What goes wrong in a Golf TDI 1.9 ?

Worn Turbo's & Dual Mass Flywheel's are a common problem

Also be careful of clocking, and soggy suspension. These cars are heavy, dont handle much to start with, but the weight takes its toll on shocks especially, and look out for clonky front suspension.

Budget on some replacement shocks and bushes at around 80k+.

As someone else said, evidience of regualr oil changes, with the correct PD oil- its expensive, and some people dont bother, resulting in a dead PD system.

Tim..

Hi

Make sure that the waterpump is changed at the same time as the cambelt. The cambelt goes round waterpump, so if the pump fails bye bye engine.

Also keep the rear door lock well lubed up cos I am in the process of changing mine. This is because with the use of central locking all the time, the crap that's chucked up at the tailgate ( I am sure you have seen this on the Golf ). The lock gets full of crud, not allowing the key to fit and this eventually leads to failure of the internal mech thus stopping the central locking from un locking the boot, and not being able to get in without removing all the trim this is a pain in the arse.

Keep the alloy wheels copper greased up where they come in contact with the hubs, it makes life more easy getting wheel off at 11 o'clock at night when you have a flat.

As Tim said use the CORRECT OIL.

Can't think of anymore probs than that really I have covered over 90k in a

Hope this helps.

Regards Chuckie F

For answers to all these questions and loads more info / help, try here:

HTH

Joe

I'll second that. My Audi A3 (Golf IV in drag) got an advisory on rear axle bushes at 80K. A fair amount of work to replace. The fronts were showing age but they are easier

It's not so expensive now, but was very pricey, and

Because they don't know about it

and/or camshaft wear

I'll add window mechanisms to the list. Sticky VNT mechanisms on the turbo (as someone said). Leaky/seized rear wash-wipe (which buggers up the switch in the boot latch). Other than that just normal car checks.

Mazda MX5. Beats the Golf hands down for depreciation and fun to drive, and they are economical too.

Cheaper Golf GTI plus an MGF.

(Things I thought I'd never say.... but have you seen how cheap MGFs are these days?)

MGF is great, but what's the parts / repairs situation like?

I'm amazed no-one else has mentioned it yet, but the 'MAF' or 'MAss Air Flow' is almost becoming regarded as a service item on these cars now - they tend to need replacing every two to three years and cost around =A390 for an exchange unit from a VW main dealers.

Don't bother with aftermarket units - they're a bit of a false economy.

--=20 JackH

They're nowhere near as practical... or economical for that matter.

A great second car - I'd like one, one day.

Don't go saying that, or I'll want one.

snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.co.uk wrote in news:1167761866.300501.181980 @s34g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

Sounds cheap to me, since I'm spending £100+VAT to get an aftermarket one for my Volvo. I certainly hope the false economy statement doesn't apply here as genuine Bosch ones are £189+VAT at ECP and £300 from dealers!

Saying that, the original has lasted almost 10 years and over 100k, unless it's had a replacement that hasn't been included in the service history, so I suppose the value is actually better.

Stu

Gran Turismo made me want one.

Bloody hell. Got shares in head gasket and welly boot manufacturers? ;-)

Very good point. My A3's MAF went at about 70K/6 years.

Even better point. Genuine bosch is about £80 from ECP.

Well, early ones should have had 'the fix' done by now - if they haven't you just accept it'll need doing at some point - it's only £250 or so to fix anyway.

At current values they make bloody good sense as second / third cars for a bit of summer fun.

You can't put a bicycle in the boot of an MX-5, or 3 mates in the back seats...

Mate has a mk1 1.6, it returns mid 30s (but not thrashed), is reasonably comfy on the standard wheels, and when you want to go thrash it feels ace to drive and the lack of power makes you want to carry more entry speed.

Driving it was one of the reasons I wanted to get back to RWD - the sharp turn in etc...

You've got a car, what's the point of the bike.

And that's 3 less mates asking you for a lift.