Inheriting a 2007 MK5 -- Need some advice

[PiePoter]

Hi all,
This may be a bit of a write up but I am taking my mom's 2007 mk5 and I was looking for some help. I am currently driving a 2001 1.8T 5spd mk4, and I love that car to death. I am a little remorse to give it up but seeing how the 1.8t has begun to overheat during idle for a second time in a year I am seeing it as a sunken cost. Anyway this will be a write up for all the issues this new GTI I may take ownership of has. If you read this and have just a little advice on even one issue id appreciate it.

The NEW GTI specs:
White 2007 Four (five) Door MK5
2.0T / 6 speed
15 spoke OEM rims
Not sure about engine code.

The Shimmy
The car has some structural issues. The suspension feels float-y, leading me to believe that I just need new shocks. The weird thing is when I am turning on a highway at high speeds. I will take a turn and during the turn the car will start rocking from side to side. It almost feels as though it is bouncing up and down. This also makes me think of the shocks. This happens on both sides and really only occurs above ~65 mph. I have been considering whether I should put on a sway bar to eliminate some of the body roll but I am getting more convinced that it is a suspension issue. Has anyone else seen something like this in their mk5 or any other car?

The Electricals
As stated before this car is a salvage. The damage wasn't bad but insurance wasn't willing to repair it and we declined the payout. Since the crash though, the electrical gremlins have started to show face. For one, the trunk release button does not work, or at the least it works very infrequently. The key still locks and unlocks the car so I don't think that the key fob battery is the culprit. The sunroof will be temperamental as well, opening and closing at random while driving the car (only lifting the back up and down, not fully opening the roof). Tangential to the truck lock issue, sometimes the driver door will not unlock. I suppose this is the door lock actuator, the same problem that I have on my MK4, but at least with that car you can punch the side of the door and it will free the door lock actuator. Could this too be an electrical issue?

Another electrical issue. unrelated to the crash it was in, is the MFD (multi functional display in the dash). It is completely FUBAR. It shows only pure red, and blinks on the top section yellow. I have no idea what the yellow blinking was supposed to mean but I will check it with an OBD scanner. How hard is it to replace these MFDs? We were quoted around $800 once and my mom decided not to go through with it. The analog warning lights still work.

The MK5 would be an absolute pleasure and a beast to drive. It's only running at ~80k miles and the engine seems to be in amazing condition. The trans is fantastic still, at least relatively to my MK4 which is running the original trans at 145k miles. The only things I would need to fix to convince myself to start daily-ing the car would be the float-y shimmy-ing issue and the trunk lock. Everything else doesn't really bother me too much.

Side Note (if you're still reading)
What after market mods should I put on this beast?

[pudding]

Put some Bilstein B4s on there and it will sort the floaty behaviour.  You can fit sway bars afterwards if you still feel like you need some additional roll resistance. They're not cheap or easy to fit (at the front at least) so try the cheaper option first, which is the shocks.

GTIs have a habit of snapping lower pig tails off the rear springs, so check those whilst you're there.

Is the trunk release button coded in? In some regions and model years, the trunk release button is not coded by default. VCDS can do that easily enough.

I would scan the central electrics and other modules for codes in the first instance.  It could be the accident severed or damaged a ground or power line somewhere.

[LC5F]

Mk4 to Mk5 is a great upgrade, completely different and a much improved experience.
Engine code is in numerous locations, service record, white paper label under boot carpet or under engine cover front left corner of cylinder head.
The side to side movement at speed could be a wheel moving under load - this could be wheel bearing of bush - there may be a sign looking at wear on the tyres or this may be the accident damage.
Either way, you will definitely need to have a deep dive into the suspension - on mine the rear suspension bushes were either blown or completely seized.

[breeze]

Mk4 to Mk5 is a great upgrade, completely different and a much improved experience.

Got to say I agree with this. I had a Mk4 1.8T. Fine as a zippy little grocery getter but I never really enjoyed driving it. The Mk2 16v before and Mk5 now both brilliant.

[PiePoter]

Is the trunk release button coded in? In some regions and model years, the trunk release button is not coded by default. VCDS can do that easily enough.

 

I'll definitely work on the suspension first. I was already thinking of putting a sway bar on, but I'll see if putting some new B5's on will sort that out. Thank you!

About the trunk release. It was programmed from the factory to unlock and open using the key fob, but the functionality disappeared after the crash. You might be right about the crash severing some ground or connection. Sounds like hell but I'll but the electrical schematics and sort that out.

[PiePoter]

The side to side movement at speed could be a wheel moving under load - this could be wheel bearing of bush - there may be a sign looking at wear on the tyres or this may be the accident damage.
Either way, you will definitely need to have a deep dive into the suspension - on mine the rear suspension bushes were either blown or completely seized.

So I'll work on the shocks and pray that the bushings aren't shot. I did the rear suspension bushings on my MK4 and I had to use a sawzall to take the metal frame of the bushings out. Absolute hell on earth. If anything I'll check if there is play in the control arm and suspension parts up front and back. Thank you though! I'll check out the tires too.

[PiePoter]

Mk4 to Mk5 is a great upgrade, completely different and a much improved experience.

Got to say I agree with this. I had a Mk4 1.8T. Fine as a zippy little grocery getter but I never really enjoyed driving it. The Mk2 16v before and Mk5 now both brilliant.

I agree the 1.8t seems to be a little... anemic sometimes. Matched with the original clutch at 140k miles (225,000km) it really is a bit of a drag. The mk5 clutch is already at 90k miles (144,000 km) but still feels much better.