UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Hi People,

I'd first like to congratulate all of you on a very informative and professional forum. I've been into modifiying for several years (not VW though) and all the others look and feel amatuerish.

I've recently been in talks with a nice man at Reg Vardy regarding purchasing of a new 9N TDi 100 Sport 5-door. He was meant to ring me yesterday so we could have a test drive but he has already fallen at the first hurdle. Anyway, I still want one, so I have a few questions for you all.

The most important is how much does the modifications that you do affect your warrenty? I'm buying a new car but don't want to have to wait for three years until I can mod it. I'm not thinking major stuff but along the lines of: -

17" Super Ts
ECU remap
K&N replacement panel filter
Rear spoiler
Front bumper extention/splitter
Delocked and debadged boot
HID headlights

I bought a brand new 106 GTi in 1999, fitter a K&N 57i after a month, then killed the engine after 2 months. The main dealer replaced the engine (at a cost of £5000 to Peugeot) but ummed and rrred before doing so, I don't want to be in a situation like that again. Obviously, the service intervals are such that frequent visits to the dealer are not necessary, and as such you can easily swap back some mods to standard (wheels, filter etc.). Can you give me some thoughts???

Secondly, as stated above I want to remap the ECU for more power/torque (I'm use to a 0-60 time of 7sec and top speed of 135mph+), do you know any people around the Midlands who can do this.

Thanks very much

Steve

The ECU remap might pose a problem.

Although VW's VAGCOM computer may not be able to identify a remap when they drive your car they certainly will, then if there are any drivetrain problems, they may repudiate any warranty claims.

The HID headlamps will not be a problem as you can easily swap back to your originals when you take the car in for any warranty work. External bodywork modifications will not affect warranty claims but if you lock yourself out of your car then VW assist may charge you.

Des

Hello Steve, firstly, welcome! Thanks for the commets regarding the forum

The warranty often depends on the dealers and what you have changed, and what you're claiming for.

You'd more than likely get away with some wheels, You could argue the point that they offer 17" wheels as an option if anything happens.

Remap - Not too sure about remaps on VWs. I know on Imprezas you can get completley invisible remaps, and some that aren't. If it was invisible from the dealer, I'm sure they'd do any work that needed doing. But as I haven't got a remap, I can't say much on this. Des sounds about right!

Rear spolier won't be a problem, nor will front spolier.

HID headlights - if something major was to go wrong with your electrics, then they could be funny and blame it on the HIDs you've fitted, but they're unlikely to! You can always stick standard bulbs back in and hide the wires from the ballasts.

I say go for it...!

Wasnt there a company featured in PVW that offered switchable ECU settings? so that you could hide the alterations? Think it was an APR chip.

Will try and find details.

Thanks guys for your responses. It seems you have to be careful but can get away with a little.

Just got home from seeing another VW dealership. It seems the 100PS TDI sport is a rare car, but I now have one with my name on it

VW are building it in week 5, to arrive 2nd or 3rd week of Feb, which means it'll be an 04 plate.

Only problem is I've not had a test drive yet. Going out on Friday in a 1.4 TDI SE. Should give me an idea on handling although it's not quite the Sport. My 130PS Bora seems pretty similar in performance so engine should be great.

Any thoughts on the drive???

Cheers

Steve

P.S. Any more info available on the chip?

I have the PD TDI 100 Sport, I don't want to rant and rave the guys do get fed up of me

It will be noisier than your Bora that's for sure but motorway cruising is relaxed, midrange pull is excellent and MPG, you know this is V good.

As a direct comparison for you I previously had a V5 Golf and I much prefer the Polo, only wish I'd gone for a 5 door model.

My current tank of Diesel is giving me a range of 590 miles, but this is with 51 litres and 17,000 miles on the clock so it takes a while to loosen up. Also the handling is way better than my Golf.

Have you ordered the car with any extras?

Des

Details on the chip Here

it only gives examples of the chip on the 20vT engine so i would give em a call to see if it could be applied to yours.

hope that helps

Thanks for the link Karl, I'll give 'em a ring.

Des, I've not ordered any extras except Metallic Paint (Diamond Black). I was going to get rear electric windows and colour pack, but the sport now has the colour pack on it already, and it's a long wait if I want the rear windows. I know they're well specced already though. The only other thing was a removeable towbar......

I asked about the 130bhp Polo, to be called the 'GT', only that puts it in around insurance group 13 and won't be around until the summer. Can't wait that long and don't want to pay that much on insurance, plus I can still chip the 100bhp if it's not enough.

I'll let you know more after Friday's visit.

Cheers

Steve

P.S. Found this :-

http://www.mega4.co.uk/performance.htm

what do you reckon?

Hi Steve,

Welcome to the Forum, i also have a TDi 100 (Remapped to 150)

you will love every minute of it, it goes like stink, mine does 0-60 in approx 8 secs, and goes to around 130MPH

Does anyone else notice the Brakes "Come Alive" and are far more responsive after about 80MPH? mine are fine under that, but are far more aggressive, and make me feel more confident after 80MPH seems like the EBA is helping out me thinks

the only thing with Remapping it is, throw out the window any hopes of great MPG as mine has went from 50 to around 35, which i can certainly live with

mind you on a long motorway run, it does do about 50, but normal everyday running it struggles to beat high 30's early 40's

i don't know of any Midlands re-mapping services, but i would certainly recomend one in Scotland where i had mine done - Star Performance (01592) 770377

Steve

If I remember correctly, I posted details in this section a while back on REVO remapping for the 100bhp PD TDI Polo...

Might be an idea?

Had a test drive in the 1.4TDi SE.

Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed. I suppose I was expecting a lot after the Bora so perhaps I'm being unfair. I also realise that there is a big performance difference between the 1.4 and the 1.9, but I've driven the Fiesta (can I say that or is it a swearword) 1.4 TDCi and was much more impressed with that. And the noise the thing makes! It sounds like one of those Microcars!

Anyway, apart from the engine, the centre console squeaked and rattled like anything.

Other than that the car is great. Enough room, even in the back for me (I'm 6'1") and the build quality is generally good.

My decision is to try and find a second hand one to drive first before I put a deposit down. I just hope it's a bit more special....

why not try searching on http://www.vw.co.uk on the used car section?

my dad was thinking of swoping his mk4 tdi 90 golf for a 100bhp polo, and found there were some good deals on ex-demo cars, and these sometimes have loads of extras allready fitted.

Matt

Instead of a ECU chip, how about a performance box? They are simple to plug in an remove and doesn't affect the ECU in anyway, so the dealers will never know. Any copy of diesel car will have a host of companies selling these, but don't use e-bay as the majority of them are just simple resistor mods that you can do yourself for 50p

Hi Steve

A link for you :

AMD Near Oxford http://www.auto-amd.com/home.asp They're advertising their new 'oneclick' similar to Revo I guess in that it can be easily switched back from modified to standard. Useful for servicing and warranty work

Also if you haven't got a p/ex consider ordering through a broker. I got my current 9n 5 weeks ago from a midlands based dealer via a broker. Factory order took 6 weeks-3 Door TDI Sport in Diamond Black with Barcelona alloys, winter pack and auto dim mirror and rain sensing wipers for £12454 otr. Much better discount than I could get from a dealer direct. Send me a PM if you want more details