Whats the real deal with the DSG box found in Mk5 Golf GTI??

[richard300]

I am interested in buying a Mk5 Golf GTI (around the 08/09 model year)... Cars in my Budget will be at around 60,000 miles

I want a DSG equipped car, but i am getting conflicting reports in the research i have done:
There seems to be 3 differing opinions:

1: There are no issues with the 6 speed DSG in this car

2: There is 1 known issue relating to a bearing that wears, leaving metalic debris on the magnets that decide the shift points and this fails (give or take) at 60,000miles

3: There is 1 known fault with this gearbox and it is due to gearbox ECU failure

I might add that car i will be looking at, are in Australia as that is where i am currently residing....

Anything else i should look for?

This one looks good (I like the cloth interior and silver paintwork).

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Volkswa...



Having said that, Ideally i would have liked an R32 (for the noise and the 4wd) but they are a little out of my price range... However i have stumbled on a couple of these for sale, and am seriously considering one - would this be the same engine as in the Passat R36? And would the gearbox (and any associated issues) be the same as that in the Mk5 GTI?

Passat CC 3.6 4Motion:

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Volkswa...

Edited by richard300 on Friday 8th April 03:39

Edited by richard300 on Friday 8th April 03:40

[Evolved]

I don't know myself but I've heard it's a bit hit and miss with that box so potentially something I'd rule out personally. Just not worth the worry and headache over.

[blueg33]

I would be interested to know also. Maybe Tame Tech or Dr G are about?

I am looking at either a Passat Alltrack DSG, a Golf SAlltract DSG or a Lean Xperience DSG. All the same engine and box

[anonymous-user]

The 6 sp DSG has a lot of issues if it isn't maintained correctly. It requires an oil service every 40000 miles.

Common problems are:

1. Whining/humming
2. Clunking between gears. In particular 3-2, 5-4 and 5-6.
3. Unable to select gears and flashing PDRNS lights on dash - particularly happens when hot.

Most of the problems are down to the mechatronics unit which is about £2300 to replace.

There was no recall for this box in the UK, but I think there may have been in the US and Aus.

There's plenty of info about it with a google search.

[kentlad]

I own a Mk5 Golf Gti DSG (currently for sale ) & it's a cracking car and is a great gearbox. But as above, it has to be maintained properly, with a service every 40k miles. It really is a good box. It's smooth, quick and responsive. I've always driven manuals and wanted a manual GTI until I test drove my auto. I wouldn't get an auto unless it was another DSG.

[stuartdenton]

Hi
Had a 08 GTI Edition30 dsg for 4 years had done 83K miles when sold. No problems but always replaced oil every 40k miles, Also the metatronic unit was replaced at 9k miles under the warranty, my understanding was that this was a common fault.

[SMB]

If you want the truth , ignore the comments such as 'I've heard....' . There are millions of dsg boxes in daily use, of course you hear of issues as that is what the internet is good for. mechatronics can fail and dealer replacement can be expensive ( thats why you see complaints on the internet) but there are also people outside the dealer network that fix them now.

I've not heard the bearing issue you list before, and there was a thread on here a fair while back where people listed mileages over 100k with no issues if properly maintained. Seperate out the 6 and 7 speed boxes in the complaint threads ( the 7 has a number of issues)

Someone like TT will be able to give a full view, but I dont think the problem is quite so prevalent as rumours or the internet suggest.

[anonymous-user]

SMB said:

If you want the truth , ignore the comments such as 'I've heard....' . There are millions of dsg boxes in daily use, of course you hear of issues as that is what the internet is good for. mechatronics can fail and dealer replacement can be expensive ( thats why you see complaints on the internet) but there are also people outside the dealer network that fix them now.

I've not heard the bearing issue you list before, and there was a thread on here a fair while back where people listed mileages over 100k with no issues if properly maintained. Seperate out the 6 and 7 speed boxes in the complaint threads ( the 7 has a number of issues)

Someone like TT will be able to give a full view, but I dont think the problem is quite so prevalent as rumours or the internet suggest.

They should be fine if maintained correctly, but there have been well documented issues with this box with boxes failing with well under the 40000 miles service interval. I was quoted £2300 from a VW specialist for my mechatronic unit. A new gearbox from VW is £6000 + fitting.

[SMB]

bmw535i said:

SMB said:

If you want the truth , ignore the comments such as 'I've heard....' . There are millions of dsg boxes in daily use, of course you hear of issues as that is what the internet is good for. mechatronics can fail and dealer replacement can be expensive ( thats why you see complaints on the internet) but there are also people outside the dealer network that fix them now.

I've not heard the bearing issue you list before, and there was a thread on here a fair while back where people listed mileages over 100k with no issues if properly maintained. Seperate out the 6 and 7 speed boxes in the complaint threads ( the 7 has a number of issues)

Someone like TT will be able to give a full view, but I dont think the problem is quite so prevalent as rumours or the internet suggest.

They should be fine if maintained correctly, but there have been well documented issues with this box with boxes failing with well under the 40000 miles service interval. I was quoted £2300 from a VW specialist for my mechatronic unit. A new gearbox from VW is £6000 + fitting.

I think you've confirmed what I said, they can be expensive within the dealer network or new dealer parts, other companies can repair the modules now. To be fair, there are just as many people who falsely claim mechatronics issues when in reality it's their driving style and a conflict with the way the gearbox works.

[chris285]

I'd have DSG over manual myself, as stated just make sure the unit has been serviced when required and check all seems normal on test drive