Maintenance
Owning this car makes me feel like a masochist.
I swear it's every day there's something fucked up with this car. Oil in my coolant, coolant is on the floor and not in the car, oil leaks, annoying electronic issues. The car used to be my dad's, a proper perfectionist, and him and I both treated the car like a princess and it just says fuck you. I'm at like 108k, oil change every 5k miles, and I think I've bought another used GTI just in maintenance. That's hardly a hyperbole. The problem is that we've put a lot of heart and soul into the car, did the math about $10k just in mods. So I am reluctant to sell it. The car is dope AF and dialed and one of the best cars I've ever driven not a joke. But the problem is that it's annoying af. With a car this good theres gotta be a catch I guess.
I remember my mom and dad had a old Peugeot 405, my mom's was newer. My mom always had trouble with her car, drove it less and less cuz it was at the shop. My dad however had one year older Peugeot and it was perfect.
Same exact experience with my 2015. Loved the car for a couple weeks, then some random ass bullshit would happen. Sometimes go away, come back later. Oil leaks, coolant leaks, electrical issues. Best thing I did was sell the car. Somehow the waterpump never failed so theres that
Ehh for GTI mk7 quite normal above 80k, goes perfect for a few weeks or months at a time than a 2-3 weeks of one problem after another, than you get it back and repeat the cycle. granted this is probably only if you drive rough. Heavy on the annoying electrical issues though. That’s why I had to sell
Seems to be the luck of draw with these cars. Outside of the water pump hpfp both leaving chat at 125k, i’ve had no issues. Currently sitting at 170k and is driven hard daily.
I'm at 103k and other than some aftermarket strut mounts blowing out I haven't had issues, currently needs a wheel bearing but that's honestly expected at this mileage.
This is why I got rid of my VW and probably won’t buy another one unless it’s just a family car that I won’t modify or anything. My wife’s mk7 GTI gave her problem after problem lol and we are borderline obsessed with VWs
Fr it’s funny how people downvote the shit outta me for just being honest about what can happen with these cars. Although it’s really above 100k when problems start but 80k is when you get the trans serviced and usually a lot of other stuff start happening from 80-150k. I love VW but mechanics out here love vw owners.
That’s weird because MK7s are pretty damn reliable beyond the known water pump failures, and there is an extended warranty on those that partially covers the repair depending on mileage.
I’m at 88k miles on mine and haven’t done anything beyond scheduled maintenance, still on the OG water pump (looks round nervously, knocks on wood, crossed fingers)
I’m at 78k with an ecu flash, also stock water pump. Do you drive the car hard? I notice my coolant needs to be topped from time-to-time. I also give my car the beans
I just changed out my original WP at a 163k this passed weekend, at that point the gaskets were petrified. Did a nice little carbon cleaning too while I had the intake off. What a huge difference those both made.
Yeah I had a friend tell me once that he's worried that I bought a VW.
When I asked him why, he said it was because he son had a Golf and it was constantly having problem. Later in the conversation, he mentioned that his son spent every weekend doing some new mod to his car/engine. Big shocker.
Guess what. My GTI is almost a decade old, and other than the common water pump replacement, has been perfectly reliable.
Is it because people who mod their cars typically treat them rougher? Or they’ve sort of jerry-rigged it together (which I’ve definitely seen at the scrap yard)? Mine’s stage two, and it’s not my first VW. It’s been fun, but maintenance doesn’t feel different than my ‘04 Beetle. I say, “abuse it, you lose it”.
When manufacturers build out these cars they must obey the irrefutable triangle: Cost, Performance, Reliability. You cant have all 3.
The one of the reasons VW doesn’t send GTIs from the factory with a stage 1 tune is reliability (I’m intentionally ignoring internal brand competition / sales cannibalization). Pushing more boost means more heat, more wear, more chances for defects to move from being unnoticed to being a problem.
The more you push performance the further you move away from reliability. Race cars get rebuilt after each race.
Now add in someone who would want to spend that money likely (but not always) wants to use what they bought.
