DSG is it that good ?

[Tornado T5]

I wonder if the 7spd DSG costs more then the 8spd ZF? As I've said before I would rather hang on to my current 6spd auto T5 then buy a dsg T5GP. It's funny watching some of the mother's at school pick-up take off in their Tig's and see them lurch forward as the dsg changes. I have driven a DSG equiped Ford Focus and I have to say the Ford unit is definately smoother, not sure if it has any mechanical differences however it is far better behaved in urban environments like round-about's etc..

[Sunny43.5]

As the instigator of this thread it is interesting to see the comments seems there is either hatred or love of the DSG . It seems to me that VW cannot really make up their mind on what works , We bought brand new 2.5 petrol auto van in 2000 it had the adaptive auto no manual mode and it was a bit of a pain as my wife drove conservatively and it would learn her style . Then when I drove I had to give it a canning to reset the auto to my style as it would be pretty slugish on the change pattern , fast froward to 2004-5 and we buy a 2.5 turbo diesel with the "new " triptronic another auto with dubious abilities ,accelerate up a hill and slow down to turn into another street and no drive just hesitation until the engine and gearbox discuss what to do next and then decides 'Oh' yes we are going forward again . So here we are 2010 onwards and another transmmision VW have foisted upon us the DSG and in todays Carsguide another full page article about VW Golfs this time and the continuing saga of DSG problems in that model .
Quote " The German carmaker has invested heavily in technology and its cars bristle with the latest engineering advancements, but it seems its advanced technology focus has brought with it a few issues that have caused owners considerable angst.

The DSG gearbox, a wonderful gearbox when it's working properly, has been one subject of regular complaint here at Carsguide and owners have regularly complained that they have had difficulty in getting their issues resolved.

Complaints about the DSG gearbox have typically been rough shifting, erratic shifting where it seems the wrong gear has been chosen, selecting neutral at the most inappropriate times. We have been given a copy of a technical bulletin issued to dealers advising them of a problem with oil fouling the wiring loom controlling the gearbox, which appears to be the cause of the shifting problems.

When driving a DSG-equipped Golf it's vital that you conduct a thorough assessment of the gearbox looking for the above problems. There have been reports also of engine issues with owners having to replace engines at relatively low kilometers. VW claims the failures were due to owners using the incorrect fuel, but the jury is still out on that being the real cause. End Quote

Yes I know this is a Golf problem but it does point out the ongoing issues with the DSG . Seems to me the more gears they fit the more problems occur , How many gear changes do we need they havent sorted out the 6 speed Triptronic nor the 7 speed DSG . Whilst some owners are happy as discussed here there are equally some who are not happy . Maybe its not VW as the DSG is made by Aisin and I also read today that the new Maxxus van range due for release in October is also sporting the Aisin Auto .AH the good old days three speed autos with manual kick down and could be serviced easily .

[Diesel_vert]

Maybe its not VW as the DSG is made by Aisin.

VW's double-clutch gearboxes were designed in conjunction with BorgWarner.

The 6-speed automatic torque-converter transmissions are mostly supplied by Aisin, but some models use ZF (VW Phaeton, Audi A8, etc).

AH the good old days three speed autos with manual kick down and could be serviced easily.

Any transmission with a self gear-shifting mechanism will always be compromised. If it isn't complexity and cost (modern electronically controlled automatic gearboxes or double-clutch gearboxes) then it's poor efficiency and performance (older hydraulically controlled automatic gearboxes).

A manual gearbox is both simple and efficient, but then you lose the convenience and comfort of a self gear-shifting mechanism.

[Sunny43.5]

I stand corrected on the maker sorry my mistake I was sure that I read on this forum that Aisin were the builders , yes I whole heartedly agree about manual gearboxes , but isnt it strange that as technology has marched onwards we the consumer seem to be the ones who cop it when these technological nightmares wake us up . You would love the day when car makers and not just VW would actually stand up an admit that they have made a mistake with a particular design . I know it will never happen as denial is the standard statement that will be offered . Look don,t get me wrong I love our VW,s as we have owned 5 over the last 12 years , but when you experience something that did not seem to happen in the old times it makes us old guys get upset , now if I can only find my xanax tablets I,ll be fine

[greymad]

Let me try again: our 2011 van's a 132kw 7spd DSG 4 motion - no steering wheel paddle - centre of dash stick control.
It had, on its first & recent 15,000km service, a software upgrade coded 23H8.
So far as I can ascertain, this has nothing to do with the dreaded (& dangerous) DSG lag on acceleration - rather, I think it involved the diesel particulate filter (ie DPF); presumably something to do with the self cleaning process.
Has anyone out here please had an "upgrade" or rectification job done on their (similar) van which actually fixed the lag thing?
If so, what was the ID code for the job, or which service bulletin covered it? PLEASE

[buzuki]

the ZF 8 speed is rumoured to be roughly 20k to replace

[Sunny43.5]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH here we go again .

[greymad]

After surfing around, I find that the following looks very much as though it is what is required to be applied/carried out on my T5 twin turbo diesel 7 speed DSG to fix (in part, if not completely) the acceleration lag issue as described above.
Technichal Service Bulletin TB-35-11-01

TB-35-11-01
NHTSA ID #: 10041250
Bulletin Date: Mon, 06/06/2011
Failing Component(s):
013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
103000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Summary:
VOLKSWAGEN: THE GEAR BOX HAS A MOMENTARILY DELAY WHILE ACCELERATING. *RM

What I am asking here is: has anyone out there had this applied to their DSG equipped VW (any model!)?
It applies to the following ... VW EOS, GOLF, GTI, JETTA, JETTA SPORTWAGEN, R32, ROUTAN, TIGUAN & TOUAREG HYBRID
And I strongly feel that it will apply to just about any VW with a DSG transmission.
Comments, please...

[Tornado T5]

Greymad, is there any way you can determine the software version of your dsg and then match that with what it should be post upgrade? In my discussions with the comm. sales manager of a local VW dealer he did state that there was an upgrade which has specifically fixed this issue because it was something I raised when I joked and said could he order me a MY13 T5GP with the Amorok's auto and I'd sign now.

[greymad]

Greymad, is there any way you can determine the software version of your dsg and then match that with what it should be post upgrade? In my discussions with the comm. sales manager of a local VW dealer he did state that there was an upgrade which has specifically fixed this issue because it was something I raised when I joked and said could he order me a MY13 T5GP with the Amorok's auto and I'd sign now.

Where should I look after I lift the bonnet?
Other than the TB-35-11-01 correction, there is also upgrade 37G2 which seems to deal also with the "dry" DSG lag/hesitation.
See my last post in the Golf section of VW Watercooled.
Thanks for taking an interest in my problem - I suspect there are many of us out there in the same frustrated state.
In every other respect I'm rapt with the DSG, but as it is it's potentially dangerous.