Joining the Euro Club

[tbm5690]

Within the past few days I sold my '14 Maxima and picked up a '19 GLI Autobahn...my first European vehicle (made in Mexico lol). I understand the powertrain is reliable, the power nearly matches my Maxima with considerably better MPG and I plan to do a stage 1 tune to bring even more. My criteria with a new vehicle was that it must have a stick...my ideal choice was an A4 quattro but those are near impossible to find with a manual. I sold my Max private party for top dollar and picked this up from a dealership below private party value, so I'm happy with the purchase! I plan to delete the red grill stripe I think, but we will see:

 

[Egg_Head]

"German engineering, made in Mexico"

 

[Kira]

The red accent stripe is a little conspicuous but, as you know, it's original.
Maybe just cover it with that removable film many use on the entire car?

Oh....and best of luck with it.

 

[michael007]

I like the red stripe. It stands out but not too much.

When I visited Germany, thought it was interested how so many removed the badges that would show what trim the car was.

You'd see a BMW E60 and a layman would have no idea if it was a base 5 series or the M5

Apparently this is the reason:

Make sure to check out FCPEuro when it comes time for maintenance. Just ordered new sway bar links which should be refunded under their lifetime warranty since I also ordered these parts from them back in 2020.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Senior, the red band makes your car look racy.

 

[Zee09]

I like the red stripe. It stands out but not too much.

When I visited Germany, thought it was interested how so many removed the badges that would show what trim the car was.

You'd see a BMW E60 and a layman would have no idea if it was a base 5 series or the M5

Apparently this is the reason:
View attachment 154724


Make sure to check out FCPEuro when it comes time for maintenance. Just ordered new sway bar links which should be refunded under their lifetime warranty since I also ordered these parts from them back in 2020.

Hey the FCP Euro is @TiGeo line....

 

[Zee09]

Congratulations

 

[michael007]

Hey the FCP Euro is @TiGeo line....

Everyone can join our tribe soon enough..

 

[atikovi]

I plan to delete the red grill stripe I think, but we will see:

Why? It looks great as an accent on a grey car. What's next, Plasti Dip the wheels?

 

[Trav]

I like the red stripe. It stands out but not too much.

When I visited Germany, thought it was interested how so many removed the badges that would show what trim the car was.

You'd see a BMW E60 and a layman would have no idea if it was a base 5 series or the M5

Apparently this is the reason:
View attachment 154724


Make sure to check out FCPEuro when it comes time for maintenance. Just ordered new sway bar links which should be refunded under their lifetime warranty since I also ordered these parts from them back in 2020.

True, owners manuals even come with instructions on how to remove them.

 

[RooflessVW]

"German engineering, made in Mexico"

Like XX beer

 

[joekingcorvette]

The thread changed to the red stripe. I would leave the red stripe and congrats on the nice car with a stick shift.

 

[MattPersman]

Congrats the stage 1 tune wakes things up. Make sure to get new tires as well

 

[tbm5690]

Why? It looks great as an accent on a grey car. What's next, Plasti Dip the wheels?

Im deciding if it's a little too "boy racer". I like the red GLI badges and calipers though, and if I did anything I would likely plasti-dip the strip so it could easily be undone.

 

[atikovi]

Platic Dip is an abomination. It starts flaking off after 6 to 12 months and looks like a skin disease when it does. Removing it then is a pain as well.

 

[dbias]

Congratulations on a solid car. And when I say that look at the thickness of the bottom of the door frame in the second picture. VW have some of the best body structures around.

 

[KCJeep]

Super cool car! Great choice. European cars are not the evil they are painted to be.

The red stripe is a VW thing that goes back many years. Leave it.

 

[JHZR2]

The thread changed to the red stripe. I would leave the red stripe and congrats on the nice car with a stick shift.

Agree! It’s subtle and not obnoxious.

 

[Marcozi]

"German engineering, made in Mexico"

The current BMW 2 series cars are made in Mexico. I think some of the BMW 5 series cars are made at the same plant.

 

[Delta]

Congrats!

I will say, be cautious of the tune. Even Stage 1 is known to make those clutches slip. They're not really meant to handle much over stock. If they have a lower torque stage 1 tune, I'd go with that. Even my MK7 GTI would occasionally slip when I beat on it like a red-headed-step-child.