Golf R 7.5 DSG - what a miserable gearbox

[A4B6TDI]

I there , I have a man Audi A4 b6 from 2002 19 tdi , last weekend I was driving her very nicely but when I came across road joint wit a hill I give her a bit of acceleration. In the acceleration pedal which respond always very good but like in the middle of the hill the engine just lost power and just start to go very slowly which I manage to go trough the next road and just parked and then after s stop completely the car engine plenty of white smoke just start to come out of the exausht leaving the car complete dead and when I try to put the engine running again it just won't start ...

Previously I had a slepery clutch , the intercooler is leaking oil need a new one , also recently I made a remapp in the engine that I put more 100 hp on top of the 130 hp , after I remapp the car and drive for almost two week my brake vacuum pump start leak diesel , now the car just won't start and I check the oil level the day after the incident which was completely empty dry ...

I been told it could the turbo that is gone , the non starting could be te lack of oil in the engine ...

Could some one tell me what could been happening with my Audi , so I can tell more about it ... is such a amazing car I would be unhappy to see her go to the scrap yard ...

Thank you

[aaron_2000]

A4B6TDI said:

I there , I have a man Audi A4 b6 from 2002 19 tdi , last weekend I was driving her very nicely but when I came across road joint wit a hill I give her a bit of acceleration. In the acceleration pedal which respond always very good but like in the middle of the hill the engine just lost power and just start to go very slowly which I manage to go trough the next road and just parked and then after s stop completely the car engine plenty of white smoke just start to come out of the exausht leaving the car complete dead and when I try to put the engine running again it just won't start ...

Previously I had a slepery clutch , the intercooler is leaking oil need a new one , also recently I made a remapp in the engine that I put more 100 hp on top of the 130 hp , after I remapp the car and drive for almost two week my brake vacuum pump start leak diesel , now the car just won't start and I check the oil level the day after the incident which was completely empty dry ...

I been told it could the turbo that is gone , the non starting could be te lack of oil in the engine ...

Could some one tell me what could been happening with my Audi , so I can tell more about it ... is such a amazing car I would be unhappy to see her go to the scrap yard ...

Thank you

Ignoring the train crash writing and outright lie about the remap, it's scrap.

[bones33]

Got my first DSG on my Golf GTI PP loved it since day one and would never go back to a manual again now. Saying all that there are times when it annoys me, when cruising around it is always in to high a gear and I also agree changes down can be clunky but thats just being picky.

[Gary C]

A900ss said:

Gary C said:

But a ZF has a torque converter, which always uses some energy ? So, ultimately a manual could always deliver better MPG if the user chooses to drive it that way.

Assuming the gearing is the same which they aren’t. The auto has a taller top gear. And 7 gears to play with before it gets into top gear.

But tall gearing doesnt mean good MPG by rote.

It must help but if the driver changes up early, drives economically, then not having to churn oil in a TC is technically more efficient ?
I suppose, why should higher gears be more economical ? To maintain a speed you need a certain amount of torque, at low revs you would need a wider throttle position to burn enough fuel to provide that torque or a smaller throttle position at higher revs ? so its about maintaining the engine in its most efficient band of operation ?

Edited by Gary C on Tuesday 19th February 12:58

[tril]

I have no problem with my DSG but it's the DQ-500 unit. It's a bit jerkier at slow speeds than a standard gearbox but it's worth it because it's a much quicker up and down shift when at full tilt.

Also, the gearbox shouldn't override you if it's in manual mode unless you come to a stop in too high a gear.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

tril said:

Also, the gearbox shouldn't override you if it's in manual mode unless you come to a stop in too high a gear.

One of the options on an APR TCU firmware upgrade is whether the box should upshift on the rev limiter even in manual mode (as standard) or bounce off the rev limiter like a manual.

