GT diesel DSG problem... any advice?

[Jamie]

My wife's 2009 GT Diesel with 136000km on the clock (out of extended warrantee by 10,000km) has been diagnosed by the local VW dealer here in Port Macquarie to have a problem with dual-mass flywheel, and we've been quoted by them around $3.5k for the repair. Just wondering if anyone has experience/advice about the best way to approach this. Is it likely that the work could be done more cheaply by a specialist out-of-house workshop? I'm prepared to travel if it means saving some biggish bucks.

And then there's the question of what to do next - with a car that we really don't feel confident to keep any longer...

[Bug_racer]

I did the last DSG Flywheel for about $1500 . Im sure you'll find someone cheaper in your area !

[Jamie]

Thanks for that Bug_racer! They quoted me over $2k for parts alone, the flywheel itself was $1500. I'll look into it more closely in the next few days, the rattle doesn't seem to be as apparent now either. It showed up as a tinny rattle only when the car was in neutral, and only when the engine was hot, so do you reckon this is what the actual problem could be? Otherwise it runs perfectly... I drove it a bit on the weekend and it seemed fine, but I'll have a listen to it from outside when my wife gets home this arvo.

Thanks again for your input.

Jamie

[Idle]

If it is the DMF (most likely is,) I'd be looking at a solid flywheel — should be cheaper and last longer.
Reports suggest that the difference in operation is minimal.

[Jamie]

Thanks Idle, I appreciate the input.

[Greg Roles]

You can buy DMF flys over ebay for several hundred, plus a few hundred post. Be careful going to single mass, as the whole reason the dual mass is there is to smooth out the MASSIVE combustion vibration inherent in diesels, you can end up with a horrible car to drive for a daily driver.

Definately find a Euro specialist in your location, would be a lot less than that!!!

[Jamie]

Thanks for that info Greg, I have found a Euro car specialist in PM, he's a BMW master mechanic and is familiar with the issues. He also suggested going with a solid flywheel, so I'll have a yarn with him about the pros & cons before committing to any action.

Jamie

[volksMuller]

I have seen the actual clutch basket break with the use of the solid flywheel. After market suppliers are about $ 950-1100 plus tax and you need about 4hrs labour time ,ps dont forget to replace the crank bolts too....Therefore I say about a $1500-1800 job max . cheers steve

[poyta]

. Be careful going to single mass, as the whole reason the dual mass is there is to smooth out the MASSIVE combustion vibration inherent in diesels, you can end up with a horrible car to drive for a daily driver.

Odd, I've heard from most people that have gone the single mass that its not really that much different and the whole warnings about MASSIVE vibration are MASSIVELY over-exaggerated.

[Greg Roles]

Yeah the main drama is due to the long stroke and huge instant torque of a diesel right after combustion, you get a very aggressive "twisting" of the crank right at the point of detonation. A DMF is designed to smooth these out and save the car, crank and tranny destroying itself. That said there are better single mass options around these days, but you have to do your research, there's some positively hideous videos of single mass flys on TDI's on you tube, immense idle chatter.....

[Jmac]

The dual mass flywheels are cheap to buy from the UK, an LUK item, in fact there is a guy sells them on ebay from the UK, you wont beat the price and then all you need is to find an independent to install, takes around 5-6hrs depending who does it. No where near that money you mention there mate, oh and you will need to by new retaining bolts as they are stretch bolts, by the way we are talking about DSG here
Cheers
Jmac

[jazd]

The dual mass flywheels are cheap to buy from the UK, an LUK item, in fact there is a guy sells them on ebay from the UK, you wont beat the price and then all you need is to find an independent to install, takes around 5-6hrs depending who does it. No where near that money you mention there mate, oh and you will need to by new retaining bolts as they are stretch bolts, by the way we are talking about DSG here
Cheers
Jmac

I bought one from Darkside Developments - Home for about $500.
Same car.

BTW I dont believe someone has made a single mass version for the DSG so dont bother looking.

[Jamie]

Thanks so much for info everyone - plenty to go on from here. I'll keep you all posted.

Jamie

[Jamie]

OK... a bit more advice sought!

As mentioned, the dealer diagnosed the tinny rattle on idle, in neutral, as a DMF failure. It stopped a couple of days later, and the dealer said to just drive it & see how it goes. I did go to an independent mechanic who told me there was no problem with the DMF, so the car has been in use since then.

Recently it has developed a "buzzing" vibration at speeds around 110km/h, noticeable through both steering and floor, and it seems to be getting slowly more noticeable - sort of feels like the engine is not isolated from the body of the car. I'm wondering if this is caused by slow deterioration of the DMF and a consequent loss of balance in the fast-moving bits?

Also, I contacted Darkside in the UK as recommended here and got a price on a replacement DMF (quoted the VIN etc... and far cheaper for the gen VW part than here), but the local independent mechanic said it would be unlikely to fit my car, despite me supplying the details of this particular car. Could it be that he wants to source the part himself? This seems reasonable if there's a chance I might get the wrong part. I'm now not very confident about him (despite his being a BMW Master Mechanic) because he also said the vibration is most likely due to scalloping on the tyres (not evident when I look).

All very confusing, so once again I place myself in your careful hands...

Thanks in advance for any help,

Jamie