103TDI - General Discussion

[rosslm]

Hi fellas just picked up our 103TDi DSG as well and loving it.

Question - do you feel significant vibration at 1100rpm, in any gear? And at idle?

Atlas, I haven't noticed any vibration at 1100rpm, at idle the engine will be noticeable it is a diesel after all. Once underway it should be smooth throughout the rev range.

[Frankenstrat]

So that's it! would I recommend a 103TDI absolutely, best car I've owned so far and with Golf VII only a few months away it will be interesting how they are going to better this car!

Your 103TDI is one month older than mine, however I've covered over 50,500km. Other than Comfort Pack, floor mats and MDI, mine is standard. I think styling-wise the 2012 Jetta is a reasonable clue as to how the Golf MkVII will look.

I hope they offer manual transmission with the MkVII 103TDI, otherwise I may have to consider a GTD if I upgrade.

[Willo9891]

I have had my 103 TDI for about 12 months now. Am extremely happy with it. As it is a novated lease car my salary wouldnt allow all the extra features I wanted . So i opted for MDI, Bluetooth and Metallic Paint. A few weeks after I got it went on a trip to Brisbane from the Central Coast 1 tank to get there and do a bit of driving and the same for the trip home so easily got 1000k's... I also put 19's on it when I first got it but have since downgraded to 17's as I wanted my fuel economy back... I also had a leather kit put in by my mate who is a motor trimmer by trade as it was custom made to how I wanted it and unlike the factory fitted is 100% genuine leather on every part. All in all very happy with it as coming from a nissan pulsar it is much more powerful and comfortable...

[AdelaideGolfNut]

I've had my 103TDI since early Dec and I'm absolutely RAPT with it...seriously CANNOT fault it in any way!
Would gladly recommend one to anyone

[degrees]

103TDI long term reliability

I'm new to the world of VW and I'm looking at buying a 2010 Golf 103TDI. The car I'm looking at has around 70k kms and I'd be planning on keeping it for around 5 years, driving 20k kms each year.

I'd like to hear from anyone who has a Golf with high kms. Have you suffered any catastrophic failures? I'm very sceptical of the DSG from reading many horror stories on this forum. The car has a DQ250 which is apparently safe (please correct me if I'm wrong). I'd also like to know about the turbo diesel engine, again is it susceptible to anything major?

[Lucas_R]

The GTI, R and diesel models all have the stronger and much more reliable 6 speed (DQ250) DSG transmission - so it's much less likely to give your trouble. The less powerful (so 77TSI, 90TSI and 118TSI) model Golf's (and all Polo's) have the troublesome 7 speed DSG.

If you are looking at buying a TDI with around 70,000km on it and then planning 20,000km per year for around 5 years you should be pretty safe - you would have to be pretty unlucky to have any issues.

The diesel particulate filter (DPF) tends to get "full" at somewhere around 200,000km, but this does also depend on how the car is driven. There have been a few (not many) reports of DPF's failing at very low km's. Also a few people lately have had issues with the turbo (variable geometry turbo) getting stuck or needing replacement - some of the diesel guru's will give you some pointers on this.

Otherwise there is not much to worry about with the TDI's apart from regular servicing of both the engine and DSG transmission.

[brad]

103tdi + DQ250 are a good combo providing they are serviced properly.

DPF may cause some issues if you do lots of short trips but there are chemical DPF cleaners you can use as a preventive measure.

[Brett_J]

Is there mods for these like the Petrol versions?
Like intercoolers, bigger turbo's etc?
I know you can get a tune for them, but it'd be nice with bolt on's as well.

Seriously looking at one for a daily once I sell one of the other cars.

[tigger73]

There aren't as many tuning/hardware options for the diesels as with the performance petrol versions (GTI and R).

Mainly due to the number of people wanting to tune them.

[Brett_J]

I imagine being the same chassis, the intercooler could be upgradeable to the current options, turbo could be an option as long as it shares the same footprint as the petrol versions.
could always just go custom exhaust.

I like the idea of a modded tough diesel

[tigger73]

I thought you were concerned about long term reliability and now you're looking at ways to put as much torque as possible through the DSG... lol

If you're worried about keeping long term then I'd look at getting a "mild" tune done on the car if anything. Any form of tune is going to put more stress and wear and tear on the car.

[degrees]

The OP has no interest in these enhancements.

[brad]

Is there mods for these like the Petrol versions?
Like intercoolers, bigger turbo's etc?
I know you can get a tune for them, but it'd be nice with bolt on's as well.

Seriously looking at one for a daily once I sell one of the other cars.

look at Greg Roles' thread(s) on diesel tuning. Plenty of options for more power.

[Golf Girl]

I adore my Golf. Had it for about 2 years now and it's the best thing since sliced bread.
I have tuned the ECU and DSG and its even better than before.

Golf at the wheel before tune: 77kw and 355nm
Golf at the wheel tuned: 100.1kw and 459nm
30% increase across the curve.

I don't feel to need to push the performance any more than the tunes (mainly because there isn't really anything available, and anything more will require extra servicing) but I've done some other mods to it (RVC badge, GTI steering wheel) and still keen to do the R-line tail lights, bi-xenons.

[Jamig]

Hi Guys

I have a 103TDI MY09 and absolutely love it despite the unfortunate fault I had recently regarding the turbo actuator and clogging carbon in the turbo vanes . I think I must of been unlucky there as I understand these beauties are rock solid and having owned previous Golf's I can validate that.

Talking of mods, what is the difference between the 103TDI and the GTD? I would imagine a bit more horsepower/grunt and sports suspension, bigger engine?