8.5R Gremlins

[AHG]

That is the best way, to adapt to the shop you are going to.

For example, my shop guys love the RL lifter I’ve put there, makes their lives easier and they see no issue with it.

 

I know other people take it off before the shop, worrying it will raise unwanted attention. I guess we all know our respective shops, and act accordingly.

 

As per faults, it is importantly to note that VAS works differently than OBD11.

The latter shows each and every flag recorded as an error code, but the VAS makes decisions as per what qualifies as an issue (like my air sensor story in the Tig) as indeed not every code means a malfunction.

 

Yes, you can get a code report and that should look like OBD11 (and usually VAS will delete them after scanning) but techs are instructed by VW)  to focus on the VAS’ analysis, so they may come back with “computer said no fault” even if OBD11 shows a small number of flags (clearly not in your case @Booth11, with 80 error flags, and specific codes you know are related to malfunctions).

 

I had the pleasure of sitting next to the VW/Audi diagnostic tech several times, with several cars, so I am no specialist but I do know their workflow and how it looks on their screen. Just saying, they are not necessarily lying, they just quote their computer god. 

[Booth11]

34 minutes ago, AHG said:

That is the best way, to adapt to the shop you are going to.

For example, my shop guys love the RL lifter I’ve put there, makes their lives easier and they see no issue with it.

 

I know other people take it off before the shop, worrying it will raise unwanted attention. I guess we all know our respective shops, and act accordingly.

 

As per faults, it is importantly to note that VAS works differently than OBD11.

The latter shows each and every flag recorded as an error code, but the VAS makes decisions as per what qualifies as an issue (like my air sensor story in the Tig) as indeed not every code means a malfunction.

 

Yes, you can get a code report and that should look like OBD11 (and usually VAS will delete them after scanning) but techs are instructed by VW)  to focus on the VAS’ analysis, so they may come back with “computer said no fault” even if OBD11 shows a small number of flags (clearly not in your case @Booth11, with 80 error flags, and specific codes you know are related to malfunctions).

 

I had the pleasure of sitting next to the VW/Audi diagnostic tech several times, with several cars, so I am no specialist but I do know their workflow and how it looks on their screen. Just saying, they are not necessarily lying, they just quote their computer god. 

Thanks @AHG, all understood regarding the info dealerships go off and that they must abide by their own system etc. Be interesting to see what their system does report (if anything).

[blizzard60]

Oops, apparently my post set of a LoTR-esque series of other posts, haha. I agree with EVERYthing folks have written since, especially @AHG's shrewd point about "knowing" your shop. If you know it like he does, and @Booth11 does, I'm happy to say you are MILES ahead of many, many people who have terrible experiences. 👍

[dv52]

21 hours ago, AHG said:

 

Maybe it’s my style or how I chose them 🙂

Absolutely no doubt about it - it's most definitely your "style" (which is a good thing)!!  My "style" is a tad more distrustful.  

 

I guess if had this long association with individual service providers, I too might relax my suspicious persona (but only a bit because I enjoy playing the role of the grumpy customer - it's fun navigating the fine line between being nice and engendering an emotional response !! I'm kidding of course - or am I?

 

As a social unit - ain't carbon based life units a fascinating super-organism?

 

Don

[Nicknotts]

On 17/05/2025 at 12:56, mahalo said:

It would be interesting to see if anyone has not installed dynamic lighting and has had the bong fest.  

I did install the Dynamic Lighting and activated the free trial... this was back in December.. and I have to say I don't recall having the errors before that got activated... I did just let the trial end...... so perhaps its VW getting me back for not buying it!! 😆

 

Will keep you all posted after it goes in Thursday!!

[Booth11]

1 hour ago, Nicknotts said:

I did install the Dynamic Lighting and activated the free trial... this was back in December.. and I have to say I don't recall having the errors before that got activated... I did just let the trial end...... so perhaps its VW getting me back for not buying it!! 😆

 

Will keep you all posted after it goes in Thursday!!

It does sound very suspicious that all 3 of us that have had the misfortune of bongfest did the Dynamic Lighting trial.  Mine is also in on Thursday. We can compare notes.  😂

[Booth11]

Today the access to the Special and Drift driving modes disappeared.   There I was presented with a beautiful bit of undulating rural empty road ahead of me and thought "ooh, this calls for Special mode" but computer said “NO! you will not enjoy such pleasures!"  The small arrow on the Race mode icon was not present as it usually is and is the rout to access the performance pack/BE modes.  So I had to slum it driving in Individual .  Parked up a while (only about 2 mins) and then restarted the engine and hey presto, the errant modes (or rather the access to them) was back. 

 

I know a couple of others who have experienced the bongfest have mentioned modes disappearing but first time I've noticed it happen on mine.  I wonder if it was the same issue for them?   

 

Anyway car is in at dealership on Thursday so I will add it to the list.     

[Scudgie]

28 minutes ago, Booth11 said:

I know a couple of others who have experienced the bongfest have mentioned modes disappearing but first time I've noticed it happen on mine.  I wonder if it was the same issue for them?    

 

From memory, mine differed in the sense that there were only 3 modes available. Race (and therefore Drift and Special) along with individual had disappeared. 

[blizzard60]

Man, that is SO bizarre. FPA modes are controlled by SWaP codes. When you turn on the trial for the lighting I believe it activates a SWaP code remotely. As we can’t do this ability/option (the lighting trial or any remote activations) in NAR, I have never actually verified this theory by checking what codes are activated on a car that has the trial active. I don’t know how else you could turn this feature on without activating the SWaP. So weird!

