TheAutoTech's Passat W8 - HeavyW8

[SirRangeALot]

I never would have imagined owning a VW. I was raised on ChryCo products; my father worked for Plymouth and Dodge parts departments for 30 years.

BUT...

In all honesty I was in the market for an Accord coupe at the time, since my best friend bought one and I really liked it. My salesman had me look at the Passat and sit in it, but at the time I wasn't impressed. It turns out, from the mess I was in, the only way they could work a deal to get me out of the hole I was in was to give the Passat a second look. And man, I'm glad I did.

I took it out on the highway and I fell in love. It had more toys than all the previous cars I had combined. Power moonroof, heated leather seats, auto-leveling bi-xenons, side mirror that tilts down when in reverse so you can see how close you are, steering wheel mounted volume control, so on and so forth. When I was driving it out on the highway, I would be shocked if people couldn't hear me let out a big WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...it was bliss and to this day it still is!

I was so excited and I wanted to take it home NOW. So I was late to work since I was signing all the paperwork.

As I said this is my first VW and I hope it won't be my last. It's been a huge learning curve for me since no one around me (at the time) knew a thing about VW's. But luckily I've had tremendous help from PassatWorld, the W8 Forum, and of course PKG!

So, here's a gallery of pictures I've taken in chronological order:

Very first pics...







Last summer I decided to do some work on my own, although it wasn't much. I pulled the DRL relay to save the bi-xenons (not a cheap bulb...I purchased mine at cost, and it was $160! ) and also installed a euroswitch, which I absolutely love.

Pics taken after a wax and euroswitch install:








Last fall, I never thought I would see the day, but I did. As I was sitting patiently at a red light in Davenport, a guy not paying attention (instead to his kid and/or cell phone) hit me. At the time it was raining so I couldn't tell if there was damage. A week later i finally found some damage to the bumper. I called his insurance company and everything was handled fine. Before I move on, my lower trim has been starting to flake off (it was like that when I bought it). My W8, as you can see from the above pictures, had a grey trim on the bottom. Progressive (his insurance company) told me to ask the body shop to get an estimate on painting the lowers since I was going to have it painted anyway, they could cut me a good deal. (I was going to have it painted black to have the whole car match, but was going to have it done after winter.)

The body shop called me up later to tell me that my car is done and I can pick it up. However, the guy told me that "the flaking was getting really bad and we had to do something about it, so we painted the whole bumper black." I was pissed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! First of all, they didn't even ask me before they went and just painted the whole thing and not just the spot they were supposed to paint. Second of all, I have an all black bumper with lower grey sides and front, so it is going to look stupid. He offered to paint it grey again, but I was like screw it, b/c I was going to have it done anyway. (It wouldn't have cost me anything for them to paint it the way it was). I asked if he had an estimate done for the rest of the job and he said no, he will talk to me in the morning about that since he didn't have it done. I had my girlfriend go down to look at it since I was at work and she told me from the back it looks HOT, but couldn't see the whole thing. She talked to one of the painters and I guess what happened was when they masked off the bumper and took off the tape, the grey flaked off even more so they went and painted it anyway.

I stopped in the morning, and my baby was sitting outside. I was grinning from ear to ear...WOW, does it ever look nice all black!!

I went in to talk to the manager and owner and they were actually really nice about the whole thing. Turns out the previous owner spray painted the lower trim, so that's why it was flaking so badly. He offered to bring it back in and look at the other moldings to see what he could do and what the cost would be to match what they did to the back bumper. He told me worst case scenario, he would only charge me half if anything at all.

He called me later in the afternoon and apparently the side moldings are a different texture, almost woodgrain-like to where the silver was not going to come out. So he's not going to guarantee the life of the paint job they're going to do since the paint doesn't stick well. He told me I could buy new moldings, but it would be $325 (I figure apiece...). So...he told me just to keep the rental and he would pay for it, and he will paint the front and the sides at NO COST. I'm like...f**k yeah!!!

I guess you could say this "accident" was a blessing in disguise...

Pictures taken after the freshly-painted lowers were done:







The more heads turn and the more I drive the Passat, the more I fall in love with it.

Pics taken from my celly on a cold February morning...so cold that if you look close enough, there are icicles hanging from the lower grille. BRRR!






I never realized how much fun GTG's are until you go to one. I saw the pics all the time on PW, and I finally had the chance to go to the Dubuque GTG. I had so much fun, but it makes me want to spend more money on the car!

GTG pics:







My very first rolling shot!! YEAY!!!




Animation of the monstrous W8 engine:


List of current mods:
Euroswitch
DRL relay pulled
S2000 Antenna
Painted lowers
35% tint all around
Smoked tail lights
Smoked bumper markers
Chrome Mirror Caps
Chrome door handles
H&R/Koni setup
Denison Icelink iPod adapter
Custom exhaust -- (2) 4" Silverline mufflers straight back to quad tips
Debadged trunklid
Höen xenon-match fogs
42dd blue LED city lights
Lower eyelids

To do list:
17mm anti-sway bar
SpeedTuning ECU flash
K&N CAI
Votex front clip

[DSV]

You're definitely making progress man. I must say your car looks really clean with the painted lowers. Excellent mod choice.

