I just realized it's been a whole year since I've updated here, and unfortunately no exciting pictures, but a ton of updates, so it would be good to keep everything here I guess.
Firstly since the last post, the car developed a gearbox issue with the box jumping into neutral and the lights on the dash flashing.
Initially it was very sporadic but gradually it got worst and seemed to happen at the worst moments like going down single lane roadworks, or halfway round a busy roundabout etc...
That issue has been taken up a lot of my mental capacity over the last year.
First I took it to my local mechanic, who said it's an electrical problem and he can't help.
Next I took it to an electrician who checked everything and said it's fine..must be a gearbox issue.
So off to a dsg specialist I go hoping that if anyone can help they can.'no problem' they say ' it's just the connectors on the harness' £150 later for diagnosis and cleaning of electrical connections I get 1 mile from home and bam..it's gone again!
Back to the gearbox specialist who I just paid £150, 'dunno we can check it after christmas'.
So car sits for a month or two, and in the meantime I'm recommended a good local electrician, so I figure ok might as well try.
Wait a few week for an appointment but drop the car off, they confirm that the harness and electrical installation is fine, kept the car for over a week while they tested things, but could get to the root. Said that it must be either the selector lever or mechatronics
So I'm thinking f*ck not the mechatronics it's gonna cost a fortune, I'll do the selector first. Start looking for one, nothing, nadda, not a whiff of a used selector unit from a mkv dsg anywhere. And new, only from Germany £500, sh*t.
So mechatronics. And as luck would have it there is a specialist 10miles from me who deal with mechatronics, call them up and average repair cost is around £500 exactly the same as selector.
So I get on the phone to my local mechanic, to see about removing the mechatronics unit for me, can get a visit for three weeks. Ok fine I've waited this long, what's three more weeks.
Turn up on the agreed date and get told 'sorry I over booked it will have to be after easter, I'll let you know'
Wait a week after easter.. then two...f*ck this.
Found instructions online, talked to a mate back in the UK who's a VW mech, and did that f*cker myself. Took a couple of hours to get it out, and would have been less if not for a stripped bolt.
Sent it off, and one electrical board replacement, some connections resoldered, two valves replaced, and £500 later it's fixed! Hallelujah!
What a drama. But cars been fine since me and my friend got it back together.