New Guy - Leicestershire

[perarduapropatria]

I'm Jim - I live in South Leicestershire - and we've bought a 2011 Polo to use as our third car (Audi A6 Avant / Jaguar XK) as Jaguar is a bit thirsty.

It's the 1.6 SEL (90). A few years ago we have a Golf Estate, and it seems to me that it's the same engine as was in the Golf, but tuned down to 90 instead of 105. I'm really pleased with the car, but I've got a few questions:

1. In the 1.6TDI, is there a timing belt or timing chain? If it's a belt, I should get it checked as it's at 58k.
2. Swapping out RCD 310 for an RNS 310 (315?) or 510 unit. Compared to the Audi, the headunit is a bit basic. Do you need to do any VAGCOM coding it you swap out the head unit? There are no steering wheel controls, but there is an Aux in and an MDI in the glovebox. Would the 315 model (North America?) work in the UK?
3. Anyone got any sensibly priced 15 or 16 inch alloys for sale locally? I can see some on eBay. I'm a big believer in winter tyres...

I was told the 1.2 has a chain, so I'm hoping this has too.

Because it'll be used with the kids in the back, I've spent the last few days protecting the inside, and also given the exterior some protection too. I'm a big fan of the Gtechniq stuff, although it's pretty expensive it works really well. The car has had a coat of C1 Crystal Lacquer, and then a coat of hydrophobic ExoV2 over the top to lock in the shine. I've also done a coating of the hydrophobic G1 on the glass, as I've found that on the other cars you rarely need to use the wipers - the water just runs off as you hit 30mph.

I'd like to share some pics. I haven't had a VW in a while!

[RUM4MO]

Hello and welcome, wife is still running a 2003MY Polo 1.4 16V though a 1.2TSI 110 SEL is on order - I have an Audi B8 S4 6MT and really need to sort out protecting the paintwork and "masking" some minor scratches in the paint, it is dark blue metallic so white/grey is showing though.
I too prefer using winter tyres when it is cold, they are still on both cars, probably because we are regularly having low temperatures in the early morning when I leave for work and probably lots of rain, both situations where winter tyres work well. Also old Polo has too many miles left on its winter tyres - and then it will get sold in the summer along with its winter steel wheels. I plan to get hold of either steel 15" or alloy 15" for winter use for next Polo, only 4-off wheels/tyres this time as the factory fit spare will be 15".

[perarduapropatria]

Hello and welcome, wife is still running a 2003MY Polo 1.4 16V though a 1.2TSI 110 SEL is on order - I have an Audi B8 S4 6MT and really need to sort out protecting the paintwork and "masking" some minor scratches in the paint, it is dark blue metallic so white/grey is showing though.
I too prefer using winter tyres when it is cold, they are still on both cars, probably because we are regularly having low temperatures in the early morning when I leave for work and probably lots of rain, both situations where winter tyres work well. Also old Polo has too many miles left on its winter tyres - and then it will get sold in the summer along with its winter steel wheels. I plan to get hold of either steel 15" or alloy 15" for winter use for next Polo, only 4-off wheels/tyres this time as the factory fit spare will be 15".

The Gtechniq kit is brilliant, but you need to put the work in with a good polishing machine (I use a Meguiars G220) to get any and all swirls out. Watch the Junkman video's on YouTube. You need some hard cover, and a weekend to do the coating.

I've got a set of winter wheels for the Audi and the Jaguar. It looks like a garage franchise here....

Compared to a set of tyres for the Jaguar (£800 ish) the Polo is a gift!

[RUM4MO]

Yes, the storing of the extra sets of wheels, makes things a bit tighter in the garage, I keep planning for an extension for winter wheels bins and - well I can find stuff to move from main double garage I'm sure!

[perarduapropatria]

Yes, the storing of the extra sets of wheels, makes things a bit tighter in the garage, I keep planning for an extension for winter wheels bins and - well I can find stuff to move from main double garage I'm sure!

Luckily we've got an outside double with storage above it. It's a tandem, and I fitted units in the back half to use as an office.




