DSG "Direct Shift Gearbox" owners data base

[jvc]

09/17/2006
Clark
2006
VW jetta pkg 2
DSG transmission
built 01/06
purchased new w/31 miles
Mileage as of today 6732
Garaged in Oklahoma
Zero problems
MPG 41

[btp226]

DATE: 9/20/2006
Name: btp226
Year: 2006
Make: VW
Model: Jetta TDI Package 0
Date of auto production: January 2006
Engine code: BRM
Transmission Code: HQN
Date of DSG Production: Can't find it yet.
Purchased, New or Used: Feb 2006
Miles when purchased: 6
Current miles: 17900
Area of country: NH
Fuel Statistics: Best 49.2/Ave 48/Worst 44

Absolutely no issues other than the lag when starting from a stop.

[Rodinal220]

DATE:09-25-06
Name:Rodinal220
Year:2006
Make:VW
Model:NB
Date of auto production: - 11/2005
Engine code:BEW
Transmission Code: HQP
Date of DSG Production: cant find it yet..stay tuned.
Purchased, New or Used:New
Miles when purchased:11
Current miles: - 11k
Area of country: - USA,North West Illinois
Fuel Statistics: Best-48.2mpg:Worst-38.0mpg:Average-40.0mpg

2006 NB TDI,Harvest Moon-Beige,Beige leatherette,PKG#1,DSG,Chrome TDI Badge

No issues with the transmission.Smooth and responsive,im very impressed so far.

[tmiles2246]

DATE: 9/25/06
Name: Tom
Year: 2006
Make: VW
Model: Jetta
Date of auto production: - June 2006
Engine code: - TBD (To be determined)
Transmission Code: - TBD
Date of DSG Production: - TBD
Purchased, New or Used: New
Miles when purchased: 17
Current miles: - 6000
Area of country: - “ southeast USA, - Pinehurst, NC
Fuel Statistics: -Best 41 mpg w/B100
I love the DSG, I use it daily with out a hickup. I bought it for the ability to have a manual transmission as well as the auto.

[DieselBrownie]

DATE: 9/25/06
Name: Matt
Year: 2005.5
Make: VW
Model: Jetta 5
Date of auto production: - 6/05
Engine code: - (will update)
Transmission Code: - (will update)
Date of DSG Production: - (again, will update.)
Purchased, New or Used: New
Miles when purchased: 23
Current miles: - 26,311
Area of country: - Ft. Worth, Texas
Fuel Statistics: - Best=50/Avg=41/Worst=35

No problems. I've found that this powertrain combo seems to accelerate better on the hwy at 3/4 throttle than WOT (to utilize the TDI's torque and keep it in 6th.) Best car I've ever owned!

[RAST]

DATE: 26 September 2006
Name: Dave
Year: 2006
Make: VW
Model: Jetta
Date of auto production: 6 November 05
Engine code: n/a
Transmission Code: n/a
Date of DSG Production: will update
Purchased, New or Used: New
Miles when purchased: 96
Current miles: 11,500
Area of country: Chicago, IL
Fuel Statistics:avg = 42.5mpg

[trailer peddler]

Date: 09/25/06
Name: John
Year: 2006.5
Make: VW
Model: Jetta TDI
Date of auto production: 08/06
Engine code: BRM
Transmission Code: HQU
Date of DSG Production: 06/27/06
Purchased, New or Used: New
Miles when purchased: 5
Current miles: 505
Area of country: Midwest USA
Fuel Statistics: 38.4 first fill up
Comments: Awesome transmission

[dieseldave2006]

DATE: 29 Sep 06
Name: dieseldave2006
Year: 2006
Make: VW Jetta
Model: TDI
Date of auto production: - ?
Engine code: TDI
Transmission Code: - ?
Date of DSG Production: - ?
Purchased, New or Used: new
Miles when purchased: 60 (obviously "test driven" by others when it was a "new car" being delivered per my order from the Port of Houston)
Current miles: - 19000
Area of country: - Houston TX
Fuel Statistics: - 34 / 43

It has experienced the "shudder" at a stop a few times while new. It has not done this for quite a while. No problems. I do question the life of the wet disk clutches compared to a cheap to replace, dry clutch standard, and the ability to hold up to agressive driving and "enhanced fuel settings". This is my first "automatic" (I do not like spongy autos, but drive alot in traffic and like the trick technology of the DSG, and I am getting older..). I am also 1/2 way to the dreaded $$$ oil change, but I am a DIY guy, so I am interested in the special tool you are talking about.

I do wish there was a setting between D and S, so it will drive like I would. I end up getting frustrated at the quick shifting and lugging 1400 rpm while in D. The damn thing upshifts too soon while I am moderately accelerating, resulting in lugging and loss of expectation. We all know TDIs are useless below 1900 rpm. In S, the cruising at 2900 rpm in 3rd gear for miles is a bit wasteful and annoying when I am not accelerating, and I am waiting for the shift, but have to get it up to 3K before it will shift. These frustrations usually put me in the manual mode, which, without operating a clutch, is difficult to get used to when the radio is up and the sun is making the tach hard to see. On my daily commute, I go through all three modes, depending the situation of traffic, the sun, and my laziness and frustration. Looking back, I would probably be better in a standard, unless in a drag race in S mode. I also hate going from S to D in order to slide over and hit the manual mode. The manual mode should be accessable directly from the S mode.
There are a lot of uncertainties with the DSG, and I hope you are gaining a lot of good data with this thread.

