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Golf 7 1.4Tsi DSG reliability?

  • 03-06-2023 2:51pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 243 ✭✭


    I'm looking to import a japanese 1.4tsi dsg golf's 2014-16 for a family member. There are a lot of them on donedeal but not the exact spec required thus i will import one.

    Are the 1.4tsi dsg's reliable? Apparently they are a dry gearbox so they tend to give more trouble than the wet gearbox in the GTD/GTI/R.

    I'd like to know your experience with them.



Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,384 ✭✭✭DaveyDave


    Who says they tend to give more trouble? I only ask as I've seen quite a few people on the Ireland Reddit page recently talking absolute nonsense when it comes to people asking about cars. One lad said to avoid TSI and DSG, saying they're known to give trouble, drink oil, blow turbos but wouldn't give examples when I asked about it. There's a lot of different TSI and DSG on the market.

    Reading Golf forums over the years I haven't seen many complaints about the engine or gearbox specifically. One person said they went manual because they "heard" DSG are troublesome but didn't say from who.

    Japanese cars are generally low mileage and well looked after. My girlfriend's sister got a 1.2 DSG (6 speed) Polo import last year and hasn't had any trouble. You wouldn't know it's 9 years old with how clean it is inside and out. My girlfriend has my old car which is a Golf with the newer 1.0 TSI 7 speed DSG, no issues after 6 years/65,000km. None of these are the 1.4, but these engines are in absolutely everything from the Ibiza to the T-Roc. If there was genuine issues with a specific engine/gearbox you'd know all about it.

    I've read many Reddit posts about the 1.4TSI and DSG and not seeing anyone complaining of issues. One comment on Reddit said the newer 7 speed DQ200 gearbox is "notorious" for issues and links to a random website that makes baseless claims that they're unreliable and they conveniently selling replacement parts...



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,966 ✭✭✭User1998


    To be fair, I import lots of VW/Audi’s from Japan, and in my experience about 1 in 5 need new gearbox’s.

    They drive fine but will have small intermittent faults which usually get diagnosed as needing a new mechatronics.

    Now that being said the ones I import are 10+ years old. So a newer mk7 Golf should fair a bit better.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 863 ✭✭✭mk7r


    The DQ200 is notorious for issues....there are entire businesses set up around rebuilding the mechatronics units, the box itself is not bad, clutches can burn out and its very easy to knock the magnets off when removing or reinstalling the mechatronics due to the design



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,413 ✭✭✭✭Flinty997


    Litany of recalls on the wiki

    I have one in a diesel for a couple of years at this point. Now and then it hunts for gear and I assume the clutch is slipping at the same time but happens rarely. I knew they can give trouble when I bought it, but couldn't find a petrol and manual at the time. It's been ok But I wouldn't rush to buy another dsg.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 243 ✭✭LasersGoPewPew


    What the rough cost to put a new mechatronics unit into the gearbox?



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,413 ✭✭✭✭Flinty997


    I think the advice is to do the clutch at the same time. So it's not just the gearbox. I could be mistaken though.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,966 ✭✭✭User1998




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,384 ✭✭✭DaveyDave


    Apologies, I thought the DQ200 was a newer gearbox, it seems this has been around for quite a while. I thought the Mk7 was a 6 speed but that's only the wet clutch. Ignore what I was saying about people talking like they know about cars lol.

    Those recalls above are mainly for cars before 2010, any newer issues around the DQ200 seem to be early Mk7 2012/13 models where they changed the oil used in them and changed it back after having issues, some countries had a voluntary recall while others replaced oil at the next service. It also mainly seemed to effect hot climates the most.

    Looking into this a bit more since I have the same gearbox I wouldn't be concerned. Once you rule out the early Mk7 models and those who have wet clutch (diesel and GTI models) then the number of complaints seems to be almost nothing?

    It sounds like the likelihood of having issues with a modern DSG are slim to none. If you look up any other car you will find the same handful of forum posts with issues. Ford had serious issues with their EcoBoost engines, Peugeot have serious electrical issues.