[A4B6TDI]

aaron_2000 said:

A4B6TDI said:

I there , I have an Audi A4 b6 from 2002 19 tdi , last weekend I was driving her very nicely but when I came across road joint wit a hill I give her a bit of acceleration. In the acceleration pedal which respond always very good but like in the middle of the hill the engine just lost power and just start to go very slowly which I manage to go trough the next road and just parked and then after stop completely the car engine plenty of white smoke just start to come out of the exausht leaving the car complete dead and when I try to put the engine running again that just wasn't starting ...

Previously I had a slepery clutch , the intercooler is leaking oil need a new one , also recently I made a remapp in the engine that I put more 100 hp on top of the 130 hp , after I remapp the car and drive for almost two week my brake vacuum pump start leak diesel , now the car just won't start and I check the oil level the day after the incident which was completely empty dry ...

I been told it could the turbo that is gone , the non starting could be te lack of oil in the engine ...

Could some one tell me what could been happening with my Audi , so I can tell more about it ... is such a amazing car I would be unhappy to see her go to the scrap yard ...

Thank you

Ignoring the train crash writing and outright lie about the remap, it's scrap.

[Gazzab]

A4B6TDI said:

I there , I have a man Audi A4 b6 from 2002 19 tdi , last weekend I was driving her very nicely but when I came across road joint wit a hill I give her a bit of acceleration. In the acceleration pedal which respond always very good but like in the middle of the hill the engine just lost power and just start to go very slowly which I manage to go trough the next road and just parked and then after s stop completely the car engine plenty of white smoke just start to come out of the exausht leaving the car complete dead and when I try to put the engine running again it just won't start ...

Previously I had a slepery clutch , the intercooler is leaking oil need a new one , also recently I made a remapp in the engine that I put more 100 hp on top of the 130 hp , after I remapp the car and drive for almost two week my brake vacuum pump start leak diesel , now the car just won't start and I check the oil level the day after the incident which was completely empty dry ...

I been told it could the turbo that is gone , the non starting could be te lack of oil in the engine ...

Could some one tell me what could been happening with my Audi , so I can tell more about it ... is such a amazing car I would be unhappy to see her go to the scrap yard ...

Thank you

I don’t really understand anything you have written. 100 bhp increase from a remap, ummm no you haven’t.
I suspect your car is fit for the scrap man only.

[gareth_r]

aaron_2000 said:

Ignoring the train crash writing...

And how's your Portuguese?

[aaron_2000]

gareth_r said:

aaron_2000 said:

Ignoring the train crash writing...

And how's your Portuguese?

Dire, that's why I don't attempt to speak it

[mcg_]

g7jhp said:

Took a test drive in a Golf R DSG Mk7.5 and manual Golf GTI PP Mk7.5 at the weekend.

For me the manual wins hands down, it's so light and effortless to use.

On both cars, GTI felt light and picked up easily and is more understated. The R is slightly heavier, sounded nice but does attract attention.

Head says manual GTI, petrolhead says R.

I had a mk7 GTI pp manual and now have a mk7.5 R dsg.

Initially when I got the R, I missed the manual. Now though I'm really enjoying the R and I'm very happy with it, as a every day car it does everything I need really well. When I do just go out for a drive, sure it's not as good as a manual, but you can still use the paddles so it's not the end of the world.

The acceleration and lack of wheel spin in the R is fantastic too, so much better off the line than the GTI.

edit: encase you're thinking of getting one of the last R manuals, I understand the clutches last about 20k miles.

[A900ss]

I assume that the R is the same as the GTI and if so, if you do have a manual, I thoroughly recommend getting a clutch stop.

A very cheap mod that takes a minute to install and completely gets rid of the long clutch travel and dead space.

[Chestrockwell]

mcg_ said:

g7jhp said:

Took a test drive in a Golf R DSG Mk7.5 and manual Golf GTI PP Mk7.5 at the weekend.

For me the manual wins hands down, it's so light and effortless to use.

On both cars, GTI felt light and picked up easily and is more understated. The R is slightly heavier, sounded nice but does attract attention.

Head says manual GTI, petrolhead says R.

I had a mk7 GTI pp manual and now have a mk7.5 R dsg.

