New member, 98 Beetle 5 speed

[caucker]

Hi folks, good to be here

Got a 98 Beetle a few weeks ago when my 98 GTP Grand Prix **** on me for the last time. Never going back. My dad had a Beetle for a while, loved that car. Started driving this two weeks ago and I absolutely love it. It's about half the engine that my grand prix was, but it's SO much more fun to drive. It has a 3a racing exhaust...it sounds real nice on the outside, but I personally think it's too loud on the inside.

And here it is




I've been flying all my life, got my private pilot certificate before I was driving, and I'm out in western PA right now going through the Professional Pilot program at CCBC. What that means is I'm not made of money right now, but I would like to do a few things to the beetle.

In no particular order:

Exhaust. I love the sound, but it's too damn loud on the inside. It pops when I downshift, I love that. Love the sound on the outside. I know there are a few ways that may or may not work to "insulate" the inside of the car against the sound, but if I were looking at other exhausts, what would I be looking at?

Wheels. Just not really sure. What looks good? Should I take the hubcaps off and just run on the straight black?

Europlate. Okay I lied, I want this before the other stuff. Where do you guys go for yours?

What else can I do with this fine piece of machinery?

Looking forward to hanging around.

[dnyed]

It looks great for a 98. I see it already has front clears!


There is a lot you can do, to make it yours, but I am not the one to tell you. After all, I am the Queen of Stock.....

Have fun, and Welcome to the Org!

[caucker]

Thank you!

As for my headlights, the drivers side is the good one. I think the previous owner smacked something and had that replaced, because the passenger side looks to be the original, getting pretty frosted over.

What's the best way to go about window tint? And what's the honest difference in performance from a 1.8t to a 2.0?

Good to be here! I posted this same thing at VWVortex two days ago, not a single response. This place seems MUCH friendlier and more active.

[TennesseeBug]

Welcome! Lovin' your red NB!

As for your Europlate....I'm almost positive someone here on the org recently ordered one from Ebay - and if my memory is serving my correctly they got it from Germany AND it was even personalized. Maybe Ebay is your answer.

Again, welcome to the org!

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by caucker

Thank you!

As for my headlights, the drivers side is the good one. I think the previous owner smacked something and had that replaced, because the passenger side looks to be the original, getting pretty frosted over.

What's the best way to go about window tint? And what's the honest difference in performance from a 1.8t to a 2.0?

Good to be here! I posted this same thing at VWVortex two days ago, not a single response. This place seems MUCH friendlier and more active.

Hey fellow Pilot I got my Private license long ago but haven't really flown a lot in the last few years. Money is a bit tight so the flying had to take a back seat.

Anyway, what engine do you have in your 98? My guess is a 2.0 since I don't think they didn't introduce the 1.8T until 99.
The Performance difference is significant. The 1.8 is rated stock with 150 HP but with a simple tune (Revo or APR etc.) you can easily take it up to 200HP with about 250lbs of torque which is incredible for this little car. The 2.0 is pretty mundane and was the base engine for the Beetle until the 2.5 engine was released.

For Europlates this is the place to go:
Custom German License Plates - Personalized European Plates from $ 23.95

Complete with mounting frame about 29 bucks and change.

As far as exhaust goes you just missed one of the most incredible sales in history by VW. They sold their VW OEM stainless steel Cat back exhaust system for $149 bucks. I actually found a place that even discounted the discount and got mine for $103 bucks. Regularly they sell for over 800 bucks. I believe that was a closeout promoted by the VW outlet store. They sold out pretty quick.

The VW exhaust sounds sweet. Nice rumble when you get on it but pretty quiet otherwise.

I would check with a muffler shop, perhaps they can replace your present muffler with a more mellow sounding Magnaflow or other Turboflow Muffler. I bet your car doesn't have a resonator and that's why it is soooo loud. In which case you can install a resonator/free flow muffler just past the catylitic converter and that would calm down the sound a bit.

Check with Autozone or other auto parts place about a Headlight lens restorer. I have tried the Mcquire's kit but wasn't too impressed with the results. I would try a kit that does require sanding off the top layer and then polishing the lens. Other kits that come with just a plastic restorer may work but not really well. I think 3M or Rain X have some decent kits and I believe they are always on Sale at Autozone.

Anyway, Welcome Aboard and keep us posted on your project beetle.

Newbie Welcome Kit!

[dnyed]

Originally Posted by caucker

! I posted this same thing at VWVortex two days ago, not a single response.

I have not visited the vortex in several years. They do not seem to think our Volkswagen New Beetles are Volkswagens!

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by dnyed

I have not visited the vortex in several years. They do not seem to think our Volkswagen New Beetles are Volkswagens!

The VORTEX is great for AUDI enthusiasts and GTI and JETTA fans. The Place for Beetle's is the ORG

[caucker]

Thanks for the welcome everyone!

Tom, what kind of flying have you done? The beetle has a 2.0 in it...a lot different than the supercharged beast I was used to. (Although I did read through a thread where a member here bolted the m90 supercharger to a VR6 - badass)

My car has 125k miles on it, I have no idea of the timing belt was changed at any point...if I end up with a little extra cash at some point, how easy is it to turbo one of these engines? Where the hell would you put it?

