MK5 Golf GTI
All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: ReflexRob on June 13, 2016, 10:38:56 pm
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I paid top whack and have had the car 1 year. In that time 48k - 60k:
Thermostat failed
Replaced DV with revG which has now failed and the bolt hardest to get to has rounded
Diesel rattle on warm idle
Replaced cam follower through fear of wearing through.
Lumpy idle due to carbon build up.
Now the nearside wing which was perfect on purchase is now rusting. VW wont replace.
I keep trying to enjoy the ownership experience but it is built terribly!
I've got at least £1000 of bills sitting there on the most expensive car i've ever bought.
My '93 MR2 Turbo is so much better built it is untrue.
Sorry to bring the mood down - just a bit fed up - wish I had bought an E92 325 coupe now.
:(
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Yeah been thier Rob when i had turbo problems with mine,think vw rushed the built with the mk5 golf as to why thier is so many complaints about corrosion
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Rounded bolts has nothing to do with build quality that's just a cowboy handy work. I had a very slight miss on idle, change to r8 coil packs and it solved the problem. Got to remember these ain't new car any more problems do happen. Go buy a modern diesel from any manufacter and see what real problems are :wink:
Had two mk5 gti's and have been bombproof.
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Rounded bolts are poor build quality if they make them from chocolate!
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I've spent about £1200 since I bought mine at the end of April and its going in again tomorrow for a pressure test on the coolant as I have a leak I can't find and to diagnose why I have a lumpy idle. Gonna have the oil pick up cleaned while in there aswell. Expecting another tidy bill. Lost interest in the car a bit but coz I've got all the faults and common issues sorted I'm gonna have to keep it. Wish I hadn't bought it now really.
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I did go through a phase of being really fed up with the car with the bits that needed changing but once it was sorted and got behind the wheel and had a nice drive the smile always comes back to my face and I loved the car again.
Bear with it - once you fix the issues you don't want to sell it and let someone else enjoy your hard work. Hope there's light at the end of the tunnel for you mate
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Yeah. I agree. Hope it gets better.
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Ask peskyjones what he went through.
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In the same boat mate, iv always loved the mk5 and when i eventually had enough money to buy what i thought was i minter it was short lived! Turbo issues, DV issues rust and drive shafts... and all within a year! i just want rid now but its worth bugger all without sorting some different things out first
I really wish i had bought a car from this site but i hadnt seen it before i shelled out for mine :sick:
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@ReflexRob (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=13264) do you have any videos of what your idle is like?
Agree with yours points, although all cars have problems!
I have recently been looking to find a medium sized petrol hatchback, ~two years old and it's so difficult to find a petrol, N/A car! Most are 1.0-1.4 engines with turbos on them! So far the Mazda with the 2.0 petrol seems the top runner.
As with other manufacturers more and more are going down the direct petrol route which will always cause carbon build up.
Be thankful you don't have an early 2.0 TFSI engine with a timing chain on it :)
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My 2005 mk5 gti has a cambelt and a chain:confused:
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Yea cambelt on far side which only connects to one camshaft then a chain on near side of engine to connect the two cams hafts together. Good old German engineering ha ha
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This is very depressing, but all too familiar, reading..... I too thought I had bought into quality German engineering having had new Beamers and new Porkers in the past - my bank balance doesn't facilitate that now, so I thought a GTI would be a good buy, with a bit of poke...but too many sad stories on here to have any confidence. I'm sure older beamers aren't beset with so many potential problems.....Disillusioned too :thinking:
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Why do people expect 10 year old cars to be 'bomb proof' and 100% reliable? They are not new cars anymore guys, they're at that age where you will have to start putting your hand in your pocket to maintain them.
Yes the rusty wing issue is a bit sh*t, but all modern engines will have direct injection related carbon buildup (if that even is the cause of idle issues as they have to be REALLY bad to have that much of an effect.
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No one has said they think they should be 100% reliable so thats a bit unfair. Most of us have bought our cars on an understanding that they are going to cost us a bit of money because they are so old but when you have paid good money for a car that has history and has been looked after you don't then expect to fork out £1000s on it straight away. He's allowed to be a bit fed up.
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Why do people expect 10 year old cars to be 'bomb proof' and 100% reliable? They are not new cars anymore guys, they're at that age where you will have to start putting your hand in your pocket to maintain them.
