Sics Consolidated Faded Moderns Thread - 2006 Golf Mk5 GTI & 2004 BMW Z4 2.2

[SiC]

This is the main stages of wear these cam followers have. Thankfully this was between Stage 1 and Stage 2. If the cam started eating into the metal then it'd also be eating the cam up too. Plus metal shavings being deposited into the oil system too. 

[dean36014]

I may have missed something. Is it just the one cam follower effected? And I assume you were made aware of the fact when you bought it. Maybe you mentioned it in the video which I haven't watched yet.

[Eddie Honda]

I may have missed something. Is it just the one cam follower effected? And I assume you were made aware of the fact when you bought it. Maybe you mentioned it in the video which I haven't watched yet.

It's the follower that operates the high pressure fuel pump, not anything else. It's not followers in general as they must be under different loadings.

LR 300TDI engines can chew up the lobe on the cam that operates the mechanical vacuum pump plunger, because shit case hardening on pump plunger.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I ran one of these 3-4 years ago. Most of these were rubbish even then. That one was at the crossroads where it could be saved or turn to shit.

They are quite well put together with cheap poor quality parts with no regard for longevity or ease of maintenance. All Mark 5 sills rot out due to the design and lack of proper drainage needed due to standard VW water ingress. The way these cars rot is an absolute scandal. Vauxhalls are built better.

However, it’s still one of the best cars I’ve ever driven. They require no modifications or ‘improvements’ at all. As fast as fuck with fantastic handling, ride, brakes and seats. They really nailed it.

The Mark 6 is far less rot prone but VAG improved the engine by replacing the reliable cam belt with an unreliable chain. Plus there are no cheap ones.

The 5 was a great car but out of every 20 left you might find one good one.

This one is not worth putting any money into - too many doors, no history and as rotten as a pear. Enjoy it for a year and move it on.

[SiC]

I may have missed something. Is it just the one cam follower effected? And I assume you were made aware of the fact when you bought it. Maybe you mentioned it in the video which I haven't watched yet.

This:

My Amazon parcel arrived today with a few bits including the cam follower. Basically the cam follower is a bucket type shim that rides between the intake cam and the high pressure fuel pump plunger. These have a special coating on to resist wear. Unfortunately that coating simply does not last and ends up wearing through. When that happens, the pump plunger rides against the cam and both get destroyed. 

Over the years VAG and their suppliers have tried to improve the life of the coating. However they have never completely solved it. On later engines their solution is a roller tappet which solves the problem entirely. That can't be retrofitted to the older engines and so these are just another in a long line of consumable VAG parts that shouldn't be. 

I didn't know the condition of it when I bought it. I knew it mustn't have been completely chewed threw as it'd sound awful. But once the coating wears off, it goes from okay to fully fucked very quickly.

Fully fucked means new High Pressure Fuel Pump, new Intake Cam and everything else that you end up touching due to its age.

[SiC]

I ran one of these 3-4 years ago. Most of these were rubbish even then. That one was at the crossroads where it could be saved or turn to shit.

They are quite well put together with cheap poor quality parts with no regard for longevity or ease of maintenance. All Mark 5 sills rot out due to the design and lack of proper drainage needed due to standard VW water ingress. The way these cars rot is an absolute scandal. Vauxhalls are built better.

However, it’s still one of the best cars I’ve ever driven. They require no modifications or ‘improvements’ at all. As fast as fuck with fantastic handling, ride, brakes and seats. They really nailed it.

The Mark 6 is far less rot prone but VAG improved the engine by replacing the reliable cam belt with an unreliable chain. Plus there are no cheap ones.

The 5 was a great car but out of every 20 left you might find one good one.

This one is not worth putting any money into - too many doors, no history and as rotten as a pear. Enjoy it for a year and move it on.

I've been wanting another TFSI since before the TT Mk1. I like the power delivery, decent fuel economy and they're reasonably robust (for a 00-era German 4pot).

