Any VW/1.8T ppl in here?

[RanJer]

Girlfriend's Beetle's cooling system took a sh1t. Took it in, got a estimate. It's over a grand. ~$300 in parts, a tick under $700 labor + tax. I looked up the parts on my own and it's under $100. Car needs a Water Pump($70), Coolant Temp Sensor ($7) and a Thermostat($5).

Of course they say it has to have the special magic VW Coolant but that's $20-30. The gaskets needed are under $10 total.

Is there anyone on here that knows this motor? That would be willing to do this as a side job and do it cheaper? Of course I will be there to help and what not. At least that way I'll learn more about the motor. And can of course bring ice cold refreshments... The water pump is timing belt driven and I really don't want to get into all of that with limited tools.

Car is currently in Brookfield, so of course it'd be easier to get it somewhere near there. Any idea's??

Thanks!

Jeremy

[HY35F2T]

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/7362/dsc01465nf8.jpg&imgrefurl=http://uk-mkivs.net/forums/p/169957/1114362.aspx&h=612&w=816&sz=85&hl=en&start=8&um=1&tbnid=I2Mv1NtuLuz4NM:&tbnh=108&tbnw=144&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhow%2Bto%2Bchange%2B1.8t%2Bwater%2Bpu mp%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den

[Windsors 03 Cobra]

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/7362/dsc01465nf8.jpg&imgrefurl=http://uk-mkivs.net/forums/p/169957/1114362.aspx&h=612&w=816&sz=85&hl=en&start=8&um=1&tbnid=I2Mv1NtuLuz4NM:&tbnh=108&tbnw=144&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhow%2Bto%2Bchange%2B1.8t%2Bwater%2Bpu mp%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den

F'ing junk. :punch:

[Al]

Go call Oriley Imports in Milwaukee for an estimate. They tend to not scrooge you. Also chech Matt's Foreign Cars. Ya know, I'd even call International Autos for a quote. They are decent on prices because they work so fast.

I'll be honest, the 1.8t is a pain in the ass to work on.

As for the parts, some suppliers hike the parts costs while others dont. There are a few more parts than what you mentioned. I'd saw 150 for parts. VW also likes to use the orange coolant, not the green stuff. You are not paying that much more.

[HY35F2T]

F'ing junk. :punch:

:confused

[swift steve]

call Prestige Auto and talk to Jon, tell him swift steve sent you, he doesnt them a lot and he is an AWESOME guy who is huge into the VW scene and has some of the sickest cars around in the VW scene.

[Breecher_7]

Jer I thought this was already being fixed by someone? Also, I thought you priced out the parts before and they were expensive? :confused

[Cryptic]

I hate motors that put water pumps and thermostats in near impossible places to get too.

[fly5150]

I hate motors that put water pumps and thermostats in near impossible places to get too.

Like the 4.2 v8 in my car. Thermostat went, had to remove the whole front half of the car, to remove the front half of the motor, to get to the water pump, to remove that to get to the thermostat. 3 days to change the thermostat. I also did the full timing belt replacment,water pump.ect.

It sucked

[Slow Joe]

Mraz Import Auto in Brookfield, and... Oh I can't remember the name of the guy in Muskego...

[BoosTT]

I have a 1.8t and it is a huge PITA to work on. I would just take it somewhere. IA is actually ok price wise, otherwise autobahn near good hope road is a vw/audi specilist and pretty much only works on 1.8t's and vr6's. autobahn is less then IA, but not much less. Both do fantastic work.

[Al]

Like the 4.2 v8 in my car. Thermostat went, had to remove the whole front half of the car, to remove the front half of the motor, to get to the water pump, to remove that to get to the thermostat. 3 days to change the thermostat. I also did the full timing belt replacment,water pump.ect.

It sucked

Wat!?! Lock Carrier FTW!!!

Once you do it a few times, the lock-carrier (aka front bumper assembly) comes off in about 15 minutes. I think it is a much easier design than reaching behind the radiator as you would in other cars.

Whatever you do, do NOT go to Alpine Imports, they will charge you an arm and a leg!

[LIZMO]

i just had my cooling pipe break on my vr6, i had that and my thermostat housing replaced by a friend. (cuz it was alot cheaper) its not a 1.8t but it might be as time consuming as mine was, they had to take off the whole front clip and some other stuff just to get it. its not that hard, its just time consuming, they said it took them like 12 hrs lol. but good luck. id recommend autobaun, its 70 dollars an hr for labor if you take it somewhere.

[Al]

i just had my cooling pipe break on my vr6, i had that and my thermostat housing replaced by a friend. (cuz it was alot cheaper) its not a 1.8t but it might be as time consuming as mine was, they had to take off the whole front clip and some other stuff just to get it. its not that hard, its just time consuming, they said it took them like 12 hrs lol. but good luck. id recommend autobaun, its 70 dollars an hr for labor if you take it somewhere.

Some say the VR6 is a much easier engine to work on.

The 1.8t is VW/Audi's attempt to fit just about every little piece of technology into a compact engine. It's quite a marvel in that it works.

[swift steve]

call Prestige Auto and talk to Jon, tell him swift steve sent you, he doesnt them a lot and he is an AWESOME guy who is huge into the VW scene and has some of the sickest cars around in the VW scene.

[fly5150]

Wat!?! Lock Carrier FTW!!!

Once you do it a few times, the lock-carrier (aka front bumper assembly) comes off in about 15 minutes. I think it is a much easier design than reaching behind the radiator as you would in other cars.

Whatever you do, do NOT go to Alpine Imports, they will charge you an arm and a leg!

Even in service mode it is still not enough room. I let the front carrier drop under the front of the car and the worked great.