Help with a Golf TDi decision.

[koolerking]

HI all,

New member here! Need some advice on a purchase in the nest few days.

Im new to VW's, always wanted one so im now looking at a 2005 golf TDi Comfortline, DSG.

Im concerned on a few things, im going to get an independent check on the car to find out any possible problems. Its looks like a clean car, no wear on the interior, but its done 131,000k. The service books are up to date, but on the one stamped for the 120,000k service it was stamped but none of the boxes where ticked and i understand this should be the timing chain one?

I've also read scary posts on other forums about the dual clutches going on the DSG boxes! Is this true?

I've taken it for a drive in traffic and highway and its all very smooth, engine pick up was great (grey smoke on hard acceleration, but apparently after chatting to the VW Village thats normal?), DGS had smooth changes in auto and manual, no clunking anywhere. Aircon was cold, windows all worked (all auto up) as did the cruise control Like a new car.

The car will come with a 3 year warranty all for $15,000. Is this good? Should i worry about the higher mileage? Im awaiting an answer from the dealer re the warranty as VW Village said to ask what the payout limit was for a claim, as the DGS is about $10,000 to replace!

Any info would be really useful.

Cheers

[Jaap74]

I've read that replacing the DSG is more like $4,000, not sure who told you $10,000 ??

[koolerking]

I've read that replacing the DSG is more like $4,000, not sure who told you $10,000 ??

Hi,

That number was from vw village. Maybe he was talking about the engine.

[ian]

Yes you wont get much change out of $10,000for a new DSG gearbox the Mechtronic unit alone is $4,000.
I just had mine replaced under warranty and i saw the paper work.

[koolerking]

Hhmm, they goes the idea of a reliable, fun, economic hatch!

Would everyone say to steer clear of a car with this amount of k's? Unless the warranty covers this amount of replacement?

PS, i asked and the warranty covers everything except "wear and tear" im just not sure if there is some small print that limits the amount in $ i can claim for. Im guessing there might be, but if not then i'd be covered anyway!

[poyta]

Hhmm, they goes the idea of a reliable, fun, economic hatch!

Would everyone say to steer clear of a car with this amount of k's? !

I'd be more worried about the DSG gearbox with that Mileage than the engine. I've read some horror stories about them and heard its very expensive to repair. Those TDI's engine run with over 400,000kms in Europe so don't worry about 131,00kms...its only a just run in :)
Also don't worry about smoke blowing out when you accelerate, that's what diesels do ( unless you have a model with a DPF filter which the 2005 TDI didn't ).

[koolerking]

Looks like the warranty won't cover the cost of a dsg gearbox if it was to fail. I was very close to my first VW ownership!! I can't bring myself to a manual for driving around sydney!

[koolerking]

Ok, another question. I've seen on ebay US someone selling the TDI Dual Mass DSG Flywheel for $700 plus shipping: OEM LUK VW MK5 1.9 TDI Dual Mass DSG Flywheel ('04-09) | eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/OEM-LUK-VW-MK5-1-9-TDI-Dual-Mass-DSG-Flywheel-04-09-/300503230399?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item45f76367bf)

Its probably a silly question, but would it be worth getting a new flywheel like this and fitting it as a precautionary thing with a golf DSG to cover any faults? Is this the main thing that causes trouble (i hear they overheat and shatter taking the bell housing and gearbox with it) or are there other things to go wrong with the DSG?

[gldgti]

No not really.

Honestly, there are a lot of DSG golfs and other VAG group cars around now, and they aren't known for being unreliable. If I were you, I'd just get one.

Most of the time, car forums condense small problems into seemingly larger ones. In all likelyhood you wont have a problem.

[koolerking]

Thanks for the positive reply, i was starting to go mad deciding this!

Would you say you're able to feel if there is a problem with a DSG (strange clunky gear changes, etc) before something major was to happen? Any warning signs, or does it just go?


No not really.

Honestly, there are a lot of DSG golfs and other VAG group cars around now, and they aren't known for being unreliable. If I were you, I'd just get one.

Most of the time, car forums condense small problems into seemingly larger ones. In all likelyhood you wont have a problem.

[benough]

I think that car will be a cracker. Don't worry about the boxes not being ticked, imagine how many times a mechanic has to "tick" things. He probably just wanted to go home ;-)

As long as you keep putting the PROPER fluids in it it will be fine. Plus there are other options of mechanics and parts if, and IF, it does fail.

Also it being a 2005 Comfortline it will have the full stereo system and an auxiliary heater in it. Those things are worth their weight in gold! Also 131,000kms in 6 years is easy miles. If you really wanted to you could pay a mechanic to "de-coke" the EGR, intake manifold etc but it might not yield much for the money.

[Transporter]

You could check the history of the car; who was the previous owner? and so on. If the car was properly serviced and driven normally, I would be quite confident.

We have 2007 TDI, DSG, Comfortline, that my daughter drives and the car feels and drive as new, nothing failed yet.

Look, if the DSG survived 130,000km and doesn't show any abnormality it should be fine. :)

[jets]

Also it being a 2005 Comfortline it will have the full stereo system and an auxiliary heater in it. Those things are worth their weight in gold!

Could you expand on this a bit more. I have the '06 comfortline & I know that they reduced the no of speakers but what's the auxiliary heater?

[koolerking]

All sounds positive! Cheers guys.

The box felt fine, so i was kind of thinking if it felt tight now then its probably ok, i was just worried about an known "out of the blue issue". Will you get any signs before a DMF problem?

I did give the stereo a crank up......only got 1/2 way on the volume and i couldn't take anymore! Now it see it has a 10 speaker system i can see why!!

Im with jets, what is the Aux heater? Is it a pre heater for the engine?

[poyta]

Im with jets, what is the Aux heater? Is it a pre heater for the engine?

I want to know too, what the hell is an Aux Heater? Funny that out of all the extra's you get in a Comfortline over the Trendline you're most impressed with the extra speakers in the stereo! :)
I would have been more impressed with the full MFD Display, rain sensing wipers, auto headlights, climate control, body coloured mirrors and side strips ect ect.

[stickshift3000]

I want to know too, what the hell is an Aux Heater?

It uses an element to heat the air rather than wait for water temp to heat up. You just crank the temp up to max - it will blow warm(ish) air into the cabin.

It came in handy in -2c weather yesterday morning...!

[koolerking]

I want to know too, what the hell is an Aux Heater? Funny that out of all the extra's you get in a Comfortline over the Trendline you're most impressed with the extra speakers in the stereo! :)
I would have been more impressed with the full MFD Display, rain sensing wipers, auto headlights, climate control, body coloured mirrors and side strips ect ect.


Hang on, the '05 comfortline has all that extra!

There was a trendline (same age) on the lot as well, so i saw the Comfort has cruise control and the steering controls, but i didnt know it had all that!

I can see if i go for it there will be some serious manual reading!

[koolerking]

It uses an element to heat the air rather than wait for water temp to heat up. You just crank the temp up to max - it will blow warm(ish) air into the cabin.

It came in handy in -2c weather yesterday morning...!

Brilliant! I love gadgets on cars!

Just read on redbook, comfortline comes with loads more goodies! As you mentioned poyta. Thanks for directing me to the extras.

[stickshift3000]

The rain sensing wipers and the auto dimming rear view mirror are my faves... but there are lots more hidden goodies!

[koolerking]

... but there are lots more hidden goodies!

You're going to have to spill these now!

[poyta]

You're going to have to spill these now!

I'm not 100% sure so please correct me if I'm wrong but I think the Comfortline had actual alloy wheels ( only 15" though ) whereas the trendline had steel wheels with caps. I have a feeling the seats have more bolstering too ( although that may be the sports ) but definitely a better trim inside and I think it had height adjustments and lumber support. Like you said its also got cruise control. I think it also has the coming home function where the light stay on after you take the key out for a few seconds so you can find you front door. I think it also has a window demister on the top tray instead of a tray for storage. I may have been wrong about the colour coded mirrors and side strips - that was probably on the sports model. The rain sensing wipers, auto lights and cruise control are the big handy differences really.

[benough]

The 2005 models were a higher spec stock but in 2006 the bean counters got into them and they removed these things (aux heater, full stereo / amp, door puddle lights, *maybe* active headreast in the comfortline)

2005's are the business.

[jets]

I seem to remember that the '05 didn't have the bee sting[is that one or two words] but suffered from poor reception. It was reintroduced in the '06.

[benough]

Yeah they had in window antennas.