Hello from Gloucester, UK. Yellow LD1B 3L Lupo

[Nietsnut]

I have noticed however that after driving at this speed for a long period of time, when I try to drive normally again (when leaving the motorway), the engine is choked up and produces a lot of black smoke. There is no power below 2,500rpm and this only clears when I drive it hard. Then it is ok. Has anyone found the same with their 3L?

The catalytic convertor might be obstructed, no power usually comes down to this when all else is well.

I have found a set of Lupo grey leather seats :D

The rear seats fit without a problem but the front seats have a different fitting.

I now have realised that the 3L has the earlier fitting for seats! I could possibly swap the cushions and leather over to my original seats but I do not know if they will fit (is the frame different?) or I could look for some other seats that will fit without modification.

Which seats fit in? Golf MK2? Golf Mk3? Audi?

Thank you in advance.

MG

the fronts of a Golf 3 fit right in, but the back will not. You may however just pull the front seats bare and use the carriage of the 3L seats under the foam and leather of the regular Lupo seats. I haven't tried this although I have had my (then) 3L seats in pieces for cleaning reasons. If the shape of the foam are (near) identical and the fitting of the backrest is too, I would give it a go.

[VW Lupo 3L]

I have noticed however that after driving at this speed for a long period of time, when I try to drive normally again (when leaving the motorway), the engine is choked up and produces a lot of black smoke. There is no power below 2,500rpm and this only clears when I drive it hard. Then it is ok. Has anyone found the same with their 3L?

The catalytic convertor might be obstructed, no power usually comes down to this when all else is well.

Thanks - it's strange that it is ok after I drive the car hard but I guess that if the cats are semi-blocked, it would make a difference. I think that it's time that I remove the both cats.

I have found a set of Lupo grey leather seats :D

The rear seats fit without a problem but the front seats have a different fitting.

I now have realised that the 3L has the earlier fitting for seats! I could possibly swap the cushions and leather over to my original seats but I do not know if they will fit (is the frame different?) or I could look for some other seats that will fit without modification.

Which seats fit in? Golf MK2? Golf Mk3? Audi?

Thank you in advance.

MG

the fronts of a Golf 3 fit right in, but the back will not. You may however just pull the front seats bare and use the carriage of the 3L seats under the foam and leather of the regular Lupo seats. I haven't tried this although I have had my (then) 3L seats in pieces for cleaning reasons. If the shape of the foam are (near) identical and the fitting of the backrest is too, I would give it a go.

Ok I'll look for some MK3 Recaro seats. I hope that they came in grey! I'm very happy to have the rear seat and door cards in leather.

MG

[Johan]

You cannot swap the cushions and leather from a normal Lupo over to my original seats from your Lupo 3L.
They won't fit at all.
Only the back seatings fit.

If yu find an interieor of a Golf 3 (or Polo 6N2) only the front seats will fit, not the back seats.

[VW Lupo 3L]

You cannot swap the cushions and leather from a normal Lupo over to my original seats from your Lupo 3L.
They won't fit at all.
Only the back seatings fit.

If yu find an interieor of a Golf 3 (or Polo 6N2) only the front seats will fit, not the back seats.

Thank you for the information. I have already started looking for Polo 6N2 or Golf 3 Recaro but I don't know if they were made in grey.

I am trying to find out the official grey leather colour but grey leather seems to be a very rare option so I can't find the information.

The interior came from a 1.4S. The car also has air conditioning, electric windows, central locking, electric mirrors etc etc.

MG

[Johan]

I have seen a lot of interiors for the Lupo and Arosa, but never in grey leather.
You are the first.
Better first investigate if grey was an option anyway.
Mayby it was handmade afterwards.

[VW Lupo 3L]

You cannot swap the cushions and leather from a normal Lupo over to my original seats from your Lupo 3L.
They won't fit at all.
Only the back seatings fit.

If yu find an interieor of a Golf 3 (or Polo 6N2) only the front seats will fit, not the back seats.

Johan,

I have looked a lot for grey front seats that will fit into the Lupo 3L and they do not exist. I have never seen a Golf 3 grey leather and only one Corrado with grey leather (silly money!).

My only options are:

1) Use Audi TT grey leather (I do not know if this is the same colour grey) and modify the seats to fit the car.
2) Look again at using the leather covers from the Lupo seats and fit them to the 3L frames.

