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Golf mk4 / Re: Glow plugs not working
« Last post by Napalm on Today at 00:14 »-no power on harness wires
-fuses ok
-relay unchecked as yet to locate
-fuses ok
-relay unchecked as yet to locate
Recent Posts
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Golf mk8 / Re: Newer mk8 cs vs older mk8 cs
« Last post by fredgroves on 01 February 2026, 23:34 »The 5F (infotainment controller) is just the bit you can easily get a version number from... There are something like twenty plus other control units that make up the car.
The problems are all to do with the interactions between them all.
One of the issues is that the initial software was created using the assumption that the other components it was going to talk to were one specific version... When even as they were writing it were changing. Changed many times before all of the bits were joined up in a single finished car.
Some day someone will no doubt write a book about this as its an epic story of hubris, self delusion, denial and the most diabolical customer care in modern times. It goes far beyond just the golf too.
Probably lucky for vw that the whole industry took a whack from first covid then the Ukraine war otherwise vw would have stood out as a disaster area that could be avoided. As it is they took a significant market share reduction.
The problems are all to do with the interactions between them all.
One of the issues is that the initial software was created using the assumption that the other components it was going to talk to were one specific version... When even as they were writing it were changing. Changed many times before all of the bits were joined up in a single finished car.
Some day someone will no doubt write a book about this as its an epic story of hubris, self delusion, denial and the most diabolical customer care in modern times. It goes far beyond just the golf too.
Probably lucky for vw that the whole industry took a whack from first covid then the Ukraine war otherwise vw would have stood out as a disaster area that could be avoided. As it is they took a significant market share reduction.
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Golf mk8 / Re: 8.5 Steering Wheel on an 8?
« Last post by flipflops on 01 February 2026, 22:54 »Thanks, I test drove one a while back and obviously didn't live with it but wasn't a massive fan. I use then constantly in the 7.5 for cruise and audio, I'm happy with the swap, genuine parts and can swap back if needed 
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Golf mk8 / Re: Newer mk8 cs vs older mk8 cs
« Last post by flipflops on 01 February 2026, 22:52 »Really interesting on the hardware, thanks guys!!!
I'll try and find a good 2023 in that case, still 15k cheaper than an 8.5 and I can add it to the 'all in' warranty too for piece of mind.
I'll try and find a good 2023 in that case, still 15k cheaper than an 8.5 and I can add it to the 'all in' warranty too for piece of mind.
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Golf mk8 / Re: Newer mk8 cs vs older mk8 cs
« Last post by Exonian on 01 February 2026, 22:14 »I just found a couple of photos of the various media settings from my Dec 2020 Mk8 Clubsport and my December 2023 8R.
The hardware number in my 2020 car was H56 and the later car H61.
The early MK8’s got a shocking reputation for glitches and yet my Clubsport which was one of the very first batch imported to the UK was pretty good. There are a few threads on that car on this forum which catalogued just about everything I experienced with the car.
The first thing you want to check is if the prospective car has had a replacement steering wheel under warranty.
My advice, buy as late a car as you can find/afford that will hopefully still have some of its original factory warranty. Just in case!
But, as stated above, the only real differences were very minor, the dials are no biggie, the later car’s gloss black centre console will soon tell you how well a car has been looked after, and there’s the GTI logo embossed. Aside from mildly updated gubbins inside the dash the media system is much the same.
The Ed45 is nice if you can find one. Not hugely different to the regular Clubsport but has an Akrapovic back box and nicer side decals plus unique wheels.
The hardware number in my 2020 car was H56 and the later car H61.
The early MK8’s got a shocking reputation for glitches and yet my Clubsport which was one of the very first batch imported to the UK was pretty good. There are a few threads on that car on this forum which catalogued just about everything I experienced with the car.
The first thing you want to check is if the prospective car has had a replacement steering wheel under warranty.
My advice, buy as late a car as you can find/afford that will hopefully still have some of its original factory warranty. Just in case!
But, as stated above, the only real differences were very minor, the dials are no biggie, the later car’s gloss black centre console will soon tell you how well a car has been looked after, and there’s the GTI logo embossed. Aside from mildly updated gubbins inside the dash the media system is much the same.
The Ed45 is nice if you can find one. Not hugely different to the regular Clubsport but has an Akrapovic back box and nicer side decals plus unique wheels.
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Golf mk4 / Glow plugs not working
« Last post by Napalm on 01 February 2026, 22:03 »Recently changed my glowplugs, 3 out of 4 were dead however i seriously cracked and broke some parts of the harness doing so, issue was fixed for a couple days, but then rough cold starting came back, figured it was the harness so ordered a new one, however im getting no power through the wires of the harness so no point in wiring the new one to it, fuses ontop of battery are fine, the coil symbol appears for a split second on the dash when the key is turned, can anyone suggest what this could be,
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
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Golf mk8 / Re: 8.5 Steering Wheel on an 8?
« Last post by fredgroves on 01 February 2026, 21:54 »It's not nearly as bad as one press guy wrote about (and every other lazy journo copied) but swapping them out is possible as described above. Personally I'd not bother.
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Golf mk8 / Re: Newer mk8 cs vs older mk8 cs
« Last post by fredgroves on 01 February 2026, 21:52 »The (computer) hardware and associated digital controller units all over the car were changed throughout the Mk8 run.
You have to remember these cars are all digital in pretty much every aspect.
The software can be changed but some problems were hardware that couldn't necessarily be fixed without hardware replacement that vw never will pay for.
This has been the whole debacle vw customers have been facing for six years.
Personally I'd pick one from 2023 if you want to stand a decent chance of avoiding crap.
You have to remember these cars are all digital in pretty much every aspect.
The software can be changed but some problems were hardware that couldn't necessarily be fixed without hardware replacement that vw never will pay for.
This has been the whole debacle vw customers have been facing for six years.
Personally I'd pick one from 2023 if you want to stand a decent chance of avoiding crap.
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Golf mk8 / Re: GTI 8.5 first impressions
« Last post by fredgroves on 01 February 2026, 21:46 »The OSF you mention is usually called the 5F controller. It's the "brains" of the infotainment system, a computer that lives behind the glove box.
Not seen anyone say it's causing HK problems, it has been known to be the cause of the various bongs and crashes on the Mk8 though.
It's an expensive part, £3500...unless there is a TSB for it they aren't going to even think about touching it. In fact the dealer isn't allowed to do any warranty work without the VW computer authorising them... No guess work or initiative allowed.
Not seen anyone say it's causing HK problems, it has been known to be the cause of the various bongs and crashes on the Mk8 though.
It's an expensive part, £3500...unless there is a TSB for it they aren't going to even think about touching it. In fact the dealer isn't allowed to do any warranty work without the VW computer authorising them... No guess work or initiative allowed.
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Golf mk8 / Re: GTI Edition 50 first press release
« Last post by miromen on 01 February 2026, 21:40 »The 50 can have the sharpest transmission in individual mode...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivoZW3U737M&t=634s
And probably a gift will be present...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAPAK-wSxWQ&t=1328s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivoZW3U737M&t=634s
And probably a gift will be present...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAPAK-wSxWQ&t=1328s