GolferGTI12
Ready to race!
Hi everyone! My name is Josh, I own a 2012 GTI Autobahn, and I live in Northwest Indiana/a hop skip and a jump away from Chicago. I figured I’ve been lurking in this forum for over 3 years now so it’s time I started my own build thread.
I’ve always been a car nut and after a long process or making cost-analysis sheets and weighing pros and cons, I sold my 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee and bought the GTI. I bought the car when I was a junior in college so the “cool” mods didn’t come in until a few years later. As I found out, working a part-time job while also going to school and making car payments doesn’t exactly leave a lot of room in the budget for fun or expensive mods. Now that I am out of school and kind of an adult, I can actually buy real upgrades and parts. Crazy how that works.
I’ve had a lot of ups and downs with the car and I want to use this thread to show others what the real costs of owning a GTI can be. I’ve had a decent amount of repairs and work done to the car and I’ve kept track of the costs just like the previous two owners did as well, so hopefully other owners/potential owners can see what it all adds up to and how quick the costs add up.
Major note: my GTI has been burning a quart of oil every 500 miles or so basically since I bought the car. I never checked the oil when I first got it (My Jeep never burned any oil so this car shouldn’t either! *eyeroll*) and only realized what was going on when the CHECK OIL NOW alert popped up. I added oil and thought nothing of it. 3 years later and after changing oil types and brands, replacing the turbo (potential oil usage), and asking multiple different shops what could be going on, I decided to pull the engine myself and find out what was wrong. I will detail that all later in the thread after getting all the basic stuff out of the way.
Info:
Instagram: @golfer_gti - I have been playing golf competitively for over 10 years now, so I found it appropriate to also be driving a Golf. It makes too much sense
Car Info:
• 2012 Volkswagen GTI – CSG/Carbon Steel Grey – CCTA engine
• 4-door
• Autobahn Package
• DSG
• Bought with 79k miles on it in January 2017
• Car was originally from South Carolina and then purchased by a kid in Illinois who never drove it in the rain/snow. This thing is clean as can be.
• I daily drove the GTI up until October 2019 when I bought a beater Subaru Forester to put the winter miles on and keep salt off the car that matters
Major Maintenance:
• 83,000 miles – 4 new tires – Cooper Zeon RS3 All Seasons
• 106,000 – Transmission Pan Leak fixed – pan replaced
• 110,000 – Carbon cleaning performed
• 120,000 – DSG Service – new fluid and filter
• 126,000 – Engine Build / Repair
MOD LIST:
• Beluga Racing Cat Back Exhaust
• R8 coil packs
• NGK BK8REIX Spark Plugs
• APR Full Intake – The carbon fiber one with stage 2 tube included
• APR Stage 1 tune
•GFB DV+
• NewSouth Performance Boost Gauge
• ARM Motorsports Catted Downpipe
• 42DD O2 Spacer
•034 Motorsports Catch Can Version 1
•CTS Torque Arm Insert
• Neuspeed RSE12 18x8
• Firestone Indy Firehawk 225/40r18
• Integrated Engineering KO4 Turbo
• Engine Build
• 034 Motorsports Aluminum Dogbone Mount Insert
• VWR / Racingline Trans Mount
• VWR / Racingline Engine Mount
Exterior/Interior Mod List:
• Color matched sidemarkers
• Black VW Emblems front and rear
• OEM VW Dark Cherry LED Taillights
• 30% tints – previous owner installed. I will be changing them to 20%
• Yellow LED foglights – because racekar
• DEI Industries Gold Heat Tape - +5 scene points +5 cooling points
• Klii Motorwerkes custom USA Flag insert for rear emblem
I will continue to update this list with all parts and work done on the car in the future. If any members have any questions I will try to provide a good answer or feedback. I will also be making separate posts for all parts that were added onto the GTI because I think I have pictures from every install. The thing I love having is information on different parts and stuff so I will be providing that all here for future parts-buyers and what not. Never hurts to have another opinion floating around the internet!
Jan 2017 when I got the GTI:
As it sits now (June 2020)
I’ve always been a car nut and after a long process or making cost-analysis sheets and weighing pros and cons, I sold my 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee and bought the GTI. I bought the car when I was a junior in college so the “cool” mods didn’t come in until a few years later. As I found out, working a part-time job while also going to school and making car payments doesn’t exactly leave a lot of room in the budget for fun or expensive mods. Now that I am out of school and kind of an adult, I can actually buy real upgrades and parts. Crazy how that works.
