MK5 Golf R32 - number 3…
Discussion
VeeReihenmotor6 said:
Nice photos.
Shame on the wing - assume you removed the foams? An annual wheel liner out clean and spray of some lanoguard or similar will help out no end in future (or present to slow the rust down perhaps).
RE approach to repairs like you i start to think if I'm doing X then it makes sense to do ABC. I suppose it comes down to your plan for the car: are you planning to keep it forever or a long time then in that case it does make sense to spend up front and save the labour later on. If you've got itchy feet I'd recommend just doing what is needed (but do replace in pairs).
Thanks, I've not had a chance to remove yet but will try and get the wheel off and remove the arch liner to see what it's like and apply some lanoguard. Shame on the wing - assume you removed the foams? An annual wheel liner out clean and spray of some lanoguard or similar will help out no end in future (or present to slow the rust down perhaps).
RE approach to repairs like you i start to think if I'm doing X then it makes sense to do ABC. I suppose it comes down to your plan for the car: are you planning to keep it forever or a long time then in that case it does make sense to spend up front and save the labour later on. If you've got itchy feet I'd recommend just doing what is needed (but do replace in pairs).
You make a valid point, I'm intending to keep it for the next 12 to 18 months, will get some quotes for top mounts and shocks and go from there, it's barely noticeable at the moment.
Just did a 200 mile trip today for work, returned a respectable 33mpg mostly motorway at 80, so pretty respectable for a largish old na lump.
Have you made any more decisions on if you see going to move the corrado on and get into an R32?
well.. I ended up with another Corrado, actually I bought 2 Corrados 
They are under my skin and long story short (ha) one of the Corrados came with some many parts I could take what I needed and get rid of it for a profit and it means my "good" Corrado has all the rare bits I wanted - Leather electric recaro, oil volt dials, audioscape door pods.
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The good one is in excellent condition. It was properly repainted in 2009 with all new trims and rubbers (obsolete now) and stored under a cover in a garage until now. It#s done 91k and has some bush and brakeline type advisories to solve. Chains and Clutch end of summer.
I've still got space for a R32 in the garage once the parts corrado has gone (soon).
They are under my skin and long story short (ha) one of the Corrados came with some many parts I could take what I needed and get rid of it for a profit and it means my "good" Corrado has all the rare bits I wanted - Leather electric recaro, oil volt dials, audioscape door pods.
|https://thumbsnap.com/cwFsuJto[/url]|https://thumbsnap.com/UhAAgDuV[/url]|https://thumbsnap.com/g384oNVd[/url]The good one is in excellent condition. It was properly repainted in 2009 with all new trims and rubbers (obsolete now) and stored under a cover in a garage until now. It#s done 91k and has some bush and brakeline type advisories to solve. Chains and Clutch end of summer.
I've still got space for a R32 in the garage once the parts corrado has gone (soon).
Haha sounds like that will be keeping you busy for a while. By coincidence I was talking to one of our contractors today who has recently sold his Corrado VR6 as he got fed up trying to source parts for it. Must be helping keeping the prices for good ones going in the right direction. I believe TPS have stopped supplying parts for Mk 4 R32s now too.
Yeah parts can be hard but ok if you know where to look for most things. Hands up though I do have quite a stash - 3 sets of fogs and headlights for example. Window scraper seals are a bugger to find though and that is a right shame as freshly painted or cars with tired rubbers are let down by old crusty trims.
VW themselves don't support their classic cars and everything goes obsolete once they hit the 20 year mark. MK4s have reached that point now. Fortunately there were a lot of Golfs made so lots of parts about, however Corrados not so easy.
VW themselves don't support their classic cars and everything goes obsolete once they hit the 20 year mark. MK4s have reached that point now. Fortunately there were a lot of Golfs made so lots of parts about, however Corrados not so easy.
The R32 has been 'well used' over the last month, covering approx 1750 miles, 900 of which were over 3 consecutive days. On the 3rd fill up at the same Shell garage even the lady on the till said I must have a leak 
From my house in Oxfordshire, trips included a visit to see my Grandmother at her nursing home in Herne Bay Kent, work site visits to Southampton (Amazon 125,000sq ft distribution warehouse where they can process 7500 parcels every 20 mins!), Staines Upon Thames and car hating Bristol for a meeting.
