Annoying rattle from 2.5 to 3.5k rpm

[Callum_K]

Right update to this...I had a good look under the car and could see no loose heat shields. The shield around the downpipe seemed solid, no movement, but I put a big jubilee clip around it anyway, near where it joins the catalyst. However, the noise has not improved at all 

Looking under the bonnet and revving the engine it's obvious the noise is coming from the exhaust manifold/ downpipe area so I'm thinking I might just start replacing bits....downpipe first on the list. Are they easy to change?

[DCmk3]

Is it not the headshield on the rear engine side mount? 

[Callum_K]

Don't know...where exactly is this? It's an 8v GTI by the way!

[DCmk3]

If that mount has been changed, it may have been removed already..
I remember correctly my 8 valve had a heatshield on the manifold as it comes off the motor on the drivers side under the inlet manifold.
There was also another heat shield, a weak little one over the engine mount down that side which I had to remove as it was flapping about making one hell of a noise.

[Callum_K]

Ah right cool I will take a look tonight, thanks for the tip! (
As far as I know mounts have never been changed, hope it's this!

[Len]

There is another heatshield under that CAT!

[Callum_K]

No heatshield on the cat, must have been removed by a previous owner.

Sound is definitely coming from the engine bay near the rear of the engine.

[Len]

On 16v's there is an cast aluminium heatshield which rattles like f**k! But dunno if yours will have the same

[Callum_K]

Couldn't see any heatshield around the engine mount, this has got me slightly stumped, can't see how I'm gonna fix it without removing throttle body, injectors, inlet and exhaust manifolds to get a proper look!

[DCmk3]

Try hitting any metal items with a rubber mallet and listen for a rattle?