Anyone else get a whining at (cold) startup?

Sounds like a belt or something slippling, or maybe the ignition firing slightly too long.

She seems to purr like a kitten about a second later, just wondering what it is.

Ta!

Starter motor being slow to disengage?

If it's a shrieking noise that only lasts for a second or so, it's probably the starter motor.

A lot of 1.8T owners on here have the same problem.

You can take it off, take it apart and grease up the innards which seems to stop the noise for a few months but ultimately you have either got to put up with it or get a new starter motor (and they're not cheap, I think £80-90 last time I looked :confused:)

If it's a shrieking noise that only lasts for a second or so, it's probably the starter motor.

Yep, thats the puppy.

If i put up with it, will it damage the engine?

Shouldn't do, mines been doing it now for about 9 months with no ill-effects.

I did try taking mine off to clean it but there was a lot of engine bay wiring in the way so couldn't be bothered I might buy a new one one day.