Used 1st gen Tiguan, what to look out for?

[iampivot]

Am in need of a reasonably priced second car, and there's a lot of used pre-facelift first gen Tiguans for sale that are not too expensive. I am wondering what problems there can be with these? I have previously owned a few Golfs and a Passat, but no Tiguan.

[tigger73]

Which engine/model are you looking at? TDI / TSI?

Most people that had/have these love them. We're onto our second one and they're a very nice car to drive with not a lot that goes wrong with them.

The 118TSI only came out in the facelift and these have a few more issues due to twin-charge engine (there's a whole thread on this in the Mk6 Golf forum). But if you stick to either 2.0 petrol or diesel you should be fine.

[iampivot]

It will probably be a 125tsi, it's just as a second car. The pre facelift ones usually come without DSG, from recollection?

[Aztech]

The MY11 onwards came with DSG, I have a pre-face with dsg thats a 2010 MY11 model.

[tigger73]

The older conventional auto box is pretty reliable but doesn't have the same performance/fuel efficiency as the DSG.

DSG in the Tig has been pretty bulletproof as it's the high torque DQ500 unit.


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[203132]

I have a 2009 model. I have spend over $10,000 on repairs and servicing even with 5 years of warranty.

Oil Separator Line
Intake Manifold 2nd time (lasted only 2 years)
Fuel line adaptor leak
Fuel rail pipe replaced
Coolant pipe leak
rear main oil seal and cam position magnet seal replaced
O/S inner CV boot replaced
Vacuum pump unit replaced
Driveshaft seals both side replaced
Tandem pump seal replaced
Intake Manifold 1st time
Coolant pump replaced
Boot latch replaced

oh also, the suspension creaks if you go fast on speed bumps (which you shouldn't be anyways) but the bushing are all fine. Haven't figure that one out yet.

Just under 160,000 km. 125 TSI auto (non-dsg)

Dealer service centre has been great to us and we have always been taken care of, which made everything easier. But the car has been a bloody lemon after warranty period honestly. Intake manifold failed just on 2 years? Probably look for one that has the revised version.

If you are still tempted, I would definitely get a flash light to check for any leaks on the under tray from looking above the engine bay.

[iampivot]

I had a lot of problem with a MY2004 golf V, so I guess it's when a new model comes out, they need a few years to iron out the kinks.

[Umai Naa!!]

Most of the tech and running gear is the same as Golf and Passat. Therefore all the problems with those will carry over onto the Tiguan.

Only issues I can think of that are specifc to Tiguan, are occasional wiring problems with the early 08/09 builds, rubber dampener on the tailshaft falling apart, fuel flap latch dying, leaking bevel box seals, and panoramic roof problems.

09G conventional auto box seems to be ok, which is unusual for VW. Only heard of one failure so far, but that thing had over 180K on the clock.

[RSanti]

Hi, im in the hunt for a 1st gen Tiguan TDi. One of the Tigs that I inspected has this black box attached under the dash below the steering column and it has wires attached to it. Is it a turbo timer Or something else? Isn't unusual to have such box underneath?

[Umai Naa!!]

Could be anything.

Won't be a factory-fitted thing.