Mk7 Golf TSI & TDI - Observations and Questions

[DV52]

Hi. I tried posting this on another thread, but it was suggested that I come here.

I was hoping to hear from those of you that have purchased the new Golf Mk7 regarding problems with the VW infortainment system.
In my vehicle (which is a 103 TSI Highline that Ipurchased midyear) the infortainment system has a number of "peculiarities". These include: the Sat Nav cannot pronounce street names correctly (it's so unintelligible as to be useless!), the Sat Nav does not display traffic lights (despite the factt hat I have invoked this functionality in the set-up menu) and reception on the FM radio is appalling.

Also, the "Voice command" function does not work. When I press the "Voice" button on the bottom LH side of the infortainment console, it operates the mute-function that I understand is installed in the comfortline version of the Golf.

I've returned the car to the dealer, but they simply say that VW Australia doesn't have a fix for these problems. I've also contacted VW Australia. They did nothing for a month until I started to press-the-issue. Their response now is that they will need to talk to VW Germany. VW Australia seems to be guarded when I asked if myproblems are systemic to the model of car (or just peculiar to my vehicle).

The other problem that I had with the car was getting a tow bar. After waiting for three months, I was told by the dealer that VW Australia had no delivery date for the Mk7 tow bar. In sheer frustration, the dealer installed a mk 6 tow bar (Hayman Reece version) which works fine.

This is my first VW purchase, but I must say that I'm disappointed in the after sales service quality. Is my experience typical, or are others having the same problems. Interested in your responses.

[Theothercarisabike]

DV52, I've taken my Mk7 back once for some issues and it is booked in for another replacement part in a few weeks. Hence not thrilled. I was happy with my Mk6.

On the tow bar issue I've been informed that the specifications for the Mk7 version "should be released this year" after being sold the car with this included as something that would be easily fitted soon after the sale. That was a few months ago. Can I ask what dealer installed the Mk6 version for you?

[AdamD]

I have the TSI and after I turn off the engine it has some air pumping sounds somewhere in the engine bay and I think it may have something to do with the cooling system, does anyone know what it is?

In the Mk6, this is a pump that circulates coolant (or is it oil) around the turbo to cool it once the engine shuts down. I'd assume this would be the same for the Mk7.

[DV52]

Theothercarisabike, thanks for the reply.
Like you, I purchased my MK7 Golf with the tow bar includedin the price (i.e. I paid for a genuine VW tow-bar at an outrageous price!).And also like you, I was told that I would have to wait until the tow bar wasreleased in Australia. Anyhow, after repeated monthly apologies from VW, I pressed the issue with the dealer and weagreed to try a MK6 tow bar. Myunderstanding was that the dealer (Bayford - Camberwell) arranged for the towbar (and the special wiring pack) to be fitted by NorthernTow Bar (I think they are in Coburg somewhere). I rang the company before the fitting was done to check that the Mk6 unit would fitand I was assured that they had confirmed that the necessary details werecorrect. Anyhow, I have since towed a trailer a number of times without anyincidences. The only problem that I had was that they fitted a straight 7 pinplug instead of a round one (Which I asked for). Bayford gave me a converter plug in recompensefor their error.
A friend of mine has a Mk 6 golf with a genuine VW towbarand every time that he hooks-up his bike carrier, the light failure indicatorlights-up on his dash. This happens (as I understand it) because the Golf's "C-bus" system needs atleast 5 watts of load at each of the trailer lights. My friend's bike carrieruses low wattage LEDs - hence theproblem. I was concerned that I would have a similar problemnon my bikecarrier, but it works fine.
The other nice feature about this fix was that I got a refundfrom the dealer for the difference between the genuine VW unit and theafter-market version . The tow bar doesn't have a fancy removable tongue (youhave to undo two bolts to remove the tongue on my tow bar), but I prefer this becausethere are no loose parts to rattle around when I'm driving.
I take it from your silence about my other problems that youdon't have the same issues (as me) with your infotainment system.

[Theothercarisabike]

DV52, our FM reception can be less than crystal clear in the city but otherwise none of the issues with the unit you are having. I put some points about the car in the "things I don't like..." thread.

