Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: KWP '90 Alpine White GTI 8v - Belfast (Read 5949 times) previous topic - next topic

KWP '90 Alpine White GTI 8v - Belfast

Good evening!

I finally picked up my 1990 GTI 8v.
On Saturday i drove down to Enniskillen, NI and picked up the car i had been waiting all Christmas for (joys of missing V5c and a pandemic in Swansea/The World...)

This is the face of a 31yr old man finally driving his boyhood dream car!






I made the 1.5hr drive home to Belfast, where the car was amazing... didn't miss a beat mechanically.

However, it was in this time i started to take note of things that will need attention.. but I'll share the list later on  :o

Once home, i set about sorting out little things that i had already prepped for from my initial viewing of the car.

1. Changed the weird new style GTI badge to the original one.. (cant work out how someone put it on and stepped back and went - yes that's better than the original.. but hey ho, sorted it now)
Before:

After:

2. Changed the "leather" gear knob to a golf ball style one
3. Added a button blank to the dash as there was one missing randomly
4. Fitted roof bars and my bike rack for test fitting (sourced from P'Boro and couriered by my Dad in Ely)
5. Finally, my grandfather passed away this year, and when cleaning out his garage (he was car/plane mad) i found his old AA badge - so that went on the grille as a little memory to him  8)

Here's how its sitting now. (excuse the dirt haha)



On the to do list:
1. fix blower motor - the fan stopped on the way home. Removed it and cleaned up the connections on fan to resistor - worked for a bit.. also the connection to resistor seems slack and the fan works on and off if that connection is wiggled, any tips would be great thanks.
2. Squealing noise randomly at low speeds - intermittent again.. thinking something PAS related
3. Air Filter upgrade
4. Digifant tune using the guide.
5. Change the radio to a 90's Panasonic cassette player to get it back to its roots.
6. Fit Immobiliser/Alarm
7. Weighted Shift rod ordered - to fit.
8. Headlight Loom upgrade
9. Suspension drop -30mm with Eibach springs and Bilstein shocks.

But yeh, i'll try to keep this updated - you can also follow me on Instagram on kwp_gti  ;)

The forums great, and i'll be asking questions galore  O:)

Re: KWP '90 Alpine White GTI 8v - Belfast

Reply #1 –
Great little project you've got there, I love the nod to your dad too.
Mk2 Driver
Mk2 Silver 8v
Corrado G60 Turbo
Mk2 Red 8v
Mk2 Grey 16v
Mk2 BBM ABF
Bora 20vt
Mk2 Green VR6
Mk2 Green ABF
Mk2 BBM 20vt
3.2 TT Roadster
Mk2 Red 16v
225 TT Coup
3.2 TT Coup
Mk4 Anniversary
Mk7 Red GTI Performance
Mk2 Red GTI Restoration
Mk2 BBM R32
911 Carrera 4S

Re: KWP '90 Alpine White GTI 8v - Belfast

Reply #2 –
looks great. welcome to the club

1. fix blower motor - could also be the switch
2. Squealing noise randomly at low speeds - most likely PAS or Alternator belt, adjust but ideally replace the V-belts, you might need to clean up the pulleys so there's no rust.

7. Weighted Shift rod ordered - to fit. - a gear selector bush kit is always a good thing to do too, to tighten up the gear change

8. Headlight Loom upgrade - also disconnect the yellow dim/dip resistor if it's still attached (https://www.vwgolfmk2.co.uk/clubforum/index.php?topic=50.0) 

Re: KWP '90 Alpine White GTI 8v - Belfast

Reply #3 –
I saw this up for sale, looked a nice car, welcome, there are a few guys around Belfast with MK2's that can help with things.

Re: KWP '90 Alpine White GTI 8v - Belfast

Reply #4 –
Evening!

So tonight was all about getting my boot lock to work. turns out the central locking pin wasnt sliding smoothly so would stick.
I Pulled apart and greased it up a good'un. Works like a charm now on the central locking

While I was back there I reattached the rear washer pipe.. I needed to use some ingenuity.. adios tyre foam thing.. the plastic pipe was perfect to make it fit properly on the jet ..

Finally in the engine bay I fitted the weighted shift rod yesterday.. pictures included now

Also replaced the coolant temp sensor, the temperature gauge still doesn't work..
So that needs investigating.. bugger...

Finally I was advised to remove the dim/dip resistor to improve the headlight output.. so done that, thanks @Eddypeck :)
but also have a headlight loom ordered to increase voltage to bulbs

Also fitted a K&N air filter but forgot to take photos again 🤦









Photo of a Tesco car park.

Re: KWP '90 Alpine White GTI 8v - Belfast

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Eddypeck on
looks great. welcome to the club

1. fix blower motor - could also be the switch
2. Squealing noise randomly at low speeds - most likely PAS or Alternator belt, adjust but ideally replace the V-belts, you might need to clean up the pulleys so there's no rust.

