project 2006 Golf 2.0TFSi GTi - Bargain Basement 197k miles TFSI Club Member

[RoverFolkUs]

The colour looks absolutely fine to be honest, great job!

[Bazfr69]

43 minutes ago, SiC said:

I think next time I'll happily pay the £300 or whatever for someone else to do it 🤣

Under £29 for the materials (4m of fabric and a can of Trim Fix) including postage. Then like 14 hours of my time. 

You’ve done a cracking job on that, in spite of the cats best efforts. 😄

[SiC]

Alignment done at lunchtime today. Need to get my brain used to having the steering wheel straight in this car when going straight along. My brain gets used to a cars steering quirks with time and my brain requires it's steering angle data reset. 

The tracking guy was nearly having orgasms about how nice and easy a job it was being not all rusted solid. Apparently it was very much a welcome change from the others he had in today. 

 

Camber and caster are out on the front. Not sure much can be done about that unless the subframes are shifted about. Maybe new console bushes may help too in time. Drives fine though. 

Rear camber is within the limits but at the limits. Possibly worn bushes. It should be adjustable but I don't think anyone want to dare touch those adjustment bolts. Certainly I didn't! 

[SiC]

Been buzzing around in this yesterday and today. The MPG seems to be in the low 30s without trying too hard. This is on super unleaded though and the lower ethanol content will help here. 

This is coming out of Bristol centre back home. Was mid 20s in Bristol traffic but then rose as I got onto 30-70mph a-roads.

Then this evening I went to a local Lidl and back. Round trip of around 15 miles or so. Most of this was not needing to stop and not slowing down for corners 😀.

Pretty respectable to be honest, especially as I wasn't really trying. At most I'd just keep the revs down on a straight. I.e. 4th/5th gear at 30mph, 5th gear at 40mph and 6th pretty much above that. While it's not the 40+ mpg you get in modern TSI engines but certainly not bad for this era. I seem to remember these numbers are similar to my TT MK2 TFSI. 

I think it also helps having cruise on it now. I can just hit the set button and sail around without feathering the accelerator or keep close eye on the speed.

 

While some of the worn bushes no doubt mean this isn't exactly factory fresh, she does handle extremely well. I think the fresh looking Sachs dampers and new springs help a huge amount here. No idea when they went on but they're certainly not 198k and tbh look only a few years old at most.

I know the build quality on this era isn't exactly the best VAG ever did, but they really nailed the chassis setup perfectly. I know the same aged citybugs in the photo above drive well, but they're not a patch on the Golf. Yet they're probably not that far off second hand value?

Yes the engine can be a liability but all the bits that can have problems are very well known. All of which pretty much can be either fixed or mitigated DIY. On the flip side they're lovely powerplants to drive. Zippy low down diesel like torque but the long legs of a petrol. Unlike a N/A overtaking is a very modern feeling keep above 2.2k or so and have the turbo start spinning, then floor it to shoot off when ready. 

Basically they're pretty much all the car you ever need. I know you exterior is dull - I've long dismissed them previously because of it. However it makes you blend into traffic without being shouty about it. Which is pretty much standard Golf design philosophy - even the same on the extremely competent Golf R later generations that you have to understand the R badge to realise what they're packing underneath.

[SiC]

Even Mrs SiC really likes driving it. I asked her earlier why she happily drives this but doesn't like driving the Merc. "Golf is small, easy to drive, easy to park and nicer to drive". Nicer to drive probably because, even though she tells me off for doing it, she chucks cars around corners herself. You can do that in the E320 but there is of course a fair bit more body roll being so much bigger and suspension setup for comfort. The E320 is basically the same length as a new Range Rover sport and 2.5 feet longer than the Golf.

[SiC]

Nothing really exciting to report on this. Just normal using and driving. 

Mrs SiC contacted me earlier to say that an "exclamation mark in a goldfish bowl" warning light has lit up.

I said it's because the car thinks there maybe a puncture. Que Mrs SiC instantly panicking that a tyre is flat...

After a checking they all look good, so likely a false alarm. Tbh I have only checked them after I bought it and not since. So could be a slight pressure mismatch between tyres. Anyway I told her how to reset it (push and hold the goldfish bowl exclamation mark button till it beeps) and now she (car and wife) is happy again.

(I did say nothing exciting has happened!)

Looking at the Odometer, it appears I've done around 700ish miles since purchase. That'll be 3 months ago next week. Almost not really worth the cost of insuring and taxing it for that use. I'm seriously considering going back down to one main modern. 

Sell the BGT, Z4 roadster, this and buy something like a Z4 coupé to go from 7 to 5 cars. My wallet will thank me for that. 

[Dave_Q]

First dibs on the Golf please if you do go down that route.

[Dan29]

Second dibs please!

[Cluffy]

3 hours ago, SiC said:

Nothing really exciting to report on this. Just normal using and driving. 

Mrs SiC contacted me earlier to say that an "exclamation mark in a goldfish bowl" warning light has lit up.

