ND-Photo.nl 's - Seat Leon ST Cupra 280

[nd-photo.nl]

Hi all, it's been a while, but I am back to Seat after having driven some other cars in the meantime.

Short introduction: My name is Andy, and I just bought a Seat Leon Mk3 ST Cupra 280. My goal is to have a Stage 2+ car, and I will be documenting hopefully everything along the way. I hope to share some knowledge along the way, as the MQB platform is pretty new to me.

Car history (worth mentioning)
2012: I bought a yellow Seat Leon Cupra 1M 1.8T 20VT, which had many upgrades which took it from 180BHP to 261BHP 395Nm (Stage 2). Learned a lot from the car and was my first real project. Album: https://flickr.com/photos/andyramdin/albums/72157629066602690/

2015: Renault Clio RS Phase 1: https://flickr.com/photos/andyramdin/albums/72157650112492783

2018: Volvo S80 2.4T (5 cilinder turbo): https://flickr.com/photos/andyramdin/albums/72157694648668714

2020: Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works. A bucket list car, I wanted to experience this pocket rocket with the 4 cilinder supercharged engine: https://flickr.com/photos/andyramdin/albums/72157714537601506

2022: Mercedes CLS55 AMG W219. Also a bucket list car, as I wanted to drive a big powerful V8. The CLS55 has the supercharged (kompressor) M113k V8 engine, which is considered one of the best Mercedes engines. Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/6SP5PFAUXCqanoSX9 . Build thread: https://mbworld.org/forums/c219/844341-nd-photo-nl-s-2005-cls55-build-thread.html

2024: I sold the Mercedes on a friday and on that sunday, I drove home in this. A 99% stock Seat Leon Mk3 ST Cupra 280 in Dynamic Grey with only a cutout valve.

Plans & progress:

Engine
- Remove Silica bag done!
- New revision fuel hose 06K133986EB done!
- New fuel hose MPI injection 06K133986K done!
- New PCV valve done!
- GFB DV+ T9381 upgrade done!
- Turbo Elbow upgrade done!
- Siliconen Intake hose done!
- Turbo Muffler Delete done!
- Remove Airbox Snowguard done!
- New airfilter done!
- Oil Service 11-12-2024 done!
- New Nissens Coolant Expansion Tank done!
- Homemade Air Deflectors done!
- Homemade Air Deflectors painted done!
- Air Intake Snorkel Modification done!
- Heat Reflective Tape Intake Hose done!

- New Serpentine belt tensioner
- New Serpentine belt
- New Coil Packs
- New Oil Filter Housing gaskets
- DO88 Intake
- Bigger Intercooler + hardpipe kit
- Forge Turbo blanket
- Carbon cleaning
- Fluiddampr Crank Pulley
- Stage 2 tune

Drivetrain
- DSG Oil Filter Service 06-12-2024 done!
- VCDS Starting Vibration Reduction Normal done!
- VCDS Starting Vibration Reduction disabled done!

- Differential Oil Service

Exhaust
- Standalone Vacuum Pump for Cutout done!

- 3 / 3.5 inch downpipe
- Oval Exhaust Tips
- Valved catback (?)

Suspension
- Powerflex Dogbone Insert PFF85-830 done!

- Upgrade ARB rear
- Polybushings (research needed)
- Bracing (research needed)
- New Monroe DCC dampers
- Eibach Proline springs
- New Rear Control Arms

Lighting
- Hyperflash LED Indicators Rear done!
- Dynamic Indicators done!
- Hyperflash Foglight & Reverse light done!

- Black Brake Light

 

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Brakes
- Front 340x30mm Zimmermann Drilled discs
- Rear Zimmermann 310mm Drilled discs
- ATE Ceramic pads front & rear
- Braided brake hoses (?)

Wheels & Tyres
- Standard Plastic Valve Caps done!
- VW Wheel Bolt Covers done!

- 19" Lightweight wheels
- 5mm Spacers rear

Exterior
- License Plate Holder replacement done!
- Wiper Washers (Fan Style) done!
- Carglass Nano Coating done!
- New Heatshield Discs done!

- Window Tinting
- Rieger Rear Diffuser
- Maxton Splitter (?)
- Bonnet Struts
- New Struts Boot
- Boot/Rear Window Spoilers

Interior
- Phone holder done!
- Fix Rattle in Dashboard done!
- Allweather Rubber mats done!
- Anti Bacterial Cabin Air filter 2024-12-07 done!
- Cigarette Lighter 12v Voltmeter + USB ports done!
- Cigarette Lighter 12v Voltmeter + USB ports New Variant done!
- Alubutyl Sound Proofing Rear Seats done!
- Alubutyl Sound Proofing Boot done!
- 4K Dashcam done!
- GPS Speedometer done!
- Rear Seat Rattle fix done!
- Seat Sound Subwoofer Soundproofing done!
- Alubutyl Sound Proofing Trunk done!
- Greddy Big Turbo Gauge done!
- MIB2 High Update done!

- MIB2 8" Big Screen Retrofit (?)


Misc
- Accu Monitor done!
- Lifehammer Evolution done!
- Coil Pack Puller done!
- VCDS v24.7 cable done!
- VCDS Comfort Blinkers 4x done!
- VCDS Disable Start/Stop function done!
- VCDS Driving Profile Switchover Direct done!
- Garage Cupra Flag done!
- New Exide AMG 72Ah Battery done!

