New Golf GTi owner

[chichichibo]

Hi everyone, i am a new member, nice to meet everyone here.
well, i am considering to purchase a Golf GTi to replace my current car. Before i approach to it, i have some questions regarding this car and would like to ask all the experts here as i am new to the Euros car who knows nothing about Euros car. I was driving Honda Civic Sport and Accord Euro before.
Thanks in advanced

I intend to purchase a 2nd hand 2006-2007 Golf GTi (DSG)
1) hows the fuel consumption of this car? is it having the same figure as to the report stated (8.0L/100km)?
2) is it a easy car to maintain?
3) any common problems in relation to this car? and any thing that should come to my attention before i go for this car?
4) the goods and bads of this car?
5) does anyone know if it is possible to send the car (2nd car) back to Volkswagen to install the factory Bi-Xenon headlight to replace the normal reflection headlight? (i have asked Volkswagen via email, yet, they didnt reply me.)

Thanks a lot and i wish i would be able to join this (Golf GTi) family soon.

[Lams]

Hello and welcome. The GTI is a fantastic package
1. Fuel consumption depends on how you drive it... some achieve better than claimed and some get nowhere near it
2. The car is easy to maintain
3. Common problems: aircon compressor, DSG mechatronics unit, diverter valve
4. It goes good, not much bad points really
5. Anything is possible but nobody (esp VW) is going to do that for you. You're looking at $3000 in parts and someone to tackle the job, it's not just swapping the headlights over... I think this one is too hard and you should find a car that already has the bixenon
6. A software upgrade is a must

Have you test driven one yet?

[chichichibo]

Hello and welcome. The GTI is a fantastic package 1. Fuel consumption depends on how you drive it... some achieve better than claimed and some get nowhere near it2. The car is easy to maintain3. Common problems: aircon compressor, DSG mechatronics unit, diverter valve4. It goes good, not much bad points really5. Anything is possible but nobody (esp VW) is going to do that for you. You're looking at $3000 in parts and someone to tackle the job, it's not just swapping the headlights over... I think this one is too hard and you should find a car that already has the bixenon6. A software upgrade is a mustHave you test driven one yet?

Thanks for the information.Well, I haven't driven one yet, but would like to know more abt the car before I approach to any car seller for test drive, don't want to waste ppl time for test driving before I know more of the car suitability for myself. Hmm...so, for the common problem, do you mean that those problems are easy to break down? And are they expensive to fix? If I go for a car with abt 60000-100000km driven, would that be not a good choice as those problems would have appeared for repairment soon?And for air con compressor, is it not generating enough air con?It would be great if you could tell me more in details in relation to the mentioned problems.Thanks a lot for your effort.

[chichichibo]

Dear Lams,
for the common problems: air con compressor, DSG mechatronics unit, diverter valve, are they expensive to fix? sounds like all of them are huge expense....
For the Xenon headlight, if i am not going for the Xenon headlight, can i install the after market HID kit to the GOLF GTi (as i know, some euros car doesnt allow after market HID kit.)?
lastly, for the "software upgrade", may i ask what do you referring to?
thanks a lot for your expertise.

[jnrdavo]

can't answer the other questions, but the 'software upgrade' is often referred to as 'chipping'.

They plug your car in to a laptop, then download new software that controlls the ECU (brain of the car). This changes things like turbo boost, petrol, air etc and means more power for your car, and in most cases, and decrease in fuel consumption...

[Lams]

people have installed xenon kits into normal halogen reflector headlights (not recommended). Really the only legal way to do it is to do the whole lot - bixenon headlights from factory, headlight washers, level sensors on front and rear trailing arms, proper xenon controller module, have it all wired and configured and programmed

Others have simply retrofitted xenon headlight units into their cars which would be the best solution. It's possible, but why not just find a car with the proper set up? There's a lot of info on this on www.vwvortex.com

Others have put in aftermarket xenon kits into aftermarket projector headlights which produces a lot less glare than the halogen headlights.

The aircon compressor is a common failure item across the VW range from 05 to 08. When test driving a car, you'd want to turn the aircon to cold and expect cold air within 20 sec. It's a bit hard to test in winter...

The diverter valves relieves pressure in the intake side of the engine when you need it discharged quickly - if this valve is not working then it could prevent boost, loss of performance. These valves are around $100, the latest revision from VW should be quite reliable.

