If the mk3 was of questionable build and design quality..........then the mk4 pushes the limits of human stupidity and evolution. Need to change a headlight? Well then, be prepared for a load of fiddling and shizzle to get the old one out. Jack up the car? WTF I hear you say, the headlight is on the front of the car. It may well be, but you need to get the bumper cover off to gain access to the lower 2 headlight retaining screws. So that means you will spend a while trying to remove the rusty Torx bits that hold the wheel arch liners to the bumper sides. Then carefully work out how to remove the grill without breaking any of the brittle plastic mounts that retain it. Then you can get access to the larger Torx bolts that screw the bumper cover onto the bumper backing bar. Of course these too will be rusted and awkward to get out. Once the bumper cover is removed then the headlight is easily removed. All these fasteners fit easily when the cars are new, but after a few years of road dirt and corrosion it makes it a ball ache. It is crazy designs like this that eat up hours of garage labour rates whilst the mechanics have to work on the cars to do even the simplest of jobs.
Of course it was raining too. Rear ashtray removal from console? Don't go there. I just hope no mk4 people smoke. This car was owned by a non smoker so all cool here, however...... You need to put your hands in the old ash and fag butts and try to lift / lever out the tray without it breaking the mm plastic lugs that support it, tricky shizzle without it pinging up and showering the car in fag ash. Once the dust settles you may well find you are in the market for A: a good hoover, B : a shower, C : a new replacement ashtray assembly (all 50 minuscule plastic bits and springs that make it up)
Fortunately it does not have aircon. This is Scotland remember, for the rare moments it is ever warm enough to consider using the aircon, most Scottish citizens will have been partaking in a BBQ and be lying comatose from over indulgence in beer. This negates the need for any such accessory on a Scottish motor. The only exception being for ghey non drinking lentil munchers where it could be an option.
mk4s taken a certain state of mind. you should just gander at the pcv system etc. JOKE headlights. just think abuot the gayers who like putting leds n tings on theirs, the number of times theyve had those bumpers off mine is pretty tip top tbh, takes loads of abuse but its purely a cruiser
Welcome to working on modern cars. TBH mk4's are one the better modern cars to work on, turn your hand to anything Renault, 'king nightmare
Nothing wrong with the MK4 imo, well mine anyway. Ive found it quite easy to work on since ive owned it. Mine is in excellent condition though so this might be why. I wouldn't advise anyone NOT to buy one, but would definitely say go for a newer model, rather than the earlier ones. Mines a 2002 1.8T, great all round car and as Matt said above, they are great cruisers. Come to think of it, there does seem to be a MK4 on every street corner, so they cant be that bad
I do need to do the bushes on mine soon. (Arb, w-bone, ect). Suppose its easier buying new w-bones with the bushes pressed in. Still a great car though the MK4.
it is easier to buy new wishbones but i fitted polybushs so would have been no good for me hows the rear axle bushs on yours mine where never any good even at 15000 miles when i got it if you do get wishbones get ones with the r32 bushs in them
Will do mate, cheers The rear axle ones had been changed when i bought it. It was on 49,000 when i got it, now on 92,000 so might be worth checking.
MK4's are the spawn of satan for mechanics!!!!! Rear w/bone bushes are a nightmare getting the gearbox out will reduce your life span by 10 years!! bottom ball joint bolts all ways either round off or spin THEN round off the plastics are sharper than the sharp things that sharpen sharp things i'm usually full of flu when MK4 golfs come into work
It takes a few years in my experience but you can make a good car out of them. Never had the front bumper off mine but I can change the bulbs, yep all of them without taking the lights out. No I don't have tiny hands (6ft 2in) but being able to see eveything is a luxury, you need to teach yourself to do it by touch alone. Wishbones, polybush the lot, you will never need to touch them again. Leaks are a pain, i've had them all except the sunroof drain pipes but then I don't have a sunroof so that might be why . Nothing wrong with mark 4s IMHO great cars, maybe even the next Mk2
Leaks you say! I have mushrooms growing in this one. I even considered starting a fish farm in it as there is so much water in the thing. If it ever stops raining long enough to get the angle grinder out without getting electrocuted then the leak will no longer be a problem............because the sills are getting cut off at floor level.