I said it's because the car thinks there maybe a puncture. Que Mrs SiC instantly panicking that a tyre is flat...

After a checking they all look good, so likely a false alarm. Tbh I have only checked them after I bought it and not since. So could be a slight pressure mismatch between tyres. Anyway I told her how to reset it (push and hold the goldfish bowl exclamation mark button till it beeps) and now she (car and wife) is happy again.

(I did say nothing exciting has happened!)

Looking at the Odometer, it appears I've done around 700ish miles since purchase. That'll be 3 months ago next week. Almost not really worth the cost of insuring and taxing it for that use. I'm seriously considering going back down to one main modern. 

Sell the BGT, Z4 roadster, this and buy something like a Z4 coupé to go from 7 to 5 cars. My wallet will thank me for that. 

Mine used to do that A LOT. Every four weeks or so and it was one corner leaking from the rim. If it's like mine, it's just age/corrosion.

I was convinced it was the valve, but had the wheels refurbished maybe twelve months ago. Matey who did the refurb did say he cleaned off an awful lot of crap!  While I check pressures regularly, not once has the light pinged since then...

[SiC]

5 minutes ago, Cluffy said:

Mine used to do that A LOT. Every four weeks or so and it was one corner leaking from the rim. If it's like mine, it's just age/corrosion.

I was convinced it was the valve, but had the wheels refurbished maybe twelve months ago. Matey who did the refurb did say he cleaned off an awful lot of crap!  While I check pressures regularly, not once has the light pinged since then...

I'll check the tyre pressures later. I know these systems, especially earlier ones, can be a bit trigger happy and too sensitive. 

They look absolutely fine though and why I haven't bothered checking the actual pressures more often. 

[beko1987]

Vag themed my stepdads 2 company octavias used to throw the tyre sensor warning up all the time. First few times he panicked, then he got used to it. Went back to kwik fit under the company many many times and that's when he trusted it was fine. He used to carry a pump and check it every 3/4 times and said it was never low, but putting 1/2 psi in turned them off, so he'd let some air out then put some in

His zoe has done it too 😂 Same air swap for a few psi turned it off. I've only had 2 cars with it and both had it coded out (the lagunas) and I ignored the little symbol by the clock it gave

[hpi_matrix]

Not sure if its the done thing, but as all the cars info is in this post may as well carry it on it.

First off gave it a clean, released an air con bomb to get rid of the smoke smell and gave it some genuine mats, as it didnt have any.

[hpi_matrix]

Initially I was just going to run this as is for a short time and then flog it on, however it drives really nice and has all the features you could want. The only thing id get is an RCD300 radio, essientially a stock looking radio but allows carplay/andriod auto.

With this in mind I opted to change the cambelt and give the car a well needed oil change. I think I will also do the cam chain too, I want to get up on VCDS how many degrees its out before doing this though.

Old belt didnt seem to bad.

 

 

 

[SiC]

It's somewhere earlier in this thread but the cam chain is at the limits of acceptable tolerances when I checked with VCDS. The engine still has really good compression when I checked that. So worth doing on it and tbh doesn't look that bad of a job (except getting the bolt out).

It really does drive well and still feels pretty tight despite the mileage. I think it helps that a previous owner (to me) put genuine Sachs dampers on all round fairly recently. Likewise the springs are all not that old either. Probably would benefit from some of the bushes being replaced to tighten up things further but even right now it's still likely better than many a Golf Mk5 GTI out there.

[hpi_matrix]

 

Tensioner is rattling a bit, this looks like it could be down to the alternator. Might lob a cheap 2nd hand one on, might leave it until it gets worse.

[SiC]

Just now, hpi_matrix said:

 

Tensioner is rattling a bit, this looks like it could be down to the alternator. Might lob a cheap 2nd hand one on, might leave it until it gets worse.

Alternator is a second hand unit I put on after breaking the lug on the original when doing the thermostat. Definitely the replacement had less miles on than the original. One way clutch was functioning on the replacement too unlike the original that broke.

Was there any spare bits in with the sale? If so I think there is another in that box too. 

[hpi_matrix]

17 minutes ago, SiC said:

Alternator is a second hand unit I put on after breaking the lug on the original when doing the thermostat. Definitely the replacement had less miles on than the original. One way clutch was functioning on the replacement too unlike the original that broke.

Was there any spare bits in with the sale? If so I think there is another in that box too. 

No, only an oil filter unfortunatly.

Could be the tensioner, but everything on the net seemed to point to alternator one way.

[Dave_Q]

I still have all the bits here, forgot to bring them down with the car, it was a pretty hectic week as was a few days before my house completed.

Happy to arrange shitely for the whole lot or post bits down if needed sooner.

[Dave_Q]

Really glad to see this getting continued love and attention, it's absolutely worth doing despite the mileage.

The only things I did to it that are in my thread not this one is to replace both rear wheel bearings and put the GTI badge on the front grill.

