Bickerton's Polo 9N TDI

[Bickerton]

Hi guys, picked this up just before xmas but only just got round to doing one of these threads up.

Its a 1.9 Tdi Sport with winter pack


This is how i bought her (it's a bitch ergo a her..)

From ad

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/mms_img-1721473266.jpg

Once home with a wash
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0104.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0041.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0042.jpg

Due to the sports and winter pack it came with big comfy heated seats (drivers needs fixing)

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0043.jpg


Spent a few quid getting the cambelt and water pump done as no history of it
being replaced in about 70k miles at least and since my lupos one snapped i kinda like to keep on top of em.

One morning DISASTER! Water leak

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0141-1.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0138-1.jpg

Seemed to be coming from the heater matrix

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0156-1.jpg

Hoped to be able to get away with just seals, but seemed the pipe had also corroded as its made badly..

Decided to treat myself myself to some lows, i went for joms as i spent £500 on a set of coilies on my old car and was very disappointed for the monies so thought id either go for cheap or expensive and due to the repairs/servicing i was all outta cash.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/399819_10150476917161032_240939455_n.jpg


I must admit when first fitted the bouncing was hellish! But after a couple of days it settled down alot and for myself i felt the ride is almost on par with my old Weitecs

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/399907_10150484522211032_540221031_9133836_8712313 73_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/379026_10150486832361032_540221031_9143974_8209864 42_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/399565_10150513869791032_540221031_9237847_1533504 004_n.jpg

As i am on a tightish budget it was then onto the cheap/free little mods

De-badge the rear

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0350-3.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0351-2.jpg

De wiper

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0389-2.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0390-1.jpg


The ride sometimes felt a little "floaty" so decided to replace the rear console bushes as seems a common problem.
Got them and front wishbone bushes from floflex under £35 delivered, used them before and was happy with the quality and they didn't let me down this time either, personally prefer them to powerflex not just for the price.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMG-20120105-WA0000.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0367.jpg

Car now feels alot tighter over the lumps and bumps of the roads.



Cheeky rolling pic on the way to Ultimate Dubs

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/426217_10150622875791032_540221031_9566966_1719485 205_n.jpg


Went a few months without buying anything for the car whilst saving up to replace the terrible condition wheels as they really let the car down!

After a little while of trolling ebay and every german car forums classifieds i came across these babies, collected them on the way back from a weekend wedding trip to cornwall which resulted in a 700 mile round trip over the weekend

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0434.jpg

They were in very good condition but needed a little bit of work , managed to get em like this.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/532488_10150665079181032_540221031_9720032_1675171 257_n.jpg

The finish isn't amazing but will do me for this show season with a view to sending them to a proper polisher next year.


Just got round to fitting them a couple of hours ago and adjusted the ride height a little. in the process it would appear one of the rear springs weren't fitted correctly initially, managed to beat the rubber back into shape though and all seems fine.


http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0483-1.jpg



Sooooooo.. This is how she's sitting now.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0496.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0495.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0494.jpg

Removed the front mud flaps too

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0485.jpg

I feel it's an improvement
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0499.jpg


This is the final pic for now, will get some proper ones done once it's a nice sunny day.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0497.jpg


Plans now are tidy up the scuffs on the bump strips and possibly put a slightly darker tint on rear three windows.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, any tips/opinions grateful (to a point)

[Bickerton]

Pics from a meet the other week

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/385681_334212666634258_324820897573435_840245_4297 83460_n.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/538367_432537083438773_332494263443056_1581932_295 549205_n.jpg

Friend of mine was standarding his polo so I inherited some 9n3 gti side skirts.