This of course meant lots of time behind the wheel, listening to the glorious VR6, but it did highlight a few areas i'd like to get investigated, I'm awaiting a quote from VRS. They have looked after the car during my ownership and will include a general health check and the bits below:
1. Scan for any fault codes, check timing chain readings for good measure
2. Check exhaust system for general condition – flexis etc. When stationary and in neutral if you rev it to 3k rpm it sounds like there could be a small blow from rear? Nothing on recent MOT mind.
3. Offside front, outer driveshaft joint cv boot severely deteriorated (from recent MOT) – replace. Was only done 10k miles ago!
4. Front top mounts
5. Noticeable drone which I think is coming from the rear when warm, most noticeable off throttle around 60mph. Hoping it’s a wheel bearing and not the diff.
6. Haldex oil and filter change – last done 26k miles ago at 116k miles in Feb 2020, probably worth doing now even though a bit early.
7. Rear diff oil change – I know not a serviceable item but suspect its never been done, so worth doing
8. Spark plugs? Last changed 22k miles ago in Aug 2021
9. Oil and filter change, plus air filter.
It failed the MOT last month on a binding rear brake caliper (they all do that sir), and the local garage who i trusted to replace it, put a non-painted blue caliper on, which is annoying, even though the others have seen better days. Partly my fault as I hadn't remembered to check when they called me with the quote.
And yesterday the passenger side heated wind-mirror glass decided it wanted to part company from the car, luckily I noticed it flapping about on a particulalry bumpy B road and managed to do catch it before i lost it. Some self adhesive double sided tape and super glue should solve this, its worked on my previous 3 Mk 5 golfs..!
No idea why photos are sideways when uploaded vertically, if there are any tech wizards who can correct i'd appreciate it.
From my house in Oxfordshire, trips included a visit to see my Grandmother at her nursing home in Herne Bay Kent, work site visits to Southampton (Amazon 125,000sq ft distribution warehouse where they can process 7500 parcels every 20 mins!), Staines Upon Thames and car hating Bristol for a meeting.
This of course meant lots of time behind the wheel, listening to the glorious VR6, but it did highlight a few areas i'd like to get investigated, I'm awaiting a quote from VRS. They have looked after the car during my ownership and will include a general health check and the bits below:
1. Scan for any fault codes, check timing chain readings for good measure
2. Check exhaust system for general condition – flexis etc. When stationary and in neutral if you rev it to 3k rpm it sounds like there could be a small blow from rear? Nothing on recent MOT mind.
3. Offside front, outer driveshaft joint cv boot severely deteriorated (from recent MOT) – replace. Was only done 10k miles ago!
4. Front top mounts
5. Noticeable drone which I think is coming from the rear when warm, most noticeable off throttle around 60mph. Hoping it’s a wheel bearing and not the diff.
6. Haldex oil and filter change – last done 26k miles ago at 116k miles in Feb 2020, probably worth doing now even though a bit early.
7. Rear diff oil change – I know not a serviceable item but suspect its never been done, so worth doing
8. Spark plugs? Last changed 22k miles ago in Aug 2021
9. Oil and filter change, plus air filter.
It failed the MOT last month on a binding rear brake caliper (they all do that sir), and the local garage who i trusted to replace it, put a non-painted blue caliper on, which is annoying, even though the others have seen better days. Partly my fault as I hadn't remembered to check when they called me with the quote.
And yesterday the passenger side heated wind-mirror glass decided it wanted to part company from the car, luckily I noticed it flapping about on a particulalry bumpy B road and managed to do catch it before i lost it. Some self adhesive double sided tape and super glue should solve this, its worked on my previous 3 Mk 5 golfs..!
No idea why photos are sideways when uploaded vertically, if there are any tech wizards who can correct i'd appreciate it.
I think it's great you're taking excellent care of it and using it as well. That's the one thing I don't do with my Corrado - use it - for fear of rot/something obsolete breaking and I'm also hunting down a warm start issue (after 3 grands worth of engine work doh! Though the issue may have been there before i had the work done as i didn't really use it before that). Probably the fuel pump in my case but injectors are out and being refurbed just in case they were leaking. My last corrado did this and it was solved with something in the fuel system but was all done at once so difficult to tell what it was. I digress..but if my car was more modern I would probably use it more. I keep look at Edition 30s.
