Discussion
Just picked up this lovely Tornado Red Golf GTi this evening. It's certainly a step up from the FN2 Type R I've just replaced which lasted all of 12 days after I started to really dislike it.
All seems very nice and it drives extremely well apart from the car starting to make a loud hissing noise on boost about half way home which I'll have a look in to tomorrow and an aftermarket stereo which although works nicely, is just a bit of an eyesore.
Here's a quick rainy picture from the forecourt before driving it home.


All seems very nice and it drives extremely well apart from the car starting to make a loud hissing noise on boost about half way home which I'll have a look in to tomorrow and an aftermarket stereo which although works nicely, is just a bit of an eyesore.
Here's a quick rainy picture from the forecourt before driving it home.


Edited by jsims1 on Sunday 22 April 00:17
Edited by jsims1 on Sunday 22 April 00:46
I had one of these and absolutely adored it, exactly the same as yours. Mine was lowered with K&N typhoon, Revo stage 2 and a turbo back miltek. Stage 2 absolutely transforms the car.
Check to see if the timing chain tensioners have been done as they are problematic on the earlier model mk6's even catastrophic. For the sake of a couple of hundred quid.
Enjoy it!
Check to see if the timing chain tensioners have been done as they are problematic on the earlier model mk6's even catastrophic. For the sake of a couple of hundred quid.
Enjoy it!
Edited by NordicCrankShaft on Tuesday 27th March 23:39
NordicCrankShaft said:
I had one of these and absolutely adored it, exactly the same as yours. Mine was lowered with K&N typhoon, Revo stage 2 and a turbo back miltek. Stage 2 absolutely transforms the car.
Check to see if the timing chain tensioners have been done as they are problematic on the earlier model mk6's even catastrophic. For the sake of a couple of hundred quid.
Enjoy it!
This one has been lowered though I don't know by how much or even the make of the springs, they're bright red though and look relatively new which is a bonus. Check to see if the timing chain tensioners have been done as they are problematic on the earlier model mk6's even catastrophic. For the sake of a couple of hundred quid.
Enjoy it!
Edited by NordicCrankShaft on Tuesday 27th March 23:39
I'm aware of the chain tensioner issue and this one is silent on start up which is very reassuring but I know they can just go at any moment. Short of calling every garage that is listed in the service book I might just have to put my hand in my pocket and stump up some cash for a replacement just to be on the safe side.
I had a mk6 GTD at the beginning of last year and loved that but always wished I had bought a GTi instead and after the 30 odd mile drive home I am certain this car is the right decision for me!
Just wish it had Xenon front laps and LED rears!
My GTD I had was equipped wot the cornering Bi-Xenon lamps and they were great. Not that these ones are bad but I just love the looks of the Xenon equipped cars. I work at a car dealership and we get a lot of Golfs in so may be able to twist the bosses arm in to selling me a set when they become available!
jsims1 said:
Short of calling every garage that is listed in the service book I might just have to put my hand in my pocket and stump up some cash for a replacement just to be on the safe side.
There is an inspection port/hole that you can use to check the type of tensioner fitted - no need to replace it if its already been changed. The different revisions look completely different so its easy to tell.Ive got a mk6 gti too in candy white - get it mapped, transforms them.
mattknight1984 said:
jsims1 said:
Short of calling every garage that is listed in the service book I might just have to put my hand in my pocket and stump up some cash for a replacement just to be on the safe side.
There is an inspection port/hole that you can use to check the type of tensioner fitted - no need to replace it if its already been changed. The different revisions look completely different so its easy to tell.Ive got a mk6 gti too in candy white - get it mapped, transforms them.
p4cks said:
Great cars, I've just sold my mk5 GTI to replace it with a mk7 GTI.
I'm no VW fan but these in any guise are a great all-round buy in comparison to their competitors.
Likewise, I wouldn't say I was a fan boy for VW but I've had a few VAG motors and always come away impressed. I'm no VW fan but these in any guise are a great all-round buy in comparison to their competitors.
I had a go in a colleagues mk7 GTi Performance Pack a while ago and was impressed, unfortunately out of my price range but I absolutely love the look of the 7.5 so maybe in some years to come I might have one of those. I'm a sucker for a hot hatch!
jsims1 said:
That's extremely helpful, thank you! I'll get the guys in the workshop to have a look for me and I'll Google to see if I can find some pictures of the different revisions also. What revision are they safe from?
No problem, happy to have helped.Yours is an early GTI so will have had the revision 1 tensioner fitted from the factory. Rev 3 is the 'safe' one.
Worth checking as soon as you've possibly can - if it fails, chances are you'll be facing at a huge bill/replacement engine.
Many were done under recall - mines a 2010 and it was done at VW in 2013. Worth giving VW a call if it turns out yours hasn't been changed.
Its annoying - but other than this issue they seem rock solid, mines on 87k now, stage 1 mapped and still drives like new - DSG box is brilliant too.
mattknight1984 said:
jsims1 said:
That's extremely helpful, thank you! I'll get the guys in the workshop to have a look for me and I'll Google to see if I can find some pictures of the different revisions also. What revision are they safe from?
No problem, happy to have helped.Yours is an early GTI so will have had the revision 1 tensioner fitted from the factory. Rev 3 is the 'safe' one.
Worth checking as soon as you've possibly can - if it fails, chances are you'll be facing at a huge bill/replacement engine.
Many were done under recall - mines a 2010 and it was done at VW in 2013. Worth giving VW a call if it turns out yours hasn't been changed.
Its annoying - but other than this issue they seem rock solid, mines on 87k now, stage 1 mapped and still drives like new - DSG box is brilliant too.
We have had to replace an engine in an Audi A5 at work due to a tensioner failing so I know how expensive the work can be! Lol.
Definitely worth calling VW in the morning I think!
How do you find it with the mods? Mine felt properly quick prior to it losing boost last night, like a hell of a lot quicker than the Scirocco TSI I just sold a fortnight ago. Thinking it may have been mapped already but got literally a pull in second and third gear then the power just died off. Not had a proper play in it to feel it properly though unfortunately.
So, the garage had a look at the car today and they've diagnosed the hissing noise as a snapped turbo V band so now the compressor is basically in two halves. New one should arrive Saturday so she will be back on the road then. I daren't drive it like it is so will be back in the Civic Type R until then I think. Gutted.
The GTI is fixed!
The turbo V band clamp supplied from VW had sorted the issue out so I'm chuffed about that.

