Newbie needs help with difference between 16v and 8v

[real_bramah]

I am trying to confirm if the golf gti mark3 I just bought in Spain is a 8v or 16v - from reading the forums, they say that there are ABS and airbag lights on the right of the steering wheel - it has these (but on the left as it is a LHD) - also the forum says that it red lines at 7000 RPM - i'm not clear if this means when the red lines starts or finish - this one starts at around 6200 and finishes at 7000 - can anyone help?? Any clarification is greatly appreciated

[Deano2711]

Easiest way to tell is the speedo....8v has 140mph and 16v has 160mph....another way is to drive it 

[Cable]

open the bonnet? and you will see 16v dohc

[Wayne]

open the bonnet? and you will see 16v dohc

Yep dead easy to tell which is which.

[dom]

open the bonnet? and you will see 16v dohc

+1 opening the bonnet is the easiest way!

If yours looks like this it's an 8v:




Or a 16v:



(Stolen from Shady)