DSG reliability
Discussion
I've recently read a number of concerning posts on various other sites (e.g. UK Audi TT OC, TDIClub and I think Briskoda) about DSG gearbox failures.... has anyone on here suffered any problems with theirs?
I'm keen to get a car with the system as it ticks the compromise box between my yearning for the control of a manual and my wife's preference for automatics...
I'm keen to get a car with the system as it ticks the compromise box between my yearning for the control of a manual and my wife's preference for automatics...
Ask this question on www.tyresmoke.net - it is mainly populated by VAG drivers
I have a 2004 A3 3.2 DSG that I bought new and have had 2 minor 'issues' once when the car was a few months old and again when it was a couple of years old; basically immediately after starting it drove OK but then stopped shifting properly until eventually stopping with no drive, in both cases switching off and restarting (reboot?) cured the problem.
Both times I took it back to the dealer who said they could find no problem or log of any problem, coincidentally I had a few other issues right after starting, namely random warning lights - any & all then about a year ago the battery died and having replaced it I have had no further issues - dealer suggested that a battery fault/low power might have been the cause?
Anyway at 4 years and 37,000 miles it is still OK, hopefully will have no more issues but I made sure the dealer logged the 2 occasions so that if it happens again or something related but more serious happens, a little 'goodwill' might be shown? - I have to say the dealer have been good on other issues, they replaced the rear shocks and a faulty electric window switch outside of the warranty period with no question.
Both times I took it back to the dealer who said they could find no problem or log of any problem, coincidentally I had a few other issues right after starting, namely random warning lights - any & all then about a year ago the battery died and having replaced it I have had no further issues - dealer suggested that a battery fault/low power might have been the cause?
Anyway at 4 years and 37,000 miles it is still OK, hopefully will have no more issues but I made sure the dealer logged the 2 occasions so that if it happens again or something related but more serious happens, a little 'goodwill' might be shown? - I have to say the dealer have been good on other issues, they replaced the rear shocks and a faulty electric window switch outside of the warranty period with no question.
I have worked for an Audi centre for just over two years now. Its hard to talk about reliability because I only ever see cars when they are broken. But I'd say up to 60,000 miles DSG is pretty bullet proof and beyond that your looking for trouble. We do on average 1 DSG mechatronics unit every 2 or 3 months or so. SO yes that is the bit that goes wrong, and Its not cheep, £2-3k i think. Complete box it £5K.
Compaired to the multi-tronic for example where we have a fault with one, on average once or twice a week and manuals where we might have a fault once or twice a year, usually worn sycro. (not counting clutches, we do hundreds)
SO to sum up, gearbox's. I would always go for the manual, consider DSG if milage going to be low, and couldnt recomend Muti to anyone. Normal tip-tronic auto is bullet proof too.
Compaired to the multi-tronic for example where we have a fault with one, on average once or twice a week and manuals where we might have a fault once or twice a year, usually worn sycro. (not counting clutches, we do hundreds)
SO to sum up, gearbox's. I would always go for the manual, consider DSG if milage going to be low, and couldnt recomend Muti to anyone. Normal tip-tronic auto is bullet proof too.
Aaaaah mr Tame Technician, thanks for your input (always interesting here from the horses mouth workshop!
Question you may be able to answer as I hear it mentioned all the time but there is very little to substantiate either.
What is the official torque rating for the DSG box (Golf GTI et al)? - 246lb ft/350nm is the figure I've always used and heard mentioned; yet the tuners insist that when supercharging your R32 the gearbox 'will be fine because our demo is'. I've always been puzzled by how similar some standard torque outputs are (TDI 170, 2.0TFSI (with K04), R32...) and how even Volkswagen seem to have 'capped' the torque of the Scirocco GT24 (251 lb ft against well over 300 BHP).
What's the official line?
Question you may be able to answer as I hear it mentioned all the time but there is very little to substantiate either.
What is the official torque rating for the DSG box (Golf GTI et al)? - 246lb ft/350nm is the figure I've always used and heard mentioned; yet the tuners insist that when supercharging your R32 the gearbox 'will be fine because our demo is'. I've always been puzzled by how similar some standard torque outputs are (TDI 170, 2.0TFSI (with K04), R32...) and how even Volkswagen seem to have 'capped' the torque of the Scirocco GT24 (251 lb ft against well over 300 BHP).
What's the official line?