I would suggest for the entertainment unit issue ask to take a mechanic for a test drive or film it (and do a test drive with display model for comparison) and send link to company, and maybe upload to web.

[b c]

DV52, I've taken my Mk7 back once for some issues and it is booked in for another replacement part in a few weeks. Hence not thrilled. I was happy with my Mk6.

On the tow bar issue I've been informed that the specifications for the Mk7 version "should be released this year" after being sold the car with this included as something that would be easily fitted soon after the sale. That was a few months ago. Can I ask what dealer installed the Mk6 version for you?

I was told (yesterday) the Golf Mk7 towbar is expected to be available in the December/January timeframe.

[baf]

just picked up my comfortline with driver assist package. Love it so far but the only question i have; does the Australian version of driver assist package have lane assist? mine doesn't seem to have it, it has all the other driver assist package features.

[jdbrown1953]

just picked up my comfortline with driver assist package. Love it so far but the only question i have; does the Australian version of driver assist package have lane assist? mine doesn't seem to have it, it has all the other driver assist package features.

No lane assist. VWA has left that for the Audi A3

[baf]

Disappointing, in all the reviews I read from Australian sites they mentioned it. I guess they used a different version or just copy and pasted the features of DAP from a euro site. I should have looked into it more. Adaptive cruise control is amazing though - not nearly as scary as I imagined, it gives lots of feedback to let you know when its slowing down.

Cheers for the answer

[jarryd]

Hey guys just wondering if you are all using the stop start function on a daily basis or at selective times ?

My wife and I don't use it unless there is a long wait some where ( not in stop start traffic )

I'm a little sceptical about the longevity of parts as some of my mates have mentioned being mechanics

[Eaglehawk]

I'm the same, I tend not to use it either given the short travel times that I normally use the car for. But I do turn it on if I get stuck on a "long" wait intersection. (And if the car is up to temperature)

[iStress]

Hey guys just wondering if you are all using the stop start function on a daily basis or at selective times ?

My wife and I don't use it unless there is a long wait some where ( not in stop start traffic )

I'm a little sceptical about the longevity of parts as some of my mates have mentioned being mechanics

I sometimes use it, but only when I would stop the car for more than 5 seconds (e.g. when coming to a stop after the amber lights). Other times I turn it off completely. I've had the car for about 2 weeks now and formed a habit of turning the function off whenever I leave the house.

[DV52]

Jarryd:
Like iStress, I also have formed the habit of turning the function off every time that I start the car. My private view is that notwithstanding the good intention of bluemotion (i.e. lowering emissions), the function is actually quite dangerous in those instances where you need the car to react quickly. I know that it doesn't take long for engine to crank and then to start (and then to accelerate), but when it really counts, those precious few seconds can make the difference between a good, or a bad outcome.

On a totally different matter, I have just been told that VW will shortly release a "software patch" to enable Voice Control on MK7 highline cars in australia. On a prevous post, I noted that this function doesn't work in my car (103TSI). It has been suggested to me (by a reasonably reliable source) that no Golf mk7 highlines released in Australia have this function operational (despite VW's brochure saying that voice control is standard on highline models). Does anyone who owns a Golf Mk7 Highline have voice control operating on their car?

[Nauend]

Hey guys just wondering if you are all using the stop start function on a daily basis or at selective times ?

My wife and I don't use it unless there is a long wait some where ( not in stop start traffic )

I'm a little sceptical about the longevity of parts as some of my mates have mentioned being mechanics

I tend to leave it on most of the time, and I don't notice it most of the time. But have learnt you need to turn it off when queuing to leave thru a shopping centre carpark boomgate.

[jarryd]

I tend to leave it on most of the time, and I don't notice it most of the time. But have learnt you need to turn it off when queuing to leave thru a shopping centre carpark boomgate.

haha yeah my wife found that out with the boom gate

this gonna sound strange but if you have a tinted rear window can some one take a close up of the edges and post it please , just got mine done and something doesn't look right about it

cheers jarryd