DSG mechatronic, you'd have to do a search on the net... basically the controller of the DSG needs replacing. In some cases owners have had these replaced free of charge even after warranty expired as it is a common problem.

You may find a car with none of these issues, with all of these issues, or with all of these issues fixed by VW... hopefully this will help you make an informed decision. Also check the service history, especially if the tooth belt (or timing belt) is due for replacement, this is a big service

[chichichibo]

people have installed xenon kits into normal halogen reflector headlights (not recommended). Really the only legal way to do it is to do the whole lot - bixenon headlights from factory, headlight washers, level sensors on front and rear trailing arms, proper xenon controller module, have it all wired and configured and programmed

Others have simply retrofitted xenon headlight units into their cars which would be the best solution. It's possible, but why not just find a car with the proper set up? There's a lot of info on this on www.vwvortex.com

Others have put in aftermarket xenon kits into aftermarket projector headlights which produces a lot less glare than the halogen headlights.

The aircon compressor is a common failure item across the VW range from 05 to 08. When test driving a car, you'd want to turn the aircon to cold and expect cold air within 20 sec. It's a bit hard to test in winter...

The diverter valves relieves pressure in the intake side of the engine when you need it discharged quickly - if this valve is not working then it could prevent boost, loss of performance. These valves are around $100, the latest revision from VW should be quite reliable.

DSG mechatronic, you'd have to do a search on the net... basically the controller of the DSG needs replacing. In some cases owners have had these replaced free of charge even after warranty expired as it is a common problem.

You may find a car with none of these issues, with all of these issues, or with all of these issues fixed by VW... hopefully this will help you make an informed decision. Also check the service history, especially if the tooth belt (or timing belt) is due for replacement, this is a big service

THANKS !!!
yeah, i know that the reflector type is not recommened coz its not considerate to the others and illegal as well.
and i dont want to do the retrofit, or buying aftermarket hid kit coz if the kit is not in good design, moisture would go into the headlight...
i tried to find one with Bi Xenon, but there are not many on the market with the Xenon + leather + sunroof + black in color....

The air con problem, i will try to pay attention to it when i test drive it next time.
but how could i find out if there is any problem with the rest of the problems? eg.DSG mechatronic, diverter valves...
and for the DSG mechatronic problem, u said "get it replaced free of charge"? do you mean, even i didnt buy the car from VW, i can still send it to VW and ask them to fix that problem for me? if so, then, it would be a big deal, just a matter to find out if a car has such problem or not...

and yes, for the timing belt, that's why i am trying not to find any GTi which is close to 100000km driven....
and i know that the major service for GTi would be expensive too as the DSG oil is expensive to replacee too....

[jnrdavo]

might be worth getting an independant to do an inspection on it prior to buying... .

[Lams]

No, I don't mean VW is obliged to fix it for you. I mean some owners have had VW fix it for them even when warranty has expired. After driving a few you should notice one with a bad DSG mechatronic, it'd feel like a learner trying to drive a manual.

If the diverter is blown it'd feel slow, sometimes you'd even hear a whistle as the air escapes through it

THANKS !!!
yeah, i know that the reflector type is not recommened coz its not considerate to the others and illegal as well.
and i dont want to do the retrofit, or buying aftermarket hid kit coz if the kit is not in good design, moisture would go into the headlight...
i tried to find one with Bi Xenon, but there are not many on the market with the Xenon + leather + sunroof + black in color....

The air con problem, i will try to pay attention to it when i test drive it next time.
but how could i find out if there is any problem with the rest of the problems? eg.DSG mechatronic, diverter valves...
and for the DSG mechatronic problem, u said "get it replaced free of charge"? do you mean, even i didnt buy the car from VW, i can still send it to VW and ask them to fix that problem for me? if so, then, it would be a big deal, just a matter to find out if a car has such problem or not...

and yes, for the timing belt, that's why i am trying not to find any GTi which is close to 100000km driven....
and i know that the major service for GTi would be expensive too as the DSG oil is expensive to replacee too....

[chichichibo]

yeah, i will definitely get independent mechanic to check it for me prior buying it.
but i would also like to know how to notice the problem by myself in case the inspector doesnt know much about Golf GTi....

might be worth getting an independant to do an inspection on it prior to buying... .