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Hi all... MK1 GTI and MFA Question

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Hi all... MK1 GTI and MFA Question

I had a look at a 1982 (september) MK1 GTI that i might buy but noticed it didn't have the MFA only a clock. I though ALL 1.8 GTI's had the MFA or was it just later ones i.e after 1983.

What I'm suspicious of is that it had a 1.6 engine in but this has been replaced with a 1.8 sometime in it's last 10 years of ownership, probably around 3 years ago. Was told it was a 1.8 GTI from new rather than a 1.6 with a 1.8 engine in it.

It had been imported sometime in it's life so I'm guessing it was brough back by some forces guy. Could this explain the missing MFA?

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all series 2 GTIs had an MFA so thats every one inc. 1.6 models from late '80 onwards, its likely then the clocks have been changed did it have a button on the end of the wiper lever?

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Hmm confirms what I though. There wasn't a button on the right hand stalk either, furthering my suspicions.

But as the car seemed to be an import I wondered if the european models were diferent.

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I don't think so unless you could order a basic version, we need the oracle that is Dubboy  :wink:

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hi no 1.6 gti had  mfa it was factory fit with the 1.8, sept 82 onwards if the car still has its data sticker in the boot look at the engine number if its eg its had a 1.8 dropped in, or u can check the fuse box, if it has the old bullet fuses the cars a 1.6 if its the later spade ones its a 1.8. hope this helps.
Regards Volkswarren

X2 1983 A REG EW CAMPAIGN In WHITE(Awaiting full rebuild solid body) :thumbs: & T Reg S1 GTi Project, Still Looking for Series 1 GTi's or a 16S Oettinger to restore (Complete Cars only)  or an A reg Lhasa Green or White Gti to restore, also consider  Black, Red or Blue, Also Golf Driver Project Wanted anything considered WHY

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Ah that's interesting… the inner boot was painted and the sticker removed…also the fusebox was replaced due to some "electrical fault traced back to it". Not sure what fuse type it has but it's sounding more and more like a 1.6 (or lower) with a 1.8 dropped in.  :(

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Is this car a red one?

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volkswarren said

hi no 1.6 gti had  mfa it was factory fit with the 1.8, sept 82 onwards

Hmmm IIRC it was manufactured on 17 September 82.

So it could be a genuine 1.8 just manufactured before they started fitting MFA's.

stew72 said

Is this car a red one?

No Black.

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hi sorry there are no 1.8s without an mfa the 1.8 has a different  loom and fuse box, it would of cost vw a fortune to make a 1.8 with a new loom then a few months later change it again for a loom to take extra readings for the mfa.

but back to the question above, if its had an engine change and a loom change, and the sticker removed, unless you speak to VW who should be able to tell u which it is, you need the original service book which has the same sticker on the inside front cover as the one in the boot (82 onwards cars) this will tell the original engine number, but i guess that will be missing to.
 i would think if it's a proper 1.8 tand the clocks broke it would still have the mfa button on the wiper stalk.
Regards Volkswarren

X2 1983 A REG EW CAMPAIGN In WHITE(Awaiting full rebuild solid body) :thumbs: & T Reg S1 GTi Project, Still Looking for Series 1 GTi's or a 16S Oettinger to restore (Complete Cars only)  or an A reg Lhasa Green or White Gti to restore, also consider  Black, Red or Blue, Also Golf Driver Project Wanted anything considered WHY

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volkswarren said

 you need the original service book which has the same sticker on the inside front cover as the one in the boot (82 onwards cars) this will tell the original engine number, but i guess that will be missing to.

Yup, that's missing too  :banghead:

Well it looks to highly likely it's a 1.6 or lower car that's being represented as a 1.8. I'll get the VIN and give VW customer services a ring hopefully thay can give me more info.

Shame really as it appears to be in very good condition. Maybe I'll just get him to knock the price down to that of a 1.6 if VW do confirm it is a 1.6.

Thanks for all the help :y:

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Now I'm still confused. This is what he's written in a reply on another forum.

He HAS been open and honest as far as I can tell but it's just this niggly MFA question that's bothering me. The car itself is lovely and if the boot sticker or original service book were present (and confirmed everything) this car would be on my drive right now.

Maybe I'll just take the risk and worry about it later.  :dontknow:

"When the 1.8 Mk1 Golf GTi was first launched from Wolfsburg Germany they ALL came with the MFA setup"

Sorry but that cannot and is not true.. the 1.6's and early 1.8's (early 1982 for example) had no MFA.  I have just called an old friend who is a mechanic (was working with vw from mid 1970 on for 25yrs) and he says I am correct.  

I think also the 1.8l Campaign was the end note for the 1.6l Mk1.  I am not sure if only the campaign's had MFA or other late 1.8s had them (VW mechanic can't remember as he is getting on now [LOL]).