Thanks very kindly for the link on the europlates, cheapest I've seen yet.

I'm going to look into adding a resonator.

I've seen a few kits for headlight restoration, I'll check autozone!

And yeah, still no reply to my thread. First and last post over there.

Thanks everyone!

[SweetPeamywonderbug]

Welcome to the org! Nice looking beetle

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by caucker

Thanks for the welcome everyone!

Tom, what kind of flying have you done? The beetle has a 2.0 in it...a lot different than the supercharged beast I was used to. (Although I did read through a thread where a member here bolted the m90 supercharger to a VR6 - badass)

My car has 125k miles on it, I have no idea of the timing belt was changed at any point...if I end up with a little extra cash at some point, how easy is it to turbo one of these engines? Where the hell would you put it?

Thanks very kindly for the link on the europlates, cheapest I've seen yet.

I'm going to look into adding a resonator.

I've seen a few kits for headlight restoration, I'll check autozone!

And yeah, still no reply to my thread. First and last post over there.

Thanks everyone!

I only did some very casual flying. A first learned on a Piper Tomahawk where I logged in a lot of hours and then later in a Piper Warrior. Doing touch and goes at night at the Indianapolis Int'l Airport was always fun and breathtaking when they turned on the lights on the runway. Those were the good old days.

Anyway, back to your beetle. I personally don't think it would be cost effective to put a Turbo or Supercharger on an aging 2.0 engine. Even if you could do it the engine really wasn't designed for it and probably wouldn't hold up well under the increased stress and compression. Plus you would have to have a custom program designed just to make her run right. There is a fine balance with these beetle's they way they are and it's hard enough keeping them running properly without upsetting this balance. I would say keep it running the way it is for a couple of years and then perhaps sell her to another beetle enthusiast and get yourself a 1.8 or better yet a 2.0T (2012+) which is a much more potent engine. The 2.0TSI also has a timing chain instead of a timing belt so you don't have to worry about it breaking on you and the valves and pistons having a party. My brother has a tuned 2.0T Passat and that baby flies. Unfortunately he still has the FSI motor which does have a timing belt and he will need to have this service done every 75k-85k miles.

Fortunately for you the 2.0L engine is a lot cheaper as far as timing belt kits go.

Vw Beetle Timing Belt - Vw Beetle Timing Belt Kit

Only 134.95 for a complete kit. That is about half price from what the 1.8T costs. Also it is a lot easier to do than the 1.8.

As far as headlight restoration kits go the 3M headlight renewal kit has been rated pretty highly.

3M Lens Renewal Kit, headlights polish, plastic headlight polish, polish plastic lens, plasic polish scratch remover

Here are a lot more options:
Headlight Lens Care: Polish out scratches & haze to restore clear plastic headlight lens covers. Wolfgang, Meguiars, Plexus, lens cleaning system,

Good Luck to you and keep us informed about how your "Red Baron" is doing.

[caucker]

Originally Posted by IndyTom

I only did some very casual flying. A first learned on a Piper Tomahawk where I logged in a lot of hours and then later in a Piper Warrior. Doing touch and goes at night at the Indianapolis Int'l Airport was always fun and breathtaking when they turned on the lights on the runway. Those were the good old days.

Anyway, back to your beetle. I personally don't think it would be cost effective to put a Turbo or Supercharger on an aging 2.0 engine. Even if you could do it the engine really wasn't designed for it and probably wouldn't hold up well under the increased stress and compression. Plus you would have to have a custom program designed just to make her run right. There is a fine balance with these beetle's they way they are and it's hard enough keeping them running properly without upsetting this balance. I would say keep it running the way it is for a couple of years and then perhaps sell her to another beetle enthusiast and get yourself a 1.8 or better yet a 2.0T (2012+) which is a much more potent engine. The 2.0TSI also has a timing chain instead of a timing belt so you don't have to worry about it breaking on you and the valves and pistons having a party. My brother has a tuned 2.0T Passat and that baby flies. Unfortunately he still has the FSI motor which does have a timing belt and he will need to have this service done every 75k-85k miles.

Fortunately for you the 2.0L engine is a lot cheaper as far as timing belt kits go.

Vw Beetle Timing Belt - Vw Beetle Timing Belt Kit

Only 134.95 for a complete kit. That is about half price from what the 1.8T costs. Also it is a lot easier to do than the 1.8.

As far as headlight restoration kits go the 3M headlight renewal kit has been rated pretty highly.

3M Lens Renewal Kit, headlights polish, plastic headlight polish, polish plastic lens, plasic polish scratch remover

Here are a lot more options:
Headlight Lens Care: Polish out scratches & haze to restore clear plastic headlight lens covers. Wolfgang, Meguiars, Plexus, lens cleaning system,

Good Luck to you and keep us informed about how your "Red Baron" is doing.

Flying is flying my friend, best thing in the world. I'm with you on the thrill of being at a "big airport" in a "little plane"

Here's a video a friend of mine took a few months ago...

ILS 28 right Pittsburgh Intl - YouTube

Thanks for the info on the timing belt and the headlight kit...that looks great!

And ohhh...a name!