Had it for 4 months now, so I thought I better start a thread to track the changes to it.

Completely standard when I got it, and filthy too (thanks brother). Only changes so far is a stubby aerial (thanks zekegti) delock (thanks me) and what-not.

Got the usual planned, as well as some not so usual, it's all about time.

Comments and feedback always welcome, lets see how this little car turns out shall we?!

cheers, got my new wheels to go on soon, bbs rws in 17", might get them refurbed in a slightly darker colour though 1st. Lower it 30-40mm, probably go down the tt setup route thats been discussed on here. Colour coding the valances, as soon as I get an old gazebo to use as a paint booth, 4mo rear valance with cutout filled (working on that now), smoothed bumpers (working on those too!) and continuing the r32 mesh into the lower vents, having it recessed the same. Will also smooth/fill the lip on the lower vents to make it a bit less cluttered.

Got an r32 spoiler to paint and fit to a custom rear hatch that I've got planned. Going to put in a mk5 boot handle, so i can smooth the current one, so I'm just left with a badge on the back. Need to look at modifying the mechanism though, so I can incorporate a barrel, so I have means of access in an emergency, as well as sourcing a smaller wiper motor, so I can keep that.

Eventually going to smooth the side repeaters on the wings when I work out how to fit the new golf, or more likely polo mirrors, as well as maybe getting them to fold.

Going to joey mod the headlights with a mid metallic grey, and spray up the front and rear badges to match.

Inside, there's bora vents and r32 wheel to go on soon. Looking to paint the dash trim the same as the lights etc, retro fit heated seats, and do the headlining black (came with a black mirror standard, so it makes life easier).

Of course, then there's engine mods I want to do, namely a remap, clutch, maybe short shifter, all the usual gubbins associated with that. Looking for around 200-220bhp to achieve, so whatever is needed for that, inc. big brake conversion.

Thats about it so far planned. Want to have a few unique or uncommon elements in there, so I'm sure the list'll expand. Just seen an example of red piping introduced into the cabin. Looked interesting, might look into something like that, possibly in the same metallic gray to add a bit of detail to the interior, to lift it.

yep, worked off this how to http://www.stripethree.net/r32-grille.php only, like garfie on here, i didn't smooth the mesh into the badge, so I could keep that coded. was pretty straightforward to do, and cheap too.

Paddym:

wow big plans lol

Yep, definately! Most of it is pretty straightforward and relatively cheap to do, always been practical and good with my hands etc, and I really enjoy the diy side of modding. Probably the only thing I won't try myself is the remap, the other mechanical stuff I can do no probs

Rststevo:

how to http://www.stripethree.net/r32-grille.php 

Paddym:

wow big plans lol

Could not select database

yeah, i noticed that, the page slowly fell apart over the months, i think he's either taken it off his site or moved it, i can't find it now, which is a shame. i just posted this in another thread today, a little bit of a how to how i did mine, i didn't take any pictures when i did it unfortunately.

1st thing to it to separate the 2 parts of the grill, then cut off the slats from the badge part.

the holes it leaves now need filling, i chose to cut sections from the redundent slats and glue them in place, then put a light skim of filler over the top to get the contour right. another option is to fix mesh behind to fill onto.

then sand it smooth and paint up, thats that bit done.

working on the black backing part - there are several guide brackets for the slats on it, these need cutting off/dremelling down.

i then put the centre badge bit back on and using one r32 centre mesh panel (about £10 from the stealers), which i cut down the middle, i shaped the curved cutouts for around the badge and at the end near the lights.

fixing the mesh on can be done in 3 ways: the way garfie did it, which is to cable tie through the loops along the top edge; the way i did it which was to simply glue it to it, but this may require it to be painted, as it did, i chose matt black. the 3rd way it to glue it down then use filler to blend in the edges, but you would need to blend it into the centre badge, so it would have to be sprayed the same colour as the mesh. the other 2 ways allow you to keep the badge surround body coloured.

Were you on the A55 in North Wales last week by any chance?

