Sics Consolidated Faded Moderns Thread - 2006 Golf Mk5 GTI & 2004 BMW Z4 2.2

[SiC]

Parts have arrived. I better hide this lot from Mrs SiC before I get told off for buying even more car parts again.

NAPA rear arms seem decent enough. Not so sure on the NAPA springs, kinda wish I paid more for KYB now. We'll see what they're like once compressed and on the car. Hopefully enough strength and not too low.


Bought this to do the inner tie rod. I'm not entirely convinced that it'll do the job.

[SiC]

I do really like mucking around with old cars but this is a great example of why I'm more interested in and back to more modern stuff ATM:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285776596420

That Reliant eBay auction finished today at £200 MORE than what I paid for this GTI.

This GTI is not only more fun and satisfying to drive but cheap+easier to get parts for and more interesting (because more complex) to diagnose & repair. It won't be like that forever on these 00-era cars so might as well get my fill in them before they become rare and silly money. 

[Eddie Honda]

This GTI is not only more fun and satisfying to drive

Debatable.

but cheap+easier to get parts for and more interesting (because more complex) to diagnose & repair.

Cheap parts - yes.

Easier - yes, though it depends on the part.

More interesting - that's a novel way of spinning the reality of unnecessary hard work and aggravation.

[panhard65]

Sorry given the choice the plastic pig wins everytime against a Golf. It is far more interesting to drive than a boring modern even if it is a bit shit.

[SiC]

It's all generational. As someone who was born in the 80s, grew up in the 90s and passed their test in the early 00s, my view on cars will be dictated by that. To me 80s cars were the crap bangers, 90s performance was cool older and 00s performance was cool modern. Those born a decade/generation or two before likely have they shifted.

There is a lot of 90s performance stuff I'd like but all that has gone crazy money. E.g. R32 GTR, Supra, NSX, 993, 996 Turbo, even Clio Williams, 106 Rallye, etc.

Where as 00s era performance is still cheap and affordable territory. However that's clear it's not going to be long. Already it's getting harder to get examples of such stuff. E.g. Saxo VTS are rare now (and quite expensive) and this Golf that hasn't been modded wasn't easy to find. A E46 330Ci is already on the rise but the Z4 coupé is still at the flat line bottom of its curve.

Probably not interesting to many on here as seen as too modern. Yet they're fast approaching or gone past 20yrs old.

Back when I passed my test in 2003, a 18 year old car would be an early Golf GTi MK2 - now worth decent money. In 2024, a 18 year old car is this GTI Mk5.

So maybe not of interest on many here as seen too modern, but in reality they're really getting on a bit and certainly not modern to most people now. Exemplified when a mate said why don't I just sell all my old cars and just buy something nice that is under 10yrs old.

[Eddie Honda]

It's all generational.

No it isn't, you cheeky git! I'm not that much older than you!

There is a lot of 90s performance stuff I'd like

That's never been my bag, the performance stuff that is, so I'm not affected by the '60s/'70s/'80s performance prices.

Probably not interesting to many on here as seen as too modern.

Oh it's interesting enough, I just rather watch you do it.

[SiC]

I should also say that of course I'd definitely give a Robin Reliant a go but for something needing that much work I'd only want to pay £160, not £1600. Even if it's a rolly polly piece of uncomfortable shit fibreglass.

[SiC]

Boshed on the passenger side tie rod. Wasn't difficult at all. 

Tie rod tool was a pile of shit. Ended up zip tieing the thing together to stop it falling apart every time in position.

My old ball joint separator (iirc I picked it up from a big giveaway box at field of dreams a few years ago when FoTU was on over there) didn't fit so I ended up bashing it into place. This acted as a pickle fork and popped it off. One of Bezo mate is delivering a Laser ball joint separator and proper pickle fork later today. So the other side later should be easier. 

Trying to get a new one of those the metal clip things on the boot took the longest out of the whole job. Ended up sticking a zip tie around there in the end as simply couldn't get any tools in to compress it. Probably fine as not doing a lot?

Some pictures.



 
I did attempt to see if this would undo but it was solid. I reckon it would have come off with heat. Just no patience when I can replace the lot.


I love my fat impact. Expensive but whizzes stuff like this nut off in tens of seconds.


This took more of a fight. Hammer wasn't enough to get it off so I had to abuse my tools and use that ball joint remover as a pickle fork.


I cut the boot off as it allowed me to get the tool over. You can see here where it kept wanting to open up.


After a fight it was off. Pretty certain the inner tie rod was factory and tbh I think the outer tie rod might be too as it has VAG part numbers on its boot.


Tightened the new one up to 120Nm. Book figure I believe says 100Nm but I did it a tad tighter just incase. There is some mechanical differences here from not doing it up on the centre so I wanted to be double sure it was tight. Probably the only and last inner tie rod this car will get anyway. 



This boot took most of the time and fight. Zip tie at the back and one of those crush clips (supplied with the new boot) at the front.


New tie outer tie rod on. 21.5 turns is what I counted to match the old one up on length. It looks out by eye and probably is, but hopefully good enough to drive 8 miles or so to the tyre garage for alignment.

Bottom bolt on the outer tie rod I did to 50Nm. Retaining nut on the arm I did to mega tight with an adjustable wrench (I didn't have a open 24mm spanner - I probably need to get more spanners).

 
Looking at picture times, roughly hour in total - half hour to get it off and half hour to get it back on. Then half hour tidy up as I am doing it outside on my drive. I reckon even slow me can get the other side done in an hour.

[Eddie Honda]

but for something needing that much work I'd only want to pay £160, not £1600.

It's not worth £1600 to me. Neither are they £160 any more.

I suppose it must be around a monkey (£500, not Hooli) these days.

[Eddie Honda]

Boshed on the passenger side tie rod. Wasn't difficult at all.

Got both sides to do on the Synergie when I can be arsed, so appreciate the tool review.