Discussion
Just been through a similar quandary with the R. Drove a DSG one first and loved it, it really is a very smart bit of technology. I pretty much agreed to come back the following day and buy it but then I did some research on the owners clubs. £3500 bill for a new one and lots of people with very annoying problems such as hesitation, poor creep, reversing issues and unpredictable shifts. As the warranty offered would not cover it I quickly went looking for a manual. On the flip side a friend at work has another R with 96k on the clock and the DSG has been faultless.
You will love the way it works but be wary of the repair costs if you don't have a warranty. Also check the servicing has been done to schedule with it too.
You will love the way it works but be wary of the repair costs if you don't have a warranty. Also check the servicing has been done to schedule with it too.
I had a DSG R32 and did over 84k miles in it over a 5yr period and never had any issues. I did treat it with a lot of mechanical sympathy and made sure the gearbox oil and filter was changed every 40k miles.
One thing about internet forums is that there are a lot of negatives and if you read too much into it you wouldn't buy any car.
DSG is very complex and no one outwith the dealer network knows much about them so any repair is going to be costly. The main unit that fails is the mechatronics unit which costs circa £1,500 to replace.
One thing about internet forums is that there are a lot of negatives and if you read too much into it you wouldn't buy any car.
DSG is very complex and no one outwith the dealer network knows much about them so any repair is going to be costly. The main unit that fails is the mechatronics unit which costs circa £1,500 to replace.
My DSG box failed on a 2006 R32 - It was out of warrenty and VW wouldnt contribute towards the cost of a new unit. It needed new gearbox and mechatronis unit, and VW wanted something like £5k for it.
I went to a VW breakers and got a new box and mechatronics for £1,000 and got a VW specialist to fit it for about £500. Not ideal but I totally love the DSG and so didn't mind too much.
Anything can go wrong with modern cars and present huge bills, but don't let things like this put you off. I would buy another DSG car tomorrow if I wasnt going to hang on the the R32, as it makes life so easy and is such a fantastic gearbox. Before I had this car I was a die hard manual fam, and never throught I'd get on with and 'auto' or 'SA' box. I'm now converted.
I went to a VW breakers and got a new box and mechatronics for £1,000 and got a VW specialist to fit it for about £500. Not ideal but I totally love the DSG and so didn't mind too much.
Anything can go wrong with modern cars and present huge bills, but don't let things like this put you off. I would buy another DSG car tomorrow if I wasnt going to hang on the the R32, as it makes life so easy and is such a fantastic gearbox. Before I had this car I was a die hard manual fam, and never throught I'd get on with and 'auto' or 'SA' box. I'm now converted.
ECUTESTING.COM can repair faulty mechatronic units (Mechanical & Electronic unit) for around £200-300 depending on what components have gone. Obviously you would need to pay a garage labour to remove/reinstall the mechatronic but its no where near as costly now if the DSG fails as it used to be. I cant imagine anymore than £750 all in which is by no means cheap but isnt that much more than a good set of tyres on alot of cars.
I am on my second Golf with DSG and have had no problems so far. These gearboxes are not torque converter automatics in the traditional sense, so require a slightly different approach eg snicking from N to D when the lights change and booting the throttle will give a major jerk. If you anticipate the lights and engage D earlier, no jerking. I am sure that having mechanical sympathy extends the life of all mechanical things and saves money in the long run.
paulfcraven said:
I am on my second Golf with DSG and have had no problems so far. These gearboxes are not torque converter automatics in the traditional sense, so require a slightly different approach eg snicking from N to D when the lights change and booting the throttle will give a major jerk. If you anticipate the lights and engage D earlier, no jerking. I am sure that having mechanical sympathy extends the life of all mechanical things and saves money in the long run.
Or just stay on the brake and in D like an auto - although opinion still seems split on which is mechanically better. Certainly on the Audi they don't encourage N/handbrake as the handbrake is hidden below the arm rest.
page3 said:
Or just stay on the brake and in D like an auto - although opinion still seems split on which is mechanically better. Certainly on the Audi they don't encourage N/handbrake as the handbrake is hidden below the arm rest.
When I bought my DSG 170 Golf nearly three years ago the dealer warned me, in no uncertain terms, to NOT do exactly this. He related to me a story of a local taxi driver who made a habit of leaving the DSG in "D" while waiting - and it wrecked the gearbox. Because of his warning I have always made a point of putting it in neutral if waiting for even a few seconds and being sympathetic when putting it back into "D", i.e. not flooring the throttle quickly.I have the odd clunk if I'm too impatient on the switch from reverse to drive but otherwise the DSG has performed perfectly and I would have another one in a heartbeat. Fluid change is crucial at 40K miles and the difference is surprising.
IMHO it's the best gearbox I have ever driven.
Clutches are fully disengaged so holding it on the brake is not an issue and will have no negative effect on the clutches or the gearbox.
Personally I would say there was more wear being caused by putting it in out of drive.
Most important thing about a DSG box is to change the oil and filter every 40k miles or sooner.
Personally I would say there was more wear being caused by putting it in out of drive.