[edilbeck]

DATE: - 12-06
Name: - Eric Dilbeck
Year: - 2004
Make: - VW
Model: - Beetle
Date of auto production: - 12-03
Engine code: - BEW
Transmission Code: - GYS
Date of DSG Production: - Can't find will look again
Purchased, New or Used: - Used 9-1-06
Miles when purchased: - 36212
Current miles: 39875
Area of country: Norman OK USA
Fuel Statistics: 41 best 39 avg 37 Worst

I just got this car and I love it! The power of the TDI and the smoothness and quick response of the DSG are perfectly matched.

I was reading thru the post in this tread. Looks like there are not many 04 VW's with DSGs. Don't know if that is good or bad.

Getting Ready to do my first Trans Fluid change. I let you know how it goes!

[wmahaffey]

DATE: 10/02/2006
Name: Peggy W. Mahaffey
Year: 2006
Make: VW
Model: Jetta TDI Package 2
Date of auto production: June 2006
Engine code: BRM
Transmission Code: HXU
Date of DSG Production: Can't find it yet.
Purchased, New - July 11, 2006
Miles when purchased: 11
Current miles: 4520
Area of country: Central Alabama, USA
Fuel Statistics: Best High 40's/Ave Low 40's/Worst Mid 30's Local streets

[MYCL]

Date: 10/7/06
Name: MYCL
Year: 2006
Make: Volkswagen
Model: Jetta
Date of auto production: 11/05
Engine code: BRM
Transmission code: HQN
Date of DSG production: Unknown
Purchased: New
Miles when purchased: 50
Current miles: 20,800
Area of Country: Southern CA
Fuel Statistics: Best 43, average 40-41, worst 39

[3Dobes]

DATE: October 7, 2006
Name: Ron
Year: 2006
Make: VW
Model: NB Auto
Date of auto production: 05/06
Engine code: BEW
Transmission Code: HXU
Date of DSG Production: I can't even find the battery!
Purchased: New
Miles when purchased: 75
Current miles: 4,000
Area of country: Scottsdale, AZ
Fuel Statistics: Best 37.4/Ave 36/Worst 31

[SVTWEB]

DATE: 10/9/2006
Name: SVTWeb
Year: 2005.5
Make: Volkswagen
Model: Jetta TDI
Date of auto production: 04/13/2005
Engine code: BRM
Transmission Code: HQN
Date of DSG Production:
Purchased, New or Used: Used
Miles when purchased: 59,900
Current miles: 60,800
Area of country: Mid-Atlantic
Fuel Statistics: 42.6 Avg.

[lovelesspl]

DATE: 10/13/2006
Name: Patrick
Year: 2006
Make: Volkswagen
Model: Jetta TDI
Date of auto production: - 08/26
Engine code: BRM
Transmission Code: - HXU
Date of DSG Production: - “ located on top of trans just below and beside the battery – is visible with flashlight”
Purchased, New or Used: New
Miles when purchased: 38
Current miles: - 2450
Area of country: - Midwest, Troy,MO (Purchased Franklin,WI)
Fuel Statistics: - " best/average/worst only please " update this whenever you choose

[1998993C2S]

DATE: 10/13/06
Name: 1998993C2S
Year: 2006.5
Make: Volkswagen
Model: Jetta TDI
Date of auto production: August 2006
Engine code: BRM
Transmission Code: - “located in owners manual next to engine code”
Date of DSG Production: - “ located on top of trans just below and beside the battery – is visible with flashlight”
Purchased, New: September 2006
Miles when purchased: 9
Current miles: 3600
Area of country: Vail, Colorado - elevation 8,200'
Fuel Statistics: 44/37/29 - Best/Avg./least MPG

During the winter of 2006/07, our first winter of ownership, we had several No Start events when the Vail, CO temps were below the 10F to 15F range. At the time the DSG gearbox (unexpected) moved the car when starting, as if it was engaged somehow. As the day warmed up, at or above 25F and the TDI would start. Fast forward to winter of 2007/2008 and the No Start at cold temperature defect continues.


The current and excepted understanding is that the frigid DSG gearbox (at around 15F and lower in our case) drags on the engine enough during the starting process to prevent the TDI from starting. VWAG/VWoA hasn't a cure for the extreme viscious fluid (DGS) drag condition. And just like you would expect from the genius at VWoA's Customer Care, aka Sales Prevention department, its playing games. What?? are these guy's twelve? Yes!

In short, the DSG is everything you hear, it's great. Some would say the Dual Clutch Transmission type is the future of all automatics, however given the persistent No Start condition this owner is experiencing I cannot recommend this DSG gearbox when coupled with the TDI engine.

I would hope to add the appropriate superlative's of the DGS gearbox here, however until our cold DGS/starting defect is remedied, the DGS/TDI combo is a thumbs down from this TDI enthusiast.