Yes the rusty wing issue is a bit sh*t, but all modern engines will have direct injection related carbon buildup (if that even is the cause of idle issues as they have to be REALLY bad to have that much of an effect.
I have to agree, nothing the OP said sounds out if the ordinary (apart from the rust possibly). I have done pretty much the same items to my car and never thought it made the car bad. Just part of buying a 8 year old car. When buying it I had things like this in mind. If you want complete trouble free motoring you need to buy newer. Thermostats, carbon on the valves happens as miles and age go up. I really don't see anything wrong.
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If you can do the work yourself then its probably not too bad but if you have to use a specialist each time especially if these things need doing at different times then the bills soon rack up. Its probably better to buy a 10 year old car if you are mechanically minded and can maintain the car yourself if not maybe buy newer.
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I agree no one wants to pay out, but out of the things listed only the wing is really something to get really miffed about. Carbon build up causing lumpy idle, not the end of the world, obviously depends how lumpy but I bet it still drives fine, same with thermostat, will still drive ok. Get the two done at once. DV, check before you replace, easy to do, cam follower is pretty much a one off thing and costs £35. I'm. Not saying don't get these things done, but if you cant afford them in one hit the car still drives fine ?. I got clutch slip soon after buying my car, that's want ideal !
If he had said the gearbox went, then the head gasket blew, then yes, totally unexpected and clearly the car is not in great health. But even the very best 10 year old GTIs will need a follower, carbon clean, maybe a DV, and prob a thermostat.
I am not saying he shouldn't be fed up about paying out, but his car doesn't seem at all like a bad one, normal issues tbh. He won't have to do them again for years, if ever !
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Let's put it this way - my previous 2001 325Ci had 144k on the clock when I sold it for the Golf - it was 15 years old, utterly reliable and other than the front wings same as the Golf it had only needed 1 caliper replaced in 50k. I sold it because I fancied a hot hatch.
10 years for a car is absolutely nothing. All the cars I've ever owned have been over 10 and so far the Golf is by far the most unreliable.
If I can get it working and stay working I will probably fall back in love but the design flaws are seriously surprising!
I agree that the problems I listed are common to the Mk5 GTI but I totally disagree that they are acceptable on a modern car:
DV - I replaced it with a brand new G unit and it has ripped again after 6 months, it is a proper bitch to get to on a K03 and has resulted in a rounded hex nut.
Cam follower - easy enough for me to change which I did in the first month, however, if it wasn't through some poor unfortunate owners giving us a warning then this design flaw would cost you a ton of money to replace camshafts and hpfp etc. Not even VW acknowledge it as a service part but folk are replacing them every 20k for safety! That's 18 months normal motoring.
Cam chain tensioner rattle - why has the engine got not only a cambelt to replace (I knew this and am fine with it - got it done at purchase) but then also use a camchain which is meant to be a for life item but then stretches and or has a poorly designed tensioner that slackens causing your performance car to sound pants. Pretty major DIY job.
Thermostat - again not the end of the world but on a K03 you have a fair few hours of work ahead of you to replace it. You can keep driving it but it is overfuelling which won't help the engine longevity.
Carbon build up - again quite a few hours DIY and why?
To reiterate this is a low mileage car, yes it's 10 years old but it is 5 years younger than the BMW and with 90k less miles.
Oh and wing corrosion - why?!7
I'm not suggesting these cars aren't great when sorted but they have a gobsmacking amount of common faults for a modern car of relatively simple technology marketed as a reliable, quality car.
Guess I will be getting both the spanners and wallet out once again shortly whilst the car limps along for now.
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@Ditto (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=13301) - a video wouldn't show it up, it isn't terrible but I can feel it through my seat and you can hear it.Just an annoyance with the knowledge it means my valves will be all sooted up....
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I have the same thing and this is why its yet again in a specialist having it looked at along with the oil pick up cleaned and the noisy air con. Another £400- £500 bill I suppose. I totally agree with ReflexBob.
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Do the revs flutuate much?
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Seems most comments are on the negative side :sad1:
Like the other commentators, I expect a great deal more - these are very poor design / manufacturing issues, which just shouldn't be there. Indefensible on a modern car (even 10 years old)- you shouldn't have to be nursing them like this, with mileages below 50,000.
