Help!! R32 advice needed!
Discussion
Right, could do with some advice on the Golf R32 folks. I've got a mate whos decided he wants one of these, and were going looking at it tommorrow. Thing is, said mate is quite hot headed and usually ends up buying the first car he sees.
Don't really need advice on what the cars are like to own etc, as I think he's made his mind up that he wants one, just after picking your brains about which bits we should be checking out for faults etc.
I have an S3 myself, so I'm guessing apart from the obvious engine differences etc, they should drive pretty similar.
By the way, the car were looking at is an 03 plate with 80k on the clock, apparently has full service history, so i'm guessing cambelt etc should ahve already been done (assuming it is belt not chain).
Any pointers will be much appreciated!!
Don't really need advice on what the cars are like to own etc, as I think he's made his mind up that he wants one, just after picking your brains about which bits we should be checking out for faults etc.
I have an S3 myself, so I'm guessing apart from the obvious engine differences etc, they should drive pretty similar.
By the way, the car were looking at is an 03 plate with 80k on the clock, apparently has full service history, so i'm guessing cambelt etc should ahve already been done (assuming it is belt not chain).
Any pointers will be much appreciated!!
Make sure the cooling fans are working properly with the A/C on. They should be on low speed permanently with A/C on. If they pulse to high speed and then off, he's looking at a £500 bill.
As above, engine has a chain, not belt so shouldn't have any problems there.
ECU should have the 6463 update which sorts out a flat spot and some hesitation at low revs. Also liberates a few extra horses.
Again, as above, make sure the Haldex oil and filter has been changed at the correct intervals. For some reason most VW dealers seem unaware of the correct service intervals.
Front strut top-mounts commonly fail at around 30K miles so check them.
Brake light switches commonly fail also and can cause the ABS/ESP lights to illuminate.
Only other things I can think of are faults common to all Golf MKIV platform cars which are MAF sensor failures and coolant temp sensor. Both are easy and cheap to replace though.
As above, engine has a chain, not belt so shouldn't have any problems there.
ECU should have the 6463 update which sorts out a flat spot and some hesitation at low revs. Also liberates a few extra horses.
Again, as above, make sure the Haldex oil and filter has been changed at the correct intervals. For some reason most VW dealers seem unaware of the correct service intervals.
Front strut top-mounts commonly fail at around 30K miles so check them.
Brake light switches commonly fail also and can cause the ABS/ESP lights to illuminate.
Only other things I can think of are faults common to all Golf MKIV platform cars which are MAF sensor failures and coolant temp sensor. Both are easy and cheap to replace though.
the only thing i would add to all of the above is to ask the owner what service plan the car is on. this is indeed the source of much confusion at dealerships. t
he choice that the 1st owner of the car got to make was - 10k/1yr service intervals, or 20k/1yr long life service intervals. from what i can tell there is a)little difference in the service carried out at either, and b)nothing to stop you switching between the two. Therefore if offered the choice the sensible person takes the car thats been serviced every 10k as opposed to every 20k.......................
he choice that the 1st owner of the car got to make was - 10k/1yr service intervals, or 20k/1yr long life service intervals. from what i can tell there is a)little difference in the service carried out at either, and b)nothing to stop you switching between the two. Therefore if offered the choice the sensible person takes the car thats been serviced every 10k as opposed to every 20k.......................
Cheers for the tips guys, sorry I didn't reply, Ive been away from my computer over weekend.
Didn't buy it in the end, the fan was pulsing on / off with the aircon on (does anyone what causes this and what effects it has), and some of the service history was questionable - not what you want when buying a high milage example!
Got a couple more lower milage cars to look at tommorrow - will let you know how we get on!!
Oh, nearly forgot, that engine note.......
Didn't buy it in the end, the fan was pulsing on / off with the aircon on (does anyone what causes this and what effects it has), and some of the service history was questionable - not what you want when buying a high milage example!
Got a couple more lower milage cars to look at tommorrow - will let you know how we get on!!
Oh, nearly forgot, that engine note.......
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