Rattling when cold (intermittent) on 1.6FSI

[stepr1]

Looking for some input into the following symptoms:

When starting a 54 reg 1.6FSI Golf from Cold, sounds like a diesel for the first 2-3 seconds (only intermittmently) but then idles and runs fine.

Someone has warned me to sell it as these engines are susceptible to timing chain failures. Is that accurate?

[cod man]

I would guess it's the valves rattling before the oil gets back to them having drained back down after switching off. My '98 1.8 makes a similar noise on start up. It has done since I had it and it still seems to run ok 8 years and 80k miles later.

[VAG1]

In the manual it states this is normal. Something to do with hydraulic lifters.