Spookz

Thanks for all the replies and thoughts on what I should do with this. To answer a couple of questions, I supplied the new engine and turbo and told Votex I'd pay for whatever else was was needed to get the car back to me in a working standard. They found the original engine waterpump was leaking so replaced it along with the thermostat housing off their own back and added that to my bill. It's definitely something I'll be expecting to be replaced from Votex, if they're struggling to get the warranty claim back from VW that's not really my issue as I've not received the car back in a standard that's fit for purpose. First thing I will be doing is getting it booked in for a rolling road session to investigate along with a new map when I eventually get it back again 👍

Yeah I'd expected it to have been previously modified as there aren't really many that haven't been on the private sale market. It wouldn't have bothered me if it had been and then returned to stock if the previous owner had just let me know when I asked if its ever had anything done to it before! Really put me off buying private in the future as so far it's probably been in the garage more than I've actually used it. The silver lining is that once this is eventually sorted, and with its recent replacement engine, turbo and map from a reputable source, it'll pretty much be free from any previous owners history with the car! It was actually Votex who asked me to contact VW Stoke on their behalf, but appreciate that if Votex hadn't informed them that I would be doing so they might have had their hands tied a little bit. Just frustrating as no customer information is being shared, just information about my car that they now have more of an idea of the history of than I do. Yeah I'm not sure what their dealings are with VW as I only have my invoice from Votex themselves, does seem odd to me that they're not accepting liability for a water pump failing when it's barely even a week old and putting it down to an apparent remap.

It's a bit of a strange situation as I took it to a VW specialist garage (Votex) for the repairs in the first place, who have then sent it on to VW Stoke as their part warranty is with them. I called VW Stoke directly to try and say the same thing but they wouldn't even speak to me about it as apparently, despite it being my car and my property that they're in possession of, I'm not their customer and that Votex are so they couldn't give me any information about my own car 🤔. All they said is that "remaps cause extra stress on all engine parts and your car will be sent back to Votex". Unfortunately not, it was a private sale. I think you've hit the nail on the head with this! Either way, it shouldn't be me footing the bill as the part was bought and installed by Votex when they carried out the install of my replacement engine . Whether they see it like that remains to be seen!

Thanks both, I thought that might be the case! Looks like a stage 1 map might be on the cards sooner rather than later as I really don't feel comfortable about having a map on there that I don't know the origins of!

Hi all I recently had a replacement engine fittef to my mk7, and a new waterpump at the same time. After a week or so the thermostat housing started leaking coolant so I took it back to the garage to be replaced, they said that this would be coverered under their VW warranty as they used original part so they sent it off to VW. Fast forward to today and I have a call saying VW Stoke aren't honouring the warranty because the car has been remapped (to my knowledge this isn't the case, I was told the car was standard when purchased and to me it doesn't feel like a mapped car, the 0-60 times are consistent with standard figures etc.). I'm concerned that the previous owner has told me some porkies which wouldn't suprise me seeing as though the engine went kaput after 2 months of me owning the car, and that my car has some sort of dodgey map on there at the minute which may have led to me having to replace the engine in the first place. If a car has previously had a stage 1 map, and then returned to standard would this then show up to what VW are describing as an "active remap" , even if its still a standard map but not applied by them? Hope that makes sense! Cheers Luke

Looks like there's a good bit of interest in a meet up! I've created a thread in the Future Meets section so hopefully we can get some traction on it and get something sorted!

Hi all There seems to be a fair amount of interest in a forum meet up at Caffiene & Machine so I thought I'd create this topic to try and get something locked in. I've attached a poll (hopefully, if I've done it right!) to try and get an idea of what dates might be best for everyone. Would be good to meet some forum members and have a nosey around your R's (that sounds wrong if you say it out loud but I'm sticking with it 😂) https://caffeineandmachine.com/ Cheers!

This video might help you make your decision if you haven't already seen it!

I've just called Hastings to enquire about springs, wheels and induction kit and was told they wouldn't be able cover me. How are you finding the springs? I've just had mine delivered today

Thanks again all! I went and put my foot in it by saying onwards and upwards from here 🤦🏼‍♂️😂 I gave it a clean yesterday and noticed lots of grease on the inside of my offside front wheel. Took the wheel off and noticed two slits in my CV boot. Patched it up with a puncture repair kit and duck tape for the time being and got straight on the phone to the garage this morning and it will be in next week to be replaced. Once that's sorted I'm definitely not going to be jinxing myself by making any positive comments again! 😂

Thanks mate, onwards and upwards from here! (I hope 😂)

Thanks very much both! Now I can finally crack on with my plans for the car! Spoke to the garage about tuning when I picked it up and they said to put some miles on it first, so I've decided to get it looking how I want and then look at tuning further down the line as standard power still feels quick to me with me not having the car very long. I may have ordered another little present for it on Friday evening 👀

It's been 4 very long weeks but today I finally picked up my car following it's replacement engine and turbo! I'm not sure if its because I've not been in the car for a while and but driving it now feels so different, the engine feels much smoother than before. Treated it to a little present in the form of some new DSG paddles while it was away, it felt so good to get them fitted and go for a drive 😁

It's a couple of hours from me but I would be up for a trip if a forum meet up was arranged, especially with there being no shows to attend this year!