DSG gearbox failire - any recommendations for garages in West Yorkshire?

Try Leeford Motors in Leeds.

https://www.moorfieldgermanmotors.co.uk/ an old mate works there and was a VW master tech and knows the DSG boxes well. Just near the airport.

A lot can be done to these if you are prepared to disassemble and refurbish them, rather than simply replacing big chunks of it like VW would have you do. So yeah, definitely go to as many independents as it takes to find someone who actually understands the thing and doesn't just say 'oh, new mechatronics, that'll be £1500 please'.

When I had an issue I found a place in Nottingham that would refurb the mechatronics, via mail order if necessary. That doesn't necessarily help you but your garage should be aware of this option IMO.

Anyone ever wants a garage for a VW or Audi I always recommend Smashing in Hunslet, Leeds. https://www.vwspecialists.co.uk/

We use Moorfield as mentioned above for our transporter. We've been happy with them.

Many thanks all - much appreciated.

Having used Darkside Developments in Barnsley I can recommend them, specialists in all things DSG

I use Paul Lister at Mastertech services in Halifax (booth town)

07809 688742

He's an ex master technician from vw that went self employed a few years ago and specialises in German cars but far cheaper than vw!

The only problem with him is he's always busy so you have to book in advance.

I used Top gear, Cleckheaton.

I would say no to Moorfield German motors, they're more interested in the "chav " market, ECU and lowered suspension type brigade.

https://drycloughlanegarage.co.uk/

Great one in Halifax, been using them for years

I would say no to Moorfield German motors, they’re more interested in the “chav ” market, ECU and lowered suspension type brigade.

I understand what your saying but if thats the case they are much more likely to be up on the latest methods of repair in my experience

btw as a fellow dsg owner with lots of power im interested in how this works out so please keep us updated 🙂

Thanks for the suggestions.

Moorfield German motors have given me an encouraging reply, saying it might just be an oil leak - or if it is the mechatronic unit repair kits are available and a full replacement may not be required.

A VW specialist (not main dealer) I called yesterday basically said it'll very likely need a new mechatronic unit and that would cost between £2k-£3k 😲😲

What do you guys think of DSG generally? Might be considering a Passat in a few months, and lots of them have DSG. I've always had manual gearboxes before, but don't want to narrow my options if the DSG boxes are generally liked.

Only complaint I had in my Tiguan 2.0D DSG was the sluggish speed of gear change so when it was in at Darkside for a remap/intercooler they also remapped the DSG box for quicker shifts, much better, especially when in auto mode for overtaking as it kicks down fast and noticeably quicker between shifts. 

Cost me 2k including VAT to have the mechatronic removed and rebuilt plus the clutch and DMF changed when mine kicked the bucket.

The insult to injury is the car was written off three months later so was all for nothing.

Mechatronic alone shouldn't be more than 1200 ish.

What do you guys think of DSG generally?

I loved mine. Absolutely great to drive, instant shifts under power are brilliant.

It did have an issue, probably caused by a long series of complex issues not VW's fault.. the forum bore witness to that saga.. but I fixed it myself for £120 of parts - two new valves.

I would never buy a manual again.

My DSG box went on my Cupra, VW / Seat would only sell me a new gearbox and we tested what a number of specialists thought it was with no luck. Our village mechanic then managed to find a DSG specialist up near Preston, rang them up, described it and he immediately told us it was a magnetic reluctor ring. If I remember correctly, it was about £10 but obviously not so cheap after the box had been stripped down, lots of testing done etc, cost about £800 in the end. On the bright side, the car had been running 380 bhp for about six years at that point, including a lot of trackdays and the DSG was pristine. It’s worked perfectly since and is coming up to a decade old. Brilliant gearboxes despite its little stumble. If you do find the right place, I’m sure they will sort it without too much pain. 🙂

I loved mine. Absolutely great to drive, instant shifts under power are brilliant

Ditto (slightly later version than Molgrips' one iirc but still a 6 speed wet clutch).
I'm back in a manual but only because the car I wanted next the auto box had a bad reputation and was rare as hens' teeth as well.