Beginning to regret my decision to buy......and many others are too, by the sound of it. I was quoted nearly £900 to do the cam chain / tensioner and cambelt..... with no guarantee that it would solve the very common noisy diesel sounding tick over ....33,000 miles, and fvwsh huh! Might just be the injectors - not sure
The Japanese competition seem pretty much bullet proof. Maybe back to Type R Civic......
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@Ditto (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=13301) no - rev counter is steady.....
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When I get a chance I'll be selling up. Owned the car 6 months and I have to admit it's the worse car I have owned. I always have the feeling the car is a ticking time bomb, always going into limp, engine management light on and its the newest car I have ever owned. Before I bought one I thought it's the slowest hot hatch about be good, reliable, simple, easy motoring I guess not.
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Many other car makers have a chain in the valve cover driving one of the cam shafts it's not just a vw thing and they fail just as much as the mk5s. Another thing is of course your old bmw was reliable most older cars are in my option less eletric crap, less emission crap, less safety gear etc etc etc. go look at newer bmw they are built like pizzas boxes dmf going, dodgy fuel injectors, wiper motors, stop start playing up, ecus etc. funny how people still rate bmw reliability wise.
I've had two mk5 gti's and they have been the most reliable cars I've ever had. When I got them I changed the DV, cam follower, oil pick up pipe, serviced them and did timing belt. Never spent another penny on them in 4 years (apart from yearly servicing). No rust either. Maybes I was lucky but 10 year old cars these days aren't like 10 year old cars of the past.
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I have to disagree with many cars failing chains as the golf is more common and a weak point imho. Sorry should have added cam follower too as that's just stupid as the old school way was good enough but as shoaybmakda says it's a money making ploy.
My tt had a chain and that was never replaced and sounded really quite @150k + remapped and driven hard.
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I think the common theme here for most people is old is gold - which I often think is the case but with the newer cars you get the latest technology. And with that comes a ton of sensors etc which i guess at some point will fail.
My personal opinion (not fact I have to stress) is that the manner these cars were made so money could be made on labour by the dealers e.g sensor goes wrong - take it back to the dealer to get it fixed. I often did find that my old Japanese cars had less issues than any German car I had (dual mass fly wheels, injectors and loads of different sensors playing up being the common faults)
That being said - despite the issues I have had with my golf, once the issues do get resolved, I absolutely love driving my car and the smile this car gives me I've not had on any car I've owned (I guess that's the feeling that keeps me going when i do find an annoying fault!)
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Got to say I've not had any issues like any of the above. My cars quick as fook as I tend to give her a blast down the A13 after work shish it's quick but not quick enough. where's my tt lol
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I have to disagree with many cars failing chains as the golf is more common and a weak point imho. Sorry should have added cam follower too as that's just stupid as the old school way was good enough but as shoaybmakda says it's a money making ploy.
My tt had a chain and that was never replaced and sounded really quite @150k + remapped and driven hard.
I know it's a pretty common thing for the cam chains to fail I'm just pointing out other car makers you this type and fail aswell not just vw, I'm not comparing to any specific car. All car makers engineer faults into cars it's a known fact 100%. Some do it this way others do it another way. I've seen far to many examples.
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I have to disagree with many cars failing chains as the golf is more common and a weak point imho. Sorry should have added cam follower too as that's just stupid as the old school way was good enough but as shoaybmakda says it's a money making ploy.
My tt had a chain and that was never replaced and sounded really quite @150k + remapped and driven hard.
I know it's a pretty common thing for the cam chains to fail I'm just pointing out other car makers you this type and fail aswell not just vw, I'm not comparing to any specific car. All car makers engineer faults into cars it's a known fact 100%. Some do it this way others do it another way. I've seen far to many examples.
not trying to have an argument buddy :drinking:
It's more apparent with the tfsi sadly. I've had many cars and can honestly say and agree with keiran and the other members who aren't happy with the choice of this car. I've had an E reg renault 5gt turbo and only replaced the head as the bolt snapped in the ally head when replacing the water pump common issue with this car but I loved the ownership and my old uno turbo with not one fault to moan about had it for 2 years. Both French and Italian cars and I hate french cars :signLOL: peugeot 205 1.9 gti D reg was pit fall for me engine seized gear box bell housing blew open but every other car I've had habe been good to me :smiley: FTO x 2 Nissan gti 4 ford escorts Astra mk2 bmw e30.
