VW Golf MK7.5 GTD buying advice?

[ttonks93]

After the above vehicle. Will be used as a daily commuter.

Am I right in thinking the 3 door model was only made in 2018?

Also what is the better gearbox in terms of power handling if the engine is tuned? Manual or DSG?

Any bad points to look out for when viewing a vehicle?

Thanks in advance

[AndrewO]

I bought one not long ago, 2018/68plate. Love the car but wasn't expecting issues, the dealer sorted most so I'm not too out of pocket.

1. It had the silica issue in the coolant tank, new heater matrix and flushed.
2. When the car was new the service schedule says they need a cam belt change at 5yrs, VW say they don't need one now. £600 with the water pump.
3. Wheel bearing front near side after changing all four tyres to rule that out.

Clutch/flywheel (manual) is £1600 from MrClutch, mine is on 65k and it could do with changing.

Have a look at DarksideDevlopements....without going silly £££ a new clutch and a small upgrade to power might be worth a drive up north.

No adblue on mine which is nice.

[ttonks93]

Thanks for your input. Quick question, what differentials do the cars have? Is it a E-diff?

[DickP]

With the silica bag if it’s the one which can fail you can actually carefully cut it with scissors and use a vacuum to suck the content out and then pull the rest of the bag out too. This is what I did with my Superb which shares the platform. I understand the silica is to lengthen the coolant life but if it gets changed every five years anyway I didn’t see the point.

Wouldn’t have thought the clutch should fail at 60k miles though based on people I know with the same power plant and gearbox in other VAG products.

[Fusion777]

DickP said:

With the silica bag if it s the one which can fail you can actually carefully cut it with scissors and use a vacuum to suck the content out and then pull the rest of the bag out too. This is what I did with my Superb which shares the platform. I understand the silica is to lengthen the coolant life but if it gets changed every five years anyway I didn t see the point.

Wouldn t have thought the clutch should fail at 60k miles though based on people I know with the same power plant and gearbox in other VAG products.

Shouldn’t be ready at 60k under normal usage. I was still on the original clutch and DMF at 142k in the MK6 GT I had (only 140bhp, but still).

[Uncle boshy]

ttonks93 said:

Thanks for your input. Quick question, what differentials do the cars have? Is it a E-diff?

It has xds I think

[AndrewO]

Edited....open diff with XDS+ braking based control on the mk7.5 GTD.

I've not had a problem with traction but I'm running soft winter tyres.

Thx for the comments on the clutch....will get a 2nd opinion on that.

Edited by AndrewO on Thursday 30th April 10:26

Edited by AndrewO on Thursday 30th April 10:27

[jam_up]

I had one 2019-22, covered 45k miles. No issues but it did seem quite thirsty for engine oil, which I’ve read is common for this engine throughout the VAG line up.

I’d recommend the DSG box if commuting. 7th gear makes motorway driving pleasant and it’s economical on a run (55-60 mpg).

[Drive Blind]

I ran a 3dr manual mk7 GTD for 4 years, was considering a late 7.5 GTD as a replacement, so spent time browsing the ads,,

3dr 7.5s are a lot rarer than 3dr mk7s. Buying my mk7 GTD I had loads of choice, doors, colours, options not the same with the 7.5. I guess dieselgate and the change in tax rules post 2017 changed that? Not as many examples sold.

I didnt see a single manual GTD later than an '18' plate.

The heater matrix issue is very common. Even removing the bag in the header tank they still do it. The sign of it starting is the drivers side vent is cooler than the others, mine showed the first signs of this at about 70K miles.

I replaced the in-tank fuel pump and the control module. I could hear the pump getting noiser and when i got fuel pressure related error codes I changed it before it left me stranded.

On manual v DSG, I've heard the DSG is 5-6 mpgs worse off. My long term average on the computer was 50 mpg.

I traded mine in at 92K miles for a 2019 GTI

[AddyT.]

Had a 2016 mk7 GTD manual. Ran it for 3 years covering 52k miles. Not one issue but the car was bought brand new. Good car and very good on fuel. Always wished I had had the DSG for all the motorway miles. Mine didn’t have it but if you can find one with Dynaudio (7 or 7.5), thats a rare but great find.

[ttonks993]

So found one I will most likely be buying. First thing I’m going to do is get the cambelt/water pump replaced. May as well do a coolant flush while I’m at it.

Could someone explain what this silica bag issue is, and how to prevent it occurring again?

[DickP]

Drive Blind said:

The heater matrix issue is very common. Even removing the bag in the header tank they still do it. The sign of it starting is the drivers side vent is cooler than the others, mine showed the first signs of this at about 70K miles.

How does it happen if there is no silica in the system to clog it? Is there something else?

My car is on 160k miles and the bag was the first thing I removed when I read about the blockages, circa 100k miles / 5 years ago.

[Drive Blind]

DickP said:

How does it happen if there is no silica in the system to clog it? Is there something else?

residual material left over from the engine block manufacturing process

i'm no expert on the subject, just sharing what i've read on interweb forums over the years

[loskie]

Two estates 2016 and 2017 Golfs I know. Dark and light blue metallic. Where the top of the windscreen meets the roof. The paint started peeling from the edge of the roof. Looks like a white fleck of paper at first then it worsens.

Windscreen out to properly re paint it.


Door check straps

Xenon Headlights bulbs £80 each plus fitting.

Clutch thrust bearing. You'll hear it rattling when clutch half depressed.

Edited by loskie on Saturday 2nd May 16:25

[Jazoli]

ttonks993 said:

So found one I will most likely be buying. First thing I m going to do is get the cambelt/water pump replaced. May as well do a coolant flush while I m at it.

Could someone explain what this silica bag issue is, and how to prevent it occurring again?

If you remove the coolant cap when it is cold you’ll see a plastic bag containing silica beads, you can pull it out with some long nose pliers or forceps if you are careful and it’s still intact, it’s common in a lot of VAG stuff.