VRS will whip through your list of repairs and the car will be back to fine health. It will last forever keeping on top of stuff like this and you can rest assured knowing parts will be exchanged for the right items, unlike the rear caliper incident, but in their defence I find even great independent garages are on the side of getting the car back on the road as cheap and quickly as possible means speciality items such as original parts get overlooked, perhaps becuase most of joe public don't care about stuff like that. Good luck with the progress.
VRS will whip through your list of repairs and the car will be back to fine health. It will last forever keeping on top of stuff like this and you can rest assured knowing parts will be exchanged for the right items, unlike the rear caliper incident, but in their defence I find even great independent garages are on the side of getting the car back on the road as cheap and quickly as possible means speciality items such as original parts get overlooked, perhaps becuase most of joe public don't care about stuff like that. Good luck with the progress.
Good updates, my similarly named thread R32 No. 2 has finished as I sold it for peanuts earlier in the year!
I’d go for a 5 door in the lower tax bracket or an import possibly if the right one came up.
Putting a child in the back of a 3 door was a pain with the seats not really going forward on the latch.
My mirrors all fell off too, instead of re sticking the glasses I got new ones on eBay that clipped on, the complete part inc heated glass was still cheap.
I’d go for a 5 door in the lower tax bracket or an import possibly if the right one came up.
Putting a child in the back of a 3 door was a pain with the seats not really going forward on the latch.
My mirrors all fell off too, instead of re sticking the glasses I got new ones on eBay that clipped on, the complete part inc heated glass was still cheap.
My neighbours had a MK5 R32 virtually identical to this before their current MK7 R. It sounded lovely on cold startup.
One thing I never got was the chrome on the nose, I get they were trying to distinguish it from the GTI and cooking models, but why did they stick it on the Jetta and the estate?
One thing I never got was the chrome on the nose, I get they were trying to distinguish it from the GTI and cooking models, but why did they stick it on the Jetta and the estate?
TheDoggingFather said:
My neighbours had a MK5 R32 virtually identical to this before their current MK7 R. It sounded lovely on cold startup.
One thing I never got was the chrome on the nose, I get they were trying to distinguish it from the GTI and cooking models, but why did they stick it on the Jetta and the estate?
I liked that feature. I love the look of the R32, best looking Golf of all time I reckon.One thing I never got was the chrome on the nose, I get they were trying to distinguish it from the GTI and cooking models, but why did they stick it on the Jetta and the estate?
VeeReihenmotor6 said:
I think it's great you're taking excellent care of it and using it as well. That's the one thing I don't do with my Corrado - use it - for fear of rot/something obsolete breaking and I'm also hunting down a warm start issue (after 3 grands worth of engine work doh! Though the issue may have been there before i had the work done as i didn't really use it before that). Probably the fuel pump in my case but injectors are out and being refurbed just in case they were leaking. My last corrado did this and it was solved with something in the fuel system but was all done at once so difficult to tell what it was. I digress..but if my car was more modern I would probably use it more. I keep look at Edition 30s.
VRS will whip through your list of repairs and the car will be back to fine health. It will last forever keeping on top of stuff like this and you can rest assured knowing parts will be exchanged for the right items, unlike the rear caliper incident, but in their defence I find even great independent garages are on the side of getting the car back on the road as cheap and quickly as possible means speciality items such as original parts get overlooked, perhaps becuase most of joe public don't care about stuff like that. Good luck with the progress.
Had this on an old vr6. One of the pins on the engine loom connector (by the secondary water pump) was bent. This pin was for the air inlet temperature sensor ground. When hot the car would stall as it wasn't getting the correct ait, and would then run at a default value. I was however, getting a fault code indicating this.VRS will whip through your list of repairs and the car will be back to fine health. It will last forever keeping on top of stuff like this and you can rest assured knowing parts will be exchanged for the right items, unlike the rear caliper incident, but in their defence I find even great independent garages are on the side of getting the car back on the road as cheap and quickly as possible means speciality items such as original parts get overlooked, perhaps becuase most of joe public don't care about stuff like that. Good luck with the progress.
