Newbie form Perth. 2007 Polo GTi 47000km

[Staffy12]

Hello people,

Just purchased a 2007 9n3 (03/07 build) Polo GTi in reflex silver, my 1st VW and 1st european car! Drives like a dream! Full service history, and is alleged by my research to be previously owned by a middle-aged guy (found details in owners manual book, google searched).

My mum has had a 2010 Golf TDi from new and loves it.

Call me conservative but I intend keeping the engine completely stock. Just don't want to increase unreliability.

I have noticed on the forum there has been only a few issues with this model (like most cars). Reliablity is important to me. Before I put an offer in I rang 4 mechanics who know of this model and enquired about general reliability and maitanence intervals. All of them gave the 1.8 20v turbo engine a good wrap, but for some reason, I need a little more convincing.

So I have a few questions:

When I first looked at the vehicle, I noticed a VW recall placard placed on the drivers door A-pillar. I googled the code, the information I came across was a gearbox fault. Strangely I found this reassuring to a degree, the fact that the recall "has " been attended to. I'm just hoping like heck theres a good chance the gearbox should last at least another 100,000ks? I don't intend to thrash the begeezus out of it or tune/re-map it etc.

Stock suspension bushes seem to not last too long, I've heard about the Seat bushes being better so where are the best places to get these from? These are easy and cheap to replace?

Brake pads and rotors, timing belts and waterpumps, without paying rip off worskhop prices, again what and where to purchase?

Can anyone suggest what else to be wary of?

The only concern I have with my car is, when completely cooled or cold then first started, I can hear a faint rattle sound drivers side front) that lasts for a minute, then disappears. This rattle does not happen if the engine is warm or has been used in the last hour. Is this just a case of an engine characteristic or not?

Any feedback will be highly appreciated.

Thanks

[Staffy12]

Aha!
Found what the rattle is. Its the silver insert of the plastic engine cover at the top. I removed the cover, rattle gone, cover back on rattle came back.
Need the cover as I feel it protects the coil packs fro dust, dirt and water spray.
Now to find a suitable heat resistant foam tape or adhesive.

[h100vw]

The cover does nothing but make the top of the engine look nice.

If your coilpacks stopped working due to moisture, you would have a lot more to worry about than that. I have run my Polo through some atrocious weather in QLD since Christmas without it missing a beat.

How about a squirt of silicon under the badge to stop it moving around?

Gavin

[rgvlee]

There have been a number of recalls - gearbox, airbags and coil packs

The gearbox one was just to change the gearbox oil, plenty of info out there about it if you look. Only affected the earlier models.

Nothing too amazing with the recalls. If you google the numbers you'll find out all you need to know.

Bushes are a known issue and there is plenty of info about this and plenty of options available.

If the cambelt has not been done at 6 years old I'd be looking to get it done. There are varied opinions on this and I do not know the _exact_ workshop interval but the consensus was every 5 years or 105,000kms which ever occurs first. I got mine done at Quattro they were good on the price from the enquiries that I made and their service was good. Get the water pump done at the same time as part of the cambelt work.

[geoff_gti]

Hi Staffy, welcome aboard. As above, Quattro Motors in Burswood are probably your closest specialist workshop. I take my GTI there for servicing. Depending where you work though, there are other places you could go. If the belt has been done already it should be noted in the log book as it's a major service item!!