    The turbo on my 1.0 TSI was replaced, someone else on here had the same problem and would disagree with me saying it wasn't a big deal but I can count on one hand how many posts I saw online about it across several different VW/Skoda forums. I wouldn't be down the pub saying "ah yeah those 1 litres are no good". It wouldn't put me off owning another VW, turbo or 1 litre car.

    The Golf is a great car and the DSG gearbox is leagues ahead of any other automatics I've driven (haven't driven anything with a ZF gearbox but hear they're just as good).

    Post edited by DaveyDave on


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,413 ✭✭✭✭Flinty997


    Nothing about the scale of recalls, or the sheer volume of information on the web in forums, or first hand from mechanics agrees with your assertion there are almost no issues with the DSG.

    It wouldn't put me off a car I liked but I wouldn't be surprised if it had issues down the line. Modern cars are complex and have issues. VW have their share like anyone else. ABS, EGR, DSG, DPF.

    You just have to factor it into the running costs. I've had VWs on and off for 30yrs.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,384 ✭✭✭DaveyDave


    I'm not saying there's almost no issues with DSGs, I'm saying from what I can see there's no reason to be concerned with newer cars using the DQ200.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,060 ✭✭✭Sexual Chocolate


    I think the only 1.4 tsi to have issues was the 170bhp in the Mk5 Golf GT. Don't ever recall hearing anything about the ones after that.

    The 1.2 tsi of the MK7 era had trouble with timing chains stretching I believe. I'm not a big VW head so my knowledge is quite limited on them.

    My sister has the 1.2 TSI Polo DSG 7 speed and it drives great. Surprisingly quick for 90bhp and even more surprisingly quick off the line in sport mode. In saying that I still prefer a ZF6/8 any day.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 366 ✭✭in2dark


    How easy / hard is to import a car yourself without buying from dealer?


    I have a 2016 1.2 tsi and so far so good



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 51,411 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    The earlier 1.4 TSI engines had issues with stretching timing chains but they reverted back to a timing belt in the Mk7 afaik.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6 Peter Oliver


    if you read forums you’re only reading about problems and while there were issues with the DQ200, by 2014 they were mostly eliminated. Millions of cars with this box are in use. There will always be mechanical failures, some caused by the user. As an example, I have a friend who never lets his car stop fully before putting in R. I’m surprised his auto box has been reliable. And a clutch replacement on the DSG or DCT is much the same cost as a clutch DMF replacement.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6 Peter Oliver


    The Mk 7 Golf 1.2 had no issues with the timing chain stretching because no MK7 Golf 1.2, 1.4 or 1.5 petrol has a timing chain. All were equipped with the belt driven EA211 engine which has proven to be a very robust unit. The EA111 was a bit of a pig in twin charger form but the other units were fine once the chain and components had been replaced.

    From the VW launch pack for the Golf 7

    Petrol engines.

     “The new petrol engines (TSI of the EA211 engine series) produce 63 kW / 85 PS, 77 kW / 105 PS, 90 kW / 122 PS and 103 kW / 140 PS. The 140-PS version can be delivered with the innovative automatic cylinder deactivation, or ACT, as an option that reduces fuel consumption by up to 0.5 l/100 km.”



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6 Peter Oliver


    I know several people with them including my mother on her 2014 Polo 1.2 and haven’t heard of an issue. In fact the only issue transmission/clutch issue I’ve ever been aware of from people I know has been with the DMF failing on diesel cars. Replacement clutch packs on dual clutch auto are no more expensive than a clutch and DMF. I know on Passat TDI it’s around €1,800.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,966 ✭✭✭User1998


    I’ve seen a few gearbox repairs on Polos, A1s, Golfs etc but I import them for a living so I’d see more failures than most people. Never had to repair a gearbox myself but have friends and customers who have had to.

    And I agree the belt driven petrol engines in the mk7 Golf are actually fairly bulletproof.



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