410bhp Mk7.5 Volkswagen Golf R Estate

Regular readers will be familiar with Neil Montgomery. His three-door caged and ICE’d Mk5 GTI is every inch the show car and took the cover slot for our September 2020 issue. For this build, he’s gone sensible. Sort of…

Words: Graham Leigh

Photos: Jason Dodd

WHY THE LONG ROOF?

When we signed off with Neil Montgomery last time there were plans afoot to source a TTRS engine for his beloved Mk5. The 43-year-old filled us in on what happened next: “I’ve still got the Mk5. I’ve put so much heart and soul into that car, it’s definitely a keeper. A 2.5 five-cylinder Audi engine is one of my longterm dreams with that car but the price of those motors is still very high and I don’t use it as much as I’d like. I decided that I wanted something a bit more practical and when the Mk7.5 Golf R Estate came up, it ticked an awful lot of boxes.”

Eastbourne-based Neil is an electrical engineering lecturer by trade. In his spare time, he runs Bespoked Customs, specialising in 3D printing, laser cutting and creating one-off pieces. “I rarely outsource anything other than paint and bodywork. It gives me a sense of achievement seeing people positively react to the cars I have built.” Neil’s automotive journey started when he was just 17. As was often the case in the nineties, he started with a Vauxhall Corsa Sport before moving on to a Nova SR. The Nova was duly treated to 60mm lowering springs and, by his own admission, all the bolt-ons he could find in Halfords. Neil left Luton behind for some racy Spanish numbers in the form of a Seat Ibiza and a Cordoba. The love of this brand led to a 367bhp 1.8T BAM-powered Leon Cupra R in 2008. Neil wanted to stay with the VAG family and finally made the transition to Wolfsburg’s finest in 2015 when he bought his famous Mk5.

“I went through a stage of running BMWs as my dailies for a while. My last one was a 2018 M140i which was a great car but I just had a hankering for something a bit more practical that I could do a couple of nice mods to. I found this 2017 Mk7.5 Golf R at a dealership in Stockport. It was well-specified including the panoramic roof and is quite sought after in that it’s a facelift model but also pre-PPF which seems to be preferable for tuning. The garage agreed to take the BMW as part exchange and a deal was done back in June 2021.”

The Deep Black Pearl example was a great place to start with the moody hue suiting the long roofed platform down to a tee. The main man at Bespoked Customs didn’t disappoint with this one and he produced a clever carbon-fibre composite show cage that secures into the ISOFIX anchors under the back seat. This allows Neil to quickly remove it when ferrying his kids around. In addition to the roll cage, he fabricated carbon-fibre mirror caps, door inlays, rear bumper protector, and numerous interior trim pieces. Neil also built the impressive boot build that houses two Kenwood KSC-PSW8 under-seat subwoofers and the tank and hardlines for the Air Lift Performance 3P suspension setup.

These are housed under neat removable carpeted panels which keep things stealthy, protected and practical when the need arises but can still wow the crowds on the showgrounds. A BAF motorsport K brace hints at the power within whilst Kenwood KFC-E170P front component speakers in custom carbon-fibre tweeter pods look after the audio clarity up front.

The styling package continues with a Maxton Design front splitter and roof spoiler, a custom 3D printed rear lower valance, carbon-fibre front grille inserts, front and rear gloss black VW badge surrounds, rear diffuser fi n extensions and a smoothed front bumper with Magna Plates kit. The interior is further lifted by the addition of a Control Customs UK-trimmed steering wheel finished in perforated Nappa leather and black Alcantara with black billet paddle shifters, a carbon fibre armrest and door pillars, and a Black Forest Industries gear knob finished in grey Alcantara.

Who would have a gorgeous set of satin black 20” OZ Ultraleggera wheels sitting around gathering dust? Yep, Neil did. These formally adorned his Mk5 before it was fitted with the MB Design split rims. The OZ hoops are shod in Hankook Ventus S1 tyres and fitted with Wheel Worx centre-lock style centre caps with a blue outer ring which ties in with the Akebono Porsche 10-pot front callipers that have been painted in Ford Sky Blue. 420mm J hook RB Racing discs complete the front setup, with Porsche Macan fourpot callipers and Aston Martin DB11 electric handbrake calipers being painted to match out back with 370mm discs. Motech wheel spacers get that allimportant fitment on point.

