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

[SiC]

Oof at that loom. Guess just old car thing. 

I don't think a reverse light not working will cause an MOT failure at this age car. 

[SiC]

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/4-lamps-reflectors-and-electrical-equipment#section-4-6-1

"You must inspect all reversing lamps fitted to vehicles first used from 1 September 2009 other than quadricycles and three-wheeled vehicles."

[hpi_matrix]

My friend's golf was driven into earlier this week so today I liberated it's alloy wheels and tyres which were refurbished a few months ago. Moving from 18's to 17's the ride seems better, but I still feel the 18s looked better size wise.

NB. I got rid of the Mk7 alloys a while back when the MOT revealed they were buckled.

Passenger side skirt has been re-applied and I have new front lower ball joints for the looming MOT.

 

 

[SiC]

I was thinking about this car the other day and if it was still going. Really glad it is, a proper high mileage hero!

[hpi_matrix]

3 minutes ago, SiC said:

I was thinking about this car the other day and if it was still going. Really glad it is, a proper high mileage hero!

It's peak motoring imo. Practical, has the mod cons you'd need, economical enough for the turn of speed it has. And because it's a bit bashed about I'm happy parking it anywhere, unfortunately now it has refurbished wheels I'll be more worried about kerb/pothole damage 😅

[SiC]

27 minutes ago, hpi_matrix said:

It's peak motoring imo. Practical, has the mod cons you'd need, economical enough for the turn of speed it has. And because it's a bit bashed about I'm happy parking it anywhere, unfortunately now it has refurbished wheels I'll be more worried about kerb/pothole damage 😅

I keep looking at newer cars but I'd just get annoyed by knobbers smacking their doors into it. Having something half presentable but not worth a lot and already dinged is incredibly liberating. Especially if you ever drive on back country roads and can squish past someone coming at you in shiny leased while you just run it along the hedgerow stress-free!

Did you do anything with changing the cam chain in the end or just ignoring it as not worth the cost/hassle? 

[hpi_matrix]

53 minutes ago, SiC said:

Did you do anything with changing the cam chain in the end or just ignoring it as not worth the cost/hassle? 

I made a list of all the OEM parts numbers and have watched the how-to's. The main reason to do it would be to track the car, the main reason for not having done it is time and is it necessary (unless tracking it).

I do keep an eye on its values in vcds and it hasn't deviated out of spec yet. It also doesn't rattle.

[SiC]

On 22/10/2025 at 21:32, hpi_matrix said:

I made a list of all the OEM parts numbers and have watched the how-to's. The main reason to do it would be to track the car, the main reason for not having done it is time and is it necessary (unless tracking it).

I do keep an eye on its values in vcds and it hasn't deviated out of spec yet. It also doesn't rattle.

Makes sense. Everything I have seen about replacing it makes the cam dephaser bolt an absolute nightmare to remove. Usually needs drilling out as its absolutely tight as.