[hashamhk]

Hello Everyone,

Just picked up a 2018 Atlas with 21K miles and I'm going to make this my build thread, few things planned; in no specific order:

I'm sure I'm missing something but this is a good start

• Tint
• LED inside and out - Interior kit, matching fog lights and reverse lights
• Painting calipers
• Wheels
• Intake
• Cat-Back Exhaust
• Suspension: Leveling kit
• Dash cam front and rear
• Undercarriage protection POR
• Dechroming possibly depending on how the vinyl wrap looks

 

[hashamhk]

Did a few things over the past week on the Atlas:

1) Installed the front dash camera
Link to Dash Cam - Here
Link to Hardwire Kit - Here

2) Swapped the reverse bulbs with some LEDs (sorry for no pictures with the bulbs in action, but trust me they are bright)
Link to Bulbs - Here

3) Ordered deAutoLED Interior Kit and the Fog Lights - Items are back-ordered and won't be shipped for about 1.5 weeks

4) Reached out to K&N about developing an intake for the Atlas since there is none in production waiting to hear back from them

5) Order a Screen Protector for Nav System Screen
Link to Protector - Here

 

[MrAtlas]

Thanks for taking the time to share your adventures and the links

I'm looking forward to your updates

 

[tc1uscg]

Hello Everyone,

Just picked up a 2018 Atlas with 21K miles and I'm going to make this my build thread, few things planned; in no specific order:

I'm sure I'm missing something but this is a good start

• Tint
• LED inside and out - Interior kit, matching fog lights and reverse lights
• Painting calipers
• Wheels
• Intake
• Cat-Back Exhaust
• Suspension: Leveling kit
• Dash cam front and rear
• Undercarriage protection POR
• Dechroming possibly depending on how the vinyl wrap looks

View attachment 1017

Have you had any "balance:" issue with your rims/tires? I got the same 20 inch setup and I've taken it back twice for a re-balance. First it was the right front. Then the right front "lost it's weight". Last trip was 2800 miles and I can still feel it when I'm in the passenger side seat in the front. Starting to get annoyed.

 

[tc1uscg]

Thanks for taking the time to share your adventures and the links

I'm looking forward to your updates

ops, sorry, hit post before I was done. I added the driving lights LED upgrade. Man, what a BIG difference. The one thing to note, they do not fade out or fade in. They come on full brightness and shut down the same. They REALLY light up the side of the roads. I added the dash tray, door handle "cups" and the center console try. Weather tech window vents, front, middle and 3rd row protection. VW rear CarGO covers and blocks (even the 3rd row is protected). I use a Escort 9500IX radar detector and just got a new Rexing V1LG Dual Channel dash came w/rear cam, rear hitch/bumper protector, rear bumper "rub guard", rear net and cargo area net. I'd post pictures/links but my cat is meowing at me that it's time to hit the sack. Hoping wife will come through for xmas and get me the front bug/rock shield, top roof rack bars, splash guards, etc. Unlike some people who buy cars for an investment, mine are to drive and enjoy. I buy them strait out and drive them till they become a hazard (falling apart). I upgraded all my lights on my jeeps to leds, will be doing the VW the same. Thanks for the pic's.
Rexing V1LG Dual Channel

,

 

[hashamhk]

Have you had any "balance:" issue with your rims/tires? I got the same 20 inch setup and I've taken it back twice for a re-balance. First it was the right front. Then the right front "lost it's weight". Last trip was 2800 miles and I can still feel it when I'm in the passenger side seat in the front. Starting to get annoyed.

No issues so far I bought the car with 21K miles and the wheels and tires looked in great condition before I purchased the vehicle. When you say "lost its weight" do you mean the wheel weights or something else?

So far so good otherwise when it comes to the tires and the handling so far.

ops, sorry, hit post before I was done. I added the driving lights LED upgrade. Man, what a BIG difference. The one thing to note, they do not fade out or fade in. They come on full brightness and shut down the same. They REALLY light up the side of the roads. I added the dash tray, door handle "cups" and the center console try. Weather tech window vents, front, middle and 3rd row protection. VW rear CarGO covers and blocks (even the 3rd row is protected). I use a Escort 9500IX radar detector and just got a new Rexing V1LG Dual Channel dash came w/rear cam, rear hitch/bumper protector, rear bumper "rub guard", rear net and cargo area net. I'd post pictures/links but my cat is meowing at me that it's time to hit the sack. Hoping wife will come through for xmas and get me the front bug/rock shield, top roof rack bars, splash guards, etc. Unlike some people who buy cars for an investment, mine are to drive and enjoy. I buy them strait out and drive them till they become a hazard (falling apart). I upgraded all my lights on my jeeps to leds, will be doing the VW the same. Thanks for the pic's.
Rexing V1LG Dual Channel

,

The door handle cups are now on my list for Amazon orders can't believe they made the doors like that. Here in VA radar detectors are banned so can't run that sadly. How did you install the rear dash camera? I wanted to fish the wires but the headliner had no play and didn't want to risk damaging it.

