Scirroco 2.0TSI reliability

[Lukas239]

Been looking into used scirroco 2.0TSI cars. I was under the impression it was the EA113 engine borrowed from the MK5 golf GTI but seems I'm wrong.

Can people confirm its the EA888 lump? If so, how worried should one be about the dreaded timing chain issue?

I'm looking at early (09-11) cars with anything up to 100K on them, all with full service history.

Cheers

[idge]

Lukas239 said:

Been looking into used scirroco 2.0TSI cars. I was under the impression it was the EA113 engine borrowed from the MK5 golf GTI but seems I'm wrong.

Can people confirm its the EA888 lump? If so, how worried should one be about the dreaded timing chain issue?

I'm looking at early (09-11) cars with anything up to 100K on them, all with full service history.

Cheers

Yep it's an EA888 engine, which is shared with the mk6 GTI and you're right about the pre-tensioner issue affecting those years. I think 2012 is the first reg that has the latest iteration of the update.

I picked up a 60 plate 2.0TSI GT Scirocco last month which i think has the first re-designed pre-tensioner. I've not heard of as many failures with this version compared to the earliest examples, but when it runs out of VW warranty in 11 months, i'll be getting the latest version done! My friend with a 59 plate MK6 GTI had to have a new engine because of it when it was three years old.

It is a nice car to drive though and that's even compared from the MK7 GTI PP that i had before it - less capable but a bit more fun

[Lukas239]

Any idea on costs for replacing to the new updated tensioners?

Would love to know what the incidence of chain failures is. There must be thousands of these engines on the road under various VAG marques.

[idge]

There's a good post on one of the GTI forums where everyone has posted their build date and the date and mileage when they had the timing failure. I'll see if I can find it.

From memory most were early 2.0 TSIs but there were some later ones - like you say probably a fairly low percentage but even if it's low risk it's very high impact!

[va1o]

You've got 3 options really to minimise the risk here:

- Buy an extended warranty
- Buy a car which has already had the chain and tensioner replaced
- Buy 2012 or newer as the engine was revised

[idge]

Or get an older one and get it updated

Here's the post i was talking about:
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=2627...

[Pistonheader101]

Only two major issues which can be resolved for quite cheap

-intake manifold is a weakspot, can be replaced for £200 (£90 parts, £110 labour)
-timing chain, can be updated to latest chain and tension era for £400.


All in all £600 is the most you’ll spend on preventative maintenance

[giveitfish]

Mine was very reliable except for the variable-length inlet manifold which failed at 40k mile intervals. Hardly a deal breaker, but a £600 repair at a garage if it goes.

[ManicMunky]

Tensioner is about £400 to do, so not that much more than a cambelt. It's a 10 minute job to check it anyway.

[iSore]

I'm so glad I had the very last of the Mark 5 GTI's!

[TonyTony]

I don't think the chain tensioner issue was resolved until the mid 12 plate TSI engines.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=14...

I think this is the link with the most details: https://www.golfmk6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47...

Edited by TonyTony on Saturday 9th February 21:19

[Lukas239]

recently contacted the local VW specialist that has 3 branches within the south East.

Knowledgeable gentleman on the phone quoted £1300 for chain, pulleys & tensioner to be changed. Others are suggesting £400. Any idea on which is more likely?

[rottenegg]

iSore said:

I'm so glad I had the very last of the Mark 5 GTI's!

I'm afraid MK5s aren't exempt from chain & tensioner problems. It's the same layout as the old MK2 16V. Cambelt drives the exhaust cam, exhaust cam drives the intake cam via a chain.

ANY car with a timing chain will face the same problem. It's always a case of when, not if. Unfortunately with the early EA888, who ever made the chains and tensioners, made cr*p ones.

[rottenegg]

Lukas239 said:

recently contacted the local VW specialist that has 3 branches within the south East.

Knowledgeable gentleman on the phone quoted £1300 for chain, pulleys & tensioner to be changed. Others are suggesting £400. Any idea on which is more likely?

£1300 is way too much. You can buy all the bits for <£200. Fair enough from ebay, so not OEM quality, but even so.....£1300 is crazy.

[the-photographer]

Lukas239 said:

recently contacted the local VW specialist that has 3 branches within the south East.

Knowledgeable gentleman on the phone quoted £1300 for chain, pulleys & tensioner to be changed. Others are suggesting £400. Any idea on which is more likely?

Others might mixing up:

1. tensioner only 300-400
2. everything 800-1300

[va1o]

rottenegg said:

Lukas239 said:

recently contacted the local VW specialist that has 3 branches within the south East.

Knowledgeable gentleman on the phone quoted £1300 for chain, pulleys & tensioner to be changed. Others are suggesting £400. Any idea on which is more likely?

£1300 is way too much. You can buy all the bits for <£200. Fair enough from ebay, so not OEM quality, but even so.....£1300 is crazy.

I would expect it to be 4-figures unless the labour rate was massively discounted
£400 all in sounds more like the price for a cambelt change, so they may be quoting for the wrong thing...

[idge]

I got a quote from a local VW indie for £400 for the tensioner change to the latest model. Doesn't include anything else.

Having done quite a bit of research before I bought my 2010 Scirocco, the £300-£400 mark was what was being quoted on various posts on Scirocco Central and Golf Gti Forum as well.

I'll get some more quotes nearer the time that my VW warranty runs out, but I'm going to be spending a lot less than £1300, that's for sure!

[the-photographer]

Replacing everything is a BIG job

Check the PDF instructions on
https://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?8823481...