Feeling sorry for itself on the ramp!

You can see here where the V-Band clamp is meant to be (where the reddish colouring is)

Broken clamp.

You can see it has just snapped right off on the face.
The part number for the clamp is 06J-145-807 and was really easy to fit in about half an hour all in. Nice cheap fix compared to the £1000 plus for a whole turbo!
Whilst it was on the ramp I had a check of the springs and they are Eibach items which is good, wad hoping they weren't going to be some horrible rubbish!

Shiny Springs.
Some more pictures will be uploaded when I can get it cleaned.
The turbo V band clamp supplied from VW had sorted the issue out so I'm chuffed about that.

Feeling sorry for itself on the ramp!

You can see here where the V-Band clamp is meant to be (where the reddish colouring is)

Broken clamp.

You can see it has just snapped right off on the face.
The part number for the clamp is 06J-145-807 and was really easy to fit in about half an hour all in. Nice cheap fix compared to the £1000 plus for a whole turbo!
Whilst it was on the ramp I had a check of the springs and they are Eibach items which is good, wad hoping they weren't going to be some horrible rubbish!

Shiny Springs.
Some more pictures will be uploaded when I can get it cleaned.
Edited by jsims1 on Saturday 31st March 14:41
Edited by jsims1 on Sunday 22 April 00:30
SiT said:
Sounds like a good fix, result with the springs to - so many cheap and nasty springs around!
Si
Yes, good news all round. Was really bricking out in case it needed a turbo as I bought it on a trade to trade basis and wouldn't have had a leg to stand on so saving a grand was really welcome! Si

Fun Bus said:
Be interesting to see how it sits on the lowered suspension. Not that I’ve any plans to add it to mine!
As you know, Tornado red 5-doors are owned by the best people
I think it'd either do with being slightly lower at the back or slightly higher at the front to make it sit perfect but still looks rather good I must say! As you know, Tornado red 5-doors are owned by the best people

I'll get a photo uploaded and change the others through a hosting website sometime soon so they are the right way up and so I can properly upload them, file size is too big through thumbsnap on the mobile!
And I must agree with your last comment
hahaEdited to add a picture of how it sits...


Edited by jsims1 on Sunday 22 April 00:40
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