Neil has capitalised on the tunability of the 2.0-litre TFSI powerplant and his wears some considered upgrades. The Racingline catalogue was hit up for their R600 intake, foam filter, intake hose, turbo elbow, turbo muffler delete, and magnetic plug.

Other standout parts include an ECS Tuning diverter valve spacer and a BCS power valve resonator delete and downpipe with race cat. A Stage 3 TCU Littco tune with a Stage 1 Littco custom map has resulted in 410bhp and 426ft-lb of torque.

In Neil’s last article (above) writer, Si McNally commented that the silver Mk5 GTI with its bold red cage and matching engine bay, air ride, split rims, plenty of bespoked carbon touches and Kenwood ICE could be described as “OEM+++.” We asked if Neil had a name for the style of his MK7.5 wagon. He responded “OEM stealth+.” He’s nailed the description and the build. The Deep Black Pearl paint, black leather interior, carbon fibre, and satin black OZ wheels work in harmony with the ride height, increased power, and all-wheel drive to produce a capable, fast and handsome modified car that fulfils the mission of flying under the radar.

Neil is not one to stay sitting still and since the photoshoot, he has enhanced the boot build with a carbon-fibre veneer air tank, a 3D printed PSI gauge cover with blue insert and a 3D printed and lasermade Bespoked Customs manifold badge. What’s next for this accomplished project? “This is actually the beginning of the end. I’m planning on being at Ultimate Dubs and I’ve been invited to VAG Nation in Belgium in June next year. This is a real compliment as they always have a high standard of cars. A Euro trip will also be a cool last adventure. I fancy an RS3 or an RS Q3. This will scratch that five-cylinder itch. I’m not going to get carried away with this next one though. Maybe just a couple of small mods.” Yeah, yeah, we believe you…

DUB DETAILS

• ENGINE: 2.0-litre TFSI, Stage 1 Littco custom map, Stage 3 TCU Littco tune, Racingline R600 intake, foam filter, intake hose, turbo elbow, muffler delete, and magnetic plug, ECS Tuning diverter valve spacer, BCS downpipe with race cat, BCS power valve resonator delete, transmission: factory DSG
• CHASSIS: Air Lift Performance 3P suspension, OZ 20” Ultaleggera finished in satin black with Wheelworx centre caps, Hankook Ventus S1 tyres, Motech wheel spacers, 10-pot Akebono Porsche Callipers, 420mm J hook RB Racing discs (front), 370mm RB Racing rear discs with Aston Martin DB11 handbrake and Porsche Macan twin caliper conversion, top strut brace, BAF Motorsport K brace
• EXTERIOR: Deep Black Pearl paintwork, Maxton Design front splitter and roof spoiler, Bespoked Customs 3D printed rear lower valance, rear bumper protector, carbon-fibre front grille inserts, front and rear gloss black VW badge surrounds, rear diffuser fi n extensions, smoothed front bumper with Magna Plates kit
• INTERIOR: Custom Control-trimmed steering wheel in perforated Nappa leather and black Alcantara with black billet paddle shifters, Black Forest Industries gear knob finished in grey Alcantara, Bespoked Customs carbonfibre composite show cage, carbon-fi bre mirror caps, door inlays, armrest and door pillar covers, boot build housing two Kenwood KSC-PSW8 under-seat subwoofers and the tank and hardlines for the Air Lift Performance 3P suspension setup, Kenwood KFC-E170P front component speakers in custom carbon-fibre tweeter pods
• SHOUT: @uksno1cardetailingltd for keeping the car looking fresh, @ ajsbodyworks for paint and bodywork, Keith and James at Kenwood UK for their ongoing support, my close friends for their support @built_6r, @mrpoults, @ y321oud, @straightonjohn, @ash_7r, my family for their love and support always, and my wife for being amazing and supportive @montomerysarahl

«It has 10 pots with 420mm discs up front with 370mm discs out back, plus Porsche Macan four-pots and Aston Martin electric handbrake callipers»