Looking to buy/learn about Golf V TDI

[L_Griffo]

Gday everyone.

I'm looking to buy my first VW. I'm currently looking at Golf V TDI's. Just doing reseach regarding common problems and easy fixes for those common problems.


I've found a car I'm considering buying and have had RACQ do an inspection. They noted a few things which I'm hoping you might help me with. The car is an 06 Comfortline DSG with around 75k on the clock.

The issues:
- "Engine intermittently idles unevenly and cuts out." Was also told that there was excessive smoke/fumes from the exhaust when this happened.
- "Oil wetness around air intake ducting."
- "Transmission will not select sport mode." - I read somewhere that you can't select sport mode until it warms up, is this correct? Maybe the car hadn't warmed up enough.

Any help is greatly appreciated. I've never owned a VW let alone a diesel before.

Great forum so far!!

Griffo

[Greg Roles]

Welcome!

In a nutshell:

103kw: quite reliable, doesn't have a DPF particle filter, does choke up on oil blowby and EGR mix in the inlet. Oil catch can highly recommended along with a full inlet flush with specific spray products. Can easily chip up to the higher 125kw level, with more torque, but in stock form is slower off the mark than the 125kw. In gear acceleration is a lot closer. Blows a bit of smoke. Pacific version was a late model spruce up, and was excellent value for money.

125kw: What I have, a lot more "feral" in power delivery, very on/off ( in the Golf, better in the heavier Passat ), has a DPF, a lot of alterations to cope with higher output, closer to a GTI than the 103 it is based on. Is a potential for injector and loom failure as the Siemens pizeo injectors are failing a fair bit, but mainly in the Passat, although about 4 GT's have failed now that I know of. Uprated suspension, brakes, interior, exterior, but pricier and a lot rarer. Again a decent catch can is highly recommended, and I'd suggest a physical inlet clean over a spray clean on DPF equipped cars, as all that oil ash ends up in that DPF, permanently. It will eventaually clog, and costs a cool $4000 odd from VW, lifespan approx 150k. Can be deleted via Custom Code dump pipe and tune, crazy power with fuel economy increase ( !! ) but rather illegal. Also a bit annoying to drive while it is doing one of it's periodical DPF regens, frequency of which depends on your driving style / length.

DSG suits either engine the best, manual is uber reilable but busy in traffic, and a nightmare on a bumper to bumper range climb!

[L_Griffo]

Thanks Greg. Been reading heaps of your posts over the last few days. Great info!

I'm looking quite seriously at a 103kw TDI on the Gold Coast at the moment. Had it checked by RACQ which reported a few things I have some questions about. I'll post in the diesel forum.

Thanks again.

[nutttr]

I personally wouldn't touch the car!

There's a LOT of things that could be causing the uneven idle, anything from engine mounts to a sensor through to the flywheel (dual mass flywheel can die and rattle/cause a rough idle). But the cutting out is very bad - Could be anything. Could be a bad fuel filter, bad injectors, bad fuel pump (expensive fix), etc.

The oil in the air intake would depend on where abouts it was - Without that information it's not that helpful (but the intakes do choke up with lots of wet oil).

Unless it was extraordinarily cheap and you were prepared to spend money fixing it up (be prepared to spend a LOT for some euro car fixes!) then you should be able to get one that runs properly! Make sure it hasn't been involved in the floods, etc up there!

[Russ59]

Thanks Greg. Been reading heaps of your posts over the last few days. Great info!

I'm looking quite seriously at a 103kw TDI on the Gold Coast at the moment. Had it checked by RACQ which reported a few things I have some questions about. I'll post in the diesel forum.

Thanks again.

Not saying that all the cars will have been flood effected but at the present time personally I'd steer clear of cars from Qld, they really have copped a beating up there and there's no telling how many have been water damaged and mopped and dried out for resale. Some will tell you it doesn't matter and you can save big $$ but in the long run I would be expecting some expensive problems could arise. There should be a few available for sale in Melbourne, especially since the launch of the MKVI, Happy hunting

[Greg Roles]

Oil leaking from the inlet intercooler hose is normal, the rest - look elsewhere. There's plenty of options. The "pacific" model was a late MKV spruce up of the MKV TDI and had a lot of extra goodies for the cash, was quite a buy at the time. Personally, in your shoes, it's what I would hunt for!

[L_Griffo]

Thanks for all the help. It's hugely appreciated.

I guess I'll keep looking.

[stickshift3000]

"Transmission will not select sport mode." - I read somewhere that you can't select sport mode until it warms up, is this correct? Maybe the car hadn't warmed up enough.

I don't believe that's correct, you should be able to select 'sports' straight away from 'park', at any engine temp. Walk away from this car...!

I purchased my MKV TDI a few months ago, looked around for quite a while before purchasing (interstate purchase - was after a particular spec/options).

Quite a few pop up for sale in Vic, unless you're after a particular colour or spec then you should be able to find a DGS comfortline fairly easily in Vic I would think.

Great car, I think you'll be very pleased.

[gldgti]

If you want my opinion, forget the golf and look for a TDI jetta - why? same car with a boot, but with a higher new car sale price, lots of luxury the golfs dont seem to have (people buying jettas were ticking option boxes) and they seem to have depreciated a lot faster than the golfs are, probably because they dont have the "golf" badge. I reckon the jettas are good value for your money on the 2nd hand market.

Then again, if you really need a shorter car, the golf is bonza.

[Greg Roles]

.....or you simply don't like the boot.....which was me......and I'd rather have one!

[L_Griffo]

Thanks guys. All this info is awesome. I might be looking at a GT TDI shortly. Well see how it goes.

Thanks again!!