HOW TO GET ONE IN YOUR GARAGE Buyer beware… How much to spend

An expert’s view DAVE WALTON, SLATERS GARAGE

“We specialise in DSG gearboxes across the VW Group. Lots of garages don’t understand them but we know them inside out and take the trouble to diagnose faults first before just stripping the ’box at vast expense. The oil cooler is a weak spot. It can stop working, causing the gearbox to overheat, which in turn causes to the processor inside the mechatronic unit to pack up. We’re seeing more of these problems as the cars get older. Something else that can damage the gearbox is the launch control function. It’s brutal on the transmission and, if done too often, can wreck the ’box.”

ENGINE

Long-life service intervals did early cars’ timing chains no favours. An annual oil change is best so listen for rattles and inspect the service record. Check for a leaky head gasket.

IGNITION

Coil packs can fail. Check the car has had the 28F5 recall done. This upgraded them to the latest version.

GEARBOX

DSG ’box requires an oil and filter change every 40,000 miles. To check for problems, feel for juddering when pulling away and look for the ‘lights of death’ when the PRNDS transmission lights come on simultaneously.

FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE

The 4Motion’s Haldex coupling needs an oil and filter change at 40,000 miles. The Mk5 R32 has a secondgeneration Haldex controller that can be replaced. (The Mk4 R32’s cannot.)

SUSPENSION, BRAKES AND WHEELS

Check bushes and springs for wear and cracking. Brake fluid should have been changed every two years. Check for accelerated wear on the inner shoulders of the front tyres.

BODY

Look for rust at the front wheel arches. Check the boot handle does its job and the third LED brake light works.

QINTERIOR

Check the climate control works. It’s a weak spot and expensive to fix.

Also worth knowing

Given that it has such a grippy chassis and strong mechanicals, why not add 20bhp with a JBS Auto Designs’ £450 VVT Attack remap? It’s best to tweak the DSG to cope, for a further £450.

£5000-6245

High-mileage (150,000) 2005-2006 DSGS, rising to £6000 for 100k-milers of the same years.

£6250-7495

Mid-mileage (80k-100k) 2006-2007 cars plus more 100k-mile 2006 cars. Loads of tidy 2006-2007 cars from £7000-£7495, plus a handful of 2008 cars with around 100k miles.

£7500-8495

More mid-mileage (70k) 2007-2008 cars, some high-mileage 2009s and still some bullishly priced 2006-2007 cars, also with 100k miles.

£8500-9995

The widest choice of tidy, low-mileage (circa 65k) 2007-2009 cars.

£10,000-11,995

Mainly the best low-mileage (50k) 2008-2009 cars.

One we found VW GOLF R32 5DR, 2006/06, 93K MILES, £7250

This dealer-sale R32 has one owner and full VW service history, including a recent change of Haldex transmission oil. It has the six-speed manual, a black leather interior and four good tyres. It’s an 11-year-old car but provenance is good so it could be worth a look-see.