Mk4 Golf GTI Anniversary - buying tips

[AGAR]

Hi all,

Im looking to buy a Mk4 GTI anniversary. I have a few questions:

1. What are the common problems associated with them?
2. What are the MPG values for both Diesel and Petrol variants (preferrably real world figures and not the offical VW ones).
3. What are the servicing intervals, and work that is required to be done after a set period of time/millage? How much should i expect to pay for a service?
4. Do they come with HID's as standard, and do all of them have the "black" effect headlights that i have seen on some.
5. What tax band are both the petrol and desiel cars in?

Thankyou,

Agar

[AGAR]

Vee said:

AGAR said:

1. What are the common problems associated with them?

MAF sensors, coilpacks (petrol), cooling fans, rear axle bushes
First 2 are easy DIY jobs, the axle bushes are a pain so budget on around £250 at around 80k miles
Cooling fans fail on all cars with climate control and is caused by the internal resistor burning out. To check, switch the climate to AUTO and look at the fans. Both should run constantly at low spped. If the don't run at all, or if they run fast intetmittently then they faulty. Replacement at VW can be £400 for the pair. There is a DIY fix which many people have carried out for a more permanent solution. See UK-MKIVS.NET for more info.
Both petrol and diesel should have 6 speed gearboxes.

AGAR said:

3. What are the servicing intervals, and work that is required to be done after a set period of time/millage? How much should i expect to pay for a service?

Oil service very 10k and Inspection service every 20k. In addition, brake fluid & coolant every 40 or 2 years. Plugs every 40k. Cambelts are, I think, every 60k.

AGAR said:

4. Do they come with HID's as standard, and do all of them have the "black" effect headlights that i have seen on some.

All Anniversarys have black headlights. They're not xenon or HID as standard, although many people fit a HID kit to then.

Thanks for the useful info - as concerns the fans, did VW recall the cars to rectify this problem, or fix this problem under warrenty?

Are the servicing intervals for the above the petrol AND diesel intervals?

Thanks

[AGAR]

Oh and also do these cars come with cruise control?

Thanks

[AGAR]

Cheer guys.

How does one go about fitting cruise control, any guides online?

Also how do i go about checking whether or not the plastic runner is worn out/about to break. I get the impression they are the sort of thing that work fine one moment, and then suddenly break.

[AGAR]

I knew that you could do that for BMW's but not VW's too - handy!

However, how would VW be able to tell over the phone which stamps had been used? Is there a stamp numbering system in place to differentiate between the different types of stamps you mentioned?

Thanks

[AGAR]

Did the ipod links you now get on mk5 Golfs come with the later mk4 golfs? I would like to use my ipod in the car, but don't fancy getting rid of the 6-disc changer.

[AGAR]

Went to see a mates GTI Anniversary last Friday and was very impressed. I have noticed a possible extra option that the anniversary could have been bought with - some seem to have uprated headlamps and headlamp washer units, whereas others dont. Can anyone clarify this for me?

Thankyou.

[AGAR]

Hi again all,

Put a deposit down on one on Saturday - very very pleased it the condition of it.

A few questions:

What oil is best for the petrol anniversary engines? The seller said something about there being various versions of the engine, i don't know whether he meant the anniversary engines in particular or just all 1.8T variants - anyone know what the different engines are?

Also are the colour coded door mouldings on the gti anniversary the same as a normal mk4 gti?

Thanks again.

[AGAR]

Fuzzy Wuzzy said:

Anniversary engines are all AUQ (180bhp), KO3s turbo.

Other 1.8T engines are AGU, ARZ and AUM (all 150bhp).

The AUM (is drive-by-wire) comes with the KO3s turbo, which allows it to remap to ~220bhp. As far as I'm aware, the only difference between this and the AUQ in the Anni is the map.

The other two aren't drive-by-wire and come with the KO3 turbo, which doesn't remap as high.

Although, the AGU (not sure about the ARZ) is a stronger engine than the AUM and so can be 'developed' further for more bhp than the AUM.

HTH

Edited by Fuzzy Wuzzy on Tuesday 1st July 14:17

So the AUQ is drive by wire too? What does this term mean exactly, i know it lacks a throttle cable? Surely the AUQ can be mapped to 220bhp then too?

Thanks