Op, glad to see this R32 getting some proper use, these were built to be used and enjoyed.
therusterman said:
Had this on an old vr6. One of the pins on the engine loom connector (by the secondary water pump) was bent. This pin was for the air inlet temperature sensor ground. When hot the car would stall as it wasn't getting the correct ait, and would then run at a default value. I was however, getting a fault code indicating this.
Op, glad to see this R32 getting some proper use, these were built to be used and enjoyed.
Cheers, mine runs well and no codes. Just takes more cranking than you'd expect to fire up when warm and left for 5 mins. It probably needs proper use like OP is doing as sits around alot and hasn't seen much use for over a decade. Lots of new parts mind, including head rebuild and rolling road tuning. Op, glad to see this R32 getting some proper use, these were built to be used and enjoyed.
Reading your thread over the last year did inspire another of many mid-life crisis’ and I purchased an import R32 a couple few months back. 56000 miles and pretty mint. Currently in a specialist having £1,200 spent on suspension, a DSG oil change and a Haldex oil change.
I hate spending money, so why does it always seem so rational when spending it on cars? I think it’s just the thought of making something better bit by bit…
This is VR6 number 4 for me. I’ve had two Corrados previously and this is R32 number two.
The old one,
I hate spending money, so why does it always seem so rational when spending it on cars? I think it’s just the thought of making something better bit by bit…
This is VR6 number 4 for me. I’ve had two Corrados previously and this is R32 number two.
The old one,
Edited by NelsonM3 on Sunday 26th November 18:53
NelsonM3 said:
Reading your thread over the last year did inspire another of many mid-life crisis’ and I purchased an import R32 a couple few months back. 56000 miles and pretty mint. Currently in a specialist having £1,200 spent on suspension, a DSG oil change and a Haldex oil change.
I hate spending money, so why does it always seem so rational when spending it on cars? I think it’s just the thought of making something better bit by bit…
This is VR6 number 4 for me. I’ve had two Corrados previously and this is R32 number two.
The old one,
Haha good man, glad it's not just me! The new one looks very very clean. At least you should hopefully save some £ by not having to deal with rust. The refresh work it's currently in for will make it feel even better to drive. I hate spending money, so why does it always seem so rational when spending it on cars? I think it’s just the thought of making something better bit by bit…
This is VR6 number 4 for me. I’ve had two Corrados previously and this is R32 number two.
The old one,
Edited by NelsonM3 on Sunday 26th November 18:53
Mines going in on Friday for an assessment on my list of things I think need doing and I will prioritise from there.
Edited by si_xsi on Saturday 2nd December 12:59
The R32 is back from VRS assessment, whilst i wait the quote here's a summary of what they found.
There was only 1 fault code relating to the battery (i've not noticed anything) but guess it might need replacing soon. Timing chains are spot on, within tolerance and like new - testament i think to how its been looked after and the first owner doing 2 oil changes per year for the first 5 years (he did 20k miles a year!).
The noise from the rear is not the diff (phew!), but we will change the fluid anyway. There is a very slight start of a noisy rear wheel bearing but its actually the n/s rear wheel which is slightly curbed that they believe is causing the drone. I have matching Michelin PS4 all round and the n/s tyre is slighly feathered caused by the curb. VRS have said it can be repaired locally by someone they know and use. I'm one of those people who try to swerve around bad pot holes but i know where it happened, unavoidable on M25 in pi55ing rain in roadworks with narrow lane. The o/s wheel bearing is only just starting to show signs of resistance but likely to be ok for at least another 12 months.
I have 1 broken rear spring and the rear shocks are pretty crusty and well past their prime. The n/s top mount is done. So rather than having a mismatch of condition and age suspension, we are pricing up some OEM shocks and springs all round as one option, but also some Eibach springs and Bilstein B8 dampers. I really don't want too harsh a ride or drop as i prefer the OEM set up, so not interested in coilovers. Will obviously need a 4 wheel hunter alignment after. Apparently its becoming a little tricky to source some of the OEM parts for these now - rear springs for instance.
The exhaust is fine, bit of surface corrosion, apparently the waffle in the rear back boxes can go so perhaps thats what im noticing but will leave it for now. Thankfully i don't do a lot of short journeys so the exhaust gets nice and warm.
