My vRS 150bhp with 40000 km (25000miles) on the clock does a lot of stop start traffic. Clutch makes a strange sound on depressing a muted howling / groaning noise and the the gear change is getting notchy. I feel the clutch pressure plate springs are getting shot and am planning a clutch change. The dealer is insisting on doing the flywheel also but there is no clutch slip or juddering unless I put too much rev in during engaging. Gear selection is fine with the engine off.

Is the flywheel change necessary ? Note that labour costs for me are low as this is in India and will cost around 50 pounds so should I take this risk.

Thanks in advance

Whether or not the DMF needs replacing at that mileage even in stop-start conditions will depend more on your driving style than on clutch wear.

I drive a TDi110, which has less peak power than your 1.8T150, but more torque, faster torque rise and higher gearing. Now, the thing that kills DMFs is high torque, low revs driving, and yet I've managed just under 4 times the mileage on the original assembly, mostly in free-flowing traffic. So I don't know the answer in your specific case , but see no reason why you should change a DMF just because the clutch is worn in the general case.

Edited 19 March, 201016 yr by KenONeill

My vRS 150bhp with 40000 km (25000miles) on the clock does a lot of stop start traffic. Clutch makes a strange sound on depressing a muted howling / groaning noise and the the gear change is getting notchy. I feel the clutch pressure plate springs are getting shot and am planning a clutch change. The dealer is insisting on doing the flywheel also but there is no clutch slip or juddering unless I put too much rev in during engaging. Gear selection is fine with the engine off.

Is the flywheel change necessary ? Note that labour costs for me are low as this is in India and will cost around 50 pounds so should I take this risk.

Thanks in advance

Personally i'd change the flywheel, i had mine changed at 20000 but it was battered. if the labour costs are so cheap then it would make sense to pay the extra and put a new flywheel in. Cost me £1100 for a sachs clutch & flywheel.