Topic: Car & mechanics advice thread

[GOD-9]

hi lads, i currently drive a 2001 mark 4 Golf GTI and im looking to get a new set of alloy wheels for it.

My problem is that the previous owner has lowered the suspension so i presume this will cause problems when selecting a wheel size ?

So how do i know what size of wheels are going to comfortably fit my car?

I want to put 18's on but im thinking this might be a problem.

Im not sure how much it was lowered by, and really i dont have a clue about this kind of stuff so just thought id ask before buyin as ive seen a set online.

thanks!

[pistol]

hi lads, i currently drive a 2001 mark 4 Golf GTI

I want to put 18's on but im thinking this might be a problem.

A problem in the sense that it would look ridiculous, yes.

[GOD-9]

A problem in the sense that it would look ridiculous, yes.

right ok........ next

[۩ Imperator ۩]

I'd imagine with 18s you might get some rubbing issues in the arches when on full lock, obviously depending on how much it's been dropped. Is it on coilovers or shocks and springs?

[K1RKY]

A problem in the sense that it would look ridiculous, yes.

Hate it when you ask for genuine advice and this is the type of reply you get!

I'm not 100% on this but i've heard you can have your wheel arches shaved down to stop the wheel rubbing against it.

[۩ Imperator ۩]

Best thing to do would be to register on a VW forum (there are loads) and ask the same question there, as you'll get more model-specific advice there.

This one is a forum specifically for MKIVs: http://uk-mkivs.net/

[AndoNagasaki]

This looks like your type of place mate.

http://www.barryboys.co.uk/mx/

[Ben S]

If you put different sized tyres on, don't forget you will have to have the speedo recalibrated.

[Grobbelrevell]

I used to have a MK4 Golf of which i had lowered (only minimally) and i was unable to get any wheels larger than 17" as it would have rubbed on the arches.

Im pretty sure you will either need to get the wheel arches filed down to accomodate size 18's or go for a 17.

Depends how much its been lowered though.

[Doc Evil]

The overall circumference of the tyres ought to remain the same, the only difference being with how much is rubber and how much is metal - no?

Biggest issue I think you'd have is the width of the tyres. If the car is lowered, how much by? If the tyres are wider and stick out underneath the wheelarches whereas previously they didn't then yeah, you'd probably get some rubbing, and possibly reduced wheel to wheel lock \ rubbing issues.

If they still fit inside the arches then I reckon you should be sound. 

[slimshady]

Wonder what Jeremy Clarkson would make of it??

[nidgemo]

Hate it when you ask for genuine advice and this is the type of reply you get!

To be honest, I think that was genuine advice. a 2001 golf WOULD look ridiclous with huge big wheels on it.

[Grobbelrevell]

To be honest, I think that was genuine advice. a 2001 golf WOULD look ridiclous with huge big wheels on it.

Thats a matter of opinion.

In my opinion they dont, if done up properly (subtle/with taste) they can look spot on.

Only reason i wouldnt alter mine at the minute is you lose the vast majority of the money you spend on it when you come to sell (i found that out).

[SP]

Not to mention the insurance penalty as soon as you customise.

[Grobbelrevell]

Not to mention the insurance penalty as soon as you customise.

Unless it alters the engine performance in any way there is no legal requirement to update your insurance. Only, if you dont and your in an accident, you cannot claim back on the money spent customizing your car.

At least thats the impression i was under.

[۩ Imperator ۩]

Unless it alters the engine performance in any way there is no legal requirement to update your insurance. Only, if you dont and your in an accident, you cannot claim back on the money spent customizing your car.

At least thats the impression i was under.

I think you're under a false impression.

[Grobbelrevell]

I think you're under a false impression.

If that is the case then i will bow to your superior knowledge.

Although, that was the information i was given when i was insuring my previous car (that was extensively modified - but not in terms of the engine).

[۩ Imperator ۩]

If that is the case then i will bow to your superior knowledge.

Although, that was the information i was given when i was insuring my previous car (that was extensively modified - but not in terms of the engine).

Bodykits, wheels etc all affect the handling of a car, and therefore have to be declared. Not worth taking a risk on either, as if (god forbid) you were in an accident where you wrote off a Lamborghini and your insurance was void, you would be personally liable fot the full amount.

[halfpoundcheesy]

Bodykits, wheels etc all affect the handling of a car

As well as the potential to be nicked/damaged. Declare it, I've never known an insurance company not require this in my (limited) experience.
For the OP - get yourself onto a Golf owners website. Plenty of people will have done this before, and know how you can fit them in - may need particular tyres for example.

[Doc Evil]

He could always say that the car came with them if they are VW originals. How the hell is a layman supposed to know what the original alloys are on a car? VW alloys are VW alloys aren't they?

