Leon ST SE 2020 1.6TDI

[Frostybear]

A log for some of the relatively simple mods and work I'm doing to the Seat Leon 2020 1.6TDI mk3.5 ST SE.

I bought this car in November 2023 to replace my now very old (but dependable) Toyota Corolla 2006 with 215k miles. Drove that car for 10 years and what a brilliant car but must be sold on to a new owner.

I needed something larger due to the new baby and all of her stuff that won't fit in a moderate size hatchback! Always loved the look of seat Leons and a estate was what I needed!

Found this 2020 1.6TDI in mystery blue with 65k kms for a very good price in Ireland. Car prices here are crazy so I had to jump on it while I could. Car is perfect and should last a long time, only problem is slightly noisy power steering at slow speeds and full lock but its just something to get over.

I wouldn't normally be interested in modifying cars,but i just love the look of the seat leon...it looks fast and sporty so i said lets try and make it a little faster and a little sportier!

Anyway,my mods planned are:
Tinted rear windows
Stage 1 remap from 115hp to 150hp
Eibach pro kit lowering springs
Upgrade alloys from 17" to 18"
A little bit of dechrome front and rear
Nicer pedals
Dynamic wing mirror indicators
Black wing mirrors
Some obd11 software mods
OEM mudflaps
Maybe some body kit...but its very difficult to find parts that fit the non fr facelift.

 

[Frostybear]

First thing on the agenda was a good clean.

Have invested in some cleaning equipment to try to keep it that way too!

 

[Frostybear]

Next up is rear window tint. Went for 15% (2nd darkest in the shop) Darkest was 5% and its just too much so very happy, makes the car look way better.

I believe its just a roll of material stuck to the indide of the windows, but its a good option. 3 year guarantee on it too

 

[Frostybear]

First silly mistake of mine. Bought some aluminium 'sports' pedals off of aliexpress, much cheaper than other options.

They're actually very good quality and improve the look of the pedals a lot...however I bought the wrong ones!

There's a difference between manual LHD and RHD cars. I bought LHD but have RHD. Differences are in foot rest style and *I believe* accelerator pedal length.

So the footrest is useless to me, replacement one ordered.
The clutch and brake pedal fit perfectly. You pull off the current rubber pedals and push in the replacement ones, very easy.

The accelerator pedal is different. It fits over the current pedal. If it was 10mm longer it would fit perfect, makes me think the LHD accelerator pedal is that little bit shorter too and I have the wrong one. I made it work by pushing it on really really hard. It's wedged on there pretty solid for now but still not 100% happy. I'll see how it holds up

Accelerator before elbow grease

Accelerator after elbow grease (rubber is folded over the original pedal on the top, pretty secure but looks a bit **** up close)

 

[Frostybear]

Not been very active on here, but here's what I've done in the meantime, split in to a few posts:

External/engine part 1:

• Remap by my local mechanic. So not dyno tested or coming with any official power figures. Supposedly is around 145hp. Makes a huge difference to the car, well worth it. I find my fuel efficiency isn't any better or worse.
• Fitted OEM 5F0075101C rear mud guards, for £50. Expensive but the cheapest I could find them. Why these aren't included by default is beyond me, penny pinching most likely. Front mud guards are very difficult to find for a not outrageous price, I eventually gave up as not worth the cost.
• Eibach Lowering springs Pro-Kit E10-79-010-04-22 for solid rear axle. Car sits much sexier now, but not too low. Makes the SE sit more like a standard cupra estate. No real difference to ride quality in my opinion either.
• I tried cleaning the original alloys...and they are such a pain. The spokes are so small so you can't get a wheel brush in between them! So I changed alloys from 17" standard alloys to Veemann VFS25 18" in gunmetal grey. Was originally looking at VW Pretoria alloys in grey but came across these second hand and in mint condition instead for a very good price from a alloy wheel company in Ireland. Came with 4 tyres, 2 no name brand and 2 pirellis but the pirellis were below the minimum tread depth, so I replaced them with Goodyear Asymmetric 6s. Great tyres. I'll eventually get all 4 tyres on asymmetric 6s. Ride quality is also completely fine on the 18s with the lowering springs. Also put some lock bolts on the alloys from halfords.
• Fitted wind deflectors. DGA brand from micks garage (Irish online motoring store). The fronts fit fine and aren't too noisy, but the rears are a bit precarious and one fell down once when opening the window. They don't have clips but come with some tape that is clearly insufficient. I've bought a bit of vhb tape to hopefully stick them on really strong. Yet to fit the tape. I don't open the rear windows very often in fairness.

 

[Frostybear]

External part 2:

• Fitted bonnet gas struts. Easy job.
  Gas struts from Poland for Leon
• Tinted the rear lights. I went quite light on the tint. I tried a vinyl wrap and I must admit I failed spectacularly. So instead I bought a can of spray from halfords. Very watery stuff so had to do 5 or 6 coats. Newer VAG cars have just slightly darker rear lights and I love the way it looks. So I've tried to replicate that. I don't like super dark brake lights as I feel it's a bit unsafe. What I have currently passed the NCT so all good. The only thing I need to do is give them a wet sand/polish as they are slightly hazy. I might also put some clear coat on them too after sanding.
  Halfords tint spray
  Here's a side by side with another leon facelift estate in a car park for a comparison:
  

 

[Frostybear]

• "Sports" pedals have been holding up just fine despite my previous post. You do have to wipe your feet as pressing the clutch pedal when shoes are wet will make your foot slip, I just do it instinctively now.
• Replaced all internal lights with LED ones. Bought a kit from aliexpress for 5 euro and they are perfect. Improves the internal visibility and look hugely.
  Leon mk3 internal LED kit
• The cupholders on the leon are so small as to be useless. I have a nice water bottle that is too wide to fit them, so I 3D printed an adapter. I will eventually release it on thingiverse as I'm not entirely happy with it yet, but it does the job.