There was an part-ex A3 at a local dealer with incredibly rusty wings but a heap of history for a grand. Was snapped up quickly but I did get to see it in person and it was alright for the money. A good, low owner 3dr example came up on AS for £2600. I still needed to MOT the TT, so hesitated. But a Scottish car in Scotland, so massive hidden rust potential.... (also major reason why I hesitated).

If the market hadn't gone shit, these GTIs should all be sub £2k cars. The A3/Leon/Octavia TFSI can be had cheaper but if I'm doing TFSI, I want the full fat GTI experience.

Absolutely frustrating as hell looking for one though. So many of these cars have been buggered about with - shit foam filters and remaps galore. I've made my view clear on mods before. Especially these are typical VAG engineering to just about take the stock power reliably. A remaps end up killing turbos, injectors and pumps. Facebook groups with broken mapped cars is testament to that. So I wanted stock.

I did start going down the S3 8P (2006-12) route but same issue of fucked around cars. More complex cars with the Haldex and associated rear suspension setup. Also looking at £6k to £10k+, which is ridiculous for a 15+ year old car.

Then looked at the Golf Mk6 and Scirocco. Similar money to the S3 but usually newer. So just at the age where you still can get low owner cars that aren't a Barry.

Did consider the Golf R32 but they're lardy. Can be had for sub £6k again now and generally seem looked after by their owners as a bit more "special".

But do I really want to spend £8k or so on a VAG product that is 12+ years old?

That'd buy a nice Z4 3.0Si Coupé and I reckon a far better car that's feels special?

[SiC]

Anyway this was running engine scrap money cheap and 5 door cars are easier to get out of in car parks. I'll piss about with it and use it as a learning experience on working with a TFSI. So probably spend money on it mostly to have a go (e.g. cambelt, maybe cam chain). Take it on a track day and rag the shit out of it. If it blows, I'll be sad but won't care too much. Kinda fun having such a "high mileage hero" car too.

O-zone generator has substantially reduced the smoke smell and made it more acceptable on the nose. I'll stick an Aircon cleaner can in and a new pollen filter. Clean the leather and apparently enzyme spray (cat /dog smell remover) helps a lot. I don't think it's been smoked in, more second hand smoke smell from someone getting back in the car after smoking.

Body is not awful but is a bit tired, but the mechanicals seem all there at the moment. I might do a compression test for shits and giggles.

No misfires and runs really smooth. Remarkable for any TFSI, let alone this mileage. This is when warm too.

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PXL_20240207_175116446.jpg (487.97 KiB) Viewed 223 times

Cam chain looks stretched from this. I believe this should be +/- 4 degrees. This is the error difference between the crank and cam position sensors. Could also be a worn belt making this worse too. Wasn't fully warmed up, so I'll need to re-check this when it is. Also check the other block (iirc Group 92) to see the difference between requested and actual cam position.
No rattle that I can hear though so it must be still within adjustable limits.

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My TT is definitely in better condition. Doesn't make sense to be selling that for this from a using it as a car standpoint, but that isn't always the aim for me when buying cars. Having something different to fuck about with is just as fun.

[SiC]

Bye bye TT   

1yr 4m is actually quite a long time for me. It's been a good all round car. I don't know if it's replacement will be as good

[SiC]

This is a example of a good GTI. But it is £4k
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/116063961462

Another really nice one and a potential future classic example. But I don't love Golfs Mk5 anywhere near enough to spend nearly £6k on one.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/156046136928

Probably the best and decent for the money. Still over twice what I paid for mine. Just as likely to blow up.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/326003357341

Then this is the other end of the market. Pop and bang maps
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126297157837

At least mines better than this modified heap. Mine runs smoothly and over half the owners.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/355438741362

[SiC]

Merc in for trans fluid change, engine mounts, brake pipes, oil change and a inspection service with a trusted mechanic that we all know. Once this is done, there will be nothing really wrong with the car at all and fully sorted. (For now!)

I shouldn't like the Merc as lardy, wobbly boring barge but it is such a pleasant and relaxing drive. Nothing to report otherwise, it's just been doing it's job (and burning a fair bit of fuel - she's a thirsty beast on short journeys) faultlessly.