Mk5 R32 worries - help needed (Edinburgh)
Discussion
Firstly - apologies for the double-posting (have also posted this in the VW/Audi forum).
OK, so: I bought an Mk5 R32 DSG from a main dealer back at the start of the year. Very happy with the car, and with the treatment from the dealer (Western VW, Kinnaird Park in Edinburgh). Great looking car, with only 29k miles.
But - I had the winter wheels & tyres from my previous car (2011 A4 Quattro) fitted, as they were the correst size, offset etc. (although needed spigot rings).
I'ma grown-up, so don't tend to drive the car too exuberantly - and the majority of my time in the car is a dull commute. So I don't get too many chances to see what she'll do.
However - as I got more used to the car, I began noticing that - on rounabouts and other comparably tight turns - even moderate speeds were causing the front end to wash out, quite alarmingly. Wanting to rule out the winters, I had the original 18s with good tread Michelin Pilots put back on a couple of weeks ago (before the snow...).
I was saddened to find out (between the snow & ice, when the roads have been dry) that it's much the same. Speeds that I don't consider to be silly have the car understeerig like a lunatic. I therefore suspect something mechanical is amiss (suspension, or Haldex perhaps?).
I've booked the car into the dealer for a diagnostic - but what I think it really needs first is an independent opinion from someone with experience of driving these cars.
My local garage (Scott Vehicle Services in Portobello / Joppa) has a mechanic who drives an R32, so I should maybe try them first? Alternatively, I'd be happy to hear from any local R32 owners (or ex-owners) who'd be willing to have a shot drive, let me know how it feels to them.
Not sure, at this point, whether I'd rather it was faulty or not. Would almost be worse to find out that this is normal... I can't believe it is.
Any advice / help would be greatly appreciated - cheers.
OK, so: I bought an Mk5 R32 DSG from a main dealer back at the start of the year. Very happy with the car, and with the treatment from the dealer (Western VW, Kinnaird Park in Edinburgh). Great looking car, with only 29k miles.
But - I had the winter wheels & tyres from my previous car (2011 A4 Quattro) fitted, as they were the correst size, offset etc. (although needed spigot rings).
I'ma grown-up, so don't tend to drive the car too exuberantly - and the majority of my time in the car is a dull commute. So I don't get too many chances to see what she'll do.
However - as I got more used to the car, I began noticing that - on rounabouts and other comparably tight turns - even moderate speeds were causing the front end to wash out, quite alarmingly. Wanting to rule out the winters, I had the original 18s with good tread Michelin Pilots put back on a couple of weeks ago (before the snow...).
I was saddened to find out (between the snow & ice, when the roads have been dry) that it's much the same. Speeds that I don't consider to be silly have the car understeerig like a lunatic. I therefore suspect something mechanical is amiss (suspension, or Haldex perhaps?).
I've booked the car into the dealer for a diagnostic - but what I think it really needs first is an independent opinion from someone with experience of driving these cars.
My local garage (Scott Vehicle Services in Portobello / Joppa) has a mechanic who drives an R32, so I should maybe try them first? Alternatively, I'd be happy to hear from any local R32 owners (or ex-owners) who'd be willing to have a shot drive, let me know how it feels to them.
Not sure, at this point, whether I'd rather it was faulty or not. Would almost be worse to find out that this is normal... I can't believe it is.
Any advice / help would be greatly appreciated - cheers.
Sorted, I think. I assumed the pressures were all good.
Well I should have said "told by the tyre fitter who swapped the wheels that he'd set all the pressures correctly".
Turns out he was talking b
ks, and they were all at circa 2 bar.
Put them all up to 3 bar tonight and went roundabout hunting.
Normal service is resumed; the car corners "like it's hooked an elbow round a lamp post" (thank you John Barker!)
Makes a vast difference.
Thanks for all the pointers. Will skip the diagnostic for now, but will def get alignment etc checked ASAP.
Incidentally - passed the launch of the new Cayman at Porsche Edinburgh tonight, looks cracking.
Well I should have said "told by the tyre fitter who swapped the wheels that he'd set all the pressures correctly".
Turns out he was talking b
ks, and they were all at circa 2 bar. Put them all up to 3 bar tonight and went roundabout hunting.
Normal service is resumed; the car corners "like it's hooked an elbow round a lamp post" (thank you John Barker!)
Makes a vast difference.
Thanks for all the pointers. Will skip the diagnostic for now, but will def get alignment etc checked ASAP.
Incidentally - passed the launch of the new Cayman at Porsche Edinburgh tonight, looks cracking.
craig2003 said:
I have been running at 36 psi on the front and 34 on the rear for the last 5 years in my MKIV and it works fine for a bit of spirited driving
The recommended pressures for the MK4 are lower than those of the MK5. MK5 also needs XL (91) rated tyres whereas MK4 can use normal (88) rated tyres. 
robinh20mrv said:
These cars are very tire sensitive imho, I put Mitch ps2s on mine and it was a great improvement,
Saying that, It took me a while to get used to the "Feel" of the car as i came from a Golf gti 2.0 turbo.
Very true, mine came from the factory with Dunlop Sportmaxx tyres on it and they were OK but once I put Goodyear F1 Assys on it, the car was transformed.Saying that, It took me a while to get used to the "Feel" of the car as i came from a Golf gti 2.0 turbo.
cuprabob said:
robinh20mrv said:
These cars are very tire sensitive imho, I put Mitch ps2s on mine and it was a great improvement,
Saying that, It took me a while to get used to the "Feel" of the car as i came from a Golf gti 2.0 turbo.
Very true, mine came from the factory with Dunlop Sportmaxx tyres on it and they were OK but once I put Goodyear F1 Assys on it, the car was transformed.Saying that, It took me a while to get used to the "Feel" of the car as i came from a Golf gti 2.0 turbo.
I didn't get on with the sport Maxx at all, I went for conti sport contact's and they suited the car much better.
Hmm. Despite my optimism above, I'm still not happy. Going to speak to the VW garage and maybe Scott's as well on Monday. Still ploughing straight on at fairly pedestrian speeds.
Difficult to tell for sure without finding a big open space to play (surprisingly tricky ) - but it seems to be worse on right hand turns.
Might be an idea to doorstep VW on my way to work and ask to take another R32 out for a drive, they usually have 2 or 3.
Difficult to tell for sure without finding a big open space to play (surprisingly tricky ) - but it seems to be worse on right hand turns.
Might be an idea to doorstep VW on my way to work and ask to take another R32 out for a drive, they usually have 2 or 3.
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