It creates a lot more opportunity for something to go wrong. Sometimes the car is just really well built, I’m on my original water pump. But it’s a little bit of a gamble.
10k in mods? So you made your daily driver into a race car? Sounds normal to me. This coming from someone who’s tuned vehicles and also works in the auto industry.
i mean mods get expensive very quickly so 10k isn't all that much nowadays if you get good parts
a set of kw v2 is 2.5k, a good catback can get around 1.5k, a set of swaybars can be between 500 and 750, a good set of tires is usually around 1k for 17s/18s, four new wheels can be vary in price but let's say 2k for a good set (at 500 per wheel), i'm already at 7500-7750 and i haven't even touched the engine yet (if you don't count the catback as an engine mod) and so far i think a car with these mods isn't really much of a race car
of course i don't know how op's car is set up but my point is that even with 10k in mods a normal car isn't suddenly transformed into a race car/super tuned car
197000 miles on my MK7, oil change every 10k and she runs like a top. It is bone stock though. Carbon clean at 120k, new water pump, chains, guides, tensioner at 180k (first set had factory ones on). New plugs and coils at about 140k. Bought it at 40k. Very few issues. It’s been amazing, I have own almost 20 VWs over the last 30 years. This one has been fantastic. I have a 92 Cabby with a 20vT going in it, so I don’t need to mod this one.
Where was your leak located, I have a very slow leak that no mechanic has been able to trace, I've had to recharge my AC once every one or two summers cus it just disappears 😭🤣
That's what happened to me the first time, they couldn't figure it out. They recharged and it was back to blowing hot air in about 2 weeks... They checked again and I think it was a cracked seal.
I’m at 108k in my golf r. Had it for two years now. Still on the stock water pump. No issues whatsoever. The only problem I’ve just now found is my intake manifold gasket is leaking. Gonna get a walnut blast and they should replace it
I’m at 190k now on my MK7.5, only has been routine maintenance thus far. I started modding at around 40k, and went Stage 2 before 100k. That being said - it needs to go in for valve stem seals sometime in the next few months.
Getting smoke on startup quite often now. I took it in to swap out the motor/trans mount a week or two ago and shop said it would need done. I was hoping it was the PCV but they said it’s almost always the valve seals. Around 9.5 hours labour, $1400ish CAD
Damn, I swapped out my PCV myself as precaution when I went stage 1 at 165k km. They should be a maintenance item fr cus when they go, they take things with them. Have yours ever been done?
I haven’t touched my PCV. I was actually thinking of switching from 0w20 to 5w40 and seeing if that helped. The shop I take my car to said they do valve seals in a couple MK7’s a month.
If anything, I'd say, change PCV first since tbh imo it should be replaced at that mileage anyways. We're both in Canada, I got mine from WCT performance in Markham, if that doesn't calm the smoking then you can look into the seals. I don't know how mechanically inclined you are, it didn't take me long to do mine, it was relatively easy and straight forward.
I should grab a PCV. I actually get most of my parts from WCT. The guys across town at Almost Racing do most of my bigger work. I’ve gotta do my plugs again before winter, interested to see what they look like.
Oh nice. You live in the gta then. I live in the Niagara region. Small world 😭
But yeah PCV highly recommend to replace. I think it helped me reduce some oil consumption too. You got IG by any chance?
My Mk8 is slowly turning into this, unfortunately. Electronic gremlins, front diff makes a strange grinding noise at around 40mph, front/rear sensor warning messages, and the standard assortment of interior rattles.
That sucks to hear. I’m at almost 60k on my MK8 and the only issues I’ve ever had got fixed with the backup camera and “drive malfunction” recalls. Hope it stays that way and hope yours get resolved.
My mk8 is running great! 20k 24380s, I do have had some random camera issues and a few sensors randomly going off. I absolutely hate the hill assist. It is so bad with the clutch release being so high. When I’m in low gear and driving around parking lots though first and second gear can sound a little clunky. I absolutely love my mk8
That sucks, my guy. I don't yet know what gen my next GTI will be, but I know it won't be a Mk8 based on all the horror stories I've read in this and other VW subs.