We had a Jeep too before this car, it was my wifes a Grand Cherokee Laredo. I pretty much did everything to that from exhaust, intake, LED inside and out, light bar; I never got around to installing the leveling kit from Rough Country but that was the next mod before we bought this.

I just sold my daily (2014 Honda Accord) and don't have a car right now so right now its just the Atlas (my wifes car) between the 2 of us.

 

[hashamhk]

Got these in the mail today from Amazon 2Pcs Silicone Car Key Cover Remote Fob Case.

 

[tc1uscg]

The weights on the inside of the rims (stick on) came off. But I still think even after the 2nd trip to re-balance, there is still some "out-of-balance" bumping going on. Between 60-80mph. Here in upper Michigan, the speed limit is 75, so, running 85, it's still noticeable.

When I got the Atlas, we sold our 02 Liberty limited. I kept my 09 Liberty Sport. But I've added a 3inch lift, 32inch tires (kept the 16's), full skids, rock rails/sliders, customer front steel bumper with receiver hitch so I can toss on my winch if needed. Class III rear receiver hitch. LED's in the rear bumper for backups and new LED bulbs in the backup lights, lic plate. All inteerior LED's, High mount spot LED's by the windshield, LED's on the nuft bar of the bumper and lower set of LED's for low angle approach needs. Got the Liberty new and since it came with a lifetime Eng, Drivetrain, Tranny warranty from Jeep, I don't think I'm going to get rid of it. I was going to re-gear because of the bigger wheels/tires and put in a limited slip for the rear but that would void my warranty, so, that's why I got the winch option for my bumper and a 12k lb bandlands winch. I didn't want a perm mount because I can move it to the back if needed and pull myself out backwards. Seen too many trail fails where you need lots of wire/rope/chains to pull yourself out backwards. I have a quick connect (power) at the bumper. Heck, don't even have to raise the hood to boost a car (got a 30ft set of quick connect jumper cables.

These are the items I got for the Atlas (so far) (not pictured will be the weather tech stuff (window vents, floor-all 3 rows)

Oh, and my Jeep.. it's a little dirty and missing the LED's lower on the bumper.

 

[hashamhk]

Installed the Screen Protector - LFOTPP Tempered Glass Car Navigation Screen Protector for 2018 2019 Volkswagen Atlas 8 Inch
Its hard to tell from pictures when its installed but I guess that just makes it a even better product since it blends so well

 

[hashamhk]

Got my deAutoLED interior kit and fog light
Link to Kit - Here
Link to Fog Lights - Here

Fog lights install was straight forward, probably one of the easiest fog lights I have ever changed. The color match is probably 95% match to the headlights so I'm extremely pleased with that.
Helpful Video - Here

Interior Kit was a little hard because trying not to break any of the plastic frames using a plastic pry tool is a must have for this.
Helpful Video - Here
Helpful Link - Here

I somehow forgot to take pictures of the interior kit at night but lets just say they are much brighter compared to OEM.

Front and Rear footwell install:
I ran the wire for the rear footwell under the carpet and along the interior panel.There is a perfect spot for the strip right under the driver and passenger seat and I just zip tied the wire right under the seat.
I was a little annoyed how the front and rear footwell lights did not match in color not sure why they did not just match the bulb and strip.

 

[hashamhk]

After taking a couple months off to focus on the second baby I knocked out the oil change today the maintance light popped up so I was like might as well just get it done.

This is by far one of the most frustrating vehicles to change an oil firstly because the high number of hardware VW used to reach the drain plug and the oil filter and secondly the drainage system is horrible for the oil filter.

Not sure why VW needed to have so many T25 screws to hold the plastic shield it was either x10 or x12 of those, then additionally x3 T45 screws that were torque so tight by previous person that did the oil change. There was also a push pin that is next to impossible to remove without losing, I ended up just breaking and not bothering to replace because the under-guard shield is held in place already so securely.

The oil filter was one of the worst designed concepts I have ever seen its literally at no angle and it was like a blood bath the amount of oil that got on me because the oil just had no where else to go. The oil gets drains on to so wire not sure if its the oil pressure/temperate gauge but its never good to have oil especially hot oil fall on any wire. Not sure why VW dropped the ball so much on the poor design this is my first VW so not sure if all of their vehicles oil change is this much work. I do oil changes regularly in my house for my cars/motorcycles/dirt bike and I have not dropped this much oil in a long time.

But thankfully its done and not gonna work about it until summer now.

 

[SAL Premium]

After taking a couple months off to focus on the second baby I knocked out the oil change today the maintance light popped up so I was like might as well just get it done.