Before
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMG-20120424-WA0000.jpg

After (duh)
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMG-20120426-WA0003.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0526-1.jpg

[Bickerton]

Oh snap!
Steering rack appears dead

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0535.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0536.jpg


Easily solved it seems (£95 for complete refurb in under 4 hours)

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMG-20120508-WA0000-1.jpg

Few pics from recent meet.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/545893_377481102289487_348673345170263_968277_1139 661515_n.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/62669_377481142289483_348673345170263_968278_58818 078_n.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/538569_377481198956144_348673345170263_968280_1144 522988_n.jpg


Next plans are either, try get front resprayed and smoothed a little, oooor get the scuff on strip sorted cheapy cheap and spend remaining monies on general tidying.

[Bickerton]

How it stands at the mo


http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/polo-1.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/polo1.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/polo2.jpg

It's going to the painters next week to smooth the front up a little

[craig180]

Looking smart mate. Agree with the comments about suspension. I had JOM redlined on the Skud and it seemed as good as any with Weitecs which everyone on Briskoda spunked over

[blackie_2k5]

Should get some "GB" plates with a black border on, will tidy the front right up :y:

[craig180]

Should get some "GB" plates with a black border on, will tidy the front right up :y:

I'll be honest, I prefer the cleaner plain plates

[Bickerton]

Not gonna get gb plates on a German car, id lose too many scene points. Will be getting new plates and as said the fronts getting smoothed a littlw next week so front plate will be banished to the lower grill between shows.

[blackie_2k5]

Fair do's

It does make most cars look alot better though.. Even a black border with no gb looks a lot tidier then plain :)

But I did think about the vag scene after I posted it :homme:

[JoshFurioBrookes]

I like this, looks very clean. What spec are the wheels? They look just about right! :)

I'll be purchasing some JOM's next week for my 6n2, also seen people saying they can't tell much differences between them and other much more expensive coillies.

[Bickerton]

They are 5x100 16x8j et25

The joms seem good vs other cheaper makes, I think its a case of either buy cheap or buy expensive, no point buying something invetween, especially if going low.

[Bickerton]

Went to into a multi storey carpark the other day and managed to kerb one of my wheels most of the way round, was gutted!

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMG-20120530-WA0007.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0634.jpg


After weighing up my options all worked out expensive, so i decided to have a go at repairing them myself, worst that woulda happen is i'd break the already dead wheel...

Taped the area around the damage with some duct tape as I wanted something that could hold up against the sanding.

Started with 180gt to sand back most of the damage, then moved onto 320gt - 600gt - 1200gt - 1500gt got my drill polishing mops and compounds on it then gave it a going over with some metal polish finished off with brasso.

There's the odd tiny nick here and there but didn't wanna take too much material off plus looking at getting em done at a polishers next season.
Wheels aren't clean as taking em all off and polishing em next week before dc12


http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0638.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0639.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0637.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMG-20120531-WA0002.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0641.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0645.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0647.jpg


Drama averted!!!


Anywho, i decided to try freshen up parts of the car before DC12

Fog was cracked and always misty/condesated

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMG-20120530-WA0006-1.jpg

New one(need to space it with washers)
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMG-20120530-WA0005.jpg

Also got some new plates and a fresh rear badge as mine appears corroded

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0657.jpg

Unfortunately i dont think im gonna be able to get my bumper painted before DC12 as everyones either booked up or too expensive!

To make up for it i bought a few bits and bobs to freshen up what decent paintwork there is on the car and also got some polish to go with my new rotary

As i was worried about damaging my paint as it was my first time using a rotary i decided to test it out on the wifes Van, i think i did a decent job.

Before
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0651.jpg

After
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/IMAG0656.jpg


Hopefully i can do as good a job if not better on the Polo next week!

Thanks for looking

[craig180]

Nice work with the rotary. What compounds and polishes did you use?

Looking forward to seeing this at some point. You heading up north to VW Festival?

[Bickerton]

I don't doo oop north, stinks of pie and unemployment!

Only planned shows atm are DC12 and edition 38/trax if i can wangle the time off.

I used menzerna orange pads and menzerna polish 106

[Bickerton]

Rolling pic from recent meet

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/taximan19/rollingpolo.jpg