Parts you should buy from the dealership ...

[Lee_dub]

GSF Green end caps for gearbox's - had 2 now and they both leaked, need to be sealed in

GSF Fan thermo switch - doesn't kick in at the right temp so car runs hot when you floor it.

AVS thermostat flange is rubbish and leaks even tho its brand new and torqued up correctly

GSF Cambelts are decent - got one on my car at the moment!

ECP Rocker cover gaskets are elring and there decent too - again got one on my car.

Dealer expansion tank blue caps are only £12 - bargin

Another vote for GSF G12 - awesome stuff


Got a GSF oil cooler on my car which is so far so good - hope it lasts after seeing above posts for the ECP

Oh BTW awesome thread!

[X4MGS]

Dealer Parts all the way for me... 

Just bought; Top Mounts, Bump Stops, Bottom Bolts & Nuts, spring caps.... Expensive but worth it in the long run..

Pattent stuff only when the other parts are NLA...

Or when Highly Recommended by peeps (Or Dealer parts are a Rip Off ie Boot Struts @ £33.00 Each Plus Vat - WTF)...

Ie Boge Turbo Dampers... Eibach Springs... Boot Struts... G12...

[Neo Badness]

Got my 16v waterpump, timing belt and tensioner from dealers. On exchange worked out cheaper than anywhere else. Top quality too.

Below is just a rant....
 Went to exchange my old unit and they said I was out with the 30 days. No-one mentioned this time limit previously so I got the hump as I'm out 60.00+.
Guy I spoke to thought because I was dressed in my oilies that I was a mug and spoke to me like a piece of sh!t. I set him straight saying I don't need to buy from the dealer for a 19yr old car etc and suddenly he's Mr Customer Service sir this and that but still refused to give me my exchange.
Seems daft considering I spend alot of money keeping my car running sweet and repeat custom from me would total hundereds if not thousands over the years. Everyone else I've spoken to there has been dead on helpful but out of principal I haven't been back.

Defo worth checking with the dealers for bolts etc as they are often cheaper than ebay and the quality is better. Just don't use Bill at Barnetts Dundee VW as he's a snobby knobhead....Everyone else is lovely

[X4MGS]

Other thing worth noting is that SOME stuff from GSF etc is from the same manufacturers as the OEM stuff...

Other place thats good is Ebay.de as some prices are MUCH less that what you see listed on Ebay.co.uk and you can find stuff that you just can't get here...

I just bought a pair of Hella Big Bumper Clear Indicators for 20 Euro's posted.... (Used).

I also Bought 2 x Brand NEW left sided ones for 15 Euro each plus 9 Euro postage (didn't realise that they were handed... Duhhhh Bloody Vagcat Not working caused that mistake.... Grrrrrrr).

JMPW....

[walchy01]

All this stuff bought from TPS

Oil filter, plugs, plastic wheel arch trim (front), water pump, cam belt kit,clutch kit,flexi brake hose,rocker cover gasket,battery,locking wheel nuts and standard nuts,air filter, brake pads,air filter, Loads of other little bits and so far they get the thumbs up from me, good price especially if you are returning for example of an old clutch or water pump in exchange, got both genuine parts at almost the same price of stoff on Ebay that are not the genuine article.

 

[peaky83]

DO NOT buy coolant hoses from GSF, i've been through 3 sets in 18 months, thee rubber perished=s and they get pin holes and the water drains like a b***h the VW ones are about £20 each but are well worth it unless you want to fork out for Samco hoses...

[X4MGS]

DO NOT buy coolant hoses from GSF, i've been through 3 sets in 18 months, thee rubber perished=s and they get pin holes and the water drains like a b***h the VW ones are about £20 each but are well worth it unless you want to fork out for Samco hoses...

If it's the heater matrix ones you are stuffed as the dealers don't do both anymore... you can only get one type and its £30.00 & vat - AFAIR

[peaky83]

To be fair I am talking about the nes from the water pump to the rad and the top hose from the rad to the flange on the frot of the head...

[X4MGS]

To be fair I am talking about the nes from the water pump to the rad and the top hose from the rad to the flange on the frot of the head...

A question that someone may be able to answer...

Does Samco/Roose etc do the pipes for the heater matrix as I may just buy a set and stick 'em on... as I am sure mine are GSF ones as the bypass valves are not there...

[Frijj]

All the electrical sensors I've had from GSF I've replaced with Gen VW. Fan, Black and Blue (digifant) - The calibration has been out on all of them. The black one read very hot when in reality was normal but some other people have had big problems with under-reading ones. Blue one was just crap and messed up the idle. Fan ones didn't kick in as said above. AVOID AVOID AVOID

 Also has anyone else had problems with the thermostats? I think the Mk3 and the Mk2 ones are different spring strengths despite the same temp rating, I think that the GSF copy the Mk3 spring so don't open fully in a Mk2 giving the temp sat at the first bar instead of about half way or is this just the start of a fail? Add a badly calibrated black sensor and you don't know if your car is running a little cold or way too hot...

My GSF oil cooler seems fine so far and I've not had problems with the smaller hoses I've replaced. O-rings seem to be fine from GSF too but perhaps I got lucky?
Door membrane was gen VW part when I got it from GSF but about £6 not £20 IIRC