2003 Volkswagen Touareg 4.2 V8

[tobinen]

Since the CL was sold I only had one working car; as many of you know I broke the L322. I needed/wanted a working back-up so this came up on a WA group and having met the seller, I knew it had been maintained well for a long time. Thus the fleet is back up to three with 66% in service.

The seller's pics as I have none yet, and he was kind enough to leave half a tank in it (a PHer and bargista). Initial thoughts on the drive home are that it is quite a nice place to be. It has a fruity Milltek backbox so sounds rumblely but not too loud. The trip computer shows an average of 20MPG but it dips into the teens easily. It needs an MoT by early September.

I don't know how long I will keep it but if I ever fix the L322 then this may be surplus to requirements - time will tell. I am off camping in Dorset tomorrow so it is being used for its intended purpose almost immediately.

It has a few scuffs and some of the switch gear has worn but the most important thing is that the maintenance record is substantial. The cambelt was replaced last year. It has a locking rear diff and Yokohama all-terrain boots. The headlamps could do with a polish.

[W00DY]

A handsome bus. With the headlights done and some new centre caps it'll look great I reckon. Are the tints aftermarket? They look quite dark

[jeremyc]

Did you negotiate the conker as part of the deal?

[tobinen]

W00DY said:

A handsome bus. With the headlights done and some new centre caps it'll look great I reckon. Are the tints aftermarket? They look quite dark

Not sure, chap. I am loading up at lunchtime and I'll take a closer look. I want to buy 4 standard bolts and bin the lockers. I am new to VAG so I haven't sorted any EPC or on-line workshop manual yet.

[jackcactii]

What happened to the 322?

[tobinen]

Nothing, that's the problem! It's sat here looking a bit down on its stops.

[tobinen]

I'm back after 5 nights camping in Dorset and a good trip to give a brief review.

It likes a drink but that's no surprise. It's doing about 20 MPG on motorways and with pottering around villages and towns this trip was about 18 MPG. The new front discs fitted by the P.O. have bedded in and are very good. Whilst it's tall, it's not very wide and so minor B roads are fine.

The driving position is fine and the seat is pretty supportive. No back ache. The climate control works fine.

It goes round corners much better than the L322 but it is not as compliant. I believe the suspension is raised and not standard.

The boot area is fine for just me and my camping gear. I only banged my shin once on the tow bar.

There is a bizarre noise about 70-ish MPH which I cannot describe as I have heard nothing similar before. It sounds as wind noise from somewhere but it is really strange. I am ignoring it by not going much above 70.

Some rubbish snaps:

Edited by tobinen on Monday 28th July 17:00

[Hereward]

I hope you enjoyed your break.

tobinen said:

...There is a bizarre noise about 70-ish MPH which I cannot describe as I have heard nothing similar before. It sounds as wind noise from somewhere but it is really strange. I am ignoring it by not going much above 70...

I overloaded you with information at the car handover but remember I mentioned the front left door seal? The door was slightly sagging on its hinges so I inserted a plastic shim behind one of the hinges to help with door alignment. This had the side-effect of decompressing part of a rubber door seal which I think is the cause of the wind noise?

Removing the shim is a 5-minute job if you wish.

Shimming vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tamXOjooro0

[tobinen]

Thanks Hereward. Yes, it was a lot to take in and I had forgot

[W00DY]

You can get stickers for the climate panel for a quid on Aliexpress. Looks like the only stereo option is for satnavb thugh. Maybe a car play/andorid headunit would be a good upgrade


Color name H on this link
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007057291861.h...

[tobinen]

Thanks W00DY, I had not even thought that was an option.

[tobinen]

MoT day tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

[MDMA .]

jeremyc said:

Did you negotiate the conker as part of the deal?

Keeps the spiders away

[Tommie38]

I didn’t realise they did a 4.2 V8. Was it shared with any other cars like the B7 (I think) S4?

Nice to have something a bit special under the bonnet.

[tobinen]

I am not sure but I think it is an Audi-based lump. Cambelt is at the front FWIW.

Edited by tobinen on Friday 22 August 12:41

[tobinen]

A pass! A few advisories but I think the tester is being a bit picky.


Nearside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))
Rear Coil spring corroded Offside and nearside (5.3.1 (b) (i))
Nearside Rear Exhaust box (that it has one?)

[W00DY]

tobinen said:

A pass! A few advisories but I think the tester is being a bit picky.


Nearside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))
Rear Coil spring corroded Offside and nearside (5.3.1 (b) (i))
Nearside Rear Exhaust box (that it has one?)

They clearly want you delete it and release that V8 rumble. Very thoughtful of them.

[GeniusOfLove]

W00DY said:

tobinen said:

A pass! A few advisories but I think the tester is being a bit picky.


Nearside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))
Rear Coil spring corroded Offside and nearside (5.3.1 (b) (i))
Nearside Rear Exhaust box (that it has one?)

They clearly want you delete it and release that V8 rumble. Very thoughtful of them.

If it's like the Caynne S the only silencer in the entire system after the cats is the enormous rear box so it's very easy to straightpipe

[tobinen]

It already has a Milltek back box so it is pretty rumbly. There is small amount of paint missing on the NSR of it so I wonder if that caught his eye?

[tobinen]

The first bit of excitement this morning when trying to buy petrol - fuel flap would not open. Locked/unlocked few times to no avail. Time was against me and I was local so drove back home and swapped for the SL.

I will probe more deeply later when back home.