So, my 160k Mile Octavia Estate’s DSG box shut down on me after it developed a rattling noise under load in 5th, 24 hrs before. Being a tdi VRS on an 09 plate it’s the family cart horse and not worth much, however, price of a replacement box is over £4K, a reconditioned unit over £3k and second hand with minimum warrantee, £1600. Decided rather than waste money taking the box out and ripping it open to be told it’s fubar and or needs the also expensive mechatronic unit replacing, i’d just take a punt on the second hand box (which comes with mechatronic unit) – I picked it up cheap nearly five years ago so overall I can take the hit.

But, now sourcing a unit has become a waiting game I’m losing patience for and it’s not worth me, nor can I afford to, buy new or reconditioned unit, so it’s now being ripped open to determine the fault so I at least know where I stand.

So, anyone have a similar experience?
Anyone got a spare DSG 6spd box?
If it can’t be fixed economically and I don’t splash 3-4.5k to repair uneconomically, what would I do with a perfectly good but undriveable car which might have been worth £4K if it was driveable?

Gutted.

If you have the space/time, break it for parts. Sell on eBay.

If not, eBay with honest description and no reserve

Scrappage scheme??
Buy an insurance write-off VAG and hope that the DSG is okay??

Search through molgrips posts on here he found a repair place that appeared to be a lot less than this £££

We had similar with a 60 plate Golf albeit with 6sp manual box which lunched itself at 154k. Absolutely no help or support from VW or main dealer (owned from new, all the stamps).
4.4k for a new box, something like 2-2.4k used, fitted.
Opinion on here was fix it.
In the end I saw my arse and we got rid to a breaker/fixer-upper for basically nowt (we got back what we owed the main stealer for telling us it was ****).
Personally I’d get rid. If you’ve got the cash to spend sorting it then fine, but it’s still a 160k car with a recon box.
Fwiw I would suggest selling via ebay / Gumtree rather than what we did. You might get lucky with someone just wanting your model.
I’ll never again buy a vag group car, but I will lease one if the price is right. And I will drive it into the floor before handing it back with a smile.
For a replacement, I went to a local dealer to see if they wanted to buy it, and ended up getting pointed at a trade-in they didn’t want (too low end, bit dented) so the wife is knocking around in an 06 1.8 petrol primera for… 300 notes. It ain’t great, but feels like it will last!

Thanks for the replies. Not the greatest outlook then. I don’t have the ability to break it myself and a box from a right-off is what will be sold as 2nd hand and there aren’t any around it seems. Alternative is selling it with a “it isn’t working” description on eBay and seeing what money it raises to put toward something else.

A right pain at any time.

what would I do with a perfectly good but undriveable car which might have been worth £4K if it was driveable?

Stick it on eBay, you might get about £500, not in the run up to Christmas though.

Scrappage scheme??

Even assuming its a diesel the car does need to be a runner and the op would need to buy a brand new car.

Spending £4k on a car with 160k on it is utter madness.

Alternative is selling it with a “it isn’t working” description on eBay and seeing what money it raises to put toward something else.

Spares or repairs cars seem to go for good money on eBay. You might get a reasonable sum for it especially as it is a popular car

Mechatronics can be refurbed, even if VW will only replace the whole thing.

BUT if you have a rattle, that sounds bad. Could be something bigly mechanical.

Although I am not a fan of simply writing a car off because of the book price. If it’s good, it’s good, regardless of what the book says. Of course you could simply sell and buy another for less, but at that age cars are a right lottery.

IF the rest of the car is in good shape it’s worth some research (as you’ve done) regardless of how old it is. I’d be having codes read tbh if it can be moved. I can read codes if you’re near South Wales.

Thanks Molgrips. Nope, Buckinghamshire. I’ll post here as soon as I know the news from the gearbox specialist. I spoke with a guy who specialises in DSG in Nottingham and he said it’s often either mechatronic or the box itself which needs replacing; though if economic to do so they can be repaired.

Hoping for positive news.

Scrappage scheme??

it’s a complete rip-off – buy a car at full list price because it is being sold on the scrappage scheme and no other offers are valid as opposed to buying the same car via CarWow for £x less and selling your old motor elsewhere.

Agreed. But it’s not an option for me anyway. And as above, they don’t accept non runners

I know it didn’t help you OP, just moaning at the general fact that it is a complete rip-off.

Johndoh, I got offered £4k scrappage plus 11% discount off a new skoda, it nearly made it worth getting a new car. Check carfile prices and then speak to a local dealer and compare. Mine was going to be <21k on a >£28k list price Superb SEL. However, it was still too much as we will soon wreck it with dogs/bikes etc, so have bought a 2 year old car (no scrappage mind…)

Edit- this didn’t apply to cars bought on finance iirc.

it’s a complete rip-off – buy a car at full list price because it is being sold on the scrappage scheme and no other offers are valid as opposed to buying the same car via CarWow for £x less and selling your old motor elsewhere.

My mate has ordered a new Ford through Drive the Deal and I was very surprised when he got a big discount and the scrappage for his old car as well.

My mate has ordered a new Ford through Drive the Deal and I was very surprised when he got a big discount and the scrappage for his old car as well.

That is a surprise – all the dealers I contacted when I looked at this said nope (all via CarWow). Perhaps he just got lucky and someone somewhere didn’t realise he’d stacked the deals when he shouldn’t be doing.

spoke with a guy who specialises in DSG in Nottingham

Yeah I spoke to him too. Handy service he does.

PS I am often in Swindon if that helps?

Thanks Molgrips. Swindon is a bit closer to Milton Keynes.

Yeah he seemed a good guy. I was very tempted to have it relayed up there from the garage it’s currently at.

Had it still been driveable I could at least have chopped it in. Still waiting for a response from the bearbox people.