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Volkswagen GTI Maintenance and Repair

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Comments

  • flossitflossit Member Posts: 25
    No, I'm not against science. You have to be a savvy , smart consumer. Consumer can not be blind and led to believe everything you see or hear. What dealership do you work for?? :D
  • shiposhipo Member Posts: 9,148
    "10,000 miles per oil change is CRAZY! they probably did the test with the car in a perfect running condition with the just the right temperture, right climate, humidity so on and so forth."

    Here again you're using your personal and unfounded bias on the issue as a basis for making statements that are extremely non-scientific and highly inaccurate. Like it or don't, believe it or not, if you look over in the BITOG database for UOAs, you will find report after report after report that shows that, if anything, 10,000 miles on a late model VW engine with 502.00 certified oil in the oil pan is conservative.

    "Don't let that motor go bad folks, I rather do it every 5000-6000 miles ,pay $75 and save my motor and costly repairs."

    You're starting to become a scare monger just like the folks at that web site you posted a link for a week or two back. The fact is, if you use the proper oil, changing your oil at the five to six thousand mile mark instead of the recommended ten thousand mile mark won't add even a single mile of life to your engine (errr, that is unless you routinely take your car to the track and drive it at ten-tenths for extended periods of time).

    "My girlfriend has a honda accord and we called four dealerships, one said not to get the power steering fluid change and the other saids that we should do it after so many mileage. Go figure. I rather spend $60 than $600."

    Here again, the sixty bucks you'd "rather" spend won't save you from having to spend that six-hundred at any point in the future. Either the pump is going to fail or it won't, and the changing of the fluid won't alter that fact what-so-ever.
  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    And on that note, I'm done. Since there is no logic in his posting, there is no sense in continuing the discussion.
  • banibani Member Posts: 39
    "Do you truly believe that a huge manufacturer like VW has not done extensive and rigorous testing on their engines?"

    yes. the sludged engine fiasco proves it.

    whatever testing VW does is obviously not extensive and rigorous enough.

    and hey, now we have the DSG fiasco. again thanks to VW's 'extensive and rigorous' testing. :sick:
  • shiposhipo Member Posts: 9,148
    "yes. the sludged engine fiasco proves it."

    Ummm, well sort of. The thing is, VW did the bulk of their testing in Europe, and over there the engines had no problem with sludge, however, over here the exact same engine, running with the exact same oil, had a sludge problem on some engines. Which engines? Typically those driven for lots of short trips, and/or engines that had crap Iffy Boob oil used in them, and/or engines that were driven beyond the 5,000 mile recommended OCI for the one engine that VW had problems with (i.e. the 1.8T).

    So, what did the "sludged engine fiasco" prove? That if you abuse your engine and/or don't properly maintain it, sludge can result.
  • rudyjackrudyjack Member Posts: 3
    Once the included maintenance plan has run out on your Mark V or Mark VI, how much have owners been paying for oil changes (either as part of a larger maintenance service or as a standalone oil change)? Is that an independent repair shop or at a dealership?
  • jtzwyf4lyfjtzwyf4lyf Member Posts: 1
    Ok-to anyone has changed their own oil w/jack stands when you jacked up a 2010 VW GTI did it make a cracking noise?
    I was told there is a plastic protective like shield all the way under the car to keep things protected (hence protective shield) well when we put it up on stands it sounded horrible like it had cracked something...what do you think...
  • extech2extech2 Member Posts: 120
    My 07 GTI DSG was traded in yesterday 4 months before the end of the lease. The car had 17,823 miles on it and we never had the slightest amount of a trouble during the 2.5 years we had it. The overall gas mileage was approx. 22.3 mpg with 95% city driving. I loved the car and I will miss it but we wanted something with more room and with less exuberance ( speeding tickets, anyone heard of these?) I added about 1 quart of oil in-between oil changes which is perfectly normal. We never had to repair or replace anything, only the by-the-book maintenance. It had some slight squeaks which came and went away mysteriously, none of them a big deal. Once I had it a the top speed of 133 mph for a minute, and it felt rock solid at that speed; I still remember the current gas mileage consumption gauge was showing 6.7 mpg. The speed was later verified by the Garmin GPS. We had an air-bag light fixed during a scheduled service and we just received a notice for the coil replacement, but we never got to it because the car runs flawlessly. The things I loved most were, in this order: the engine, the DSG transmission, the steering response, the steering wheel itself, and the seats. The only changes I wished for was a rear window which would pop out a bit to reduce wind turbulence when driving with the front window down. Mine was a two-door; with a four-door it wouldn't matter. Also the 6th gear ratio could be changed to allow more relaxed freeway driving. This car often gets compared to the Mazdaspeed 3, which is quicker. Honestly, I've never felt the need for more power. When getting off from a standstill, the hardest part is preventing wheel spin. The A/C was great, once while driving in Arizona where the outside temp. was 122 Fahrenheit I kept the fan speed at the first notch, it was that good. The heater takes a while to warm up and I wished it had heated seats. The audio system is great; once in a while the sound output would go up and there was an increase in the bass, then go back to normal in a few seconds. The biggest difference between the GTI and our 6-cylinder Honda Accord was that with the Honda I never felt the desire to go faster than 80, 85; but with the GTI, there is always that urge, like it's talking to you: come on Daddy, we can do better than this, all you have to do is smash your right foot down, I'm ready ....
    Good By, Dear GTI, you will be missed and remembered . . .
  • upstatedocupstatedoc Member Posts: 710
    Great story extech, I almost shed a tear. :P
    Loved my GTI as well but alas, i had to find something a little more practical (and with auto trans).
  • khq0660khq0660 Member Posts: 10
    I just bought a Certified 2007 GTI. The dealer kept stressing that the VW warranty wouldn't cover any of the failures listed in the warranty if it was decided they were caused by normal wear and tear rather than by defect. Does this mean that VW is going to disallow any warranty claim as being wear and tear, or was this a scare tactic to get me to buy an extended warranty? If this car is broken as much as a Jetta I used to own, I can't afford the repairs out of pocket.
  • shiposhipo Member Posts: 9,148
    edited May 2010
    Sounds like a scare tactic to me. I've had lots of cars over the years, VWs included, and if a part broke within the warranty period (and often shortly thereafter), the manufacturer fixed it. Period, full stop, the end. Were I in your shoes I might be inclined to threaten the dealership with reporting them to the BBB unless they refund your money in full for the extended warranty.
  • khq0660khq0660 Member Posts: 10
    I didn't buy the extended warranty. It cost too much. But I've been sitting here worrying that I might have expensive issues that I'd have to pay for out of pocket. I fell in love with the GTI and took the gamble, but after the issues I had with my Jetta, it has me a little worried.
  • gbriankgbriank Member Posts: 220
    The dealer used the same scare tactic with a friend of mine purchasing a Tiguan. To the F&I guy's surprise, I chimed in. "If this is such an expensive car to fix, then maybe he should purchase another Honda product." That had the F&I guy change his tune completely.

