Mk7 VW Golf R : 10 TOP TIPS so YOU can BUY A GOOD ONE!

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In this video I share with you ten tips to help you buy a Mk7 Golf R (not the Mk7.5 facelift model although some tips will still apply). There will be other issues not mentioned but these are the top 10 drawn up with the advice of a VW master technician.

The car used for the video is for sale and is available for £18990
(though we can't actually sell it until the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted)

[MrVara]

10. App Connect compatibility (Apple Carplay, Android Auto)
9. 2017 upgrades (heated seats)
8. Check the tires!
7. Beware damaged Pretoria wheels! Examine them before purchase and take wheels off after.
6. Stolen & Recovered? Check theft history via HPI footprint.
5. Check for prior remaps. Get dealer to state in writing that it hasn't been remapped.
4. Paintwork. Paint chips easily, may have factory defects. Check bonnet and behind wheels.
3. Service history. Check to see if Haldex oil has been changed.
2. Clutch (manual). Check for clutch slip. Quality waning.

1. Coolant module leaks. Very common and expensive. "Spicy" smell after a spirited drive.

[chrisml]

I'm going to view one this weekend. 3 door, manual, Lapiz Blue, DCC, Dynaudio, leather, winter pack, keyless, rear camera. 65 plate with 10 VW stamps just under 30k miles. Clutch replaced at 13k. The private seller is asking a strong price IMO but I guess that's what I've gotta pay these days. Thanks for another great video, will be checking for a few of these!

[jgc]

I bought a 65 Plate Golf R, I bought it from a independent dealer unseen as they were over 300 miles away (I did get a family member to look on my behalf he said it looked very clean) but he didn’t really look close enough.

Chose is as it had Pano Roof, Vienna Leather, Pretoria’s, Lapiz Blue. Full VW Service history and One Owner (who was 85!). Car was delivered with an ACC fault, Bad wheel Bearing and the washer fluid (headlight jet) was leaking. A few weeks later there was an oil leak from the engine. Fortunately the garage held their hands up and paid out about £1200 in repairs! I then realised even though it was full VW service history it had never had a haldex oil change on 66000 miles!

Now there’s a knocking sound when the clutch pedal is released, and I’ve noticed the rear quarter panel had been resprayed at some point.

I now pay £40 a month for a VW Extended warranty, just buy carefully!

[TheJohn]

I can't be the only one watching this after buying a Mk7 R 😂

[THEGEG]

You should change haldex oil and clean the filter every 10-12k. Don’t follow vw’s recommendation. The amount of dirt at this mileage is shocking

[adamgurnett]

Great review for anyone looking at MK7 golf R. My 2015 DSG R is going strong after 107, 000kms (62, 000 miles) did have the water pump replaced other than that it hasn’t missed a beat. If you are considering one of these performance cars you must be prepared to put the correct synthetic oil I use Liqui Moly engine oil 5-40w and change the DSG and haldex fluid every couple of years according to the schedule. Find a great euro mechanic and enjoy the drive.

[harryspeakup]

So glad I found this BEFORE going Golf-shopping! Really helpful video, thanks!

[kokekan]

I have a mk7.5 golf r and it had a coolant leak at 2 years old and 14k miles. Very good advice mate! Still love the car. I also keep all modification paper work for when I intend to sell it in 10 years 😋

[garysimpson]

A very eye opening review. We perceive certain brands have a reputation for quality build & engineering based on their products from some years back which is not justified in their current products. Porsche with their water cooled M96 & 97 engines being a classic example.
The advent of the PCP while good for retailers casts a shadow over buying any performance car second hand even an "Approved Used" from a franchise dealer. I suppose I am from a generation who bought a car with their own money/personal loan. It was "my car" which I intended to keep for some time & so looked after it both in driving style & maintenance. These days, people who in the past could never afford a new performance BMW, VW/Audi, can for some £400 pm get themselves cars worth over £30k for 2 years motoring. In the knowledge it is not & never will be "their car" they are not going to keep to a running in period, let the engine oil warm up before giving it higher revs, drive up kerbs, carrying out remaps without telling the lease company etc. YouTube is full of channels fronted by young men in M140i's, 240i's & Golf R's that are basically abused for 2 years. You wouldn't want to go anywhere near a former PCP vehicle.

[christopherlogsdon]

I’m planning on buying a golf are in the next 12 months, and I’ve just discovered this video nicely presented very informative thank you

[cod]

never mentioned the plastic sumps, have loads come into work that are leaking from the pan seal.

