Golf 118 TSI Engine Failures and Service Campaign 24S4

[ope126]

I investigated dropping in a CTHD with 10k on the clock at $3000 + $1500-2000 install = $5000. I am in a small state so prices may be high. It was very tempting but I decided to leave it with VW and cross my fingers .... so I sent it in for a 60k major service at the originating dealer.

Low KM 2009, third owner with 2/5 services at the dealer. I had to show detailed receipts that the outside services were full logbook with oil to spec etc.

In short they are covering 100% of parts and 60% of labour. The dealer is charging warranty rates and hours for all-up less than $1000 for practically a full rebuild including revised timing and cam chains. Additionally the routine service price will be adjusted down by any overlap.

I am very happy with both the dealer and VW. I am sorry that others have not been quite so lucky. Personally I think the early build year of the vehicle (it had no chance really) was the main variable in the good result.

You must be happy with this outcome...

[VW Convert]

I am very happy with both the dealer and VW. I am sorry that others have not been quite so lucky. Personally I think the early build year of the vehicle (it had no chance really) was the main variable in the good result.

Pretty good result and no lawyers required.

By far the majority of owners who have gone down this road with the dealer have had a positive outcome.

Cheers

George

[Bobster]

Well... scroll up and you can see original owners with full dealer service out of pocket $3000.

Being third owner and having most services outside of VW I had to consider ending up far worse.

[Umai Naa!!]

That's a great result.

Far better than what I was expecting.

[Mr Majestyk]

I investigated dropping in a CTHD with 10k on the clock at $3000 + $1500-2000 install = $5000. I am in a small state so prices may be high. It was very tempting but I decided to leave it with VW and cross my fingers .... so I sent it in for a 60k major service at the originating dealer.

Low KM 2009, third owner with 2/5 services at the dealer. I had to show detailed receipts that the outside services were full logbook with oil to spec etc.

In short they are covering 100% of parts and 60% of labour. The dealer is charging warranty rates and hours for all-up less than $1000 for practically a full rebuild including revised timing and cam chains. Additionally the routine service price will be adjusted down by any overlap.

I am very happy with both the dealer and VW. I am sorry that others have not been quite so lucky. Personally I think the early build year of the vehicle (it had no chance really) was the main variable in the good result.

Hi Bobster,

You are a very lucky guy because I'm in the same situation, with a late 2009 model, that has had a engine failure with no compression in 3 cylinders and only 20% in the fourth. They are talking holed pistons and bent valves. The car has always been serviced, has only had a few minor issues, and was in fact sitting in a smash repairer for minor rear end damage, when the engine ***** itself. After taking it to VW Castle Hill they diagnosed in it in a few days and sent off an email first to VW Germany to see what they could do and they basically told them to get stuffed. They then sent an email off to VW Australia who after three weeks also essentially told us to get stuffed as our car was 7 years old end of story, the same age as yours. They want $13K for the job!. I got a quote from an independent repairer and he said $10K.

We are now pondering what to do. They denied any issues whatsoever with this engine in it's life and said the internet is full of lies, but maybe if I could show them they repaired your car under good faith they might listen. Do you have any sort of written verification from VW Australia or your dealer? I don't want to get lawyers involved and in the short term I will look into getting engine from wrecker, but longer term it's clear VW has had major issues with this engine and it seems random who they will help.

[gmeno]

Hi ,
My Majestyk, I am in similar situation as you.

So I have this 2009 118 TSI Comfortline Golf, first owner of the car got the car in Sept 2009.
I am the second owner of the car, never had any major accident, other than someone rear ended my car 3 years ago.
The car has always been serviced at the dealer every year.
After I came back from holiday for 2 weeks in Feb, First day i took the car out for a drive, the engine light lit up.
So I took the car into dealer , they told me that the engine failure is due to compression loss in 1 cylinder.
Requested that I authorize labour hours to strip apart the motor, I authorized it, 2 weeks later, I called them for an update, they told me that they found cracked piston. They informed me that they will apply good will with VW Germany, and this afternoon I received a call from them saying that VW Germany has decided to provide 0% , since the car is in its 7th year.

What I do not understand is that the car is clearly not over 7 years old, since the car was first registered in Sept 2009, I have low mileage on the engine, 70K mileage, I normally do not red line the engine unless the car is climbing a hill or going down the hill. SO I do not see how a piston can be cracked with such little mileage on it. And yet VW is not willing to assist with good will.

SO I am pondering on what to do as well, Dealer is quoting me Approx $7K to replace the parts. As well as the labour required to strip apart the motor and put the motor back with the new parts...

