First Look at a GTI - Checklist

[tartanmartin85]

Hi Guys, I am planning on viewing my first GTI at the weekend and was wondering what the main items to check for are?

The car is a 54 3dr Black (manual) that seems to be standard but great condition (from pics), £9k for 58k miles, seem reasonable or expensive?

I am looking to keep my next car for 3 years (based on a loan), would this be a risk with a 2005 car? What expensive problems are most likely?

Thanks in advance

Martin

[danishmkvgti]

Cam follower for the High pressure fuel pump should be checked, also the cam for any wear as an 54 plate might have the revision A cam.
Coilpacks should have been replaced for revision F.
Check all electrical functions work.

on a personal note, look after a car that has the following:
If no xenons fitted, find one that at least has washers for the headlight fitted (if you chose to fit xenons at a later state)
Find one with armrest fitted.
Possible Highline instrument cluster fitted (then it wil most possibly have MFSW also)
And make sure it has the full climatronic fitted (see it as it will have no place top center to put things due to fresh air channels fitted there)

[alexperkins]

Cambelt should also have been done

Also check the service history to ensure its up to date and the right oil has been used etc.

[the bruce]

- cambelt changed?
- Climatronic (fully automatic)
- highline instrument (large display)
- clutch
- front arm bushes (or swap arms for S3 ones or WALK)
- drivers seat cloth

[Nasir]

Climatronic is standard on all UK MK5 GTIs

[Creatz]

why find one with an armrest fitted  ?

[danishmkvgti]

why find one with an armrest fitted  ?

Not all have it fitted as standard and it's a bit tricky to retrofit 

[tartanmartin85]

Is there any way to tell if the cambelt has been changed? E.g. if it has a dealer service history, is it covered as part of one of the normal services? One of the cars I am looking at has no receipt for the work. Alternatively, is there a visual sign of it being changed?

Where you mentioned about the arm bushes, I take it you mean listen out for suspension knocks on a test drive? Do they commonly fail? I have just had to change droplinks on Civic and the problem was obvious on that.

If it is a Midline, can you still retrofit cruise control?

[danishmkvgti]

Is there any way to tell if the cambelt has been changed? E.g. if it has a dealer service history, is it covered as part of one of the normal services? One of the cars I am looking at has no receipt for the work. Alternatively, is there a visual sign of it being changed?

Where you mentioned about the arm bushes, I take it you mean listen out for suspension knocks on a test drive? Do they commonly fail? I have just had to change droplinks on Civic and the problem was obvious on that.

If it is a Midline, can you still retrofit cruise control?

Yes no problem 

[the bruce]

This bushing (yellow one is a replacement type by Whiteline):



If it's worn out don't bother and replace it with the Whiteline ALK (shown in the picture).


OEM-bushes of TT, S3 (both solid rubber) and Golf compared:




If the cam belt is replaced it will be documented separately. It' not a part of the inspection.
In some cases there's a sticker at the engine side as well.

[jamesDM]

Check the air con works! Common problem with the earlier gti's!

[danishmkvgti]

Check the air con works! Common problem with the earlier gti's!

Yup, i forgot to mention this:

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,4149.msg64677.html#msg64677

[tartanmartin85]

Thanks, will do. Was also going to check that they both work independantly as well.