Looking at option 2, you said that they won't fit. Which parts don't fit? The cushion base? The leather cover? The seat base and the seat back?

Oh, this is definitely VW factory grey leather interior. There are part numbers on them.

Thanks

MG

[Johan]

The frame is different, also the cusions and the leather cover.
So nothing will fit standard.
There are 2 options: make the leather fit for the 3L or, take new leather and make it fit.

[VW Lupo 3L]

The frame is different, also the cusions and the leather cover.
So nothing will fit standard.
There are 2 options: make the leather fit for the 3L or, take new leather and make it fit.

Ok thanks again Johan. I can either swap some parts of the frame underneath (weld them on) or I think look at some Audi TT grey front seats.

On another idea...

Has anyone ever fitted a Lupo GTi front anti-roll bar?

MG

[Johan]

If you want to adapt a normal Lupo-seat, for the best you weld the front attachment, see picture

the piscture shows the front attachment from a normal Lupo

[VW Lupo 3L]

If you want to adapt a normal Lupo-seat, for the best you weld the front attachment, see picture
the piscture shows the front attachment from a normal Lupo

Thanks

But the side rails are also too small for the wheels on the normal Lupo seat.

MG

[Johan]

No, the side rails fit

[VW Lupo 3L]

No, the side rails fit

Not in mine. I'll take some measurements tomorrow with photos.

MG

[VW Lupo 3L]

Well I've been busy with the 3L... but most of it has been driving :D

I have tried the grey leather interior but the seats don't have enough support for me and I didn't want to change the seats or the car to make the front ones fit... so I've decided to go to Black Leather instead.



I found a pair of original Recaro black leather (heated) seats from a Polo Colour concept and a Lupo black leather rear seat. The polo rear headrests fit the lupo rear seat so it all matches up.

I have also bought another Lupo but RHD and cheap... because it had black leather interior (just the standard Lupo set) and it's RHD.

I want to convert my 3L to RHD











I would also like to add air conditioning and power steering while I do the RHD conversion... but hydraulic power steering.

I have asked the question before and the answer was no... but why can't I fit power steering to the 1.2TDi engine?

Here is a comparison of the 1.2TDi and 1.4TDi engine blocks. The mounts for the bracket are the same.



I understand if there is not enough space between the engine and radiator but I am tempted to buy the bracket from a 1.4TDi and try to fit it?

MG

[Nietsnut]

In that case, go for it!

[VW Lupo 3L]

Thanks, I'll do some more research...

Odd one... when my 3L is low on fuel, sometimes it takes a long time to start... the engine just cranks over and over before it eventually fires up. I'm talking anywhere below 1/4 tank, not running on air
I've changed the fuel filter and there are no faults.
I've looked up the fuel delivery design and there doesn't seem to be a lift pump in the tank.... has anyone experienced this before?

MG

[Nietsnut]

Btw, those Recaro's look impressive. Very nice. Yes, more people have had trouble with this, there is no lift pump lke a petrol engine as the vacuumpump or tandempump on the side of the engine, between the accumulator and the engine, takes fuel out of the tank. What sometimes happens is that the thermovalve on the dieselfilter on the other side of the enginebay, next to the air inlet tube has a small leak. Or the injector rings need replacement. Or the ziff in the fueltank has a dry O-ring between the upper and lower part and/or is sludgy.

[steevo]

basically whats nietsnut says is that because the system is vacuum based (pulling fuel from tank to engine) the smallest leak will cause air in the system. Mine has exactly the same problem. At 1/4th fuel level the car starts and dies after about 5 minutes because no fuel is coming to the front. Have to crank it a long time before it comes back to life and when it does..it runs fine. Tried all different solutions but nothing helped. So i just refuel in time instead of breaking my head over this stupid problem hahah

[VW Lupo 3L]

I will replace the fuel level sensor in the tank. This is also the entry point for the fuel and I think that somewhere, there is an air leak there so when the fuel level is low, it sucks air, not fuel.

Oh if anyone is interested, the grey leather interior is for sale. Also I have a set of Lupo black leather seats for sale

MG

[Nietsnut]

This is a good start for problem solving

And if you want to sell something please use the "Marktplaats - eigen" board. We require you to write a decent description, add photo's and to include your asking price.

[VW Lupo 3L]

This is a good start for problem solving

And if you want to sell something please use the "Marktplaats - eigen" board. We require you to write a decent description, add photo's and to include your asking price.

Ok I will add them to the for sale board

MG