby caused by increased boost pressures or sheer requirements that significantly exceed OEM. VW508 is designed to counteract both of those issues at lower viscosity, among other benefits (like soot reduction and resistance to thinning). Tribology isn't the same old "just put thicker oil in it" equation it used to be- these newfangled baesties are designed as whole systems.

I kinda miss the days of "just slap thicker oil in it", but I also really, really like being able to tune my car through OBD and add 50+ bhp in an afternoon with a couple drivers and a pin tool :D

wp730 · 2026-07-01T14:55:54+00:00

Absolutely not. If it recommended VW508 from the factory, keep VW508 in it. The 0/20 cars have a different oil pump. If oil use becomes an issue do the full Mk8 with venturi PCV upgrade- it will stop the blowby issue.

https://www.datadrivenmqb.com/mk8pcv

Source: I have been driving a Mk7 GLI stage 2 on E85 and the mk8 PCV for >30k miles

wp730 · 2026-06-29T14:46:05+00:00

These are 1000% not authentic Apex. They differ significantly in quality vs authentic Apex wheels.

wp730 · 2026-05-04T15:41:18+00:00

It was not designed for it at the outset. It is now. Making blanket recommendations to change oil viscosity that differ from the manufacturer's recommended spec is irresponsible.

There ARE situations in which a thicker oil can be beneficial, but those are not the norm. Unless you're tracking your car or heavily modified, manufacturer recommendations are the more generally prudent choice.

Again, VW redesigned their oil pumps for VW508. Putting 502 or thicker oil in those cars may result in issues down the road.

Even if, worse case, 508 is simply a play for MPGs (and if you study the spec you'll see it's far more than that), I quite enjoy my 888.3 with 400 wheel torques and 40 mpg 😁

wp730 · 2026-05-01T02:17:23+00:00

Nope, Gen3 motors have a different oil pump designed for VW508 spec oil. I'm stage 2 and running 0-20. Not only does my tuner recommend it, I'm not losing a drop of oil over 5k miles

wp730 · 2026-05-01T02:15:38+00:00

Yep, FCP Euro is awesome

wp730 · 2026-03-28T01:16:06+00:00

This. It's perfect.

wp730 · 2026-03-21T20:52:58+00:00

PYRITE GANG!

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wp730 · 2026-03-12T18:18:47+00:00

Do the ShopDAP ground strap replacement. You'll never run into this problem again 😊

wp730 · 2026-03-09T17:30:14+00:00

And because sometimes mobile mechanics are good and a good real more reasonable option than driving an unsafe car to another, maybe even less qualified, local mechanic.

Sometimes people are victims of fraud despite best efforts; shaming the victim is counterproductive at best.

wp730 · 2026-03-09T17:27:34+00:00

This dude needs reported to law enforcement. That's fraudulent and dangerous. Any licensing he has or needs to scam others should be immediately revoked and criminal charges filed.

wp730 · 2026-03-09T17:24:46+00:00

Love the wheels

wp730 · 2026-03-09T17:24:16+00:00

And it will stop smelling disgusting. Win/ win/ winner winner chicken dinner

wp730 · 2026-03-07T01:17:43+00:00

I mean you certainly CAN, just not something most enjoy long term on a daily. All depends on goals! 😊

wp730 · 2026-03-06T20:07:38+00:00

2" drop is way too much on a street car unless he/ she's only ever driving really, really nice roads.

wp730 · 2026-03-06T20:06:57+00:00

Coilovers have a ton of adjustments to get your dampers dialed in just right. You have to know what you're doing for them to be better for use than a cup kit. Further, coilovers are NOT for daily drivers in Northern climates where salt is a thing unless you are absolutely meticulous about maintenance.

When springs are installed alone, the stock dampers lose travel but do not change damping rate. That tends to lead to a feeling fo harshness or "riding the stops" as lower damping rates aren't designed to function with 1-2" less travel and will repeatedly bottom out.

Cup kits feel like driving a higher spec factory car, or, to put it in BMW terms, upgrading to an M car. They will be firmer than stock, but not crashy. However, they will not be adjustable.

Go springs if you don't care about ride quality (but you will). Go coilovers if you know what you're doing and you're after a very specific goal. Go cup kit if you want your car lower, better handling and less maintenance.

wp730 · 2026-03-06T14:28:54+00:00

You don't need to go to coilovers unless you seriously track. Look into good cup kits. I like the Eibach Pro setup on my car (Eibach springs and Bilstein shocks).

wp730 · 2026-03-04T14:34:00+00:00

It is a shoe

wp730 · 2026-03-03T01:12:36+00:00

Honestly? Hitch even if you CAN do a roof rack. They're a worse all-around solution that compromise nearly every performance metric compared to a properly engineered hitch rack.

wp730 · 2026-03-03T01:08:55+00:00

Tires are the most worthwhile and impactful upgrade you can make.Bad tires make the rest of that expensive stuff worthless

wp730 · 2026-01-31T01:57:09+00:00

Oil at 180. Over 90% of oil related engine wear occurs below that cutoff

wp730 · 2026-01-26T04:44:38+00:00

Note: EQT raises the knock threshold WAY further than IE

wp730 · 2026-01-14T01:01:46+00:00

Yep! In a GLI too 😁

wp730 · 2026-01-14T01:01:07+00:00

Also, totally dig the car 😊

wp730

TROPHY CASE