1.5 TSI on 105k miles, serviced every 8k and oil NEVER allowed to get low. Plugs replaced recently. Going for new timing belt shortly.
 

The idle is very noisy and can be felt in the cab with vibrations. Car drives smoothly enough but can feel a little choppy in 3rd and 4th gear but I’ve put that down to the terrible road surfaces. There is a noticeable noise when pulling in 2nd and 3rd which I’m concerned is the camshaft or bottom end due to the thin oil that’s required for these. 
 

It does sound a bit worse on the video than in real life. 

Is it just at idle ? Sounds a bit like the noise of a worn dual mass flywheel, I know the dsg petrols have them but not sure about manuals. I don’t know that the oil they use (0w20 ?) is necessarily thin, it just is able to be thinner at lower temps - someone will give chapter and verse on this…

Edited 19 February, 20242 yr by classic

It could be a worn dual-mass or thrust bearing.....Well done for good servicing.  Make sure that you need 504 / 507 oil which these days is generally a 0W30 longlife oil.

Just now, varaderoguy said:

It could be a worn dual-mass or thrust bearing.....Well done for good servicing.  Make sure that you need 504 / 507 oil which these days is generally a 0W30 longlife oil.

You might be onto something there with the in cab vibration and intermittent engine knock. I’ve had a DMF go on a 1.9 PD and it was different, the gearstick would vibrate. There’s a bit of clutch judder as well but it’s been doing that for 95k miles.  
 

This one takes the 0w20 VAG 508/509 oil. 

2 hours ago, classic said:

Is it just at idle ? Sounds a bit like the noise of a worn dual mass flywheel, I know the dsg petrols have them but not sure about manuals. I don’t know that the oil they use (0w20 ?) is necessarily thin, it just is able to be thinner at lower temps - someone will give chapter and verse on this…

If it was the DMF the noise would go away when the clutch is depressed though wouldn’t it?

8 minutes ago, gm73 said:

If it was the DMF the noise would go away when the clutch is depressed though wouldn’t it?

Nope - it becomes less noisy, but it still clonks and bangs away if you listen for it.

I’d like to update this thread. The vibration has got a bit worse. I long suspected vibrating fuel pipes but the engine is making a rattle/tick noise which increases under load. The car has also been misfiring from cold starts which may be unrelated. It drives perfectly though so I’m flummoxed. 
 

I’ve replaced the battery which was on the way out so will see if that makes any difference to the misfiring as it was cranking longer than usual.