My Gti is a great car so far and the things I've replaced were my choice bar the stupid gear box mount and dog mount insert. dsg is a great car but tfsi isn't although cheap to mod and lots of torque^whp when modded unlike most cars in the market and sounds awesome with the dsg farts :grin:
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Here's an idea, why not fix the underlying fault causing the car to go in to 'limp' and show the EML?
Just a thought.....
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Good idea and no choice really is there or burn the fecking thing and loose more more as they aren't worth shi** :doh:
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:):)
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All car makers engineer faults into cars it's a known fact 100%. Some do it this way others do it another way. I've seen far to many examples.
Really? Surely it's more that the cars are built to a budget which means the best parts can't be used or the solutions can't be utsilised?
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All car makers engineer faults into cars it's a known fact 100%. Some do it this way others do it another way. I've seen far to many examples.
Really? Surely it's more that the cars are built to a budget which means the best parts can't be used or the solutions can't be utsilised?
Then how do cars that have massive budgets still get stupied parts failing. In my eyes the most faults they can make that's mean more labour and more genuine parts sold making more money on top on selling the cars. Just my opition.
You may still be right to a certain point but I still believe what I said. They may co exist on cars.
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All car makers engineer faults into cars it's a known fact 100%. Some do it this way others do it another way. I've seen far to many examples.
Really? Surely it's more that the cars are built to a budget which means the best parts can't be used or the solutions can't be utsilised?
Then how do cars that have massive budgets still get stupied parts failing. In my eyes the most faults they can make that's mean more labour and more genuine parts sold making more money on top on selling the cars. Just my opition.
You may still be right so a certain point but I still believe what I said. They may co exist on cars.
Eh? :confused:
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Same:/
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All car makers engineer faults into cars it's a known fact 100%. Some do it this way others do it another way. I've seen far to many examples.
Really? Surely it's more that the cars are built to a budget which means the best parts can't be used or the solutions can't be utsilised?
Then how do cars that have massive budgets still get stupied parts failing. In my eyes the most faults they can make that's mean more labour and more genuine parts sold making more money on top on selling the cars. Just my opition.
You may still be right so a certain point but I still believe what I said. They may co exist on cars.
Eh? :confused:
What's not to understand? :rolleye:
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Do you really think they build cars and then use/test them for several years before releasing them? No.
Cars are designed, components built to design and assembled. Unfortunately some problems do not appear until quite some time later. No manufacturer will design faults in to cars due to the money they would lose from warranty work.
Daftest thing I've read all week
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Do you really think they build cars and then use/test them for several years before releasing them? No.
Cars are designed, components built to design and assembled. Unfortunately some problems do not appear until quite some time later. No manufacturer will design faults in to cars due to the money they would lose from warranty work.
Daftest thing I've read all week
Spot on there @Dan_FR (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=9513)
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Like I said "my opinion" no one else's. Car makers have been making car long enough to know what works and what doesn't.
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This is very depressing, but all too familiar, reading..... I too thought I had bought into quality German engineering having had new Beamers and new Porkers in the past - my bank balance doesn't facilitate that now, so I thought a GTI would be a good buy, with a bit of poke...but too many sad stories on here to have any confidence. I'm sure older beamers aren't beset with so many potential problems.....Disillusioned too :thinking:
Ohhhh old beemers are...........I own one with 40,000 miles fsh and YOU don't want to ask me how much it has cost me!!!!!!
Any car of this age requires work esp if it has been grudgingly maintained so to speak. I have had a few probes with mine including full driveshaft replacement, rear wiring loom and new springs. I also need new disc/pads and tires!!!!!!
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Saying manufactures design faults in is hallariuos ! :congrats:, I truly hope the person who said that was joking !.
It's true that every component in a car has an expected life span (possibly the life of the car) but, for example if the brief was to design a car that had zero faults, guaranteed for 300k mile then component would likely look different and be 'over engineered', everything has to be made to a sensible budget. But to say they actually design things to fail at a certain point to get warrant work is a good one ! Haha
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I've had 3 BMW's with mileage between 50k-200k, and all of them were hassle from the moment I bought them. As already said above, to think manufactures design components to fail is just ridiculous. Most modern cars weak points are usually emission related items.
The mk5 Golf does have its weak points but the oldest ones are now 12 years old (mine included) so you need to expect to have to replace things at this age. Mine is on 60k and in less than a year I've had it I've done most of them apart from the front rusty wings.