Most important thing about a DSG box is to change the oil and filter every 40k miles or sooner.
cuprabob said:
Clutches are fully disengaged so holding it on the brake is not an issue and will have no negative effect on the clutches or the gearbox.
Personally I would say there was more wear being caused by putting it in out of drive.
Most important thing about a DSG box is to change the oil and filter every 40k miles or sooner.
There's definitely something happening mechanically when you shift D<->N as I can feel a slight clunk whenever I do it at a stop, so presumably this entails potential for wear and tear.Personally I would say there was more wear being caused by putting it in out of drive.
Most important thing about a DSG box is to change the oil and filter every 40k miles or sooner.
Generally I leave it in D at a stop if I know it's going to be short (like less than a minute) but if I reckon it'll be longer than about a minute I put it into N and handbrake.
I also don't put too much power down too quickly after putting it back into D. After 18 months, still no sign of any issues (fingers crossed).
cuprabob said:
Clutches are fully disengaged so holding it on the brake is not an issue and will have no negative effect on the clutches or the gearbox.
Personally I would say there was more wear being caused by putting it in out of drive.
Totally agree. Mine tries to pull away with just the hand-brake on in drive, but no pulling whatsoever if the foot-brake is on. Don't like dazzling following drivers though...Personally I would say there was more wear being caused by putting it in out of drive.
Edited by fangio on Thursday 22 September 13:00
My experience from 32,000 miles (and counting) in a 10-reg Golf TSI (122):
DSG is great when you're on the move, i.e. normal driving, not in stop-start traffic. Changes are barely perceptible, kickdown is very responsive, and the car sits quite happily in 7th gear at 100mph (on a private test track) with only 3400rpm on the tacho.
BUT.....
In slow-moving traffic it's quite clunky. You can hear it clicking away as you pull away, speed up & slow down, as it tries to second guess which gear you'll need next, and keeps changing its mind. Progress in such traffic is often embarrassingly jerky.
When going downhill on little or no throttle it will usually decide to progressively change down and, unless I intervene, it will eventually get down to 3rd gear (with the corresponding increase in revs) when it could actually have stayed in 6th or 7th.
Overall, I think I'd prefer a good "traditional" torque converter auto.
DSG is great when you're on the move, i.e. normal driving, not in stop-start traffic. Changes are barely perceptible, kickdown is very responsive, and the car sits quite happily in 7th gear at 100mph (on a private test track) with only 3400rpm on the tacho.
BUT.....
In slow-moving traffic it's quite clunky. You can hear it clicking away as you pull away, speed up & slow down, as it tries to second guess which gear you'll need next, and keeps changing its mind. Progress in such traffic is often embarrassingly jerky.
When going downhill on little or no throttle it will usually decide to progressively change down and, unless I intervene, it will eventually get down to 3rd gear (with the corresponding increase in revs) when it could actually have stayed in 6th or 7th.
Overall, I think I'd prefer a good "traditional" torque converter auto.
S7Paul said:
My experience from 32,000 miles (and counting) in a 10-reg Golf TSI (122):
DSG is great when you're on the move, i.e. normal driving, not in stop-start traffic. Changes are barely perceptible, kickdown is very responsive, and the car sits quite happily in 7th gear at 100mph (on a private test track) with only 3400rpm on the tacho.
BUT.....
In slow-moving traffic it's quite clunky. You can hear it clicking away as you pull away, speed up & slow down, as it tries to second guess which gear you'll need next, and keeps changing its mind. Progress in such traffic is often embarrassingly jerky.
When going downhill on little or no throttle it will usually decide to progressively change down and, unless I intervene, it will eventually get down to 3rd gear (with the corresponding increase in revs) when it could actually have stayed in 6th or 7th.
Overall, I think I'd prefer a good "traditional" torque converter auto.
That's the new 7-speed 'dry clutch plates' box that they are fitting in the less powerful cars.DSG is great when you're on the move, i.e. normal driving, not in stop-start traffic. Changes are barely perceptible, kickdown is very responsive, and the car sits quite happily in 7th gear at 100mph (on a private test track) with only 3400rpm on the tacho.
BUT.....
In slow-moving traffic it's quite clunky. You can hear it clicking away as you pull away, speed up & slow down, as it tries to second guess which gear you'll need next, and keeps changing its mind. Progress in such traffic is often embarrassingly jerky.
When going downhill on little or no throttle it will usually decide to progressively change down and, unless I intervene, it will eventually get down to 3rd gear (with the corresponding increase in revs) when it could actually have stayed in 6th or 7th.
Overall, I think I'd prefer a good "traditional" torque converter auto.
The original 6-speed certainly doesn't act like that, smooth as silk in stop-start traffic and no problem with it aggressively down-changing when coasting down hills.
Lucas Ayde said:
That's the new 7-speed 'dry clutch plates' box that they are fitting in the less powerful cars.
The original 6-speed certainly doesn't act like that, smooth as silk in stop-start traffic and no problem with it aggressively down-changing when coasting down hills.
