A real growling (loss of speed too maybe) when I accelerate?

[rikmayall]

I have discovered a real growl/rattle from my Golf TDI MK4 when I accelerate the harder/faster I accelerate/put my foot on the accelerator, the louder the noise. It comes and goes, lasts for about 5 mins then it stops again and maybe would come on 5 mins later, so very inconsistent - tried my best to remember what I was doing or if I was driving a certain way, but nothing different, seems very random.

• It doesn't happen when I am freewheeling, or using the engine to slow down or anything.
  
  I don't think its anything to do with the heat from the engine as it can be at the start/end of a journey.
  
  I was told it could be a hole in the exhaust, but if it was that, surely it would be constant?
  
  I think I have lost a little 'kick' of acceleration when the growling comes, but I'm not so sure.
  

Anyone have any suggestions?

I have hosted and given links of audio clips of the sound it makes (normal and when 'growling', the phone is on the floor of the car, on the same place both times). Hope it triggers something somewhere amongst you. Cheers.

http://myspacefilehosting.com/lmxgj/Normal.mp3.html

http://myspacefilehosting.com/lmxgk/Growling.mp3.html

[alex160]

Could be your dual mass flywheel on the way out, or could be an engine mount loose/worn. The dog bone engine mount is the general one to go first.

[jimmyb]

Hi, I`ve not long had a golf tdi (arl) and i also get this noise, i dont think its noisy outside just inside the car,so that makes me think someting is touching the body of the car,(exhaust maybe?) did you ever find out the cause of this? Any help or ideas of what to check would be greatly appreciated.

[jimmyb]

mechanics checked it over and says all bearings are fine, i rad/ic had a bolt missing so i replaced that and tried it with no front bumper fitted, it was all fine then when i refitted the bumper the noise typically came back