Falling back in love...update

[owenjt]

Having had my Polo for over 3 years now and doing a lot more long distance journeys lately, i had started to look at selling the beast and getting something else. But after looking at what's available for my budget, i really can't find anything that matches what i've got for performance, toys or the smile it gives me when it looks all nice and clean and shines in the sun. It's also driving particularly nicely at the moment and i'm falling back in love with it all over again

However, she is looking a bit tired so i'm planning on spending a bit of money to sort out a few things and get her looking all nice again, and was hoping to get some advice on where to buy/sort some things...

• - Ariel base
  Checked but can't find much information on here - where's the best place to buy one from?
  
  - Rear gti badge
  Again where can i buy one from?
  
  - Wheel refurb
  Can anyone recommend anywhere i can get this done in the Bristol area? I did attempt to do a couple of wheels a while back but never managed to finish it off so they're looking pretty bad, plus i've rounded off a couple of the bolts so i hope they can still be removed?
  
  - Vag com
  Know i've asked this before but will something like this do?
  http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/USB-VAG-COM-409-1 ... 240%3A1308
  
  - German style plates
  What's the deal with these - are they legal?

Not really looking to do much else apart from a damn good clean!

[6n2si]

Bought these plates about a month ago, fair price and good quality, 'apparently' legal too as they are reflective..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/German-3D-Embosse ... 240%3A1318

Look like this on:

http://www.uk-polos.net/view ... =7&t=42842

Hope this helps a wee bit, think you'd regret selling her

[owenjt]

'apparently' legal too as they are reflective.

hmmm just been doing a bit more searching and found this:

Number plates must now use one specific, mandatory typeface - a very simple sans serif typeface intended to make the numbers easy to read by both humans and automatic recognition systems, which are increasingly being used by the police and other agencies. All hard-to-read variants, such as multiple stroke and italic fonts, are now prohibited. The one decorative variation still permitted is a 3D effect version of the mandatory typeface.

It also mentions about the size and spacing of number plate characters, so looks like anything other than the standard UK plate is illegal. Bugger.

http://www.regtransfers.co.uk/main/car_ ... ations.asp

[Tim_GTi]

The above plates are NOT legal. They're are the best place to get them from though. I use those.

Aerial base: get it from the dealers mate. Costs around £13.

Rear badge: have a browse on eBay, if nothing's there get it from the dealers also.

I'll look into wheel refurbers for you. As I'm in only across the bridge from you.

[jim-ethejetta]

Dubmiester do u.k legal pressed plates mate they are the only ones that ARE fully legal.
£30 a set only thing is you gotta send your documents to them first.
Very good quick service though.
Jim.

[owenjt]

Dubmiester do u.k legal pressed plates mate they are the only ones that ARE fully legal.

Sweet cheers for the info, will order a set.

Now got the GTi badge off ebay, can't find the ariel base so gonna have to get it from a dealer i think.

Re vag-com is this ok? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/409-1-KKL-VAG-COM ... 240%3A1318

[owenjt]

Just got a quote to have my alloys refurbed for £120 + VAT per wheel Surely this is expensive?

I can get a set of 4 16" for £139 per wheel!

[Tim_GTi]

haha! some places will do all 4 for that. what exactly does that price include?

[owenjt]

Includes stripping out the centres and rear sections, re diamond turning the lips of the rims, all the bolts polished to a mirror shine replacing any that are damaged, reassembly using locktite on the threads, and as a freebie new VW badges for the centre caps. Also a charge of £8 per wheel to change tyres.

[Tim_GTi]

Refurb the rims yourself. Then get the centres sandblasted and powder coated. Costs around £25 a wheel for that i think?

[owenjt]

Refurb the rims yourself. Then get the centres sandblasted and powder coated. Costs around £25 a wheel for that i think?

To be honest i'd prefer not to, i tried with 2 of the wheels a while back and didn't manage to finish them. Just want to get everything done by a professional company who know what they're doing!

[Tim_GTi]

Fair enough. I wouldn't part with with more than about £200 for it all though. Try a few other places

[neilw]

I've just had a old set of very corroded BBS wheels fully restored and powder coated by these guys

http://www.thewheelspecialist.co.uk/

The have a branch in cardiff which I guess isn't too far from Bristol

It cost me £250 and you would not know that they are not a brand new set of wheels

[6N2 GTI 00]

Get your Rear GTI badge from Volkswagen, they are only £14.00 and £3.00 P&P if you can't collect.

I bought one off ebay and the complete b****ard selling it sent me a MK4 golf GTi badge which is basically the same without the red "i" despite the picture on the advert being a polo / Lupo badge.

Anyway some guy from Greece is selling them on Ebay for about £20.00 when you include postage so to save a few green queens I recomend going direct to Volkswagen.

[Josh_PoloGTi]

Antenna Base Repair Kit:

http://www.uk-polos.net/view ... 10&t=13120