i got this car for $800 with a blown HG and only 124k miles on it. new injectors, newer turbo. kid saw a puddle and drove it anyways, and it overheated and died. his parents were tired of putting money into it, and the quote from the shop was $4800 for a 6 month warranty motor plus install and the timing belt etc. it is a Wolfsburg Edition, heated cloth, tinted windows, etc. even came with BBS RX-II 2 pc 16" wheels.
my buddy who works at the shop that has done the work prior called and asked "do you want a 1.8T Jetta?" i said not really why whats up. he explained it, and i offered $800 sight unseen. they took it. when i got it apart i saw that the plastic port for the cooling off the side of the head was blown up. that'll do it.
i bought parts and built a completely new motor for it. bearings, rings, bolts, seals, coils, new single mass clutch, etc. had to use a different block as this one was scarred and melted a piston top. and had to use other pistons too obviously. the machinist who does my race car motor work slapped the head together quick for me (cash always works wonders - $200 for valve job, clean, deck and seals). good thing i have a few spares laying around! also got the new lower front lip (this one was gone).
and although i am intimately familiar with the MOTOR from this car, this was the first one i had ever worked on, much less ridden in. i had never messed with the cars, just the engines. and i was worried i wouldnt get it right going back together. and i couldnt figure out how to get the turbo off or the manifold off with this stuff still in the car, so out it came as a unit. i give major props to the people who do the timing belts on these cars in place. myself, aint gonna do it that way i will pull the motor.
but i did. i originally built the car for my daughter as a surprise for her first car, but nothing went right about the whole ordeal. i finally caved and just gave it to her although she still doesnt have a license, and didnt have a permit when i did this nor any desire to get one. i did say if the had ever though to get rid of it, i wanted it back. her mother specifically said to get a manual. so i did. turns out the child cant mentally handle the driving of a stick shift car, especially in traffic. so they wanted an auto, so i swapped them the Jetta for the B5 A4 i built for her first, and off they went. they sold it in three days and got her a Mazda something or other. automatic, and she is happy.
so i got the MK4 back, and now i get to be a MK4-tard myself!!!!
first things i did were put on a shaved emblem grill and put in a stereo before i gave it to her, then when i got it back put in a powered Bazooka.
today i was bored this afternoon so i jacked it up to put the 17" 6 spoke TT wheels i have onto it. and since i had the front wheels off anyways, i couldnt help but do the front brakes for it (i have had the parts for a little bit). popped in new front bumper marker lights (one was broke) and replaced a burnt out taillight.
i think it was time for these....
The jetta ought to be a decent car for you now that you have poured a bunch of work into it. Good luck.