7. Weighted Shift rod ordered - to fit. - a gear selector bush kit is always a good thing to do too, to tighten up the gear change

8. Headlight Loom upgrade - also disconnect the yellow dim/dip resistor if it's still attached (https://www.vwgolfmk2.co.uk/clubforum/index.php?topic=50.0) 

Thanks for this, I'll check the switch as well, however the connection to resisitor feels loose and when wiggled it can make it work.. I was out with a friend yesterday and had to ge him to move the connection to get it working.
It's booked in for a full service with belts next week so will get the pulleys and stuff all checked

Do you have a link for the bush repair kit? I found a full set on VWH parts but includes shift rods

Tried the resistor removal.. will see what it does

Keep the knowledge coming @Eddypeck , I really appreciate it

Re: KWP '90 Alpine White GTI 8v - Belfast

Reply #6 –
Quote from: t2000 on
I saw this up for sale, looked a nice car, welcome, there are a few guys around Belfast with MK2's that can help with things.

Cheers mate, she's clean, obvious few things need sorted, I think I got lucky.. a friend's at DSM Autos in Belfast checked it and was really impressed with it 👍
Must try and get in touch with the Belfast guys, any names on here?

Re: KWP '90 Alpine White GTI 8v - Belfast

Reply #7 –
Re the temp sensor.
If the issue is with the temp guage in the car it is the black sensor that you may need to change. B+B on ebay sell them and give great service/delivery. Not sure about to Belfast tho.
I think the blue one is to do with the mixture etc. My blue sensor failed and caused havoc making the car undrivable.
1991 Tornado Red BB 8v GTI Moredoor
2008 Skoda Octy Scout aka dirty diesel

Re: KWP '90 Alpine White GTI 8v - Belfast

Reply #8 –
Quote from: AndyBa on
Re the temp sensor.
If the issue is with the temp guage in the car it is the black sensor that you may need to change. B+B on ebay sell them and give great service/delivery. Not sure about to Belfast tho.
I think the blue one is to do with the mixture etc. My blue sensor failed and caused havoc making the car undrivable.

Balls. Well sure I've got the blue one installed haha can't be a bad thing, I've got the black one ordered already on Eurocarparts but will check etka online tomorrow for different part numbers and source one asap :)
Someone said it was the blue one and I thought I'd read it somewhere.. obviously wrong.. eff sake haha

Re: KWP '90 Alpine White GTI 8v - Belfast

Reply #9 –
Quote from: AndyBa on
Re the temp sensor.
If the issue is with the temp guage in the car it is the black sensor that you may need to change. B+B on ebay sell them and give great service/delivery. Not sure about to Belfast tho.
I think the blue one is to do with the mixture etc. My blue sensor failed and caused havoc making the car undrivable.

Just checked etka online. The black one is called "temperature sensor
for coolant temperature gauge"

Haha so yeh should have looked at this before ordering lol

Re: KWP '90 Alpine White GTI 8v - Belfast

Reply #11 –
Quote from: Eddypeck on
B&B on ebay also for the gear selector bush kit. The full kit does come with replacement rods, but I have a weighted shift rod and some solid metal selector rods.



thanks, do you have a link for this seller?
all i can find is some sofa company in italy lol

Re: KWP '90 Alpine White GTI 8v - Belfast

Reply #12 –
I know Gas n Gears used to make them, unsure if they still are, but worth looking him up on Facebook.
The guy behind them has been playing with vw gearboxes for over 20 years!
Mk2 Driver
Mk2 Silver 8v
Corrado G60 Turbo
Mk2 Red 8v
Mk2 Grey 16v
Mk2 BBM ABF
Bora 20vt
Mk2 Green VR6
Mk2 Green ABF
Mk2 BBM 20vt
3.2 TT Roadster
Mk2 Red 16v
225 TT Coup
3.2 TT Coup
Mk4 Anniversary
Mk7 Red GTI Performance
Mk2 Red GTI Restoration
Mk2 BBM R32
911 Carrera 4S

Re: KWP '90 Alpine White GTI 8v - Belfast

Reply #13 –
Quote from: Scherni on

thanks, do you have a link for this seller?
all i can find is some sofa company in italy lol

This is the eBay seller I got them from.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/beefjerkey22/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

I bought some years ago for my previous mk2 so when I got this one in 2019 I chased him up for some more. He no longer lists them on ebay, had some issues I belive but he was still happy to send some out. They're around £30 I think, can't remember exactly. The Gas'n'Gears ones are if you can get them are a work of art, but last time I looked were about £150 and I can't justify this.

Re: KWP '90 Alpine White GTI 8v - Belfast

Reply #14 –
Quote from: Scherni on
Quote from: t2000 on
I saw this up for sale, looked a nice car, welcome, there are a few guys around Belfast with MK2's that can help with things.
Cheers mate, she's clean, obvious few things need sorted, I think I got lucky.. a friend's at DSM Autos in Belfast checked it and was really impressed with it 👍
Must try and get in touch with the Belfast guys, any names on here?


Check out the Facebook group Attention Seekers NI, I know a few of them on there, https://www.facebook.com/groups/613851435774818