    Once your GTI is outside the standard warranty, I'd take it to an independent (and reputable) mechanic. VW parts can be expensive when purchased new from VW, but third party or re-manufactured stuff are inexpensive. Dealers also tend to charge a premium for labor. Only use the dealer when absolutely necessary (warranty work, stuff that your independent guy can't fix).
  • khq0660khq0660 Member Posts: 10
    Thanks. I at least will rest comfortably and enjoy my car until my VW warranty expires. Then I will think seriously about trading it in for something else--if it shows signs of acting like the Jetta did. Even independent shops and parts are cost prohibitive if something is broken continuously.
  • gold88x8gold88x8 Member Posts: 8
    can some one kindly post the pictures of how to oil change 2006 gti ??
    thanks ! :confuse:
  • gbriankgbriank Member Posts: 220
    If having the car outside of warranty bothers you, consider a VW or 3rd party extended service contract. Call around to several VW dealerships. Prices vary widely (may also check the internet). On the 3rd party warranties, some credit unions have extended service contract for sale with lower prices and more reputable companies.
  • khq0660khq0660 Member Posts: 10
    How do you know if you are getting a reputable, and solvent, extended warranty? VW offers their own extended warranties? I didn't know this. Since my "new" used car is VW certified, I have quite awhile to go before the warranty is up.
  • upstatedocupstatedoc Member Posts: 710
    FYI: Got this from my HR director

    Save Cash by Avoiding Auto-Repair Service Plans
    (Increase your financial IQ – think green)

    Did you know that according to Consumer Reports Magazine, extended auto warranties usually don’t make financial cents? Consumer Reports notes that a five year old vehicle today had one third fewer problems than a five year old vehicle in 2005. The bottom line – cars are becoming increasingly more reliable and serious (more expensive) problems, such as engine or transmission repairs, are actually quite rare.

    Many service plans are sold by marketing companies that don’t provide the coverage themselves. Plans can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars and have various coverage options. They all sound good until you file a claim. Most contracts include a lot of fine print that can usually be used to deny your request for payment. According to the Federal Trade Commission, auto-service contract fraud was the number one complaint in 2009! That just about says it all.

    Whether a service plan is offered by a broker, car dealer or manufacturer, the experts recommend that you skip it. You’re better off redirecting that money into your TSP account!
  • khq0660khq0660 Member Posts: 10
  • jdubbs19jdubbs19 Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2011
    I have a MkV GLI with a 2.0T FSI, I purchased my car prior to the free scheduled maintenance program that VW offered.