- Rear Reverse Camera

 

[nd-photo.nl]

Reserved 2

 

[nd-photo.nl]

Some more pics when I bought it

I love the look of the Mk3 ST

Nice pedals

Good looking interior

The panoramic roof is such a cool feature

Analog dials have my preference instead of the virtual dials!

 

[nd-photo.nl]

Apparently I have an old software version. I have no idea yet on how to update/upgrade these systems, so assistance is welcome!

Sport menu was unlocked I was told (some gauges & lap timer)

 

[nd-photo.nl]

First looks under the bonnet

Stock IS38 turbo

Banner battery

Stock downpipe, some oil residue aorund the oil filler cap

The G13 coolant reservoir with the silicat bag

Solenoid for the exhaust cut out valve. I will be replacing this with a separate vacuum pump, as I dont like tampering with the original vacuum lines. This is tapped from the brake booster hose

 

[tracktoy]

Love the 280 they are great motors and have lots of room for extra everything and the Mk1 looked very nice, always wanted one of them.

Couple thoughts

Are you planning on replacing the engine / gearbox mounts or did I miss that in your list of things you have / want to do

Are you planning any coding changes to your car as again there is a lot of stuff you can turn on / change on these motors.

Have you looked at SuperPro TRC5000 (if you want a bit of offset, I also personally fitted the Audi Front sub frame as its stronger than the 280 Stock item and not as heavy.

Other items I have fitted (not saying I am right but things to think about) Front Strut brace, I replaced the front and back stock brace items with Leyo ones (much bigger and stronger), Catch Can, upgraded low pressure fuel pump along with the HPFP and Super Pro ALOY0018K Control Arm Lower assembly.

Now i have done lots more but these are the things I first fitted when I upgraded from Stage one.

If you are finding that you are getting very high temps in the DSG Box you can buy upgraded aux radiator that solves that issue.

Looking forward to reading your journey, I am still on mine as they keep finding new stuff for me to spend the cash I dont have on

 

[nd-photo.nl]

Thank you for your message! This is my daily car and I have become a little older since my 1M days haha (I'm 42 btw)
I want the Cupra to stay comfortable yet sporty. For instance, I want to be able to have a conversation without the exhaust note being "too much".

Also the ride should be comfortable yet assuring when driving it hard every now and then. I wont be doing any trackdays, I'm not that good of a driver, and again, its my daily. I was also looking at the Performance Pack, but I have some friends with Cupra's and they all had the same issue with warping brake discs. Even though I love the look of the Brembo calipers and the bigger discs, I stayed away from it.

On the CLS55 I performed a nice brake upgrade, from 360mm single piece to 390mm 2 piece discs using Epytec brackets. This allowed me to use the stock 8 pots AMG calipers.

I can do a lot of work myself, having a mid rise scissor lift was a good investment

 

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Somewhat random picture

 

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First addition, a battery monitor. I can highly recommend this, as it allows you to monitor your car battery using a bluetooth dongle. I stumbled upon this when I was chasing a power drain on the Mercedes CLS55. A great addition for about 25 euro

 

[nd-photo.nl]

Silica bag removed from the coolant reservoir. My waterpump has already been replaced and they filled it with G12 Evo instead of G13. As you might now know, G12 Evo contains silica and thus does not rely on the bags anymore. On the dutch Seat forum, we had a couple of members with blocked heatercores by the bags rupturing and clogging the heatercore as a result...

This was quite hard to do, as the bag does not want to comply. Please keep in mind, that reservoirs exist where you cannot remove the bag (!).

 

[nd-photo.nl]

Upgraded the indicator bulbs to Hyperflash amber LEDs. I dont have the full led taillights, but that means I get to choose my bulbs As the indictor part on the cluster is quite small, I went with the brightest you can get

 

[nd-photo.nl]

Transferred the Lifehammer Evolution devices to the Cupra. Normally they're bright orange, but I found these on the dutch Porsche webshop They feel right at home in the Cupra cockpit

 

[nd-photo.nl]

I highly recommend checking and replacing this fuel hose as it is known to disintegrate and cause havoc. This is applicable to all 2.0T lumps, at least before 2018. Its easily recognizable as it consists of 2 pieces which are joined at the front of the engine. If the joint is not there, you are good.

Fuel hose: 06K133986HF
Optional: MPI fuel hose 06K133986K

MPI fuel hose

Old revision fuel hose (see the joint close to the oil filter housing)

Closer picture

On the right side of the HPFP is the connection for the MPI fuel hose

 

[nd-photo.nl]

Pro tip, destroy this and buy a new one when you mount the new fuel hose

Partnr: 06K133184A

New hose in place. As you can clearly see, it consists of one piece

New MPI fuel hose also in place

 

[nd-photo.nl]

I dont know if you can see this thread without logging in: https://www.seat-online.nl/index.ph...stofleiding-probleem-leon-cupra-st-280.28308/

But nevertheless, see these pictures for the residue which will cause issues

 

[nd-photo.nl]

The Cupra under the AMG flag Dont worry, I ordered a Cupra flag

 

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Hyperflash LEDs for reverse light & rear fog light. They are insanely bright. The Cree LED was already an improvement over the halogen bulb

 

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The infamous coil pack puller (it works great!)

 

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Volkswagen wheel bolt covers, which gives a cleaner look

Before

And after