Bimble

I've done a bit more research and after contacting an engineering company, you need to be aware of input shaft bearing problems that is a known fault on these manual gearboxes. The cap allows access to the input shaft.

I have the same problem on my car (2018 7.5R on 40K miles) It's a plastic coated metal disc with a circlip retainer. The metal corrodes underneath and blows the plastic. My car is in today for a 2nd attempt at fixing! The first attempt was done with the clutch and dmf change and it was still weeping. Part numbers 02M301211D (cover) and 02Q311187 (ring) The garage I use has sealed it in this time and is hopeful, but time will tell. If it dosen't fix it ,the theory we have is the bearing seal behind the cover is leaking oil into the cavity and the cover and circlip can't seal that quantity of oil? Which means gearbox out and rebuild!! The cover is there to allow access for machining during gearbox case manufacture, earlier gearboxs don't have the cover. Hope this helps.

Sorry another Pretoria thread as I didn't want to hijack another post. I have 19" black Pretoria's, they are original unrefurbished and I think the offset is ET50? but what is the width 8J? and what is the load rating? I thought I read somewhere they are 650KG? After sucessfully missing potholes most of the winter, my luck ran out and I hit one last week and now have a buckle in front drivers side wheel. I will keep them and get them refurbed but with the state of our roads I am going down to 18" probably the Racingline R-06 8.5 x 18" which has a load rating of 560kg, an ET44 offset with a tyre size of 235/40/R18 So why are Pretoria's so weak or soft with a 650kg load rating? Has anyone fitted or have any info about the VWR R-06 wheels? any other suggestions of strong wheels would be great also.

My manual mk7.5 has done 38k and is now running a Racingline low torque stage 1 and R600 intake with no slippage yet but I don't launch the car and never use WOT in tall gears at low rpm. I'm still on a standard clutch but I know it will need upgrading next year, I was going to go for a sachs organic clutch with their dmf as my local specialist rates them and has fitted many. I have no knowledge of the manual gearbox bearing problems or that an uprated clutch can damage the crankshaft? Surely it all depends on mileage, how you drive the car and mechancal sympathy you show it?

Hi Olly, It really depends on what you can compare the heavy clutch pedal to? Can you test drive another manual Golf R? What car do you drive now? Is the car standard? could it have an upgraded clutch fitted already? I have had my manual R for nearly a year now, compared to the Skoda Citigo I had before it felt very heavy but you get used to it. If I drive my Wife's Skoda Yeti now, in comparison the clutch feels very light (but the Yeti clutch is heavier than the Citigo) Better to try and compare to another manual R and I'd be more worried about where the bite is in the pedal travel and no juddering etc

Thanks for the suspension info Msportman. I think the suspension upgrade will be next year now, I've just bought a 034 motorsport lower dogbone mount insert and whilst looking under the car to find the correct insert version I noticed the steel front subframe was a bit corroded. So the parts list for the suspension refresh is getting bigger. I was wondering whether to upgrade to the later aluminium subframe when I do the refresh?

I went for the 22mm 034 Motorsport rear ARB and their adjustable drop links in the end, and had these fitted on the stiffer setting this week. The mounting brackets don't have the grease nipples fitted now as they must have modded these out? Initial impressions are good and it's definitely sharpened up the handling, especially in a series of bends. No wallowing around the rear now!

Do VW sell them in gloss black then or do you have to get them painted? Yep mine needs a detail, but it's going for a big service next month and stage 1 map at a local VW specialist and Racingline dealer so it will have to wait for a bit as it's booked for a wheel refurb and tyres in October as well. Its's been a bit of a money pit lately but I haven't owned it a year yet and I'm slowly getting it sorted.

I would like to buy a rear ARB and drop links and was thinking about buying 034 motorsport but as they are nearly twice the price and I will probably go for a Superpro with some adjustable Racingline drop links. I'm assuming the holes are all the same size as if you are fitting to a standard ARB or standard drop links? Can anyone who's upgraded their rear ARB confirm. Thanks

Standard silver. I must admit I hadn't thought about changing them but gloss black would be much better.

Snap! I have a 3 door in the same colour and wheels! Great choice GregC05

Yes the car is awesome and I won't be changing it, the best car I've ever owned. I forgot to say it's got the vienna? leather interior as well and slightly better performance than the Skoda Citigo I had for a few years before 😁. Now it's just a case of slowly changing things to improve it really. I've had the usual waterpump/thermostat housing changed. It had full VW history but I had the haldex service and screen clean done straight away after I bought it. Mods wise I've just fitted a Racingline R600 with the intake pipe, elbow and turbo muffler delete, sounds great and the stage 1 map being done later this month. It's due a major annual service in August at a local specialist when it will get new Clubsport S discs and pads and some braided hoses. After that I'm definitely going for an 034 motorsports rear ARB with upgraded links and a BCS powervalve exhaust when funds allow!

Hi I've been lurking on here for a while and thought it about time I joined the forum. It has helped me a lot with information on buying and owning my car after I picked up a 2018 VW Golf R 7.5, 3dr manua,l pre GPF in indium grey and on 19" black Pretorias back in Sept 24. So thanks to everybody who posts on the forum as you really helped with the multiple questions and queries I have had and I'm sure there will be many more.