    ... at first I thought I got cheated, but I change my oil every 5,000 miles anyway as was the recommended service interval when I bought it (November 2007). Most dealerships offer coupons for just a flat oil change and no other servicing for about $70. Although it seems steep, the required VW 502.00 oil isn't cheap $8-9/quart x 4 quarts = $32-36 for oil + $9.00 for the filter element an o-ring. I could afford the extra $20 every other month or so to make sure my service records are documented should any catastrophic failures occur. I'm happy to report however that my car has been pretty easy with no significant or catastrophic mechanical problems. I'm not burning any significant amount of oil between oil changes and will start doing my own oil changes between the current 10,000 mile dealership interval.

    Regarding dealership vs. independent... I'm not saying that independent service shops are incompetent, but I would do more than just preliminary research before trusting the car to anyone. A German specialist doesn't necessarily have good experience with VW, and even if they do... they may specialize only in classic VW's. If you're doing research here, you're obviously smart and will do further research to help sway your opinion... so go with your instinct.. you should be okay. I've only done dealership because:

    1) there is a degree of accountability should something go wrong
    2) i've got a great dealership that i'm working with (VW-Riverside)
    3) prices are competitive if you wait for coupons.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 32,891
    what year is your car and how many miles do you have now?

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • jdubbs19jdubbs19 Member Posts: 4
    2008 GLI 6-speed manual, approx. 61800 miles on it.
    Currently averages 26 mpg with a mix of highway and city driving. It used to be better, but I suspect the fuel filter needs changing. Mechanically, no issues aside from a MAF-sensor replaced under warranty @ 13,000 miles.
  • shiposhipo Member Posts: 9,148
    A clogged fuel filter is extremely unlikely after only 60,000+ miles (should be more like a quarter of a million), and even if it was clogged it is unlikely to negatively affect fuel economy.

    Said another way, I'd look for a different cause.
  • jdubbs19jdubbs19 Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2011
    Normally, i'd agree. But this is maintenance sensitive VW. I believe that part of the reliability that i've experienced is being proactive in getting general maintenance completed as the car starts to need it or before it needs it.

    I agree that a fuel filter normally should last longer than 60,000 miles, however other GTI/GLI forums suggest changing it at 50,000 miles. Many reported claims support that the drop in MPG i'm experiencing is typical of a fuel filter nearing the end of it's life. I do not recall VW recommending a mileage interval for it off the top of my head for getting the filter changed, but my dealership did mention that it was something I should look into soon.

    Granted that I never experienced something like this with my Honda, but my Honda never drove like my GLI. There are tradeoff's to every car, and this is probably one that i'm willing to put up with. The only other tradeoff/ 'extra' expense the car has cost me is a carbon build up engine flush that I did to be on the safe side since direct injection engines have a tendency to build up carbon deposits on the intake valves (other manufacturers are experiencing this: GM, Ford, Hyundai). Aside from these two items, it's been general maintenance, something I wasn't expecting getting into the car. It hasn't been the cheapest to maintain, i'll admit that... but it hasn't been the raging nightmare that people paint German cars to be. (Esp. this Mexican-assembled German car).

    Here's a link to support my theory:
    http://www.golfmkv.net/blog/archives/10#
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 32,891
    I'm right at about those same miles with my '07 GTI. I bought it with 50k, but the service records from the dealership don't show anything out of the ordinary.

    I had the coils recall and ECU reflash recall done when I bought it. I replaced the PCV system with aftermarket to cure the oil pushing out the cap problem, and I replaced the fuel pump cam follower to keep that dreaded issue at bay. I have an occassional check engine light caused by the intake flapper, which when cleared with my vag-com stays away for a couple of months at a time.

    So far, I'm pleased with the car.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • jdubbs19jdubbs19 Member Posts: 4
    You've got VAG-Com? Is it worth the investment?

    The intake flapper was suspect in my car and triggered the CEL once, other than that it has mostly been some parts that prematurely failed (gas struts on the trunk, door lock module) as well as some wear and tear parts they just changed under warranty to just keep me a happy customer (xenon bulb , Battery ,) . Nothing caused me to take the car in between service intervals... so i've been very happy with it myself as nothing has been out of the ordinary and recurrent.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 32,891
    edited March 2011
    for me, the vag-com is worth it. I liked being able to set certain features to my preference. For example, I now have it set to unlock all doors with one push of the remote and to unlock all doors when I pull my key out of the ignition. Things like that.

    I'm still trying to figure out how to turn off my TPMS, though. I know there is a way, but I haven't figured it out. It would be nice not to have the light on when using my winter wheels.

    Biggest reason is to diagnose any CELs, though. I do all my own repairs, so it is a necessity for me.

    If you are so inclined, keep an eye on the vwvortex classifieds. I picked up a very slightly used one for about $50 less than buying new from ross-tech. So only about $200 and I've turned off the CEL 3 times so far with it. It has already paid for itself as far as I'm concerned, and I've only had it about 7 months.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • buffy22buffy22 Member Posts: 10
    I have an '06 GTI. The engine light came on so had it checked. Apparently it needs a new O2 sensor. The estimate with parts and labor was $400. What is the cost of a sensor and can I find one myself
    cheaper?
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