I have already spoken to VW customer service this afternoon, and they told me there is nothing they can do, since the reject comes from some internal warranty offices, So I asked them to provide me contact to the VW headquarter so that I can appeal for the good will application.

A colleague of mine suggested that I get the issue in writing as well as the quotes and take it to NRMA to ask them for advice (has to be NRMA member), if they think this is unreasonable, they may help me on my behalf and contact VW dealer / headquarter.

Does anyone has any other suggestion / approach that I can take ?

[tigger73]

If you have a manual transmission, go and buy a 2.0t from a wreckers for ~$2.5k and get that fitted. Cheaper and more reliable in the long run. Plus more power

If you have a DSG, it may mean engine and transmission swap if you want to "upgrade" to a 2.0. Otherwise find a 90TSI swap it over and sell off the car. You'll lose less that way.

If you hadn't heard by now VW is broke fixing up all the diesel emissions scandals. Their warranty budget has been slashed so what may have once been paid 12 months ago is now getting rejected if they can find any excuse to save $.

You could try going through consumer affairs, however as a second owner you never really know/can prove how the car was treated by the first owner. Although I don't agree that 7 years and 70k you should expect to require a complete engine rebuild, I'm guessing the best you might expect is 50% of the parts cost and 0% of the labour. It's still going to be a massive bill whichever way you look at it and close to the value of the car.

[The_Hawk]

If you have a manual transmission, go and buy a 2.0t from a wreckers for ~$2.5k and get that fitted. Cheaper and more reliable in the long run. Plus more power

If you have a DSG, it may mean engine and transmission swap if you want to "upgrade" to a 2.0. Otherwise find a 90TSI swap it over and sell off the car. You'll lose less that way.

AFAIK the gear boxes for the 2.0L are different to the smaller engines (they are rated fro more torque). No idea if they will physically mate or not, but I'd suggest that in either case you will/should replace the gearbox too.

[blower]

The bell housing on the 2.0TSI is different to the 1.4 TSI - no gearbox from the 1.4 will fit a 2.0 (and vice versa)

[Mk R]

Hi ,
My Majestyk, I am in similar situation as you.

So I have this 2009 118 TSI Comfortline Golf, first owner of the car got the car in Sept 2009.
I am the second owner of the car, never had any major accident, other than someone rear ended my car 3 years ago.
The car has always been serviced at the dealer every year.
After I came back from holiday for 2 weeks in Feb, First day i took the car out for a drive, the engine light lit up.
So I took the car into dealer , they told me that the engine failure is due to compression loss in 1 cylinder.
Requested that I authorize labour hours to strip apart the motor, I authorized it, 2 weeks later, I called them for an update, they told me that they found cracked piston. They informed me that they will apply good will with VW Germany, and this afternoon I received a call from them saying that VW Germany has decided to provide 0% , since the car is in its 7th year.

What I do not understand is that the car is clearly not over 7 years old, since the car was first registered in Sept 2009, I have low mileage on the engine, 70K mileage, I normally do not red line the engine unless the car is climbing a hill or going down the hill. SO I do not see how a piston can be cracked with such little mileage on it. And yet VW is not willing to assist with good will.

SO I am pondering on what to do as well, Dealer is quoting me Approx $7K to replace the parts. As well as the labour required to strip apart the motor and put the motor back with the new parts...

I have already spoken to VW customer service this afternoon, and they told me there is nothing they can do, since the reject comes from some internal warranty offices, So I asked them to provide me contact to the VW headquarter so that I can appeal for the good will application.

A colleague of mine suggested that I get the issue in writing as well as the quotes and take it to NRMA to ask them for advice (has to be NRMA member), if they think this is unreasonable, they may help me on my behalf and contact VW dealer / headquarter.

Does anyone has any other suggestion / approach that I can take ?

You can get a low km 2012 CAVD / 2013+ CTHD engine central block from a wrecker in Sydney for about $2,000, independent workshops should charge about $1,000-$1,500 to fit it. The full cost of getting out of your dilemma is ~$3-3,500, not $7,000. That just shows how much of a ripoff VW stealerships are.

Goodwill is a bull**** reason to use overpriced VW workshops, they screwed you even though you did everything right. Never use them again.

EDIT: PM me if you want details for a mechanic that has done several of these, including mine. If you can't get it done by VW for free, tell them you know the actual cost is $3,000, not $7,000. If they still won't fix it then make VW pay for the flat bed truck tow to your new mechanic. Appealing the situation could take weeks or months. If you choose to take my option you'll most likely be back on the road inside 2 weeks.