The woman who owned the house before had two sons, so we have another single garage - full of bikes / wood / baby crap - that I'd like to clear out for the Polo.

[saty]

The car looks exactly the same as mine when i bought mine, exact same spec

1) The 1.6 tdi is cambelt driven
2) The rns315 should be plug n play, all you'll need is the gps antenna. I went with a sony xav 602bt double din unit in the end

I polished mine with megs 105 and 205 with a das 6 DA last summer and came up a treat, also followed the junkmans tutorials

[perarduapropatria]

The Junkman vids gave me the confidence to have a crack at it. I used the 105 and 205 too, because he recommended them in the vids.

I like the RNS 510 - but is it a pain to route the microphone around and up to the interior light cluster?

I've got some Philips bulbs to replace the standard crappy halogens. Has anyone fitted a HIDS4U kit? I have one in the Jaguar because the headlights in that are pitiful.

Are they an easy fit in the Polo?

[saty]

It shouldn't be hard to wire in the mic, I need to wire in the mic for my headunit, will be doing it in the summer. I've already wired in RCA's from under the kickplates, through the dashboard side panel, to the Headunit. Can't see the mic taking more than 30-45 minutes to do.

For the bulb u have to remove the headlight, two torx screws at the top and pull the headlight out. A torx screwdriver with the spare wheel toolkit

[perarduapropatria]

It shouldn't be hard to wire in the mic, I need to wire in the mic for my headunit, will be doing it in the summer. I've already wired in RCA's from under the kickplates, through the dashboard side panel, to the Headunit. Can't see the mic taking more than 30-45 minutes to do.

For the bulb u have to remove the headlight, two torx screws at the top and pull the headlight out. A torx screwdriver with the spare wheel toolkit

I swapped the crappy OEM bubs for Philips Xtremevision (or something) this afternoon. What a pain in the hoop that was. Not the removing the headlight - that was easy - trying to get the bulb to clip back in; I think someone has bent the bracket that the bulb fits into in the past.

Done now.

I'll give them a crack before adding a HID kit. To be honest, I wonder whether HIDS they're more of a nuisance because you have to carry a spare ballast and bulb around with you in case one fails - I've not had a problem (yet) with the XK's lights.

I ask about the mic because I read the getting the trim away from the A pillar is a bit tasty. Easy to break, apparently.

[perarduapropatria]

As there is no headlight washer on the Polo, a HID kit wouldn't be road-legal.

Easy decision there!

[alexperkins]

Its a hot topic of controversy on HIDs and washers

Legally, washers only have to be fitted if the car has HIDs from new

MOT regulations state that if fitted washer systems must work, but if not fitted, reasonable doubt must be followed therefore they realistically cannot fail you.

[perarduapropatria]

Its a hot topic of controversy on HIDs and washers

Legally, washers only have to be fitted if the car has HIDs from new

MOT regulations state that if fitted washer systems must work, but if not fitted, reasonable doubt must be followed therefore they realistically cannot fail you.

You're spot on; it's not ambiguous, but I think you need to have a pragmatic MoT tester - and not get it done at a stealer that are looking for servicing / corrective work to make a quick dollar.

There are a lot of dogmatic testers out there who misinterpret the regs. I got our local MoT tester to fit the ones in the Jaguar, because I also get him to do the MoTs.

[iichel]

Are the rules in the UK also in such a way that you have to have the automatic headlight height system?

[alexperkins]

The way its written is that some cars may be fitted with levellers and washers, but there is no requirement as such

New cars off the production line have to have them fitted to comply with EU regulations, but retrofits dont readily legally require it

[perarduapropatria]

Are the rules in the UK also in such a way that you have to have the automatic headlight height system?

Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with headlamp washers and a suspension or headlamp self levelling system.

Where such systems are fitted, they must work; however, it is accepted that it may not be possible to readily determine the functioning of self levelling systems. In such cases, the benefit of the doubt must be given.

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_170.htm

Looks like I need a slice of humble pie