I’ve had a lot of ups and downs with the car and I want to use this thread to show others what the real costs of owning a GTI can be. I’ve had a decent amount of repairs and work done to the car and I’ve kept track of the costs just like the previous two owners did as well, so hopefully other owners/potential owners can see what it all adds up to and how quick the costs add up.
Major note: my GTI has been burning a quart of oil every 500 miles or so basically since I bought the car. I never checked the oil when I first got it (My Jeep never burned any oil so this car shouldn’t either! *eyeroll*) and only realized what was going on when the CHECK OIL NOW alert popped up. I added oil and thought nothing of it. 3 years later and after changing oil types and brands, replacing the turbo (potential oil usage), and asking multiple different shops what could be going on, I decided to pull the engine myself and find out what was wrong. I will detail that all later in the thread after getting all the basic stuff out of the way.
Info:
Instagram: @golfer_gti - I have been playing golf competitively for over 10 years now, so I found it appropriate to also be driving a Golf. It makes too much sense
Car Info:
• 2012 Volkswagen GTI – CSG/Carbon Steel Grey – CCTA engine
• 4-door
• Autobahn Package
• DSG
• Bought with 79k miles on it in January 2017
• Car was originally from South Carolina and then purchased by a kid in Illinois who never drove it in the rain/snow. This thing is clean as can be.
• I daily drove the GTI up until October 2019 when I bought a beater Subaru Forester to put the winter miles on and keep salt off the car that matters
Major Maintenance:
• 83,000 miles – 4 new tires – Cooper Zeon RS3 All Seasons
-Ok tires for the summer. Awful tires for the winter. Wouldn’t buy again.
• 84,500 – Timing Chain Tensioner and chains replaced at VW Dealer -Chain, tensioner, camshaft bridge, guides, etc.
• 106,000 – Right front wheel hub/bearing replaced• 106,000 – Transmission Pan Leak fixed – pan replaced
• 110,000 – Carbon cleaning performed
• 120,000 – DSG Service – new fluid and filter
• 126,000 – Engine Build / Repair
MOD LIST:
• Beluga Racing Cat Back Exhaust
• R8 coil packs
• NGK BK8REIX Spark Plugs
• APR Full Intake – The carbon fiber one with stage 2 tube included
•
•
• NewSouth Performance Boost Gauge
• ARM Motorsports Catted Downpipe
• 42DD O2 Spacer
•
•
• Neuspeed RSE12 18x8
• Firestone Indy Firehawk 225/40r18
• Integrated Engineering KO4 Turbo
-Dyno tune – 300 whp / 310 lb-ft torque – done by MobileOne Inc. – Glenview, IL
-Mild tune equipped since I was burning so much oil at the time
-Will be tuned again after engine build is complete
• DSG Tune – done by MobileOne Inc. – Glenview, IL• Engine Build
-JE Forged Ultra Series Pistons
-Integrated Engineering Connecting Rods for use w/aftermarket pistons
-ARP Headstuds
-USP Motorsports Aluminum Water Pump
-Integrated Engineering Valve Springs
-iAbed Rear Main Seal
• 034 Motorsports Dogbone Mount• 034 Motorsports Aluminum Dogbone Mount Insert
• VWR / Racingline Trans Mount
• VWR / Racingline Engine Mount
Exterior/Interior Mod List:
• Color matched sidemarkers
• Black VW Emblems front and rear
• OEM VW Dark Cherry LED Taillights
• 30% tints – previous owner installed. I will be changing them to 20%
• Yellow LED foglights – because racekar
• DEI Industries Gold Heat Tape - +5 scene points +5 cooling points
• Klii Motorwerkes custom USA Flag insert for rear emblem
I will continue to update this list with all parts and work done on the car in the future. If any members have any questions I will try to provide a good answer or feedback. I will also be making separate posts for all parts that were added onto the GTI because I think I have pictures from every install. The thing I love having is information on different parts and stuff so I will be providing that all here for future parts-buyers and what not. Never hurts to have another opinion floating around the internet!
Jan 2017 when I got the GTI:
As it sits now (June 2020)