My 3 year old Skoda was a write off after no one was able to fix the DSG box. The trouble was finding someone willing to work on it. Skoda, VW, and Audi all said no even after I offered to pay silly amounts.

I have my first automatic, a 1.9 TDI Golf with DSG, I absolutely love it and would never go back to manual, as someone who doesn't really like driving it's actually a pleasure to drive.

Mine was on a 58 plate with 42k miles when I purchased it & came with receipts for a DSG oil change and driveshaft change not long before so fingers crossed it'll last well.

Cool, thanks guys. Sounds like they're pretty good unless they go wrong.. Ideally I'd be keeping this car for plenty of years, so maybe a manual is still a safer bet, but I won't discount a DSG. Sorry for the thread hijack, I'll bugger off now!

Likewise happy with mine so far on a gti.

VW Golf 2.0l diesel, DSG box been faultless, 10 years old, 140k miles, just make sure you have the oil changed as recommended.

I used to do long commutes in it, would not want a manual for that type of driving.

I should point out that mine was an early one too - 2006.

What do you guys think of DSG generally?

The simple answer is not much. I have driven many DSG vehicles from a petrol Skoda Rapid to a diesel Tiguan with numerous Audi’s in between. The only one that I enjoyed was an Audi R8 V10 but that was probably as much for the car rather than the gearbox and to be honest the R8 V8 manual I drove was nicer.
I particularly disliked the dull witted response to slow speed manoeuvres, exacerbated if on a slope although admittedly that was worse on the earlier 6speed boxes. Another gripe is the way they can be clunky in some slow moving traffic situations. They seem to suit petrol cars better than diesels but none are as pleasant to use as a well set up modern conventional torque converter auto.

All in my opinion of course.

1.4tsi 150hp + 7-speed DSG.

It is a really great engine and gearbox pairing.

It has been faultless, despite the internet suggesting it will implode at any moment.
I like how simple and smooth it is to drive. I like that I can use the paddles.
It does on occasion be a bit slow / thick to react - but that is once in a few hundred miles of driving so I can forgive it.
I will really miss it in the next couple of weeks as we sell it.

PS: 2017 Leon FR 1.4tsi DSG estate on 90k with FSH and faultless over the last few years. £20 tax, 50+mpg, comfy and nippy. £9.5k.....

gray
Full Member

Cool, thanks guys. Sounds like they’re pretty good unless they go wrong.. Ideally I’d be keeping this car for plenty of years, so maybe a manual is still a safer bet, but I won’t discount a DSG. Sorry for the thread hijack, I’ll bugger off now!

It's pretty decent. I'd have it again if i replaced my car.

Two points:

1. There are many different DSG boxes, some (DQ250 - wet clutch 6 sp) are strong, well known and reliable. Some less so, e.g. the early dry clutch boxes.

2. I used to have a DSG on a Oct VRS 2012 and it was excellent, just always in the right gear. Absolutely no issues. However I have since had DSG on a recent Octy VRS petrol and it's been slightly irritating as it seems to have been tuned for economy/CO2 to the detriment of driveability. It is constantly trying to get in as high of a gear as possible. It means it's always out of the power band and off boost which makes quite a quick car feel sluggish. In sport mode it's excellent and responsive, but then it's too much the other way - hangs onto low gears too much!

This behaviour can be mapped out fairly cheaply by RacingLine etc, but it is irritating and would invalidate your warranty.

none are as pleasant to use as a well set up modern conventional torque converter auto.

I have a Merc 7G+ torque converter which replaced the DSG on the Passat. It is more 'intelligent' than my older DSG, meaning it shifts more like I would and it is somewhat smoother in low speed driving; but it might be difficult to separate the gearbox characteristics from those of the engine. It doesn't have the seamless instant snap changes of the DSG which are so fun to rip through.

I have been in more modern TDI engines with newer gearboxes, and they were better than my older one. Seamless changes even at low speeds.