I am the owner of this car - the full history is I bought it 10 years ago with a Mk1 1.8l as a genuine 1.8l MK1 golf (at 18yrs old I wanted a proper Mk1 1.8 and not a 1.6 as I had been driving my mums Renault5 1.7l GTX and that was quick), I went through 2 x 1.8l engines as I had spent all the money on everything bar the engine and the 2nd engine I got failed due to a faulty oil pump), so to save money I fitted a mk1 1.6l engine from a donner car I had as the 1.6l engines are more reliable (donner car had a good engine but a rust bucket, sourced from my Uncle who owned a Repair garage and was the one who told me to buy them in the 1st place).  So the 1.6l engine went into it and it was used and then changed back to a 1.8l when I had the money.  I never bothered to change the engine size or code as I just forgot.  The last two years I drove the car I did almost no miles as I had another Mk1 and a Mk2 (Golf mad back then… now have a Pulsar [:P] ), so I decided to take it off the road and store it for my kids one day.. circumstances change and after now four years of me storing it off the road I am selling up - I am on strict instructions from my girlfriend to sell so we can use the money for a deposit for a flat.   As I said to the buyers I would not be selling otherwise, but the car or my girl is an easy decision to make.

I have been 100% honest with the buyers, I have given the VIN to the buyer as said above to investigate further with.. shame I am not believed as its only going to waste time [|)]

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the guy doesn't no what he's on about, for a start he says early 82 1.8's is sept early?? not in my book, campaign's spelt the end of the 1.6?? the 1.8 was out 12 months before a campaign so how was it resonsable?? the golf buyers guide on here also confirms what i have told you,
but at the end of the day if its a good car that should be all u need worry about unless he wants a mint for it.
Regards Volkswarren

X2 1983 A REG EW CAMPAIGN In WHITE(Awaiting full rebuild solid body) :thumbs: & T Reg S1 GTi Project, Still Looking for Series 1 GTi's or a 16S Oettinger to restore (Complete Cars only)  or an A reg Lhasa Green or White Gti to restore, also consider  Black, Red or Blue, Also Golf Driver Project Wanted anything considered WHY

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I'm pretty sure that all 1.8's had an MFA.

Have a look on the gearbox to see if its still got the correct switch for the economy guage, there should be one of these too, would the gearbox code give it away assuming its the original box. Is there any MFA wiring lurking around the engine bay?

If there's evidence of wiring in the engine bay, whats the mileage showing? Sneaky clock change possibly?

Whereabouts is the car?

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I have an early 1800 8O . Most of the parts are dated summer 82 and it does have the MFA. It doesn't have the water level guage on the expansion bottle though :dontknow:  The wiring is there but carefully cable-tied to the rest of the loom out of the way. Looks like it had been like that from the factory.

Also it is possible that its an import (quiet common back then). On the continent you could pick and mix body/trim/engine/colour combinations that didn't exist in the UK.  :dontknow:  :dontknow:
1983 Mars Red 1.8 Golf GTI
1987 Alpine White 1.8 Clipper Cabriolet

The trouble with doing nothing is that you never know when you are finished.

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All UK 1.8s had MFA. On the continent there were various "low cost" GTi model 1.8s that did not come with MFA. So your car is either a 1.6 originally or a personal import.

If you have lost the stickers showing the engine code, you can still make a good assumption about the original engine:

10th letter of VIN = "A", "B" or "C" = 1.6
10th letter of VIN = "D" or "E" = 1.8

Evidence of a low spec personal import is:
- no MFA
- "normal" seats, i.e. GTi stripe trim but no sports seats
- non-interior adjustable mirrors
- non-tinted windows
- low spec carpet
- no door pockets
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Not all series 2 GTIs had the MFA, only the 1.8s. I had a 1.6 (y-reg) '82 series 2 GTI which had only the clock and no push button on the wiper arm, but with the series 2 dashboard as normal.

As Rajan says, the chassis number gives it away. My above example was a 'C'.

Could be an import though as also pointed out.

Cheers,

Drew.
Once a Mk1 fan, always a Mk1 Fan...

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It is a personal import from what I can gather and the 10th letter of the VIN is a C

dubboy said

Evidence of a low spec personal import is:
- no MFA yup
- "normal" seats, i.e. GTi stripe trim but no sports seats Has 1.6 red stripe seats
- non-interior adjustable mirrors Yup
- non-tinted windowsHas tinted glass
- low spec carpet no idea
- no door pockets Has door pockets

It has tinted windows and door pockets but I guess they could have been added later or specified when it was ordered. the seats are from a 1.6 apparently as the original were sold with another car.

drew said

As Rajan says, the chassis number gives it away. My above example was a 'C'.

Could be an import though as also pointed out.

So… at a guess it could be a personal import 1.8 just happens to have a C VIN number.

Damn this is harder to get to the bottom of than I though. Pity all the labels that would make this simple are all missing. :(

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If you PM me the full VIN I can check whether it was built around the 1.6/1.8 switch timing.
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Thanks dubboy, looks like it most probably is a 1.6 being misrepresented as a 1.8. Well it does have a 1.8 engine but started life as a 1.6.

Time to negotiate :twisted:

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hi all, it is possible to find a mk1 gti without mfa.
I own a original mk 1 GTI rabbit, which does have the 1,8 DX engine, 9A gearbox, all the correct badges and striping and the EW chassis.
It does NOT however have: door pockets,mfa,sunroof and the seats are flat.
I live in Spain, and these cars were sold at the same time the mk 2 was sold but wasnt available as a gti at the beginning…..
To lower the price the spec was lowered.

If the car is in good shape I would just buy it and enjoy it.

ps. paradroid, the reply you got of the other forum is a load of bull….if I may say. The campaign, pirelli versions were avaiable from late 82 till 84. My car was firts registered on 1 st december 1983, and was build in october/november.
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