VW Mexican Bug

1999 Volkswagen Beetle - Classic Description

1999 “Mexican” Air-Cooled VW Bug

For those who never knew, the Air-cooled VW Bugs continued being manufactured until 2004. After all other plants and market regions ceased producing and selling the air –cooled bugs, only 1 plant/ regional market remained producing them until production ceased in 2004, Mexico.

Some attributes to the ol-school looking but newer air-cooled bugs were: an onboard computerized engine diagnostic module (Digifant); front disk brakes; fuel injected 1600CC engine with hydraulic valves requiring no manual adjustments; no thermostat given the climate; early style front windshield defrost system; flat windshield; updated dash; one control lever for heat which only supplies heat to front area (no heat vents under rear seating area). Other factory attributes made to these bugs are mentioned below:

ENGINE: 44hp @ 4000rpm fuel injected 1600cc air-cooled, hydraulic valves (similar to Type 4 and waterboxer lifters), revised thicker cylinder heads requiring ¾” spark plugs, full flow oil filter pump with larger gears for higher oil flow (provides better filtering to avoid fouling hydraulic lifters), remote spin on oil filter. No thermostat or air shutters used in cooling as the ECU (electronic control unit) controls mixture during warm-up to prevent fuel washing the cylinder walls (thermostat and shutters were recently installed because the factory fan shroud was still designed for it. Fuel and ignition controlled by Digifant 1.82 ECU unique to the air-cooled engine. Fuel injectors are located at the manifolds on the cylinder heads and inject directly at the intake ports which vaporizes the fuel at the heads which helps cool the heads.

ELECTRONICS:Breaker-less non advance distributor is used similar to 86-91 wasserboxer in the vanagon. Advance is controlled by the Digifant ECU. Signal from the ECU triggers a square coil with an integral electronic module. Plug wires are newer style electrical connector that grip pin. Spark plugs are ¾” longer threads due to thicker head walls. Digifant ECU communicates for adjustments and diagnostics through use of VAG1552 or VAS5052.

BODY: fully retractable MOTORIZED convertible top (motor installed in trunk) with new German black canvas top and headliner. Chassis resembled a 1975 fuel injected beetle chassis with the later style floor pans and seat mounts and dual fuel lines. The body is a 1999 and so is the pan. Pan is original to this car.

INTERIOR: Alpine receiver with 2-Polk audio 6x9’s in rear and 2- Polk Audio 6.5’s in front. The brake warning light is now an LED integrated into the gas gauge, rocker style switches, windshield washer is now electric pump unit.

DRIVETRAIN: Transmission uses the swing axle design of 1968 with wider brake shoes, 4 bolt drums and long spline axles. It also uses the Z Bar for suspension control. Dual circuit master cylinder is used with front disk brakes.

MISC: New shifter, MST serpentine belt system, Factory electronic immobilizer system (theft control), Bambus synthetic under dash tray, new brakes, new battery, new alternator, new distributor cap, and oil change.

Bug has clean Carfax. Currently registered and title in the state of Florida. Title states:

Identification Number: MI0023A387X071699

Year: 1999

Make: ASMB

Body: CV

WT-L-BHP: 2958