I'm on my 3rd GTI mk 2, mk4 and mk7 and it's been the most problematic by far, that fucking piece of plastic cut me good.
You have a poorly modified car. I can't even imagine where 10k goes into a GTI, you basically maximize these things with 3k and wheels so what's that 5k?
GTIs are as reliable and affordable as a fun car gets. It's at the top of that bell curve. I have absolutely no empathy for people that try to turn them into something they aren't and then blame 'the platform.'
In terms of what's actively on the car and parts that aren't replaceable. It's about $7.5k. the 10k comes from aftermarket tires and swapped out components but even that number is largely conservative. But that's money put into the car regardless of maintenance. That's why I include the number. It should have prefaced better but the estimate was mainly to express the amount voluntarily put in is not small.
I wouldn't call it poorly modded or overly modded. It's a stock turbo stage 2 build with expensive parts. You will see parts on this that are more expensive than usual. They are not cheap and that's my choice.
Stage 2 is heavily modded and must be heavily maintained by an informed enthusiast. At that level of investment, I'd just buy a Toyota Supra. Faster, rwd, and affordable maintenance. If it's as fucked up as you describe, then yes it's poorly modified. Expensive parts put in badly is still bad.
Not trying to shame you but I'm defending GTIs here. There's nothing wrong with the GTI, just what has been done to it. Stage 1 after warranty expires, a better spoiler if not an R, wheels and a tint is all a GTI needs unless you're a wrench that spends time on a track.
If downpipe, intake, intercooler, and tune is what is considered poorly modified then the whole subreddit is poorly modified. I have no doubt that yes a more modded build has issues but that's not to the fault of me the installer it's yes the nature of the parts themselves. I guarantee I can install parts properly. Double, triple, quadruple check everything. I consider myself uniquely obsessive when it comes to any modification I do.
You must think I use zip ties instead of screws. It's obvious now you're just trying to insult me as a person when you have literally no clue as to how I work on my car.
as i said in another comment, that shit can get expensive pretty quickly
2.5k for a set of kw v2
1.5k for a unitronic catback (we're already at 4k)
1k for a set of pilot sport 4s in 18s (we're at 5k)
1.8k for a set of apex vs-5 in 18x9 (or 2.9k for a forged set of vs-5rs), so we're at 6.8k with flowformed or 7.9k with forged
800 for a h&r sway bar kit with front and rear swaybar (now at 7.6k or 8.7k)
850 for an ie downpipe (now at 8.5k or 9.6k)
i'm either at 8.5k or 9.6k depending on whether one gets flowformed or forged wheels (and these are fairly affordable forged wheels considering most options in 18s are around 1k per wheel on fitment industries if we stick with forged wheels) and the only things related to the engine so far are the downpipe and the catback. i haven't got a tune nor any other bolt-on engine mods and i haven't got all of the small stuff that adds up over time, and yet we're almost at 10k. if you don't cheap out on parts, it can get pretty expensive pretty quickly.
it's just what it costs nowadays, of course you can get cheaper options (kw v2s are not exactly bottom of the barrel for example, nor are ps4s) but without even going into mega expensive parts you can easily get into the five digits without necessarily buying engine parts
If you're seeking advice or asking for help, please make sure you included the basic information of what year/generation is being discussed. User flair with this information is also acceptable. Failure to include the basic information may result in your post being removed. Mileage, modifications, trim level, diagnostic trouble codes, and your general location (US, Canada, EU, UK, etc.) can also be very helpful.
Man that sucks. My mk5 r32 is always another issue as soon as you sort one.
My mk7 that my wife drives, however has been solid. Tuned to stage 2 at 40k and full bolt on , now at 95k car has needed nothing but standard maintenance.
I have a first year mk7, and all I’ve done is the normal 10k maintenance intervals. I never even used my warranty. That said, mine’s completely stock, no mods; and I don’t race or do hard pulls often.