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More components they can stick on the more there is to go wrong, surely if the aim is to make it as reliable as you can within your budget then why from the start of designing the 2.0 tfsi could they not make it with two cam pulleys to elimate the cam chain? Same with the hpfp etc? That's all I'm saying, why not just elimate them parts as like I said more components the more chance of things to go wrong when I can't see what advantages they have over older ways of doing it.
I maybes am wrong about what I said but come on what's the advantages? :happy2:
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The same could be said about the mk1 tt but I never had these kind of issues. mine where more 115000 miles age related bushes caliper sticking worn out clutch maf n75 shock were replaced out of choice although the rears had seen better days from the rust eating the cover away. window regulator drivers side twice in five years brake pedal switch temp switch thermostat. coolant housing flange and all the items were going within the 52k miles and five years I owned her. Oh and the amp burnt out as I ran a 60x4watt alpine through it for 4 years :signLOL: not much for a 15 year old car :grin: but it's not the manufacturer putting in dodgy parts but cheap parts made from cheap materials or imported from over seas that are bound to fail sooner rather than later. replaced the tt cam belt kit and water pump after four good years and 45k service when it started to leak.
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More components they can stick on the more there is to go wrong, surely if the aim is to make it as reliable as you can within your budget then why from the start of designing the 2.0 tfsi could they not make it with two cam pulleys to elimate the cam chain? Same with the hpfp etc? That's all I'm saying, why not just elimate them parts as like I said more components the more chance of things to go wrong when I can't see what advantages they have over older ways of doing it.
I maybes am wrong about what I said but come on what's the advantages? :happy2:
You won't find any direct injection engines with out a hpfp. Yeah the design with the cam follower is a bit crap but it's just one of those things. If you're really concerned about it then there is an aftermarket component that will not wear out (AKS tuning I believe sell them).
As for the cam chain, no idea, possibly something to do with the VVT design.
The fact is with research you can find out about any cars common issues before you buy it. Buying it then complaining on a dedicated forum to that model about the issues they have isn't going to get any one any where!
I could complain all day long about mine if that were the case. I bought it in September and since then I've had to replace the thermostat due to it never reaching temperature, clean the inlet valves due to lumpy idle, delete the faulty PCV to prevent them clogging again, replace cam follower, and replace the diverter valve.
I get what you're saying, but my point is they're getting on now and all the information is out there about what to expect with them.
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I'm not the one complaining here (although it's most likely looks that way :rolleye: ) think you may have some names mixed up or like I said earlier on I've had 2 mk5 gti's and have been spot on and most likely will be driving a mk6 R sooner or later. I was just picking some weak points out of these engines that could of been solved in the design stage of the engine hence why I said what I did but I was speaking for all car manufactures in general, but was received like I was some kind of mad man :laugh: but surely atleast one or two of you can see where I'm coming from with what I said earlier on.
Most cars fitted with hpfp run the pumps off the timing belt...just because it's has a hpfp doesn't mean it's has to run off a cam lobe. Same again with the cam chain wether it's there for the vvt or not there is better ways around it. Not sure on cost tho.
No research needed here really as I've been here since 2013 and was reading it from 2011 plus I've owned two so if I hated them that much I most certainly wouldn't of had two in a row and will at some point be in a mk6 r :happy2: I do mostly all my own work on my cars as well so if stuff breaks i have even less to complain about unlike most the people on here (guessing).
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My post wasn't directed at you, I'm just generally talking. I just happened to quote you :happy2:. What I mean is surely most people look in to what issues they're likely to encounter when buying a used car, and surely shouldn't be surprised if they then do have these issues.
Personally I think they're great engines, other than the obvious problems they more than likely will have at some stage.
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You wouldn't expect a chain to pop at 45-50k but it haopens as the tentioner top is some form of plastic and again depends on how it's been driving in its life time. I'm at 74k from 67k and touch wood all is well so far. where's the fecking wood :scared:
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Isn't the chain supposed to be a lifetime item?
That's the issue, along with others (cam follower etc etc) that are clearly poorly designed, and seem to be failing on low mileage, sub 50k engines...plus the poor design of the front wing assembly, leading to premature rust.
Cars with 150k, ok, these things can be accepted, but not the low mileage examples we've been hearing about - just not right....
