Noise on cold start

[Greg Roles]

direct injection is a bit noisy too...

[cwcarruthers]

Mine does this too. I think, as suggested, it is normal and designed to warm up the engine as quickly as possible.

Cold engine = bad fuel consumption.

I'm not sure of the technical details - is this "exhaust gas recirculation"?

[Coaster]

My 118TSI is quite rough on cold start, the idle is a little inconsistent and a bit noisier than usual. I just put this down to the fact these engines are finely tuned compared with your average 'Genfordyota' engine. Once warm it runs sweet and is extremely quiet on idle, even quieter than a small VTEC.

[logger]

Mine does this too. I think, as suggested, it is normal and designed to warm up the engine as quickly as possible.

Cold engine = bad fuel consumption.

I'm not sure of the technical details - is this "exhaust gas recirculation"?

I think you are probably correct, internal exhaust gas recirculation. Because it is "internal" EGR by way of valve overlap, you get the rough running, as compared to the older system that used a dedicated valve between exhaust and intake manifolds.
Although my understanding it is an emission control strategy. Perhaps to get the CAT up to operating temp asap. I have noticed that exhaust gas temp (VCDS) skyrockets rapidly during this brief period of rough running to something like 650 degrees then drops significantly again, coincident with the return smooth running.
My car has always done it and I have just considered it perfectly normal.

[Corey_R]

Yeah - I think too many people are just a bit anxious about their new babies and strange sounds.

It doesn't help that they're not really comparable to older cars due to new technologies and new regulations.

Even 5Litre V10 BMW M5's sound rough on start - almost diesel like, until they're warmed up. VERY different from the sound of most typical Australia 5L cars

[pologti18t]

Yeah - I think too many people are just a bit anxious about their new babies and strange sounds.

I also find it interesting that people take it to a dealer and then don't believe the answer and are willing to take it to another dealer.

Is it about worrying about the noise or not liking the noise (ie I want the dealer to get rid of it)

[265coupe]

Entirely normal behaviour to shop around a fault. Been happening for years with illness and doctors, called a second opinion.

[cwcarruthers]

I also find it interesting that people take it to a dealer and then don't believe the answer and are willing to take it to another dealer.

Is it about worrying about the noise or not liking the noise (ie I want the dealer to get rid of it)

Answers are more believable when they are explained clearly and not given with a "shutup, get lost" attitude. I can understand that when the answer is a dismissive "there is no problem", and that is all, that it is hard to accept.

[pologti18t]

Answers are more believable when they are explained clearly and not given with a "shutup, get lost" attitude. I can understand that when the answer is a dismissive "there is no problem", and that is all, that it is hard to accept.

Except that none of that was mentioned in the original post....

What is exactly wrong with the response "there is no problem"? Should it be supplemented with "they all do that" to make you feel good?