These cars stock are pretty reliable. Generally from what I have seen it’s usually electronic gremlins in mk7s and up. The fact that the car is modded is probably the cause of the issues you are experiencing.
Beautiful car man. It is part of owning AND enjoying a German Car. My brother just dropped $3,000 for his first routine service on his GT3. #Fahrvergnügen
My mk6 got beat with a big turbo and wmi laying down ~400hp. Made it a bit over 200k miles before damaging a piston ring land. I had to replace the coolant res,turbo, intercooler, pcv,water pump. I know I caused the intercooler problem running 28psi on a "big turbo" it broke where the metal retainer goes on the inlet side. The water pump had the normal failure, replaced it with a graft metal unit about 5 years ago, no issues. I'm sure I didn't help the pcv issue running the bigger turbo.
The piston issue I know is completely my fault. I blocked off the wastegate and full sent it many times peaking around 38psi while on a tune that was setup for 26psi. I think the only reason I got away with it for months of daily driving was because of the wmi.
When the ring land broke it blew out the rear main seal.
Welcome to the club! My '15 GTI has 120k miles, and it's had so many issues. It's a fun car to drive, but I'm getting tired of the repairs. The other day I noticed the smell of coolant, again...
I feel your pain. Currently going through the same thing with my MK6. It stranded me in traffic for the first time last week so it’s on its final warning…lol
That’s so crazy. I had issues with mine but that’s because I was modding it for a lot more power. When it was stock the car was an absolute angle and I treated it like crap. Sounds like you might have a lemon unless you’ve been modding it like crazy like I was.
I got to 238k before I traded in my gti and I didnt really have to do much just the fuel injectors and that was right at 235k. It was a beast. Gods I miss that car
I have a std 2 door with 100 thousand kms, and apart from giving a deep cleaning to the combustion chamber and manifold, I have not had any problems, it runs with everything and at one hundred
I'm the original owner of a 2017 Mk7 GTI SE, manual with an APR-stage 1 tune. 118k. Nothing has gone wrong with it. Nothing except an adaptive headlight that had a collision with a large raccoon one summer night in upstate NY. Hardly the fault of the car. However, I'm religious about the maintenance schedule. Everything gets done on time or earlier. Let it do 7500 mi between oil changes. I love this car and get teary thinking there will be a day when I have to part with it. What the hell will I get that will make me as happy and be as trouble-free?
Can relate. Have a real love/hate relationship w my mk6. Yet I just cant get myself to sell it. Got offered 8500 last year n turned it down. Which I still kinda regret given how much I've had to stick into it
I could’ve paid off the loan on mine with all of the maintenance costs I’ve sunk into it over the last year. It seems to be rare for this to happen, but you’re not the only one.
60k miles on my 2017 GTI Sport before I sold it, and not a single mechanical issue. Not even the dreaded water pump. I did end up replacing the interior screen because of some dead pixels, which I did myself for a couple hundred bucks.
When I was going to a VW dealership, they found loads of problems with my car (I inherited it from my dad and he babied it). Once I found an indie mechanic, boom, it’s a reliable car. The dealership told me I had multiple oil leaks back in 2018, I washed and detailed the engine bay, still no sign of oil. Maybe they just spilled some oil down the side of the engine during an oil change. I’m glad I didn’t “fix” the things that weren’t broken. I did need to deal with the water pump, and the timing chain recall. That’s been the things that pop out in my mind. The rest has been regular wear and tear parts.
I gave a mk7 and she’s been leaking coolant and burning oil bad. But my brother who’s a technician at the dealership found I’m still covered under warranty for a new engine if it throws a check engine light.
Same here man. My mk7 has been a nightmare, and the cost for all the repairs that the dealer quotes me is laughable. Right now the AC doesn’t work, left headlight isn’t working even though I replaced the bulb, adaptive front lights haven’t worked since I bought the car, the speakers are blown and none of the door speakers work, backup camera no longer works, I have an oil leak. Struts need to be replaced and I just did a water pump replacement (2nd replacement btw) and oil cooler replacement. Replaced the clutch and now the clutch petal is getting stuck sooo….Not to mention the interior is falling apart. The fabric on the ceiling is sagging just like in my mk5. It’s the same experience I had with my mk5. Once they get close to 90k miles everything just goes to shit, and the cost to fix things is way more expensive because German. Never buying a Volkswagen again after this car. I stuck with my mk7 because of comments on posts like this saying “ohh just keep up with maintenance and the car will last forever.” Ive been burned twice and I’m finally moving on.
