My light cam on the other day. I have also noticed some white smoke from the exhaust this combined with the fact that I had to top up my coolant the other day...

This had me thinking the head gasket - causing elevated hydrocarbons but, there is no smell or residue under the oil cap and the coolant still looks a fresh pink.

Does anyone have any suggestions as what I can try next apart from vag-com and dealer?

Could be a tiny coolant leak in the cylinder head gasket beside a cylinder. Several checks you can do.

1: Compression test and leak down test

2: Gas sniffer they use at MOT but place probe inside the expansion tank neck, this will detect any combustion gases from a head leak.

3: Make sure oil level isn't increasing

If your unlucky, it could be a cracked cylinder head between water jacket and a valve seat.

Brake fluid also gives off white smoke, so test servo and make sure servo one way valve is working.