When are you putting the Pie Plates on?

[chuNknorris]

I like the exhaust setup. Looks aggressive, yet classy. Now SLAM IT!

[stollen]

I like the exhaust setup. Looks aggressive, yet classy. Now SLAM IT!

We need to get that thing lowered, August/September can't come soon enough

[SirRangeALot]

When are you putting the Pie Plates on?

After the suspension GTG! I also need to get the wheels refinished first, they've seen better days.

I like the exhaust setup. Looks aggressive, yet classy.

Thanks...I want to find out how to get the tips polished back to chrome, they're pretty tarnished after 71k miles.

[turboA4]

nice lookin car jeremy!!!

looks soo good after all the things you have done....very clean!!!

[SirRangeALot]

Well, I don't think I've done much yet, but thank you!

[SirRangeALot]

It's about time for an pictoral update!

A few pics from an 8+ hour detail back in July:








Yeay! My tips are shiny again!


In August for my 35% tint all around:

A few pics before:



After (it's hard to tell with the sun shining right on it! ):

[SirRangeALot]

UPDATE...

So, now that the Pie Plates are gone and the Fat 5's are on their way out, I've been looking at a few ideas for my next set of wheels in the spring (TAX RETURNS FTMFW), so here are my top considerations:

Flik Artics in either silver or black:




Audi A8 reps:



Axis Supermesh (if I can find them, since they're discontinued):




ADR M-Sports in black:



BBS LM reps:

[Jettameister]

Damn man !!!
That's one Hell of a ride
Looking really good and I like the wheels you're diving now

[John2.0T]

Very nice man!

Are you planning on getting springs before wheels?

IMO I like the Audi A8 wheels and LM Reps the best - they would look oh so sick in 19" with a nice drop with lowering springs . I also like the Flik Arctic's a lot! Personally I'm not a huge fan of black wheels with a polished lip on black cars... its a little played out.

Sounds like you have an excellent mod list planned! I vote for de-badging (how can you deny that sexy ass in that first pic?!), and paint matching some of that chrome, but thats just me . Whatever you decide to do will look sick!

[SirRangeALot]

Are you planning on getting springs before wheels?

Definitely! Tax returns can't come soon enough yo!

paint matching some of that chrome, but thats just me .

It isn't just you, there are some other chrome haters in the Gruppe.

I love chrome, and it accents the car perfectly.

[John2.0T]

Oh I'm not a chrome hater at all - it definitely accents cars well if its done right

I think the only things I would consider blacking out on your W8 would be the chrome grill slats and the *maybe* the rub strips...

[SirRangeALot]

I think the only things I would consider blacking out on your W8 would be the chrome grill slats and the *maybe* the rub strips...

Cripes, man, there'd be no chrome left!

[twooly]

For some reason the Audi wheels stick out the most for your car, and I agree with the chrome rub strips need to go.

[SirRangeALot]

I agree with the chrome rub strips need to go.

BLAHHHHHHHH

THE CHROME STAYS!!!!

Why do so many of you hate chrome? I'm actually thinking about getting a set of chrome rims just to spite you all!

[Sinan]

Axis Supermesh look perfect on VWs. Seen similiar ones on few GTIs.

Its the ones I would go for.

[twooly]

BLAHHHHHHHH

THE CHROME STAYS!!!!

Why do so many of you hate chrome? I'm actually thinking about getting a set of chrome rims just to spite you all!

I like some just not a ton, just think your car would look better with paint matched rub strips. The rest of the chrome fits, I have plenty on my car

[Kelso]

keep the chrome! I like it...i have it as well and keeping mine. If the car is done right the chrome works great. Looking great!

[Kelso]

The Audi A8 reps would be great also!

[SirRangeALot]

keep the chrome! I like it...i have it as well and keeping mine. If the car is done right the chrome works great. Looking great!

The Audi A8 reps would be great also!

Thanks!!

Although I think if I get A8's or the LM reps, both require at least 5mm spacers to clear the brake calipers...

[SirRangeALot]

I just found a B5.5 variant on the 'tex with 18" LM reps...and man... !



I think these may be the wheels...

[Sinan]

I told you!

[OrangeDUB]

You should get that grille on that wagon right up there ^^^

And A8L's would look VERY nice on your black car. I love big-faced wheels
I have talked to a guy on the tex that is selling a set of nearly mint 19" reps with tires. 5x100 and 5x112 pattern so they could passed on to a mk4 OR mk5....

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3545173

[MrFlippant]

Very nice man!

Personally I'm not a huge fan of black wheels with a polished lip on black cars... its a little played out.

... Says the guy with black wheels with polished lips on his black car.