Tame Technician said:
I have worked for an Audi centre for just over two years now. Its hard to talk about reliability because I only ever see cars when they are broken. But I'd say up to 60,000 miles DSG is pretty bullet proof and beyond that your looking for trouble. We do on average 1 DSG mechatronics unit every 2 or 3 months or so. SO yes that is the bit that goes wrong, and Its not cheep, £2-3k i think. Complete box it £5K.
Compaired to the multi-tronic for example where we have a fault with one, on average once or twice a week and manuals where we might have a fault once or twice a year, usually worn sycro. (not counting clutches, we do hundreds)
SO to sum up, gearbox's. I would always go for the manual, consider DSG if milage going to be low, and couldnt recomend Muti to anyone. Normal tip-tronic auto is bullet proof too.
^^^^what he said.Compaired to the multi-tronic for example where we have a fault with one, on average once or twice a week and manuals where we might have a fault once or twice a year, usually worn sycro. (not counting clutches, we do hundreds)
SO to sum up, gearbox's. I would always go for the manual, consider DSG if milage going to be low, and couldnt recomend Muti to anyone. Normal tip-tronic auto is bullet proof too.
Multi-tronic crap. Don't go near one. Never helps owner's don't follow manufacturer's gearbox oil change intervals.
DSG reliability ok'ish but wouldn't keep it for ever.
Tip have not known one to give problems (fingers crossed, as I have one
)nail_it said:
Multi-tronic crap. Don't go near one. Never helps owner's don't follow manufacturer's gearbox oil change intervals.
Can second this - plenty of people assume servicing just means an oil change every so often. Multitronic will go at relatively low mileage if you don't take care of it, but with regular oil will do over 100k.
I had a dig arround, but the torque rating of the box is not part of the technical data we have on it. Stuff like that will be between who ever makes it (BW i think) and VAG. I drive a new TTs with DSG the other day and they are quick. Dont think theres a problem with it taking the torque or it would be breaking clutches and shafts and mechanical things, which it doesn't.
The S produces the 350nm of torque, suspiciously similar to a lot of other models.
Whilst in the grand old scheme of things this is quite a lot of torque, nothing in the range produces any more than this. TDI 170, R32 etc. all have identical torque outputs.
I've looked through technical documentation and not found anything gospel on the subject :/
Quite a few articles like this:
http://e-carzone.com/news/auto_5711.shtml
...mention the 350nm maximum torque handling but not cite the source of this info.
Whilst in the grand old scheme of things this is quite a lot of torque, nothing in the range produces any more than this. TDI 170, R32 etc. all have identical torque outputs.
I've looked through technical documentation and not found anything gospel on the subject :/
Quite a few articles like this:
http://e-carzone.com/news/auto_5711.shtml
...mention the 350nm maximum torque handling but not cite the source of this info.
AudiSport said:
Is it possible to get high mileage from a DSG box, or based on the above am I to assume once above 70k it is not if, but when...?
I think the lower power engine models are fine my dad has a dsg equipped caddy van which has now done over 160k without any issues at all, failures I've seen tend to be on the higher power modelsHad a 2008 Passat with the 2.0 TDI 140 + DSG, bought it with 104k on the clock and sold at 120k 2yrs later with no issues. It had been a repmobile on long interval servicing until we got it, and had all the correct servicing stamps. I paid £100 to have the dsg serviced for peace of mind when I bought it.
You will always find more people with issues on the internet than praise. A while back there was another thread on here with many saying they had had no issues at higher mileages. Most issues seem to be with earlier cars, I don't think the engine size matters except that it was more common in sports models due to speed to change early on. So by definition more likely to be a bigger engined car if on an earlier model.
I think given the number sold by vw, if tt is seeing one per quarter it's not a particularly high risk on a properly serviced car.
I think given the number sold by vw, if tt is seeing one per quarter it's not a particularly high risk on a properly serviced car.
That thread was from 2008 ish. Things have moved on quite a bit. The early 3.2vr6 DSG cars 2004 ish were the ones that had mechatronic modules that wouldnt last. There was also a bad batch arround 58 plate but they were all replaced under warranty. These days the later DSG boxs are a lot more reliable. I dont think we have done a 6 speed mechatronics in the last 2 years. We used to do 4 ro 5 a year.
FWIW, i've a friend who's Mk5 GTI DSG is now on 170k miles and gearbox is working well. He had the mechatronic unit replaced under warranty very early in its life (maybe 6months/10k miles) but since then it's been faultless
I have the newer DSG box in my current RS5 and in my last RS4, and it's always been faultless too and makes a genuine question for the need of the manual box
I have the newer DSG box in my current RS5 and in my last RS4, and it's always been faultless too and makes a genuine question for the need of the manual box
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