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Nothing in life is guaranteed.
It's pretty stupid for low milers to have these issues but my guess is, it's how we drive them hard and becaiae of the cheap plastic they use for the chain tensioner that are causing premature failure. As said my tt mk1 152k and was still going strong when it sold in Sep 2015 no complaints with the bam engine. This tfsi engine is a good engine but maintenence is mandatory and cam follower at 20k intervals max imho. cam chain tentioner should also be checked one a year and replaced if yom worn. saying thay when I get the chance how does one check the tolerance on the chain?. @Dan_FR (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=9513) or anyone in the know. Thanks is it through vagcom
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Longlife oil servicing with 5w30 won't be helping guys. There is certainly no guarantee that the chain is a lifetime item. It is not a service item like a timing belt, but neither is a clutch, alternator or starter and they all wear out and need replacing.
It's not chain stretch that is the issue, but an issue with the tensioner which has only shown up several years later after many thousands road miles. For the most part the tensioner is just noisy and not in danger of failing. Peskyjones being the exception but I don't know the history of the car.
The cam follower is not the greatest of designs but there is no issue with them on a standard untuned car serviced regularly. The problems occur when tuned, especially where an upgraded pump is used. VAG since fixed this with the TSI engine and moving to a roller follower, 4 lobes driving the pump and a much shorter lift (extra weight of the roller follower). Don't forget guys the gen 1 tfsi engine was the first for VAG using high pressure direct injection on petrol turbo's..... of course there will be issues which will be improved upon as the design is refined. Take Formula 1 engines and how far they have improved since the current engine rules were introduced a couple of years ago.
Again the front wing is a design flaw which is only appearing many years since design and testing was done.
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Would you recommend shorter service intervals with a slightly thicker oil Dan. Mine doesn't use a drop but its being mapped next month and want to make sure its ok.
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I'd certainly recommend a 5w40 oil and annual changes at a minimum, on a mapped car. Hard to put a mileage on it as that will depend a lot on how the car is used. I've found oil consumption increases a lot with hard driving.
Mine uses next to nothing when driving gently / motorway cruising but drinks the stuff when hooning around
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Cheers bud. I've done all the necessary for it to be mapped but want to make sure it stays well maintained from now. :)
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I agree that you can research the problems with cars to a point but should the average lay person really need to spend more than a couple of hours doing this on a Volkswagen - a marque proud of quality? I did just that before buying (I don't ever buy a car blind) but not every owner seemed to have all of the problems I listed, in fact I have seen more posts in the last 12 months appearing all the time relating to people suffering the vast majority of my complaints rather than one or two. Independent buyers guides pick up only 30% of the problems I have actually experienced - thank god I didn't get a DSG or I would no doubt have had the control unit failure on that system as well.
I can accept the thermostat sticking and the cam chain rattle - annoying but easily remedied (costly for the latter though). What I find hard to swallow is the wings turning from fine to bubbling within 3 months (design flaw), the failure of a revG DV after 3 months (design flaw on a supposedly redesigned unit at least 4 revisions in the making), no mention of cam followers wearing out in VW service schedule (I was only made aware of this through the mass of posts on this good club or I may well have had hpfp and camshaft replacement to add to the list) and inlet valves so clogged up with carbon after a mere 48000 miles that they require cleaning to restore idle smoothness (such a basic thing in a motorcar) on top of the cam chain rattle and and thermostat. I've not mentioned changing the 3rd brake light that is a common failure - again thanks to this club it cost me only £40 and not £400 that VW wanted. I mean, who designs a 3rd brake light that needs the spoiler breaking off to replace it?
If you cannot admit that the above are a hell of a lot of problems for a performance car of average output from a supposed prestigious manufacturer then I fear people are just blind to the failings of the car. When it is all working well then it is indeed a great car worthy of its high praise - hopefully I will get it all sorted and it last many more miles before any come back but the RevG DV experience has left me bemused.