[۩ Imperator ۩]

He could always say that the car came with them if they are VW originals. How the hell is a layman supposed to know what the original alloys are on a car? VW alloys are VW alloys aren't they?

That is very true, and is the approach I adopted with my own alloys which are Skoda originals. If the OP is talking about aftermarket wheels though, he should certainly declare.

[Fat Tony]

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RmrjX6NL0u8

[Bushy]

All modifications need to be declared to your insurers, including alloy wheels. doesn't affect your premium though. only engine stuff and bodywork customisation seems to do that, and then only if heavily modified.
As for checking which alloys will fit, get yourself down to Halfords or similar with a tape measure and have a measure up
if you ask em in there, they'll roll the wheels out so you can have a look what they'd be like on the car.
then just go back and order em off the net!
It's what I did, although in the end, got em from Halfords cos they price matched

[albertared]

definitely don't buy anything until you are 100% sure they will fit...i speak from experience!

it is many years since i dabbled in custom wheels so i can't give you information specific to your car.

the factors that you have to consider are; overall diameter and width of the tyre you intend to fit, offset of the wheel (some wheels will have the centreline of the tyre further out, some further in toward the centre of the car), obviously in your case the ride height.

i found that sometimes a wheel/tyre looks ok around the outside edges so-to-speak but would foul up somewhere "inside" on the inner body or chassis component.

and i found lots of conflicting info from all kinds of people.

what i ended up doing was going to a custom shop and putting the onus on them to get it right so that they were liable to exchange things if there was a problem. obviously this cost a bit more but a lot less hassle.

[bigman1981]

Unless it alters the engine performance in any way there is no legal requirement to update your insurance. Only, if you dont and your in an accident, you cannot claim back on the money spent customizing your car.

At least thats the impression i was under.

You are very, very wrong.

 

[bigman1981]

Bodykits, wheels etc all affect the handling of a car, and therefore have to be declared. Not worth taking a risk on either, as if (god forbid) you were in an accident where you wrote off a Lamborghini and your insurance was void, you would be personally liable fot the full amount.

As well as making it more desirable for som elittle c*nt that fancies a bit of a late night ride in you car without your permission.

[bigman1981]

All modifications need to be declared to your insurers, including alloy wheels. doesn't affect your premium though. only engine stuff and bodywork customisation seems to do that, and then only if heavily modified.
As for checking which alloys will fit, get yourself down to Halfords or similar with a tape measure and have a measure up
if you ask em in there, they'll roll the wheels out so you can have a look what they'd be like on the car.
then just go back and order em off the net!
It's what I did, although in the end, got em from Halfords cos they price matched

It affected mine quite a bit when I declared them to my insurers.

This was about 6 years ago, so not sure if things have changed.

[bigman1981]

Back to the original question...

18's would fit, but you will need to get the arches rolled otherwise they will rub on full lock.

[7777]

I've got a spare set of 16" RS4's that would look great on it 












For a price

[GOD-9]

thanks for the genuine replies lads.

[GinKop]

I've got a car question too.

My new car has climate control and a separate AC function. Does the climate control guzzle fuel as well?

[HIF Red]

A problem in the sense that it would look ridiculous, yes.

Could not agree more. Anyone rmeber that tv advert a few years ago with the golfs that had ridiculous bodykits etc and the cars were all crying?

Wouldn't you be better spending the 2 grand (that I guess it would cost for 18'' wheels + tyres) on buying a better car?

[anfieldpurch]

I have tried to Google this but unfortunately couldn't find an answer.

I bought a new car approximately a month ago now but this week I've noticed that my petrol gauge seems to go down when facing downhill when my car isn't in operation it seems to tick down by 10 miles on the miles remaining.  When I drive the car.. it goes down normally so if i do my 30 mile commute to work it goes down by 30 miles but when I park at home which is on a bit of a hill it goes down. If I move my car to do a small journey or to go to work, when I park it back again and then go back out.. its gone down by 10 miles.

Anybody know what could be causing it, only noticed it since i filled up on Wednesday?

[Pheeny]

When parked on a hill the fuel won't be "level" so therefore the gauge won't read correctly.
 

[Cochise]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity

[TepidT2O]

The petrol tank has something floating in it to read the level of petrol.

I guess that if you are pointing downhill, the petrol in the tank isn't level and that makes the float I the tank go lower, hence it reads a lower number.

I would then guess that your trip computer isn't really very accurate about working our range.

It works by using average mpg values that you do.  For a short journey, your mpg is always poor (car warning up etc.)

[jaffod]

When you park on the slope face the car the other way and the mileage will go up instead of down. Happy days!

[CHOPPER]

[Wiss_LFC]

 

[Seagull Dave]

When you park on the slope face the car the other way and the mileage will go up instead of down. Happy days!