Volkswagen Cabrio Mods | A Cheap and Convertible GTI

Follow me on instagram: @Leaky_Vws

[@Leakyvws]

I recently heard from multiple sources that United Motorsports mk4 2.0 drive by cable tune also can be used on the 2 plug mk3.5 ecu. Knowing this I will most likely attempt to turbo this car in the future

[@Deider77]

awesome car! i also have a 2000 cabrio 3.5 in blue with cream interior. do you have any issues with your primary radiator fan staying on after the car is off? mine stays on for a long time after a drive

[@Leakyvws]

Thanks, sounds like your fan switch might be going bad

[@julianornelas9304]

More video please

[@masonpugh3637]

What size tires and rims did you put on that to replace the stock rims they're very nice and yes I would bought them and kept them

[@Leakyvws]

They are 16x8 + 20 with 195 45 r16 tires. The front pokes a little bit so I have about -3 degrees of camber to prevent the tires from rubbing

[@ziomek7517]

@@Leakyvws how low suspension you have? because when i put 16 rims it was too low and i have to put 17's

[@joeyganchuk9626]

pls make a video explaining your mk6 interior swap, I also have a mk5 and I want to restore my interior

[@Leakyvws]

It’s super easy to do since the mk5 and mk6 have the same seat mounting positions. Only thing I haven’t been able to figure out is the airbag module but may not be an issue with the later mk5s

[@masonpugh3637]

Love this build with a short ram intake it will sound awesome I would love to hear that car going through the gears and a video your videos are fabulous and thank you for your sharing and devotion creativity

[@Leakyvws]

The Swiss cheese air box helps add a little induction noise. I also built a new exhaust for it not too long ago so it now has 2.5 inch pipe with a resonator and muffler

[@eddie_cooper]

Didn’t know this 3.5 so different better Mk3 then

[@markcastor6639]

Hi, I'm in the UK, have the 1.6 2000(W) SE. They do look better than the mk3 overall, but like was stated in this video, finding parts is a nightmare, especially here in the UK, still looking for some bits for mine(hydraulic hood lifter(ram)and nearly all of them are in the US. Over here, the better option is the mk3 as it's now considered a classic, easier to get parts, whereas the 3.5 is in no man's land. The biggest benefit I see from the 3.5 is it's going to be very rare as only enthusiasts are going to be prepared to hunt the world for parts to keep them on the road. Thankfully, I can get repair panels for the lower wings, from a well known auction/seller site, so are still totally original. I could go on all day so going to say great video, hope you still have the car, with further spec's. Wheels look great aswell. I would advise going to a VW dealer/parts to get manufacturers part numbers for aftermarket parts, some look the same as mk3 and mk4 but have slight differences. Also just found my hydraulic roof ram's, bought both(£300) so I have a spare, not for sale, sorry.

[@Leakyvws]

Best bet even in the US is to just buy an entire parts car since they are still pretty cheap and not very sought after by enthusiasts

[@henryjackson2555]

Hey, Ethan My name Henry I live in Atlanta Ga. and I have a 2001cabrio with a 98 VR-6 swap. It was done by my club president of coolwater Volkswagon club. I also have 17x7.5 inche replica a 3 inche cat back exhaust and aftermarket headlights.The swap was not that bad you just have to get motor trans ecu and wiring harness. If you subscribe to Christian smith of the mk-3 squad he has plenty of vlogs on swapping motors from VR-6 to the audi V-5 and the 1.8t so check him out oh, very cool ride!

[@Leakyvws]

Thanks, I am actually subscribed to him already

[@hubb412]

I did this swap into my 2000 cabrio as well and can confirm if you bring the engine harness and ecu from the donor car it woks fine. The only splicing I had to do was for the headlights which was pretty simple. Nice car bud.

[@masonpugh3637]

Sounds good looks good great field love to see more

[@masonpugh3637]

Short ram air it it sounds great not much horsepower but the sound is phenomenal I did mine and it sounds awesome power-wise nothing but sound good

[@huntersoutdooradventures9681]

I got mine for 500 put a new battery in it and drove home first time the car ran in over a year

[@masonpugh3637]

Those Wheels look great they are cool makes the stamps look good keep the build on love to see more videos of it three and a half remarkable car I have one mine's a three and a half

[@Thinkttv]

Would love to see what you do with this, i have a 3.5 aswell and want to make it unique but really dont know what to do just because of how weird the body is with it being a mix lol. Hope its been well with your over the last 11 months

[@Leakyvws]

I haven’t changed much over the last few months. I’ve just used the car as my daily and have enjoyed the reliability of the stock ABA. I picked up a mk1 rabbit to rebuild and that has been my main focus with time and money for the last little bit. I decided that car was the one that I would build for performance and leave the cabrio as it is. I enjoy it being rough around the edges so I can drive it without feeling bad. However if this car was to blow up, I think I’d definitely build another aba and go from there