Will also do a full service, spark plugs and Haldex oil. They are also going to paint my silver brake caliper blue!
There was only 1 fault code relating to the battery (i've not noticed anything) but guess it might need replacing soon. Timing chains are spot on, within tolerance and like new - testament i think to how its been looked after and the first owner doing 2 oil changes per year for the first 5 years (he did 20k miles a year!).
The noise from the rear is not the diff (phew!), but we will change the fluid anyway. There is a very slight start of a noisy rear wheel bearing but its actually the n/s rear wheel which is slightly curbed that they believe is causing the drone. I have matching Michelin PS4 all round and the n/s tyre is slighly feathered caused by the curb. VRS have said it can be repaired locally by someone they know and use. I'm one of those people who try to swerve around bad pot holes but i know where it happened, unavoidable on M25 in pi55ing rain in roadworks with narrow lane. The o/s wheel bearing is only just starting to show signs of resistance but likely to be ok for at least another 12 months.
I have 1 broken rear spring and the rear shocks are pretty crusty and well past their prime. The n/s top mount is done. So rather than having a mismatch of condition and age suspension, we are pricing up some OEM shocks and springs all round as one option, but also some Eibach springs and Bilstein B8 dampers. I really don't want too harsh a ride or drop as i prefer the OEM set up, so not interested in coilovers. Will obviously need a 4 wheel hunter alignment after. Apparently its becoming a little tricky to source some of the OEM parts for these now - rear springs for instance.
The exhaust is fine, bit of surface corrosion, apparently the waffle in the rear back boxes can go so perhaps thats what im noticing but will leave it for now. Thankfully i don't do a lot of short journeys so the exhaust gets nice and warm.
Will also do a full service, spark plugs and Haldex oil. They are also going to paint my silver brake caliper blue!
Eek, just approved a package of works with VRS to continue to keep on top of maintenance, some of it due some preventative.
This will consist of:
Full service, sparks, all filters including fuel.
New Bilstein B8 dampers and VWR springs all round
Front top mounts and bearings
All axel fluids, front, rear and Haldex
Replace CV boot
Paint rear brake calipers
Proper wheel allignment
Should be booked in a few weeks and feel a lot fresher afterwards.
Just done another 1000 miles in about 3 weeks due to work.
Wifes Tiguan also needs 2 new front tyres before MOT so will be costly month with cars.
This will consist of:
Full service, sparks, all filters including fuel.
New Bilstein B8 dampers and VWR springs all round
Front top mounts and bearings
All axel fluids, front, rear and Haldex
Replace CV boot
Paint rear brake calipers
Proper wheel allignment
Should be booked in a few weeks and feel a lot fresher afterwards.
Just done another 1000 miles in about 3 weeks due to work.
Wifes Tiguan also needs 2 new front tyres before MOT so will be costly month with cars.
Glad I’m not alone , just got my paperwork out for mine ,eye watering what I’m into it for , I’m so far in it’s not going anywhere, I’m still not done yet , got a whine now at back and slight wobble front , and I still got to do wingsand rust / respray get there soon
Along side running a 7.5 R as well which I have a few little plans for .
Hey ho it why I work hard for these little pleasures in lin life
Along side running a 7.5 R as well which I have a few little plans for .
Hey ho it why I work hard for these little pleasures in lin life
Yep, it's utterly eye watering how quickly invoices have racked up on this, I will of owned it 3 years in May and with this upcoming bill will have spent at least £10k in maintenance in my ownership, that's before tax and fuel. Good job I get so much joy driving the thing.
If I had the time and spannering ability I would definitely try some things myself but there would always be the faff of ordering the wrong thing, or doing something wrong that would then render it unreliable.
Yes I could save a few quid on labour by taking it to the local garage rather than VRS, but at least I know things are being done properly by one of the best VAG specialists in the area.
If I had the time and spannering ability I would definitely try some things myself but there would always be the faff of ordering the wrong thing, or doing something wrong that would then render it unreliable.
Yes I could save a few quid on labour by taking it to the local garage rather than VRS, but at least I know things are being done properly by one of the best VAG specialists in the area.
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