Ben's Silver LFR TDi 150

[SilverFiRe]

Well I've started with a few mods so thought I'd start a thread and see where it goes...

This is my Leon which i bought back in March

I've already installed:
- K&N panel filter
- ECS Magnetic Sump Plug from Awesome GTI
- A new splitter as the previous owners (who happen to live just round the corner from me!) managed to rip the last one off, probably pulling too far into a parking space kerb!

I just picked it up today after having these fitted - its the Sachs Kit from Techniklutch on eBay (the £525 kit) consisting of OEM Pressure Plate, OEM Flywheel, OEM Pressure Plate and Uprated Kevlar Material Clutch Plate. I didn't think my old clutch felt right when driving even though my mechanic said its like new! This one feels much better in my opinion. Got the front wheel bearings done at the same time too.

Also had the CSC replaced (LuK item) which came as part of the clutch kit.

Had one of these babies fitted which I think has to be one of the best mods anyone can do, its not made any huge difference to idle vibrations but has definitely improved the engine pick up and overall it just makes the engine feel a lot more solidly mounted!

Old dogbone bush

And the colourful shiny new one!

Next on my list is to do another oil change with another lot of this stuff - found loads of bits of metal when i drained the oil about a month or so back (eek!) which is surprising considering Marshall SEAT Leicester where i got the car from had supposedly serviced the car... the oil was also filthy so i'm changing it all again within the next week or so along with a K&N high-flow oil filter to replace the OEM one i put in it last time.

Its VW TDi PD friendly and Halfords had it on offer recently, knocked down from £45 to £35 - if you find a big enough ASDA store that sells car bits they also sell it at £35.

So what next...? Well the whole point in getting the clutch renewed is because i want to get a Stage 1 CC remap, more to smooth out the curve than for the extra power (honest!). Need to save a few more pennies first and investigate how it will affect my insurance premium - has anyone in their mid 20's done the same who could tell me how its affected yours? I'm with Elephant.co.uk at the moment but not too sure what their policy is on mods.

After the remap I hope to get round to the following mods too:
- FK LED rear light clusters in Red
- DRL headlights - link here
- HID 6000k kit
- Silvertech bulbs all round
- Aftermarket fuel filter - any recommendations?!

Nothing major like a lot on here! I just want a few subtle things, I like the standard look of the car, wheels, etc so its just personal touches more than anything.

Thanks for looking

 

[SilverFiRe]

Hi guys, I fitted the K&N high flow oil filter recently but noticed that its about an inch shorter in length than the standard item. Just wondering if anyone else has used one before and knew whether this was correct?
Hope they sent the right one - is the 1P filter slightly shorter than the 1M? I was thinking it might be part of what makes it high flow?!

 

[SilverFiRe]

Little bit of an update - K&N oil filter removed and replaced with a standard Bosch item as i'm not confident that the K&N one was correct, even though Euro Car Parts listed it for my car.

Fuel Filter changed, not sure how long the last one had been in but it looked like it had been there for a while so ordered a Hengst one from Euro Car Parts which didn't take long to fit (thanks to the tips in this post! LINK)

Also had 4 new Bridgestone Potenza's fitted - had a puncture from a huge bolt/nail through the left rear and seeing as the fronts were nearly shot i thought i might as well have a full set in time for the harsher half of the year. They're a new pattern apparently but i'm not too sure on the actual model number.
OH MY GOD what a difference they've made, the road noise i was getting before is pretty much non-existent now. I love em'!

I have also booked the car in on 10th September for a Phase 1 Custom Code remap at JBS which i'm quite excited about!

Spent 3 hours or so today washing, polishing (with Meguires) and waxing (with Harly) the car as its probably the last time i'll get chance before Autumn/Winter sets in. Took the car up to the nearby Industrial Park where i knew of a quiet corner to take some pics....

 

[4937Liam]

Tidy. Nice mods so far - let us know how you get on with the Custom Code map.

Liam.

 

[SilverFiRe]

Went to JBS today, got there a little early but there weren't any other customers around so they got straight on with sorting the remap. 40 minutes later and the keys were handed back to me and off I went.

First impressions....not much difference, in fact I nearly turned round and drove back because I didn't think anything had changed at all. However, I got on the motorway and at cruising speed things felt different. There was no waiting when putting my foot down for the power to kick in, it was just there.

Acceleration in the first 3 gears is far more rapid and the power is there right through the rev range. I wouldn't say there's been a massive increase in power over standard but I think I was expecting far too much especially when you consider that other than a K&N panel filter, the car is pretty much standard.

To get the best out of the map I think I'll need to look at changes to the exhaust system to help it breathe a bit more freely.
Next I need to see if I get any better mileage...watch this space!

 

[SilverFiRe]

Something turned up in the postroom at work for me today - thanks Fl@pper at eparts

Can't wait to get them on!

 

[SilverFiRe]

Well i never thought it would happen, but the suspension is finally on!

I originally planned for it to be fitted back at the start of November but the mechanic i normally use has never fitted anything aftermarket before and didn't want to disappoint me if he stuffed it up, so i got it booked into JBS Autosport and yesterday was fitting day.

Unfortunately i'd managed to order the wrong front wishbone rear bushes, i'd gone and got the LCR/TT ones somehow - by the way, if anyone wants them, £20 +P&P and they're yours - luckily JBS had some of the correct fitment bushes in so i just had to pay a bit more.

Anyway enough gassing, here's a pic

Before

After

This is as low as it would go whilst still being able to get the tracking things on, but i've since raised it slightly as i seem to be scraping the splitter on just about anything and everything But i'm pleased with the look now, i just hated those huge gaps between the tyre and the arch!

I'll try to get round to cleaning the car if there's a break in this crappy weather and then i'll take a few more pics.