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My top brake light has failed aswell. How did it only cost you £40.:interested:
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I bought a 2007 Golf 1.4gt from a dealer just before I got my gti and that had dsg. Cut a long story short but it was shagged and luckily I got my money back after 6 weeks of him trying to sort it. 60,000 miles only, 1 owner from new, full history. Oh yeah! Lumpy idle and the engine sounded like sh**e.(Camchain). The gti I bought private and its cost me about £1500 in 2 months. Been in Indys more than out on the road. Unfortunately not alot I can do about it now apart from crack on. :gutted:
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I agree that you can research the problems with cars to a point but should the average lay person really need to spend more than a couple of hours doing this on a Volkswagen - a marque proud of quality? I did just that before buying (I don't ever buy a car blind) but not every owner seemed to have all of the problems I listed, in fact I have seen more posts in the last 12 months appearing all the time relating to people suffering the vast majority of my complaints rather than one or two. Independent buyers guides pick up only 30% of the problems I have actually experienced - thank god I didn't get a DSG or I would no doubt have had the control unit failure on that system as well.
I can accept the thermostat sticking and the cam chain rattle - annoying but easily remedied (costly for the latter though). What I find hard to swallow is the wings turning from fine to bubbling within 3 months (design flaw), the failure of a revG DV after 3 months (design flaw on a supposedly redesigned unit at least 4 revisions in the making), no mention of cam followers wearing out in VW service schedule (I was only made aware of this through the mass of posts on this good club or I may well have had hpfp and camshaft replacement to add to the list) and inlet valves so clogged up with carbon after a mere 48000 miles that they require cleaning to restore idle smoothness (such a basic thing in a motorcar) on top of the cam chain rattle and and thermostat. I've not mentioned changing the 3rd brake light that is a common failure - again thanks to this club it cost me only £40 and not £400 that VW wanted. I mean, who designs a 3rd brake light that needs the spoiler breaking off to replace it?
If you cannot admit that the above are a hell of a lot of problems for a performance car of average output from a supposed prestigious manufacturer then I fear people are just blind to the failings of the car. When it is all working well then it is indeed a great car worthy of its high praise - hopefully I will get it all sorted and it last many more miles before any come back but the RevG DV experience has left me bemused.
I think the key here is like you said to do even a tiny amount of research before you buy. You mention doing a couple of hours research ?, couple of minutes on google searching for common MKV GTI issues will come back with DV, decoke and cam follower. I knew all about these before purchase (and thermostat, PCV) and didn't spend more than 30 mins looking into it. That was the basis of my buying decisions, for all I knew before doing any research they could be complete lemons. I wouldn't buy any car this old and not look into it. Rusty wings is not great, I agree
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@ReflexRob (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=13264) have you had the chain replaced on your car? If so what did it set you back?
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@Craig Stanley (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=15958) - search on here - you basically break it out with a drill / chisel.
@shoaybmakda (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=12148) - been quoted £400 including parts from AlexVRS' garage.
@Madone (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=11196) - But like I say, people were saying they had to replace maybe a DV or a thermostat or cam tensioner - not that they were experiencing ALL of the problems I have (and many others) seem to be encountering within such a short timespan and at such low mileages. It is pretty rare to get a car that has all known failures whatever the brand / model in 1 package (known as a lemon to most people or a friday built car) but in the MK5 GTI it seems that we are ALL destined to have a sizable number of failures on our cars and it should just be accepted and put down to 'hey its 10 years old' or 'hey the internet says some of these things might happen', not ALL of these things are happening to a lot of people.
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@ReflexRob (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=13264) is hat just the chain? Or include the adjuster and tensioner too? If it includes all of that, that's a very good price
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Oh no, I wasn't aware of the third brakelight issue! How crazy is that? Which DMF designed that?
Pressumably that's an MOT failure waiting to happen. I'm struggling to fathom out how to replace the rear number plate bulb on my son's 2003 Civic 3 door, prior to going in for MOT, but the 3rd brakelight news is in another league :fighting:
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Not an mot failure as they just class it as a reflector. Thank god as I can do without that aswell tbh.
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Oh no, I wasn't aware of the third brakelight issue! How crazy is that? Which DMF designed that?
Pressumably that's an MOT failure waiting to happen. I'm struggling to fathom out how to replace the rear number plate bulb on my son's 2003 Civic 3 door, prior to going in for MOT, but the 3rd brakelight news is in another league :fighting:
The hi-line brake light will not fail an mot.....they will just say it isn't working!
I know because mine is failing and is very very dim by next mot I expect it to have died completely :fighting:
There is somewhere on here a work around but I am not a fan of how it has been done :scared:
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Unbelievable you can't get to it and replace a bulb without removing a body panel.
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