Saw a green mk4 with a mesh grille like your mod and i thought it looked smart

Chris

i remember that thread yeah, it is just about possible for it to fit, i'm working on the lower vents at the minute, having them recessed, so attached from behind the bumper (also want the side ones removable so i can get to the bumper mounting screws)

what is needed is the edge of the mesh panel to be dremelled a bit, as around the edge of the mesh it has a backing bit, like the closed off side vents on the r32. easy enough to do though.

the biggest single expanse of mesh they do is the centre bit for the r32 bumper, the part number is 1J0853677FB41, come in at £9.02 ex vat each. i made the top grille with one piece, and i've got 2 more for the bottom grilles, one to use on the center and one to cut in half for the side vents.

the mesh measures approx 965mm on the top edge, tapering to 595mm approx on the bottom edge, in width. height is 170mm approx. again, it is rounded on the corners, and along all edges, but its just about enough to work with.

hope that helps

finished them up

bit of a how to on this thread, i posted it a bit down the thread http://uk-mkivs.net/forums/thread/956655.aspx

finally got my grill finished this weekend, hoping to get the bumper done next weekend, thanks for the tips.

For reference here is the howto that Rststevo linked to (used wayback machine): http://web.archive.org/web/20050404014128/http://www.stripethree.net/r32-grille.pdf

 thanks for that matey, good find

 not updated this in a while, but seeing as it was nice weather on my week off i thought i'd get my new wheels on and try give it a proper deep clean

recent additions have been aero wipers all round, colour coded sharan badge, us spec rear lights, silver indicators for the front to get rid of the fried egg look, mk5 style mirrors and smoothed wings, lowered on coilies and the new wheels refurbed in black chrome

wanted to give it a decent clean to protect the paintwork a bit better and to make sure my shiney new wheels didn't stick out like sore thumbs!

gave it a pre wash then wash twice with AG shampoo, dried and clayed with megs smooth kit, polished with AG SRP, glazed with poorboys black hole, sealed with AG EGP and finished off with coats natty's blue and a final wipe of megs quik detailer

our adopted cat came for a nosey too. all the benefits of having your own cat, without having to feed it

and this little visitor seemd to take a fancy to the tyre gel

comments and suggestions as usual, all is good. think it needs to be wound down a bit more, but not until i get a new arb, and maybe 15/20mm spacers at the back. got 3mm at the front, maybe go to 5 when i go lower

Rich

Hi mate, hows things? Looking really good mate, liking the mk5 mirrors aswell  

Alright matey, doing good, nice to finally get the wheels on and give it a good clean, just got to sort out my clunky wishbones and dodgy electrics!

yours is looking really well, only just seen your latest changes, transformed from when i last saw it on the A8s

Sorry if you have stated this earlier, but what are those mirrors and where they come from??

Cars looking sweet, loving the grills.

 cheers they're mk5 style mirrors with mk4 bases by inpro, i got them through oempl.us, had them shipped from germany so there wasn't a massive shipping fee, something like under a tenner, mirrors themselves were £170. as they come from germany they've got left hand glass, so i picked up a new rhd set of glass from vw. had the car in for a repair for damage to one of the wings, so i got the indicators smoothed out at the same time

That looks clean mate, Really like the mirrors, may think about that myself, Looks great keep the updates coming

Rststevo:

Alright matey, doing good, nice to finally get the wheels on and give it a good clean, just got to sort out my clunky wishbones and dodgy electrics!

yours is looking really well, only just seen your latest changes, transformed from when i last saw it on the A8s

Yeah yours does look well, tempted to get some mk5 mirrors myself.

Thanks mate, has come a long way I guess, thought I'd give a mk5 boot release a go too

really want to crack on with my boot, as well as smoothing bumpers and a few other bts. boot handle is looking a bit tatty and the bottom edge has always had scrapes and chips out of the clearcoat thanks to a former owner with too many rings

downside of giving it a good clean is your missus sees it and wants the same for hers!

Ye i know wat you mean mate, my mum and sis always want their cars done once ive finished mine and its shining in the sun.. But that little bit inside me always enjoys it and when i see the end result, pretty much stand back and admire the work you've done.. Top job mate tho looks very nice

 definately, i sometimes don't want to step back from it until it's all done so all i have in my head is how dirty it was before, then you see it all shiney