Hello I am desperate for some more information about vRS cold start noise. For the first six months I had my car it seemed to start normally then for the last six months it has made a very worrying mechanical noise during start up.

It has had the secondary air pump changed, the starter cahnged and the rad mounts changed. Also the noise doesn't happen everyday. The noise is comming from the engine, I would say the top of the engine. The dealer claims that whenever the vehicle has been left with them it makes NO noise. During these repairs I showed them that clearly illustrated the noise and they said there is a noise, but they won't do any work with out actually hearing the noise in person. The dealer is now refusing to do any further work until they hear the noise. The noise is that loud that my wife can hear it in the house when I start the car.

A few of you have mentioned a 'normal' diesel type sound on start up. This seems much louder. Just for reference is the 'normal' diesel sound heard everyday. If that is the case, then that is definately not that noise, as somedays it starts with no noise, other days, a little, then some days with a very worrying sound.

I can't try a different dealer as my next nearest dealer is part of the same group and has the same service manager

Any advice is welcome. Any body now a good dealer in the North West?

If it helps, mine doesn't make the diesel noise every time it is started from cold. But when it does make the noise, it is only for a couple of seconds. What oil are you using - LongLife?

Is it possible you can get a "sound bite" of the noise?

A mini movie using a digital camera will do...just to get an idea of what it actually is like.

I will try and get a sound bit.

If it was the 'normal' diesel type sound, surely it would have been doing that from day one, rather than being OK for six months, then starting making it after six months. The frequency of the occurance has increased over recent months, it is now most days when a very lound noise can be heard. The car has only done 30,000 miles. Cold and damp seem to make the noise worse.