I'll second that (Skoda Octavia; 2.0 PD diesel; 6-speed wet-plate clutch). The only time it seems to get confused is coasting up to a roundabout - "plan to go, prepare to stop". If I decide it's safe to go, and press the accelerator, it jerks a bit as it tries to work out the right gear.The original 6-speed certainly doesn't act like that, smooth as silk in stop-start traffic and no problem with it aggressively down-changing when coasting down hills.
Lucas Ayde said:
S7Paul said:
My experience from 32,000 miles (and counting) in a 10-reg Golf TSI (122):
DSG is great when you're on the move, i.e. normal driving, not in stop-start traffic. Changes are barely perceptible, kickdown is very responsive, and the car sits quite happily in 7th gear at 100mph (on a private test track) with only 3400rpm on the tacho.
BUT.....
In slow-moving traffic it's quite clunky. You can hear it clicking away as you pull away, speed up & slow down, as it tries to second guess which gear you'll need next, and keeps changing its mind. Progress in such traffic is often embarrassingly jerky.
When going downhill on little or no throttle it will usually decide to progressively change down and, unless I intervene, it will eventually get down to 3rd gear (with the corresponding increase in revs) when it could actually have stayed in 6th or 7th.
Overall, I think I'd prefer a good "traditional" torque converter auto.
That's the new 7-speed 'dry clutch plates' box that they are fitting in the less powerful cars.DSG is great when you're on the move, i.e. normal driving, not in stop-start traffic. Changes are barely perceptible, kickdown is very responsive, and the car sits quite happily in 7th gear at 100mph (on a private test track) with only 3400rpm on the tacho.
BUT.....
In slow-moving traffic it's quite clunky. You can hear it clicking away as you pull away, speed up & slow down, as it tries to second guess which gear you'll need next, and keeps changing its mind. Progress in such traffic is often embarrassingly jerky.
When going downhill on little or no throttle it will usually decide to progressively change down and, unless I intervene, it will eventually get down to 3rd gear (with the corresponding increase in revs) when it could actually have stayed in 6th or 7th.
Overall, I think I'd prefer a good "traditional" torque converter auto.
Never had any problems with any of my DSG Boxes. Owned one for 3 Years with the R32 and now almost 2 Years with the TTS.
The R32 seemed to suit the DSG box alot more than a turbo engine. With the Lag on the TTS and the hesitiaiton of a DSG box it can sometimes feel like it needs a kick up the arse to get it going. Never really found this with the R32.
Ive found DSG that good that i would find it hard to own a manual now.
The R32 seemed to suit the DSG box alot more than a turbo engine. With the Lag on the TTS and the hesitiaiton of a DSG box it can sometimes feel like it needs a kick up the arse to get it going. Never really found this with the R32.
Ive found DSG that good that i would find it hard to own a manual now.
Lucas Ayde said:
That's the new 7-speed 'dry clutch plates' box that they are fitting in the less powerful cars.
The original 6-speed certainly doesn't act like that, smooth as silk in stop-start traffic and no problem with it aggressively down-changing when coasting down hills.
The 7 speed dsg in my less powerful car didn't act like that. It was only 330bhp from the factory though. Some have remapped to over 400 and not sure if they had same issues.The original 6-speed certainly doesn't act like that, smooth as silk in stop-start traffic and no problem with it aggressively down-changing when coasting down hills.
Hi
i would like to share my story with all of you I am from Egypt and i bought a PASSAT 1.4 TSI and after 20000 KM i face a problem with the gearbox resulted to car complete stop i went to the importer in egypt and they changed the gearbox and after i was not satisfied with the car performance so i made a trade in for the car with model 2010 and i stared suffering from the gearbox again after 1250KM so they did several software update and then they said to change the micatronic so i accepted in the warranty and then changed the clutches and then at 40000 KM they changed the gearbox and at 70000 KM again the problem appeared and they are asking to change the gearbox again
i sent a letter for the CEO of VW and they transferred the mail to customer care who transferred me to the importer here in Egypt
i am planning to open a case in Germany so if anyone have a supporting document to help me in my case please send me the link or the document on the following email mysadm42@gmail.com
the document that might help is how this problem in your country and if you have changed the gearbox twice and so
thanks
i would like to share my story with all of you I am from Egypt and i bought a PASSAT 1.4 TSI and after 20000 KM i face a problem with the gearbox resulted to car complete stop i went to the importer in egypt and they changed the gearbox and after i was not satisfied with the car performance so i made a trade in for the car with model 2010 and i stared suffering from the gearbox again after 1250KM so they did several software update and then they said to change the micatronic so i accepted in the warranty and then changed the clutches and then at 40000 KM they changed the gearbox and at 70000 KM again the problem appeared and they are asking to change the gearbox again
i sent a letter for the CEO of VW and they transferred the mail to customer care who transferred me to the importer here in Egypt
i am planning to open a case in Germany so if anyone have a supporting document to help me in my case please send me the link or the document on the following email mysadm42@gmail.com
the document that might help is how this problem in your country and if you have changed the gearbox twice and so
thanks
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