While we had hoped to have posted this on the first of the month, you've got to bare with us on this one, because he just revealed the new setup! He just got the BBS RS' on right before he left for Gatlinburg, along with the AMS Carbon Fiber intake, RacingLine coolant underhose and 034Motorsport rear toe links we supplied him with to help set off the bay and dial in the new fitment! The photos of the car in it's current form were taken at SlammedEnuff Gatlinburg by Sam Douglass (@brxkensam on IG) and had to be edited when he got back and caught up with work, but we think they were worth the wait!

Ethan ordered his MK7 GTI brand new in October of 2015 and daily drove it for 3 years. The car started out as a Tornado Red 2016 GTI with the lighting package, but no performance package or sunroof. It was special ordered this way from Autohaus in Lancaster, PA. After about 3 years, Ethan was involved in an accident when the car hydroplaned on him, totaling the car, but Ethan wasn't going to let it go and decided to rebuild the car himself with all factory replacement parts sourced from Reading Volkswagen. While doing the rebuild, he figured he might as well upgrade a couple of things too, like the lightweight aluminum front subframe from an Audi S3 and rear control arms.

I met Ethan about 2 years ago now, and we're stoked to have helped out with a handful of parts and watch his car progress. I know he still has a ton of plans up his sleeve too, with plans for a shaved bay, more ABT parts and much, much more! The RS' really took his car to the next level though! It was awesome to follow along as he took them apart and rebuilt them himself too!

Ethan also happens to be another small business owner in the automotive world too! He owns and operates Soft Touch Auto Spa where he does detailing and underglow / lighting installs. He does some really nice work too!

Give him and his business page a follow!

@wrecked_mk7gti

@soft_touch_auto_spa717

Engine & Drivetrain: 

• APR Stage 2 ECU software
• APR 3" High flow downpipe 
• APR Short Shift Kit
• APR Intercooler 
• APR Manifold Boost Tap 
• APR Coil Packs 
• APR Shifter Cable Bracket
• Southbend Stage 2 Endurance Clutch
• IABED Billet Rear Main Seal
• Milltek 3" Catback Exhaust (w/ Vibrant resonator welded in)
• AMS Performance Carbon Fiber Intake
• CTS Turbo Inlet Pipe 
• ECS Tuning Turbo Muffler Delete 
• Black Forest Industries Stage 2 Motor Mount
• Black Forest Industries Trans Mount
• Black Forest Industries Dogbone mount 
• Neuspeed High Flow Intercooler Charge Pipes (w/ ECS couplers) 
• Manual transmission pulled, swapped, rebuilt and painted red  
• LEYO Motorsport Oil Catch Can and PCV valve with A/N lines 
• Forge Blow off Valve 
• ECS Tuning Turbo Blanket  
• USP Motorsport Billet Oil Dipstick 
• CJM industries Engine Cover (powder coated identical match to vehicle paint code)

Suspension, Wheels & Tires:

• Air Lift Performance Front Kit
• Air Lift Performance Rear Kit
• Air Lift Performance 3H Management
• Air Zenith OB2 Compressor
• 4 Gallon Tank (mounted to back of seats)
• APR Front Sway Bar
• APR Adjustable Front Sway Bar End Links
• Godspeed Rear Camber Arms
• 034Motorsport Density Line Rear Toe Arms
• Audi S3 Front Subframe (powder coated with midnight metallic flake)
• Airlift Rear Lower Control Arms (powder coated red)
• Front Lower Control Arms powder coated red
• Eurocode Front Strut Brace
• Eurocode Rear Chassis Brace
• LEYO Motorsport Under Chassis Front Brace
• LEYO Under Chassis Rear Brace
• Wheels& tires:
  • 18" x 9.5" Front & 18 x 10.5" Rear BBS RS
  • 205/40R18 Front & 225/35R18 Rear Accelera Pri-R tires
  • Illusion Fly Gold 16" Faces & Waffle Caps by Powdered Remedies
  • BBS Red & Gold Center Caps
  • 2.5" Polished Front Lips by 4everkustoms
  • 3.5" Polished Rear Lips by 4everkustoms
  • BBS Flat Cap Hexs polished by 4everkustoms
  • Hardware polished by Soft Touch Auto Spa
  • 5x114 lug pattern using URO tuning wobble bolts for 5x112 conversion

Exterior & Interior:

• Beri-Backer Front Splitter (by CJM Industries)
• Beri-Backer Rear Diffuser (by CJM Industries)
• Aerofabb Side Skirts
• OEM Euro Tail Lights
• OEM Rear Fog Light
• Custom 1 of 1 first 1/4 engine hood done on a MK7 GTI
• Autobraun hand-stitched diamond hood bra for 1/4 hood 
• Fresh paint correction and Geyon ceramic coating
• ABT front grille paint matched
• Paint matched headlight eyelids that flow into the front ABT grill
• OMAC Hood Mounted Bug Deflector (gloss black)
• BAK Performance/Oettinger carbon fiber steering wheel custom 1 of 1 flat top flat bottom with carbon center trim
• APR Vent Mounted Analog Boost Gauge
• Legit Speed Designs Air Lift Cubby Mount 
• Black Forest Industries Heavy Weight Shift Knob (w/ MK7 International Group Shift Coin)
• CJM Industries Coin Tray Switch Panel
• CJM Industries Cup Holder Delete Panel
• Red footwell lighting 
• Red trunk lighting trunk mounted 
• 1 fire extinguisher mounted on exhaust tunnel, 1 mounted in trunk 
• NightGlow Underglow installed by Soft Touch Auto Spa 
• NightGlow Engine bay rock pod lights installed by Soft Touch Auto Spa 
• Omnique Vulcan red tint (all around) windshield, rear glass, sides, etc.
• ECS Tuning skid plate
• Helix OEM+ subwoofer upgrade (spare tire well)

Photo Credits: @brxkensam