MK5 2.0 TDI turbo whistle

[ScottR]

When I was looking at buying my new car I test drove a couple.  Clearly I didn't choose the Golf, but I did prefer one thing about it to the car I bought.

The sound of the turbowhistle inside the cabin.  Is the sound really promenent in all Golf TDIs or would this one of been modified as it was a really loud "wooooosh" sound.

Just interested if it was a standard feature or not

[synnea]

Hello,

I have had 2 MK5 Golf 2.0TDIs and I can assure you that this is a 'normal' feature. It is not a fault. There was a long thread about it on ukmkivs forum at one stage. It has also been referred to as the MK5 Golf Owl noise or the police siren noise. It is not a fault so you have nothing to worry about. Some Golfs like mine developed the noise after about 20k miles. I used to work for VW so I know the guys really well at my local garage. I saw the technical report from VW that advised them it was simply air being dumped from the turbo. They had to release the report as so many owners had complained of the noise. My second 2.0GT TDI has been remapped now but it had the sound long before it was done. Similarly my mate has a 1.9TDI and it has the same sound and it is not remapped.

Hope all that helps 

[RedRobin]

They had to release the report as so many owners had complained of the noise.

.... I can sometimes hear some turbo whistle on my Mk5 GTI and wish I could hear it more often!! But I guess that there are fewer enthusiasts among TDI drivers.

[synnea]

yeah lol the GTI I test drove last week has a lovely, wait for the technnical term, 'whoosh' out of the turbo....sounds great. Im so excited about it. I just need to get my GT TDI sold. Current economic climate not helping

[RedRobin]

....synnea - I notice you once had a R32 - Was it a Mk5? There are some good prices to be had on the Mk5 .:R because a lot of people are panicking about road tax and fuel prices. It'll all settle down and people will stop being so bothered in time. Besides, mpg on a R32 isn't hugely different from a Mk5 GTI.

[synnea]

Yes I did - its was a fully loaded MK5. I have been able to source a MK5 GTI locally with decent milage for 12k with leather and 18" Monza IIs. The best mpg with my driving style on the R32 was 22mpg and I was hoping for around 30mpg on the GTI and a not so harsh tax bracket. However I will have a wee look around at R32 prices........boy do I miss that car. I sold it to my brother though so I can still get a drive the odd time. I have just got married and bought a house you see so it had to go (thats the R32, not the wife  ) but as my brother has my R32 I intend to buy it off him again as soon as I can afford to. So my thinking is in the meantime an 05 GTI to give me a car with 'character; again.

[RedRobin]

....Understood

I expect you'll miss the V6 music and the 'AWD' traction. However, the Mk5 GTI feels more nimble and you get used to being more gently progressive with the throttle to avoid wheelspin. Mpg is of course hugely influenced by how you drive it. I only got 22 mpg in my GTI when in Germany but that was on unrestricted autobahn stretches and averaging over 90 mph all day! In the UK I get just under 30 mpg (29.x).

[synnea]

....Understood

I expect you'll miss the V6 music and the 'AWD' traction.

  You got it - I miss it so much, esp as in N Ireland it pisses with rain all the time so the haldex awd grip was imense

I want it back.