Just a bought a MK5 GTI with DSG

[mac456]

Hi all,

I have just bought a mk5 2005 gti with DSG (60k miles) and it is very nice alot better than my mk4 anyway.

Just a couple of questions as I never planned on getting one with DSG, If anything goes wrong with it do VW help towards the cost? (The service history is full with VW and specialist VW garages) and if it does what are the common symptoms? Mine sees great so far, changes smoothly etc... no obvious faults.

It has had one DSG service so far (oil change etc... by VW) which was done in the last 5k miles. Am I right to think it is due another before 80k?

One other thing I noticed when driving it home is that there is a faint whistle noise coming from the engine bay when I let off the accelerator, any ideas? or is this normal?

Thanks in advanced.

Mac

[mac456]

Ok So i have found out the service which was done on the dsg box was 15k too late then what VW recommend. Should I be worried? as said it does not jerk or anything. I guess the next service will be just before 100k.

I am very paranoid now

[topher]

unless its full vwsh i doubt very much you'd get any good will contribution, even then it would only be partial. if it starts getting clunky changing gear then the mechatronics unit could be on its way out but i don't think that is as common a fault as the internet suggests it might be. We did one on an R32 recently i think the whole bill was around £1600 including a dsg service.

whistle could be a lot of things, broken diverter valve maybe

i wouldn't be overly concerned about missing one dsg service as long as you stick to it from now on and it's behaving properly

[mac456]

Hey topher, Haven't seen you in a while! Thanks for the reply/info. Tbh 1600 isn't that bad actually as a worst case scenario! I guess changing a manual gbox isn't any cheaper. Is the mechatronics the only real issue on these then? do you know how many miles were on the R32?

I read somewhere that generally the mechatronics issue is normally a problem with a car from the begining of its life and once you have a good one, you should be ok.

I will monitor the whistle. If it guess worse etc.. I will give you a call.

Cheers

[topher]

clutch and flywheel issues can happen as well as general mechanical failure but all pretty uncommon.
i think the R32 was on nearly 80k miles, we put the failure down to the wrong fluid being used at the last service.

[vwfiend]

I bought my mk5 DSG gti at 42k...... It had a new mechatronics at 18k. I then had a new one fitted myself at 53k at circa 2 grand because the idiot dealer I bought my car from serviced it themselves thus interrupting the VWSH....... I now have new DSG oil every 4-6K along with engine oil on the same interval. Better to be safe IMO.......

[Poached]

Had to have a new Gearbox and DMF on my MK6 at 53k.

Gearbox - £4200
DMF - £900 +
Mechatronics - £1800

I was given goodwill which brought the bill down to £2300, so still quite big. Failures of this nature are rare but I think the Mechatronics is the weak point of the box.

Both DSG cars I have owned have shown signs of glitching in the gear changes synonymous with Mechatronics faults and neither had high mileage where you may accept this as wear and tear.

FVWSH is your best bet, age of the car will also be taken into consideration.

I think the extra oil changes are a little Ott, maybe 20k if heavily modified...save your cash .

[mac456]

Well these stories scare me haha! I guess its just a case of keeping my fingers crossed. It does sound like these boxes usually go earlier on though (maybe weak from factory) or from incorrect fluid.

[vwfiend]

I think it's more too much technology on newer cars. I keep contemplating chucking in mine for another m3 evo, slapping in ARP bolts, new shells and 5 speed box then drive it forever knowing it'll be fine. With my Golf, I'm sure in 5 years or so, I won't be able to give it away because it won't be cost effective to fix when it goes wrong...... Just my view. They're great, especially as a DSG, when they're running right. When they start 'kangarooing' and changing randomly, they're as fun as ass p!ss......

[Poached]

I mentioned this to VW customer services when my car was in for repair.

I said some MK5's will be approaching the value of the gearbox to replace...not much was said to that.