This is by far one of the most frustrating vehicles to change an oil firstly because the high number of hardware VW used to reach the drain plug and the oil filter and secondly the drainage system is horrible for the oil filter.
.......

Did you fill it 6 qts or did it take more? I only ask because of this video and also he showed how to save that little pin that is so easy to lose Oil Change 2018 VW Atlas

 

[hashamhk]

Did you fill it 6 qts or did it take more? I only ask because of this video and also he showed how to save that little pin that is so easy to lose Oil Change 2018 VW Atlas

I did 6 quarts, oil level was close to perfect I'll check again to let the oil settle after a couple weeks and whoever did the previous oil changes on this vehicle lost the pin so I didn't have to worry about that ?.

 

[hashamhk]

Installed aFe Cold Air Intake and WeatherTech Floor Liners

The CAI was a straight forward install only annoying part was getting the MAF (mass airflow) tube to fit into the aFe tube, ended up cutting it partially.

 

[dgian232001]

Maybe I don't get it. I just bought an Atlas 2019 SEL. I did a few things to it that NEEDED done. Tinted front two windows to match rears, fog lights to match that are brighter than the stock ones, powder coat wheels black, and whether tech floor mats. But **** guys, this is an atlas! Replacing interior lights, bug deflectors, and for god sakes, a protector for the gauges!!!!!!!.......I dunno man. Turning into pimp my Atlas here. Not that I would say how to spend your money, just seems unnecessary......looked good when you got it, minus a few small upgrades. Just an Atlas, remember that.

 

[hashamhk]

Maybe I don't get it. I just bought an Atlas 2019 SEL. I did a few things to it that NEEDED done. Tinted front two windows to match rears, fog lights to match that are brighter than the stock ones, powder coat wheels black, and whether tech floor mats. But **** guys, this is an atlas! Replacing interior lights, bug deflectors, and for god sakes, a protector for the gauges!!!!!!!.......I dunno man. Turning into pimp my Atlas here. Not that I would say how to spend your money, just seems unnecessary......looked good when you got it, minus a few small upgrades. Just an Atlas, remember that.

Call me crazy just never been a big fan of stock cars, I have always done some sort of modifications from the smallest to the biggest. So far most of things have been about keeping the car it great condition as long as I can since this is my family's daily but some have been just preference.

Interior Lights: never been a fan of the yellow light and prefer the appearance of the white and plus they are LED's
Bug Deflector: I have not done that on this vehicle and won't not a fan of those
Screen Protector for Gauge:Just like your phone you need to have a screen protector to protect from scratches
Intake: That was purely for me the vehicle seems like it choking and intake helps make it breathe better, gonna do the exhaust later to help it even more

 

[SAL Premium]

Maybe I don't get it. I just bought an Atlas 2019 SEL. I did a few things to it that NEEDED done. Tinted front two windows to match rears, fog lights to match that are brighter than the stock ones, powder coat wheels black, and whether tech floor mats. But **** guys, this is an atlas! Replacing interior lights, bug deflectors, and for god sakes, a protector for the gauges!!!!!!!.......I dunno man. Turning into pimp my Atlas here. Not that I would say how to spend your money, just seems unnecessary......looked good when you got it, minus a few small upgrades. Just an Atlas, remember that.

That seems kinda negative to me.. if a person wants to update a car they bought more power to them. You can have your own opinion but if it is negative keep it to yourself unless they ask for it. I dont think you need to update the fog lights but I didn't tell you it was a bad idea. If you have the money and dont mind spending it... just do it. But dont come and mess with someone doing something they like to do. You are just acting like a female. Just my opinion tho

 

[dgian232001]

The fog lights are terrible and yellow. I wasnt getting on anyone, dont take it wrong.

 

[SAL Premium]

The fog lights are terrible and yellow. I wasnt getting on anyone, dont take it wrong.

I think they are fine I dont even turn them on to be honest but that is just me. That is the point. I dont think they taught you but here.. if you have nothing nice to say dont say nothing

 

[SAL Premium]

Call me crazy just never been a big fan of stock cars, I have always done some sort of modifications from the smallest to the biggest. So far most of things have been about keeping the car it great condition as long as I can since this is my family's daily but some have been just preference.

Interior Lights: never been a fan of the yellow light and prefer the appearance of the white and plus they are LED's
Bug Deflector: I have not done that on this vehicle and won't not a fan of those
Screen Protector for Gauge:Just like your phone you need to have a screen protector to protect from scratches
Intake: That was purely for me the vehicle seems like it choking and intake helps make it breathe better, gonna do the exhaust later to help it even more

Keep doing your thing I love the build so far and sooner it later wanna do some mods on mine. I had a focus RS and did over 10k on it. Thanks for all the photos too