Initially when I got the R, I missed the manual. Now though I'm really enjoying the R and I'm very happy with it, as a every day car it does everything I need really well. When I do just go out for a drive, sure it's not as good as a manual, but you can still use the paddles so it's not the end of the world.

The acceleration and lack of wheel spin in the R is fantastic too, so much better off the line than the GTI.

edit: encase you're thinking of getting one of the last R manuals, I understand the clutches last about 20k miles.

Well that’s off putting, after driving a manual MK7.5 GTI for nearly 3 weeks, I spent a lot of time looking at manual R’s and it’s on the shortlist for my next car but not anymore, shouldn’t have to replace a major component like a clutch in 20k miles, I’ve done 28k miles in my 4 series without changing anything but oil and tyres, few other things under warranty, all minor.

[va1o]

Chestrockwell said:

Well that’s off putting, after driving a manual MK7.5 GTI for nearly 3 weeks, I spent a lot of time looking at manual R’s and it’s on the shortlist for my next car but not anymore, shouldn’t have to replace a major component like a clutch in 20k miles, I’ve done 28k miles in my 4 series without changing anything but oil and tyres, few other things under warranty, all minor.

They seem to be inherentently weak on this generation. My 2015 TT with the GTI engine needed a new clutch at 15k miles which seemed crazy, as I’ve never ever had to replace one before. Lots of similar reports on the owners forums.

[bones33]

Another slight small issue I have with the DSG is going from drive to reverse, I know you have to wait for it but sometimes it can be annoying waiting for it to engage mainly due to the fact I drive a lot of back roads and need to go into reverse a lot quickly.

[bcanning]

I've never posted on social media before in my life , but I feel compelled to on this topic.

I'm on my 3rd Golf R (Mk 5 R32 manual, Mk 7.1 manual and now Mk 7.2 DSG estate). I love R cars, I like the under-stated VW brand and look of the cars. But I've had my DSG estate for 3 years / 16k miles now and I cannot get on with it.

I fully agree with the OP, in Drive mode the gearbox is doing its best to get to 7th gear. In Sport mode it seems to never change out of 2nd until above 50 mph (does a good job of scarring children inside 30 mph zones).

It is never in the right gear at the right time. Even in 'manual' mode, it seems dim-witted (unless doing a drag race when 'what comes next' is pretty obvious). The car is the ultimate gap misser. Trying to make up for their diesel-gate sins, VW has artifically engineered-in something akin to qturbo lag.

I'm lucky because I also have an M2 (manual, of course) which helps me retain my driving sanity. My brother has a new M5 (just changed from an M4 Comp) and the DCT 'boxes in both of those do not suffer from the same issue.

If anyone from VWAG happens to read this thread, please let the consumer choose (I didn't cause diesel-gate, you did).

[Clockwork Cupcake]

You can get the DSG remapped - most of the big tuners offer it alongside the more traditional ECU remapping.

Personally, I've not had any issues with my 2014 Golf R Mk7 DSG (the older 6-speed box) although I've heard the 7-speed isn't as good.

[bcanning]

Thanks. I'm still in warranty (just) so not keen on a full ECU remap just yet. I asked Revo if they could remap the gearbox alone, but they said no.

[Gazzab]

I have no issues with dsg except when it’s in sports mode and then it just hangs onto gears. So for me it’s only worth using S when you are using paddles. Apart from that my 7.5 dsg is perfect.

[acme]

bcanning said:

The car is the ultimate gap misser.

Would you mind expanding on this, do you mean it literally? Not quite the same granted, but I had a MK7 Golf 1.4 TSI ACT with DSG and at slowish speeds such as filtering onto a roundabout it was borderline dangerous - I had a manual for three weeks/1k miles and it was fine. Few others had a clue what I meant, yet I did read a few reports from journos that slow speed driving was a pain with it, and that was the dry clutch 7 speed, not at the time (64 plate) the 6 speed the GTI/R/GTD's had.

My daily is now a manual.

Cheers

Edited by acme on Friday 21st February 11:24