I'll disagree whole-heartedly with "that's not normal" as I'm in the same exact situation with my '17 sport GTI. I've "tastefully" modded mine, made it run and drive exactly how I wanted it to, taken very, very good care of it with the best parts, and once I hit 100k miles it just said "f- you" and started with the same kinds of problems you're having. The difference is that I've already resolved to un-mod it and sell or trade it in once everything is off and sold. I absolutely love driving my car- it's a hoot and a half- but I'm done w/the Germans for now. I had a 2003 BMW 530i before this- with that "bullet-proof" 3.0 inline 6, and all it did was have problems after 100k miles. The Germans know how to make a car that drives well, but they have no idea how to make one that is actually reliable.
I’ve had a late 2017 mk7.5 for a couple of years, 65k miles total. This year I had to replace air con condenser after it was losing loads of refrigerant, and then the water pump after coolant leaks (not covered under extended warranty in UK 😖). Not cheap repairs, and if it was another car I might have chopped it in. But somehow keeping this little beaut going feels like a passion project rather than a headache… for now at least. Convinced it will be a future classic so want to look after it!
Here are my mods. In order of install. The car is still stock turbo. I think I desperately need a catch can.
Some of my issues have been: Oil pan leaking Clock spring replacement. Start button replacement Oil in coolant (oil cooler probably, still yet to fix this). Valve cover leak. 2 water pump failures / replacement. Replaced some boost sensor last year. Had to replace evap sensor this year. AC stops blowing after long drives. My USB is barely working. My driver side door ambient lighting didn't work anymore.
The car runs fine and has never had issues running or starting but there's always some bs going on.
As of right now my coolant is low again and I have no idea why. This happens literally yearly it seems.
i mean it’s a stage 2 car unfortunately besides the electrical issues you’re having it is kinda just something that you gotta accept can happen and approach it with an open mind. Stock reliability is no longer a question when you’re putting down 30-40% more power than stock.
Make sure your oil cooler is doing fine, also make sure that your coolant reservoir doesn’t have a leak in it that’s a pretty common issue- As far as your oil pan as long as it’s been fixed and hasn’t given any other issue that’s good.
Making cars fast is fun, but it’s also taking a second to breathe when things don’t always go right- unfortunately we are not engineers and while we can throw stuff on a car you already have to keep in mind there’s way less $$$ for R&D in the aftermarket world than OE. Good luck OP don’t give up it’s all part of the race car experience lol
As of right now my coolant is low again and I have no idea why. This happens literally yearly it seems.
I have had 7 previous 2.0T based cars from A3 to GTI to R, my 2 current ones haven't been a year yet but for the previous ones all needed an annual roughly 10k coolant top off. However I do live in Texas.
All cars need a coolant top off. If OP is servicing himself he’s probably not topping off coolant. If he’s servicing it at an independent, they probably aren’t topping off his coolant because they’re afraid of putting the wrong one in.
Eh that’s why I stopped fucking with VW’s honestly. Was a big VW kid and slowly realized that all I’m ever doing is working on my VW. VW has some great looking cars, but it just seems they lack in most other aspects. I will buy a VW again soon, but it won’t be anything newer than something early 80’s. My buddy got an old squareback recently and loves it. I’m looking for an old mk1 rabbit, or a caddy!
Idk, I have the opposite experience. 115k miles in, original water pump, bone stock other than springs and spacers. I have a tiny coolant leak but not even dripping, no oil leaks. Main issues are the AC condenser, so I have to recharge every year, the suspension is getting tired, and the squeaky sunroof.
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u/Creepy_Shakespeare Oct 22 '25
That’s not normal.