[hpi_matrix]

2 minutes ago, Dave_Q said:

I still have all the bits here, forgot to bring them down with the car, it was a pretty hectic week as was a few days before my house completed.

Happy to arrange shitely for the whole lot or post bits down if needed sooner.

Can you PM me whats there? And we'll go from there.

[hpi_matrix]

2 minutes ago, Dave_Q said:

Really glad to see this getting continued love and attention, it's absolutely worth doing despite the mileage.

Definitely! I won't put many miles on it (probably). But id love to see this stay on the forum and reach 300k!

[Dave_Q]

Just now, hpi_matrix said:

Can you PM me whats there? And we'll go from there.

Will do, the box is at my ex's house but I'll be there later today.

[SiC]

Trying to find a picture or reference to the cam timing but can't find anything on this thread flicking through. Anyway this was from my Foxwell reading the same measurement group and values I got on my (genuine) VCDS. 

The way I read it is that it's requiring -6 degrees to bring it back to correct timing.

Which it's successful in doing as the demand is matching actual.

Iirc max spec is +/- 6 degrees. So right at the edge of acceptable. Definitely worth changing and wouldn't be a wasted job imo. But then probably be fine for a while yet I reckon.

My intention was to do it when the weather warmed up (I bought it in the winter) with the cambelt. But I ended up impulse buying the Z4 and needed to sell this to make room. Which seems to be my MO all too often! (Looking through the thread, I forgot how much time+money I spent on this versus how short I owned it 🙈🙉). That said, the Z4 I've probably enjoyed more over this summer as I missed my Boxster and having a convertible. My 330i does everything this did but makes better (6cyl) noises and it being auto is nice to have too. My view of them may change as we approach winter and both are RWD. 😅 (Also this GTI is lower on the liability scale especially with the spares than those BMW duo - which makes it more boring to me)

Would be great if this became another forum bike. Great fun to drive and a car that isn't worth a lot as most want 60k to 100k cars. But those examples are twice to four times as much as this. Those that this end of the price range are invariably fucked and absolute dogs. Whereas this isn't. I see no reason why this car couldn't reach 300k.

I always try to never buy the same model car again as always so much else to try. But this is one that I'd definitely consider buying back one time. Even just so I could give it a good spanking around a track. Super nippy turbo setup makes it a great runaround, while the (retrofitted) cruise and decent economy makes it good for longer runs too. Appearance is not embarrassingly scruffy but its not mint so you don't care about the odd car park ding.

[Dave_Q]

If I came over rich tomorrow I would definitely buy another GTI, but maybe a mk7 with the performance pack.

To drive them you can just tell that a lot of effort went into the experience and making them balanced and fun to drive, the power is just about right for what the chassis can handle but still plenty to put a smile on your face and blast past dawdlers when the need arises.

[Lord Sterling]

On 16/09/2024 at 10:38, hpi_matrix said:

Gave it some genuine mats, as it didnt have any.

[hpi_matrix]

Small update:

Replaced alternator tensioner, this has improved a "knocking" sound that was present under acceleration, this now only happens for the first few minutes of driving.

I looked into getting the wheels diamond cut again but this isnt possible, found a nice set of Mk7 alloys on marketplace and got those instead.

 

[hpi_matrix]

Cheapo wireless andriod auto headunit fitted this afternoon. Would recommend.

What will last longer? The car or the head unit?

PLACE BETZ NOW

 

[Jazoli]

9 hours ago, hpi_matrix said:

Cheapo wireless andriod auto headunit fitted this afternoon. Would recommend.

What will last longer? The car or the head unit?

PLACE BETZ NOW

 

The head unit probably I’ve had no issues with any that I have fitted, VW’s however….

[SiC]

Glad to see this is getting regular use. It runs and drives far better than it has any right to - likely better than many remaining Mk5 GTIs out there. 

You might have seen I already wired a switch live into the main loom quad block (I used it for my Parrot). It's taken off the cigarette lighter. Not usually my thing but it's a dreaded, horrible scotchlock soz. From memory I think it's a genuine 3M one though. Wasn't quite enough loom spare to easily get a soldering iron in there to splice something a bit cleaner. However should be fine tbh.

So hopefully it was a mostly plug and play job for the installation.

When I got the car it had no head unit for ages. Presumably had an android unit in before. The unit that you took out is a genuine VW unit from a Golf Mk6. Iirc the Fakra connectors are different between the Mk5/Mk6 and it may have an adapter for it. Was tempted to get an android unit but that was a decent looking £20 unit which plugged the hole.

Iirc I wrote the radio code on top of the unit. Think they lock themselves into the car VIN once entered so it might not ask for it again if reinstalled in the future. Or it might and the code should be on top of it does!

[hpi_matrix]

Reverse light has been intermittent since I got the car, normally opening and closing the boot fixed it. That finally stopped working and as the MOT is due I thought I better actually fix it. 

Just soldered the wire back on for now but if it happens again I'll buy and fit one of the repair loom kits for this common issue.