[@eddie_cooper]

2.0 v16 turbo should be good 2

[@avafidgeteeeeeee8975]

I have the excat same car an are looking for as much information i want to do a k22 swap let me know of thats a good choice as a vr6 is so expensive

[@Leakyvws]

A vr6 would be way easier and most likely cheaper in the long run. You would need a lot of fabrication to make a non vw engine work. Honestly the aba isn’t a bad engine at all and I’ve come to appreciate it after messing with a bunch of different vw engines

[@djkenny1202]

I have a 2000 Cabrio. 150k. Automatic. A nice summer driver. Door handle lock failed.. now, to find it? Just to get the mechanism out for my white handle. It gas a nice TT exhaust. Stock size aftermarket wheels. Just looking to make it comfy and useful. Top like new.

[@Leakyvws]

I’m not sure if the mk3 golf handles are the same as the 3.5 with all of the electronics. I have a gls with electric windows and such. Might be beneficial to find one off a cabrio in a junk yard. I’m not sure if it’s cold where you live but my handle mechanisms would freeze in the cold making the doors not be able to be opened until it was thawed

[@djkenny1202]

@@Leakyvws seems like all handles are 95-99 MK3. Nit certain the mechanism is same. All I find online. Luckily my electric lock works! Mines a GL, so no power top and windows. Cloth seats blk/white, Kinda happy bout it.

[@qsaethic8927]

What sizing are ur rims and tires? Could I fit 15x6.5+38 rims on mine?

[@Leakyvws]

They are 16x8 + 20 so you should be alright especially since the stock size is 14x6 + 45

[@masonpugh3637]

I drive mine daily and for the money I have money left over to put in the field and eventually a VR6 thanks for the info keep building love to see the build it's a great job and a great little car

[@Leakyvws]

I end up driving mine more than my GTI. It’s definitely rough around the edges but allows me to drive the car and not worry about it getting destroyed in the winter. I actually ended up loving the Aba in this car so I just bought another car with a vr6 instead

[@RickGTI2019]

Could have bought a 2002 cabrio last year with 20K original miles. Just wasn’t the right time for me. Still kicking myself in the ass ! Thanks, nice car, good luck. RickGTI….. 🌴 PS could have got it for $1200.00 😢

[@Leakyvws]

Damn that was a steal, I would have bought that in a second

[@Sickparty]

dang bruh i got a 2002 cabrio with 118k miles for 3,000

[@RickGTI2019]

@@Sickparty I will regret not buying that 2002 for ever. It was garage kept, original owner, had cold A/C, and automatic transmission. UGH ! 🤮

[@lowluv72]

I'm so jelly, things mint.

[@S550_B]

I’ll be buying one this weekend for $1,500 with 80k miles all it needs is a top anything I should look out for ?

[@Leakyvws]

Tops are a pain to replace especially if it’s the power top. Depending on climate rust can be an issue even with low miles. The window seals also crack from being in the sun and can leak. My driver door seals are bad around the mirrors and the water gets into the door and rusted the bottom of the door. Fenders are also nearly impossible to find so if they are rusty at the bottom they will need to be patched instead of just replaced. The aba is super reliable especially with a manual transmission. The auto isn’t as good. Very simple cars so for $1500 you can’t really go wrong

[@S550_B]

@@Leakyvws thanks man I’ll make sure to look at the seals I’m getting it from a coworker they bought it brand new when it came out and it’s been garaged all it’s life the other downside is that it became a salvage title only because the top was ripped other than that everything looks good, wish it was a manual though lol plus I only want it to use as a commuter

[@kennyheggem2418]

I’d pass if salvage

[@qsaethic8927]

So what’s the difference between mk3.5 and mk4?

[@Leakyvws]

Mk3.5 at least in the US was the 99-02 cabrios that basically were just mk3s with mk4 headlights, bumpers, and some other mk4 style interior

[@georgetoplichvili8637]

2002 cabrio auto w 298k km for $1600.. what you think?

[@Leakyvws]

Guess it depends if it was well taken care of or not. $1600 isn’t horrible as long as there isn’t much maintenance that needs to be done. I know the auto trans for this generation of vws wasn’t the greatest but assuming it’s the 2.0 engine like in this car the engine is pretty bulletproof and can take a lot of abuse

[@kennyheggem2418]

Mine is a 2001 automatic with 80k, just bought 3 weeks ago. It runs, shifts beautifully, save with the 2000 I had with over 145k. I figure if it fails, I’ll swap to manual. I need to repair the top in back, the seam opened. Trying to research options. I’d like to avoid new top.

[@joeyganchuk9626]

PA let’s go

[@rudyoviedo9258]

What year and what size wheels ??

[@Leakyvws]

It’s a 2000 and they are 16x8 et 20 wheels with 195 45 tires