118TSI - General Discussion

Up from the dead!

I picked up a MY10 manual comfortline yesterday for daughter to learn to drive manual in, and then use once she passes her test. She's keen to help to sort it out and maintain it - she did her first oil change on our X5 a couple of months ago.

Only thing it didn't come with is the owner's manual - can anyone with an owner's manual confirm the part number for a 2009 (MY10) Golf Comfortline 118tsi Manual-trans.

I *think* its 102.5R1.GO6..20 but without ETKA installed (yet) I can't just look it up. I've had a few Audi's over the years, altho' not for a while.

The car is a hoot to drive - slow-as (8s to 100), but it was cheap, straight, and came with a great service history. Its had the various recalls done, as well as recent water pump, clutch kit, slave + master cylinders, brake discs, quality tyres, etc. (has 160k kms). I plugged in and checked before buying - it has zero fault codes and no code clear for 12k kms.. so well maintained.

Making a project list - today's tasks will be to refurb the plastic headlights as they've got the usual UV pitting/fogging, order fabric/glue in advance of removing and replacing the sagging headliner, treat the leather, and make a list of part numbers and service items to order.

My 118tsi is closing up to 13yrs of ownership from brand new.

I've noticed since last year, it has started to burn oil. Waterpump blew itself early last year and that got fixed up. Later that year (2023), got my first low oil level warning since ownership. Got it topped up.

Driving home tonight, again the low oil level warning came up again. Due for its yearly service in 2 months. I did check the dipstick and its quite... low.

Will have to top it up to prevent a major headache before the service, but what do I tell VW to check for @ the service? They will probably say its within spec.. but I've never had to top up anything for the first 12 years of its life.

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Originally Posted by dribs

My 118tsi is closing up to 13yrs of ownership from brand new.

I've noticed since last year, it has started to burn oil. Waterpump blew itself early last year and that got fixed up. Later that year (2023), got my first low oil level warning since ownership. Got it topped up.

Driving home tonight, again the low oil level warning came up again. Due for its yearly service in 2 months. I did check the dipstick and its quite... low.

Will have to top it up to prevent a major headache before the service, but what do I tell VW to check for @ the service? They will probably say its within spec.. but I've never had to top up anything for the first 12 years of its life.

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13 years in and still going to a dealership? Wow.

You don't say how many km you've done or how often the services are happening. It's hard to give sensible advice without knowing that detail.

Why aren't you doing a monthly visual fluid level and tyre pressure check?

I would consider yourself very lucky that you have owned a 118TSI for 13 years and not had any of the heardache that 99% of other owners have had with these cars. Can I ask if yours is manual or auto (DSG) because it seems that the manuals are less likely to have the broken piston issues as they are driven at higher revs than the autos which are always at very low RPM in a high gear and causing the engine to ping. Then of course the manuals dont have all the issues that the autos have with the overheating clutches and shuddering etc.

As for the oil consumption, if its happened all of a sudden then are you sure its not a leak or some other issue (like a failed PCV for example) that is causing the engine to burn some oil. Ruling an issue out, then I would just buy some of the correct spec oil (available at your local Supercheap/Repco etc) and top it up when it needs it. You can also try a slightly thicker oil like 5w-40 which is slightly thicker when hot and less likely to burn, compared to the traditional 5w-30 that VW recommends.

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Originally Posted by dribs

My 118tsi is closing up to 13yrs of ownership from brand new.

I've noticed since last year, it has started to burn oil. Waterpump blew itself early last year and that got fixed up. Later that year (2023), got my first low oil level warning since ownership. Got it topped up.

Driving home tonight, again the low oil level warning came up again. Due for its yearly service in 2 months. I did check the dipstick and its quite... low.

Will have to top it up to prevent a major headache before the service, but what do I tell VW to check for @ the service? They will probably say its within spec.. but I've never had to top up anything for the first 12 years of its life.

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She's currently at 180km and gets her 15,000km service every year, haven't skipped one. Next service due in November. I do check the tyre pressures, oil not so much at all as for the first 12 years, never needed to. Will have to keep an eye on it now I guess due to its age.

I drive around metro Sydney nowadays about 30km each day for work, but for a good 5 years before then it was going up and down the M1 weekly.

It's a DSG. It's had all the recalls done, timing tensioner and all was "fixed" preventatively 4yrs ago.

Will keep an eye on it and like you said, if not a PCV or leak, then have to top up. Was just wondering what I should tell the service centre to check for at the next service for the increased oil use that's all. I've been reading potentially oil leaking due to weak rings as the TSI ages or just maybe pistons wanting to crack?

Just topped her up at lunch with Castrol EDGE sw-30 1L, will see how she goes!

Thats a nice run! My 118 has done the pistons (repaired under extended good will warranty) and the manual gear box not too long ago (which I paid for). Only done 58k since new in 2011.

The idea for slightly heavier oil is a trick I've used in older cars over the years, as long as it's getting changed regularly it's never caused issues for me.

Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favour!

Hey does anyone here know how hard someone would have to drive into a tree to do $12000 worth of damage to a 2010 118TSI ? The engine needs a rebuild... Asking for a friend ��. Seriously though, what option do I have to get rid of a car that would cost just as much to fix as I would get for it once fixed?

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Originally Posted by Bushman111

Hey does anyone here know how hard someone would have to drive into a tree to do $12000 worth of damage to a 2010 118TSI ? The engine needs a rebuild... Asking for a friend ��. Seriously though, what option do I have to get rid of a car that would cost just as much to fix as I would get for it once fixed?

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Not difficult to do $12k damage to a car worth maybe $2,000. Seriously, do you think a 14 year old 118TSI with blown engine is worth $12,000??

Carsales shows the 118TSI for about that. Bordering into GTI territory and no one who knows them would recommend buying one... but that's (apparently) what they go for. (and oddly it seems to be more than the Cabriolet version at the moment!).

Redbook says closer to $6k! (not that I ever really trust Redbook)

Insured value is an easy $12k.

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Originally Posted by The_Hawk

Carsales shows the 118TSI for about that. Bordering into GTI territory and no one who knows them would recommend buying one... but that's (apparently) what they go for. (and oddly it seems to be more than the Cabriolet version at the moment!).

Redbook says closer to $6k! (not that I ever really trust Redbook)

Insured value is an easy $12k.

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Tell 'em they're dreaming :) A 14 year old car with 180,000k and a BLOWN ENGINE will fetch maybe $2000 from someone who knows how to replace the engine with a proper one.

The insured value on the 16 year old GTI I just sold, with less than 100,000 and a good engine, was $4500 with possible agreed value up to $7800.