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22
Technical / Re: wheel tire combo
Last post by nadabsardar -
For a genuinely stock-height Mk2, the safe bet most people land on is a 15x7 (ET35–38) or 15x6.5 (ET38) with a 195/50/15 or 185/55/15 tyre that combo clears full lock on stock suspension without touching anything, even with mild wear/flex in the bushings.

If you push to 16x7 ET35 with a 195/45/16, it'll usually still clear stock height on a 3dr, but it gets tighter at full lock/full compression, especially on bumpy roads some guys get away with it clean, others get a light kiss on the inner arch lip under hard compression. Depends a bit on your specific arch (rust repairs, respray thickness etc. all shave a mm or two).

18s are a hard no without lowering and rolling on a Mk2 the arch just isn't tall enough at stock ride height, you'll be into the arch or fender liner every time.

Offset-wise, don't go below ET30 on the front if you're running stock height you'll start fouling the strut/inner arch before the outer.

So realistic ceiling for zero rubbing, zero cutting, stock height: 16x7 ET35 with a 195/45/16, with 15x7 ET35 as the "definitely safe, no drama" option.

On lowering totally fair call at your stage, and for what it's worth a lot of us who've had these cars 20+ years end up back near stock height eventually anyway, it's kinder on the car and you. If you ever do go coilovers just for the adjustability (not to slam it), a 20–25mm drop opens up 16s properly with zero rub margin to spare, and you could even look at 15x8 for a slightly meatier stance without touching the arch.
26
I.C.E & Electrical / Re: No warning lights
Last post by Keekster64 -
My starting point would be to use the wiring diagrams in the haynes manual and a multi meter.  That way you can start to check, for example, if the instrument cluster is getting 12volts.  Then start checking the circuits until you can track the faulty component.  A simple initial task, would be to check the fuses aren't blown. 
28
New Members Say Hi! / Going back in time
Last post by Stopped-again -
Hi everyone, just come back to Golf ownership after an absence of many years.
My first Golf was back in the late 80s with a silver 1987 8v small bumper GTI, such a brilliant car, mainly due to how “modern” it felt compared with what we were used to. A few years use and that was traded for an Astra SRI, whadamistakatomaka, never really settled with it and months later swapped it for a red 1990 8v small bumper GTI.
Loved that for a couple of years then traded it for a Dragon green Mk3 8v GTI which was nice but noticeably more “lardy” than the Mk2 so after a couple of years decided to try a BMW 3 series Compact which, despite being very nice to drive, wasn’t a Golf. A couple of years on while on holiday in Jersey we saw a Mk4 in Jazz blue and decided our lives weren’t complete without one, so very soon after we found one and the swap was done.
Now I’ve always loved a convertible car, not necessarily Golf’s, so with a bit of a bonus from work a Mk1 Karmann convertible was bought as a “toy”
The Jazz Mk4 lasted a couple more years and was traded for a new FSI Mk4, and that was the last of Golfs being replaced by a Honda Civic for 10 years.
But the Mk2 love affair was always burning and I’ve now shuffled some cars around and have found room for a Mk2 again, so later this week sees the arrival of an 8v big bumper Tornado red Mk2 with a really solid, rust free, not needing paint, shell but lots of “details” to sort out, polish, ceramic coat, gear linkage, clean inside, check brakes and all things made of rubber, but everyone needs a winter project in the garage.
So hopefully any bits I need will be in the “For sale” section, if not I’ll be meeting traders at the Autojumbles.
Cheers Mark.
29
Mk2 Golf Chat / Re: GTI Engineering memorabilia
Last post by psbdrb -
Hi,

I'm restoring a 1990 Mk2 Golf GTI 16v with the factory-fit GTI Engineering RE2000 conversion, and I'm trying to build up as complete a paper trail and set of period-correct items as I can for it.

I saw your post on the VW Golf Mk2 Owners Club forum about thinning out your GTI Engineering collection — brochures, press releases, the VIN plate and tailgate badge. I know that was a while back, but I wanted to check whether you kept anything back, have picked up anything similar since, or would be willing to part with any of it now.

I'd also really appreciate it if you could point me toward any other collectors or contacts who might have GTI Engineering literature or memorabilia — anything that helps document the company and the RE2000 conversion properly.

Happy to cover a fair price plus postage for anything you're able to help with, and no worries at all if it's all gone.

Thanks very much,
30
New Members Say Hi! / Hello
Last post by psbdrb -
Hi Everyone,

I'm currently restoring a rare Mk2 Golf GTI 16v with the GTI Engineering RE2000 conversion. I'm trying to gather as much history and information on this car as I can, so any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks