GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: Spooky212 on 24 January 2025, 17:34
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Good evening guys!
I’m looking to replace my Mk3.5 ST with a lowish mileage (30-40k ideally) 7.5 GTI. From the classifieds it looks like £18-20k will get you a decent example.
What things should I be looking out for? I’m aware of the thermostat/water pump issue and it’s my main concern at the moment (not keen on spending £20k then potentially another £1k soon after to get it sorted). Also aware that the diff needs serviced after 30k miles so will for proof of that. Are there any other things I should consider?
Has anyone fitted a towbar to their mk7 GTI
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LSD service at 3 years👍
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Hi Spooky. Only Performance models need a diff service, the standard GTI doesn't. Other than what you've mentioned, they are pretty robust. Just the usual checks you'd make with any secondhand car. Beware the diamond cut alloys though, they can only be refinished a few times so if they need a refurb but have been done previously, that might be an issue. They can have a fair few internal rattles which can be irritating but many of them are common and easily sorted.
What spec are you hoping for?
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Cheers for the replies guys!
I’m looking for a Performance ideally, 2019 ideally with DCC. Seem hard to come by though? The diamond cut alloys are a bit of a pain, had this with my old mk5! Do the mk7’s chew through oil the the mk5 did?
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In nearly 10 years of 7 and 7.5 ownership I've only ever had to top the oil up once so pretty good there. DCC always brings out a good debate, I've had two cars, both on 19s and one with and one without DCC. I wouldn't be fussed if a car didn't have it. The dampers are expensive to replace too. They all have an excellent basic spec, the only variable for me would be colour. Try one without DCC and see how you get on. If it's a must, look at a TCR with a performance pack as DCC is standard. It will test the budget but you do get quite a bit for the extra money.
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Thanks Watts, good info there. Good news re the oil, the mk5 was using a litre every 1000miles or so, well within VW tolerance as well bizarrely. Will see if I can find a TCR to try close by.
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What are you planning on towing with the gti? You might be better off a a GTD or else moving up in size if it's regular.
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It’s only for using a towbar mounted bike rack, no plans to tow any trailers or whatnot
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Hello all, off to view a 7.5 PP at the weekend from an approved VW dealership. Car has FSH with diff serviced last year. Have asked about the thermostat/pump which they didn’t really know anything about. Car comes with a year warranty, my question is, is it worth paying for the All In VW service plan so that when the pump fails I’m covered?
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The VW All In plan is pretty good value in my opinion but yes, it would be v wise to take a VW Warranty whether All In or stand-alone.
Water pump is the most obvious risk but good to have anyway.
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If the Approved Used warranty is being provided then you could wait 12 months then go All In.
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That’s exactly what I was thinking of doing, thanks for the response.
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Be careful though with the limits on the all in, I think your car can only qualify up to 6 years old which you may fall foul of with a 7.5.
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Really good point! I just tried to set one up for the car I’m viewing I’m and it says that it’s already on a service plan, will enquire with the dealer at the weekend…see if I can extend it.
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I think (and hope) that's tied to when you take it out. I went all-in last year just after my cars year 5 service which means I'm paying for 2 years worth of payments and should take me to my year 7 service.
If this is not the case then the 'system' shouldn't have allowed me to take it out in the first place as they had my reg details and directed me towards that product so knew full well how old my car is.
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I think (and hope) that's tied to when you take it out. I went all-in last year just after my cars year 5 service which means I'm paying for 2 years worth of payments and should take me to my year 7 service.
If this is not the case then the 'system' shouldn't have allowed me to take it out in the first place as they had my reg details and directed me towards that product so knew full well how old my car is.
I believe that to be the case. I'm considering another all in this year but will need to do so promptly as my car hits 6 in May.
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I think (and hope) that's tied to when you take it out. I went all-in last year just after my cars year 5 service which means I'm paying for 2 years worth of payments and should take me to my year 7 service.
If this is not the case then the 'system' shouldn't have allowed me to take it out in the first place as they had my reg details and directed me towards that product so knew full well how old my car is.
I believe that to be the case. I'm considering another all in this year but will need to do so promptly as my car hits 6 in May.
From the VW website:
Are aged 3 - 6 years and have done less than 100,000 miles at point of activation
So all good.
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I managed to obtain some of the history for the car I’m viewing it seems to be on a service plan that ends in 2028? Will ask the dealer for some more info but it’s surprising it has another 3years of servicing included, assuming it can be transferred to me.
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Wee update. Test drove the car and loved it, feels a bit quicker than my ST but a lot more refined. Few stone chips etc which will get sorted. Only minor issue is every wheel had a different make of tyre fitted, all with loads of tread but still, bit weird. It’s a VW approved dealer so not shady or anything.
It comes with a years warranty but I think I’ll go for the All In warranty before the car is too old. The service plan I thought came with car will terminate once I take ownership which isn’t great but not the end of the world.
If I asked for them to remove the tea bag from the coolant bottle do you reckon I’d get told where to go?
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Sounds like you are well enough informed.
Welcome to the family!
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Cheers man!
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Another thing I forgot to mention when viewing the car was the engine bay looked pretty grubby…more grubby than my cars engine bay despite doing 50k less miles…was quite surprising. Is that normal or should I be concerned?
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Mine gets pretty grubby. I wouldn't be too worried if it's been well maintained. At least when it's grubby any leaks will be easier to spot and the evidence should it be leaking hasn't been cleaned away. Will give you a satisfying job to do if you buy it.
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Mine gets pretty grubby. I wouldn't be too worried if it's been well maintained. At least when it's grubby any leaks will be easier to spot and the evidence should it be leaking hasn't been cleaned away. Will give you a satisfying job to do if you buy it.
I always thought the opposite? A meticulously clean engine bay you can spot a weep from a mile away even if you don’t want to !! :grin:
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I always thought the opposite? A meticulously clean engine bay you can spot a weep from a mile away even if you don’t want to !! :grin:
May have just been cleaned to hide a leak. If it's dirty with no signs of leaks, likely to be leak free.
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Just a wee update - picked up my 2019 manual Tornado Red PP tonight, well chuffed! Dealer knocked off some money for tyres so getting PS4’s installed next week.
Are all owners manuals online these days as well? Odd not having a logbook, manual or anything in the glove box…maybe I’m old school!
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Enjoy your new car, sounds nice. Should have a manual in the glove box for the general instructions for the car plus another for the infotainment system (and another but can’t remember what that one is for without looking). Service history is online - if dealer is VW approved they can access it as can some independents.
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Thanks Adam. Will get onto the dealer as I’d really like an actual manual.
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This is what you should have - had mine from new and I’m guessing the same MY as yours (mine was very late 2018) so don’t let the dealer claim ‘they never had one and it’s all online now’
(https://i.postimg.cc/2y7Yxf20/IMG-3798.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hQvNSNFm)
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Ideal, thanks mate. Will hound the dealership this morning.
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Congrats on the new car - got mine last summer and am garaging it over winter so can’t wait to drive it again!
Re the tow bar, should be an easy enough job and can be made to be invisible with a removable one. The bumper is already cut out just above the number plate so it’s just a case of removing the bumper cover, removing and discarding the reinforcement and then fitting the towbar in its place. I’ve always used Westfalia ones for my VW’s and the removable one is spot on, it’s the same system as the Bosal one. When the detachable hitch is removed the 12v socket swivels up out of the way so it’s completely invisible from behind. Electrics wise you can get the proper VAG wiring harness (poss £150 ish?) or use a bypass relay and simple kit. I’ve only used the bypass relay so no experience of the VAG harness.
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Cheers mate! Really enjoying it so far, so different to the ST it replaces.
Thanks for the info re the towbar. Does the bumper come off ok with the sensors etc? I reckon I’ll go for the bypass kit for the electrics, will it need to be coded once installed though?
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Bumper removal is fairly easy, there are loads of YouTube vids showing the best way. Trickiest bit is unclipping the side and rear plastic retaining clips. Basically it’s a load of self tapping screws in each wheel arch and under the rear diffuser, both rear light units, pull off the lower bit of the boot seal and then I think you can unclip the whole bumper cover. Once it’s loose (best to have some blankets etc on the ground ready) you can lift it off and undo the connector on the reversing sensor loom.
Then it’s just replacing the bumper reinforcement bar which is 8 bolts. If you use the bypass relay method then no coding required but it you will probably get a continuous beep from the rear sensors when you put it in reverse. The proper kit turns the sensors off when you plug into the 12v socket.
I’ll check back on my eBay purchases because there are a few bypass relays available and one type kept burning out on my old Golf. The new type I used has been fine.
I’ve used a towbar mounted bike carrier on my old 1.4 TSI Mk7 and it was great, much better than a clip on type or roof bars.
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This is the bypass relay I use on my GT estate:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171352163243?_skw=bypass+relay&epid=11007713547&itmmeta=01JM5T616MRV4K1D8CRZRAKMNS&hash=item27e56283ab:g:tuQAAOSwzkVfaWEL&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1dp%2BlM1ItnuHOBQRjJx6sPZf5QHFvHxQ5APbqitZgz1vmCBNNLdi6revBBoKwt%2B%2FMrY2gksxPaPrtORmDRKGx5O6qBUFo3yPrH12WtjfqGdEY4XuneCRxz4qo3nNV5xpsJ%2FWBZQPBhfI%2BgDJGk2%2FTktb1BZ0N4bWpWWBn25Dmmu8dqeAUg92spaCstUeuNnUFq3UK8IYBuIe9iHTwkBgQcMZQeW39Eo4gF3wM3JMT8dyYDNs%2FlM%2BGzRxcNFyNi4ROvvUBoVR%2BVwPM8VKWS%2B3LA7XaNt%2FOsrknXN5MsVlH%2FoOg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBMyJOYuqFl
The detachable towbar I used on my TSI hatchback was:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282581075033?fits=Car+Make%3AVW%7CPlat_Gen%3AMK+VII%7CModel%3AGolf&_skw=volkswagen+golf+mk7+wesfalia+tow+bar&itmmeta=01JM5N9GEKFT4EG995G6ZEJ47B&hash=item41cb250459:g:WmQAAOSwWl5eHzuA&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA4FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1erlGbx2tSFPXmE9jufnbaE4MA8nnnv4ftlCfzzKGFStSw%2FMmOD5Lh5PssixwNoAIQC0D3xsPsZ7fMucqhMrgKCSsJLtE0A3HSongCAd9qSYeH6%2BACVAOVcKNV1GkJKDl5lNYL%2BPwvX%2BQzB1Gt0jwY0K0tg34wweiCIkK1rkKkbTuF3eojF9t0B0lr2ofLeHS0LJKZtiNbxqAHLizIRj0D3NmPTYjSR8Pu8hEhtPhOCu8B%2FcYsxAB4Jvf64OI8fDPGieB7WwwZ3Sp8ay2HscUPM%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9CIprWhZQ
I can recommend PFJones for the supplier of the towbar, very good service and helpline. I don’t think they do the bypass relay I’ve recommended though. They do do a wiring kit for £100 ish though but whether that is a full kit that deletes the parking sensors I’m not sure.
Please check the above links before ordering though! Specs change and I’ve had a couple of glasses of wine so I don’t want to be responsible for someone ordering the wrong thing!!
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Nice one and many thanks for the info / links. Going to order the towbar after payday, will look into the wiring in a bit more detail before I order.
Did you notify your insurer regarding fitting the towbar?