First time posting/Advice needed - BEW needing repairs turbo

Hey All,

First, this is my first post so please forgive me for any misquotes. I have a 2004 Golf TDI with BEW engine 210k miles and I'm kind of torn about if I should let it go or repair. It needs a turbo, original is dead (works sometimes but not others due to host side veins sticking/failing) according to the dealer. I'm considering either replacing with another KP39 or upgrading to VNT17 but I'm wondering if I can put VNT17 on stock tune and what the effects will be. I bought the car with 108k and I think its still on the original clutch, should I replace it too? Do I really need to? Do I need to get a tune. Money is not an issue but I'm worried the car is not worth it. This car is my daily driver, and I drive it a ton as it makes me money.

Help me out.

I think it will be fine on a stock tune with a VNT 17. If you know it's bad replace the turbo. It's a little bit more $, but I think most would agree it's worth it.

I would wait on the clutch, if it ain't broke and all that.

A tune is up to you. I put a new VNT 17 on this summer, but I also got a stage 1, so I can't really say how it will be with a stock tune.

If you like the car, I would say fix and drive.

I have 225K on my '04 PD.

Cool....I will wait on the clutch. Now about that tune..... can anyone speak from experience? I do a lot of highway driving.

NeoZer0 said:

.............. It needs a turbo, original is dead (works sometimes but not others due to host side veins sticking/failing) according to the dealer. ...................

Click to expand...

Might recommend a second opinion. Turbos are hearty and if it's working sometimes, it sounds to me (not-a-mechanic) like controls.
Do get the car running smooth and proper before getting chipped.
Malone and Rocketchip are 2 of the more popular companies. Rocketchip is in Red Lion.
I would talk to the chipper about what you want, be patient, they can be hard to get a hold of.

Good to know. Rocketchip is right down the street from me. Jeff is super cool and gave me lots of good advise. I'm going to go with a VNT17 and get rid of the smart actuator, ss oil line and a rocket chip stage 1. I'm going to leave the clutch alone.

Just put a vnt17/22, ss line, tune, and fmic on my 04Pd. 280,000 miles, and love this car!

Sold my lotus Exige in favor of this car...that's how much I love it

If you are buying a turbo to replace a worn or broken one it is recommended to investigate the reason for the original fault and rectify before fitting the new turbo, often problems are from oil starvation and as such a new oil feed pipe is often recommended Or if a turbo blows seals at high pressure it can often fill the exhaust with oil and or water, blocking the catalytic converter This is just a few of the main problems from a worn out turbo, for this reason we do recommend the replacement be fitted by a turbo specialist!

All fixed and running strong ;-))