Being an adult around the holidays is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you’re responsible for your gifts, which means Santa won’t bring anything you haven’t had to foot the bill for. On the other hand, who says you have to wait until Christmas morning to open those boxes of parts and tools you [...]
Modern VWs and Audis use numerous computer modules and sensors to accurately control performance, features, and efficiency. All internal failures are reflected on the dashboard, but the Check Engine Light and various warning lights only tell you so much. How do you know what is exactly wrong with your car? Automotive software that communicates with [...]
Last week, we covered the first steps you should take with a new project car or build. The focus was on setting your project up for success with maintenance on the front end so you can enjoy upgrades worry-free down the road. Well, this edition of Tuned In Weekly is all about the fun stuff [...]
Owning a Haldex-equipped Volkswagen or Audi is convenient when you need the AWD, but they require regular service to operate effectively. Luckily, we're here to help build your confidence in the garage with this handy guide to all things Haldex. What is a Haldex AWD System? The Haldex system derives its name from the Haldex [...]
Last week, we took an in-depth look at some of the best coilovers on a budget. This week, we're sticking with drivability and performance modifications that are guaranteed to offer better results than more horsepower. If you plan on improving your car’s performance capabilities, want a better overall driving experience, or it’s just time for [...]
Engine swaps are fairly common, even among the non-enthusiast crowd. Whether you’re simply swapping in an identical engine to replace a completely broken one or trying to stuff the biggest thing you can into your little VW for all the power, the fundamental principles are roughly the same. In this article, we’re going to cover [...]
If you’re a car enthusiast of any kind, you’ve probably seen countless YouTube videos or programs where the host pulls some junky old car out of a field and brings it back to life. Due to the rising cost of 'cool' cars, it has become increasingly popular for enthusiasts to search for broken or forgotten [...]
The MK4 platform is one of the best-selling VW models of all time, especially if you include all the possible variants. The Jetta, Beetle, and Golf all shared the MK4 platform from 1998-2005 (give or take, some versions started later, others ended later). With several engine options, layouts, and even models to choose between, it's [...]
If you’re like me, the winter is good for staying inside under a blanket with a glass of whiskey or next to your heater in the garage tackling large projects. With my recent trip to Euro District, I have a newfound motivation to start cleaning up that last 10% of my BMW E30 build to [...]
If you are fairly new to the wonderful world of DIY maintenance and upgrades on your car, you’re probably a bit overwhelmed with all the acronyms, like DIY (do it yourself, if you didn’t know.) These acronyms, like DCT, LSD, ASC, and the alphabet soup of other shorthand signifiers are pretty easy to google and [...]