[michaeljohnson-linn]

Good informative video. I purchased my Golf R in June 2014 (ordered Jan 2014). I ticked a few boxes in the options list, sunroof, DSG, leather, reversing camera etc.. overall I am really pleased with the car and I like the ‘Q’ car aspect as it’s not so in your face as a Honda Type R for example. Only issue I have had with the car was with the rear disc brake. After parking the car I noticed a heat haze coming from the rear nearside wheel. On inspection I could see the friction material from the rear pad had separated from the metal backing plate and was firmly wedged between the calliper and the rear disk. The car was only six months old so still under warranty. I spoke with the dealership and asked them to collect the car for repair as I did not want to drive the car with the rear brake pad wedged where it was. Their answer was they don’t collect cars and I must drive it there! I did drive there, very steadily I must add, and I gave the service reception guy some major grief in asking me drive the car in. VW replaced the pads and rear disk (both sides) as the nearside disk was very badly scored by the pad material. Overall I would give the R 9 out of 10.

[themancuniancandidate]

I just sold a Saab 9-3 Turbo X, which I think was the first car to have a Haldex unit. The service intervals on those was reduced too, no more than 30k miles or every three years at most. I'm in the market for a mk7 R at the moment, luckily here in Australia they don't get stolen too much; WRXs and Ford/Holden V8s on the other hand....

[whathasxgottodowithit.]

Thanks Andrew, great video, clutches in the MK 7 are I feel built down to a price, just about okay if treated gently, however they wont tolerate hard driving, and on a 300ps car that is pointless.

[acciid]

Seems like a good set of tips. I've owned a 2014 manual since new. It's got just shy of 14000 miles on it (I live in London and, well, public transport).
The clutch has just started to slip, and yes, it's low revs / high gears that show it up the most.
The water's also started to go down. I've topped it up but it's going down again.
Pretoria wheels were a bad choice. You on;y need to look at a pot hole and they will buckle. Real PITA. If the standard ones weren't so ugly I would have gone for them.
I don't have Android auto or anything and I've not been too bothered TBH. The standard Sat Nav is fine, although I only ever really use it to show the ETA. I usually know where I'm going.

Overall I've been pretty happy. Yes, I'm probably about to spend a grand and a half on it getting it fixed up, but on the whole it's been a cheap car to run. I added most extras when I bought it, apart from the sunroof (I had a TT convertible at the time too), rear camera (not really necessary) and the uprated sat nav. Paid £30k.

Thinking of replacing it, as it's a bit small for a family of 4 (had 1st baby on the way when I bought it). But I'm struggling to find a suitable replacement especially as most cars are bloody autos now. Yawn.

[cfbm]

Also, any R with leather will have heated seats by default! 👍

[DaMalat]

Great video. You forgot the water leaks in the boot and wing mirror glass falling off

[john_dee]

Appreciate you sharing experience and wisdom with this platform. Might give a future buyer negotiating power too.

[milanjoepie]

This is how I want mine; black paint, silver mirrors and the silver Pretoria wheels😍

[mazdaman]

As someone who has to do work on these as lease cars, most were leased as part of salary packages so no care needed as the repair cost picked up by the company, the driver won't care his new toy is already on order. Often sevices missed/ well passed due date. DSG and Haldex oil changes often missed as a cost cutting measure ( the next owner after being sold can have that done...). DSG oil changed when problems, usually black, when new oil put in problems magnified the garage blamed for the box, very few garages will change the oil, .Spark plug changes missed. Lots of Haldex units not working correctly, do not get fobbed off " its a wheel speed sensor " it isnt. Cheapest tyres possible. Most wheels buckled / distorted. Front shocks weeping. Rear calipers seize with monotonous regularity ( Euro Car Parts ) keep plenty in stock. Check front bumper for fibre glass repair, look underneath to see attatchment and fit, pattern parts are crap for lining up. The cars get stuffed so often as the driver runs out of talent. Paint is poor. The engine manifold flaps go wrong, the timing chain hydraulic tensioner goes weak, tensioner guides break, the chain meet pistons. The water pump fails The media/navigation goes wrong although sometimes this can be fixed by disconnecting the unit for 10 mins and it self resets, but it will go wrong again software problems. I feel sorry for some young kids who come in and have saved like mad taken a loan out bought a car then problems appear they may have warranty but £500 goes nowhere, we diagnose then tell them the cost. Without exception they say I bought it because VW's are reliable... VW reliability vanished around 2007/8.