Hi all.
Have a 57 plate GTi (5dr Grey) & have been a lurker on here for some time (usually after tyre advice or dreaming of remaps once the warranty runs out) but am now posting seeking advice.
I've always gone through the oil faster than I'm used to, but after reading posts on here thought not much more of it and kept an eye on the levels and topped it up when required with Edge. For what it's worth, always fill with Vpower. But recently have noticed a couple of issues & before going to stealers thought I'd post here & see what everyone thought.
i) Started getting fairly heavy black sooty deposits on the exhaust, much thicker than when new & hard to get off.
ii) DSG box is getting really "twitchy" after more than about 30 mins of town driving. It's good as gold when cold & also when on the move, but put it in D & release the brake & I go lurching down the road. Not cool, and if you rev at
exactly the right time it can be avoided (but get timing or amount of throttle slightly wrong & it can make it
much worse too).
iii) And finally what prompted me to post here - y'day going up my favourite hill saw a load of smoke in the rearview. Was following a black cab so assumed it was that. Today though (just to check, you understand) floored it in the same place &

it was in fact from my *sob* GTi. Eek.
Before I go down to the stealers and basically sign over my cheque book to their (tender, loving) care, are there any obvious things I should look at first...or suggest to them what it might be? Anyone had anything similar with theirs?
Thanks in advance for any help that anyone can offer - even if it is "oh my god, get it to the car-doctor straight away" at least that would confirm my fears.
Cheers
Iain.