Often when i start up the engine it has a horrible loud rattle or tapping sound. Its done over 120k miles. Is it on its way out? as anyone else experienced this?

Could it be double mass flywheel? I'm not sure if they were used in 2006, though.

Has the car had regular oil changes? the oil strainer pick up pipe in the sump could be blocked & starving the top end of the engine of oil (this fault was more common on the mk1 vrs though) the timing chain between the camshafts could be worn & making a noise,is the rattle/tapping noise there all the time or just on start up,is it worse when cold or hot? is the oil light coming on?

Could be cam chain tensioner. The tfsi engines have a chain opposite end of the belt and if the tensioner goes (like mine did recently) you can hear chain slap especially when you start it up and while it's cold.

Tends to be when it's cold. It hasn't had a oil service for a while now.

How long is "a while"?? how many months & miles since the last oil change?

2.0 FSI but same thing.  Now changing oil every year or 6-7k miles. 

 

Chain before.

 

 

 

 

 

Chain after:

Last service was 2yrs ago. I keep topping up the oil. Is the chain pictures before and after oil change? Is oil change easy to do yourself?

How many miles have you covered in that 2 years? Id change the engine oil & filter (even if it doesnt fix the tapping noise it still needs doing) & see if that helps with the noise first. Its easy to do (im a mechanic so its easy for me to say that) but if you havent ever done one then id get a garage to do it for you unless you have somebody that has done it before to help you,you need to get the correct spec oil. 

Pictures are showing old chain and tensioner, and new chain and tensioner after fitting. From that point I am changing oil every year or every 6-7k miles.

wow how long ago that's not a good sign for your engine the longer you don't change your oil the the more build up of carbon diposites build up them turn to acids that eat away at the metals causing the moving parts to wear quicker it sounds like you need all the chains replacing and do your timing belt too and whilst in there decoke the inlet valves

Timing belt was done a few years ago. At what point in an engines life do u replace. 120k+ miles is quite a lot for the age.

120k isnt a lot for a well maintained modern engine,if i was you i would let a garage have a look & see what your engine noise actually is before you take any action.