Quiet electro-mechanical noise from front right around 3000rpm

[Idle]

Could be the headlight level adjusting motor.

Better not be! It's really loud and the vibration is quite strong — but I'll admit I didn't lift the bonnet and look.

On my old Mk 6 the headlight motor could be heard,but only just — besides, it has to be run from the dash (halogen lights — not xenons and anyway they were turned off.)

[exzibit]

Can't hear it in your video but my 90TSI MK7 had the wastegate rattle at around 3k rpm, and more prevalent in sports mode. Annoying as crap. I got the clip installed*from VW and problem solved. Took them 4 months but eventually got it done.

[wai]

...besides, it has to be run from the dash (halogen lights — not xenons and anyway they were turned off.)

Not if there's a fault causing it to be run.

[caeci11ius]

I now think it is the waste gate after all...drove it with the window down last night and it sounds more like that than it did with the window shut. Seems to flutter more rapidly than the other ones I've seen posted so it sounds a little different but definitely more like it once you open the window. I assume that's a a quick and simple repair then (if it's that?)?

[Idle]

Not if there's a fault causing it to be run.

Checked the light aiming system and it's working correctly — the motors are almost inaudible.

The noise can only have been one or both cooling fans running flat out (I believe there's a pump to cool the turbo on the Mk7 TDI, but any noise from it should be muffled — this was frighteningly LOUD, very obvious and vibrating the front of the car, which those tiny motors just couldn't do.)

When it shut off after about six minutes it ran down rather than just stopping, which again suggests fan or fans (there are two.)

Next time (if there is one — probably will) I'll look further into it — just thought it might help the OP to locate the source of his/her noise.

[caeci11ius]

Idle - cooling fans in the diesel are normal after shutdown when the diesel particulate filter is being regenerated (it gets very hot...800 degrees I believe). I shouldn't think they should vibrate though, but I wouldn't be surprised that they were quite loud...

[Idle]

Yes, I'm well aware of that — this is my second turbo TDI and somewhere about my 80th vehicle — but the Mk 6 fans were much quieter, smoother running and didn't wake the neighbourhood.

[caeci11ius]

...this is my second turbo TDI and somewhere about my 80th vehicle...

My bad, carry on

[GeckoZAO]

is it the sound at around 0:11 of the video?
i have to pay attention to mine as well!!!

[caeci11ius]

In case anyone was wondering, it was the waste gate rattle in the end. Fixed in half a day by the dealer fitting the clip. Haven't had any problems with it since.