[JoeGTI7]

Hi guys,

Question for those of you with pano roofs.

 

I like to leave mine open in the tilted position a lot, especially in this fine spell of weather. I've noticed (or heard) something odd when it's in this position. Every time I come to a stop, it sounds like something is "closing" or sliding forwards as I brake. Almost sounds like the blind is closing or even the roof itself is closing, but definitely neither are budging! It's quite minor and not even an annoying type of noise (it does really sound like the blind gently closing) but I'd love to know what it is. 

 

Anyone else ever notice this?

[Scudgie]

46 minutes ago, JoeGTI7 said:

Hi guys,

Question for those of you with pano roofs.

 

I like to leave mine open in the tilted position a lot, especially in this fine spell of weather. I've noticed (or heard) something odd when it's in this position. Every time I come to a stop, it sounds like something is "closing" or sliding forwards as I brake. Almost sounds like the blind is closing or even the roof itself is closing, but definitely neither are budging! It's quite minor and not even an annoying type of noise (it does really sound like the blind gently closing) but I'd love to know what it is. 

 

Anyone else ever notice this?

I have the pano roof and it's been wide open a lot lately thanks to the glorious weather we've been enjoying 🌞

 

On the few occasions I have used the tilt position only,  I can't say I've heard the noise you're describing.

[Booth11]

My car went into my local dealership today for them to look into the paddle issue, and also the other multiple bongs I had a month back.  

 

They did diagnostics and phoned my to update me afterwards.  The paddle issue has not logged a fault (which is consistent with the reports from others who’ve had their cars looked at for same issue) and unsurprisingly they couldn’t get it to replicate that issue today.  But it’s been noted that it has occurred which is really why it went in. 

 

On dropping off the car this morning, I told them that I’d done a scan with obdeleven and had lots of faults logged (81), and no issue with that at all as expected. The ODIS scan also found lots of faults (67) and they were very happy giving me a copy of the report at my request.  Despite lots of logged faults they found nothing to cause a specific issue, and the car is running fine.  They did check against TPIs, and there is a TPI that states to ignore these faults.  

 

I did mention in passing, the forum (well John’s 😂) ‘smoking gun theory’ that the multiple warnings incidents (just a single one in my case) have been experienced by those that downloaded the Dynamic Lighting Trial (and AirConsole in my case) from the Shop.  I think they thought it could be plausible, but it’s an unknown of course.  
 

As usual, the service I received, the care of the car, and their willingness to listen and to honor my requests was really good.  I know dealerships vary greatly, but this is a good one ime.  Credit where it’s due.  😊 Always have a good chat with them and they themselves say that enthusiasts often know a lot more about their cars than dealerships and they themselves learn things from owners.  Good bunch!  

 

[Scudgie]

Thanks for sharing your experience, Rebecca. 

 

It doesn't surprise me that VW have instructed dealers to forget about these errors for now because they really have no idea - so poor!

 

That said, I think it's great your Dealer is totally up front with you on these things and I would do the same and praise them for that. Unfortunately that level of service isn't guaranteed elsewhere - I can't wait to be disappointed by mine 🤣

 

Btw..... shouldn't this update be in the 8.5 Gremlins thread? 

[Booth11]

2 minutes ago, Scudgie said:

Thanks for sharing your experience, Rebecca. 

 

It doesn't surprise me that VW have instructed dealers to forget about these errors for now because they really have no idea - so poor!

 

That said, I think it's great your Dealer is totally up front with you on these things and I would do the same and praise them for that. Unfortunately that level of service isn't guaranteed elsewhere - I can't wait to be disappointed by mine 🤣

 

Btw..... shouldn't this update be in the 8.5 Gremlins thread? 

Oops!  Now moved to the correct thread John. 🤣

[Msportman]

4 hours ago, Booth11 said:

My car went into my local dealership today for them to look into the paddle issue, and also the other multiple bongs I had a month back.  

 

They did diagnostics and phoned my to update me afterwards.  The paddle issue has not logged a fault (which is consistent with the reports from others who’ve had their cars looked at for same issue) and unsurprisingly they couldn’t get it to replicate that issue today.  But it’s been noted that it has occurred which is really why it went in. 

 

On dropping off the car this morning, I told them that I’d done a scan with obdeleven and had lots of faults logged (81), and no issue with that at all as expected. The ODIS scan also found lots of faults (67) and they were very happy giving me a copy of the report at my request.  Despite lots of logged faults they found nothing to cause a specific issue, and the car is running fine.  They did check against TPIs, and there is a TPI that states to ignore these faults.  

 

I did mention in passing, the forum (well John’s 😂) ‘smoking gun theory’ that the multiple warnings incidents (just a single one in my case) have been experienced by those that downloaded the Dynamic Lighting Trial (and AirConsole in my case) from the Shop.  I think they thought it could be plausible, but it’s an unknown of course.  
 

As usual, the service I received, the care of the car, and their willingness to listen and to honor my requests was really good.  I know dealerships vary greatly, but this is a good one ime.  Credit where it’s due.  😊 Always have a good chat with them and they themselves say that enthusiasts often know a lot more about their cars than dealerships and they themselves learn things from owners.  Good bunch!  

 

It’s a shame the gearbox fault wasn’t happening when you took the car in.

 

If it had been present and they scanned the car I wonder whether they would have asked you to leave the car there?

 

It seems many folks are just telling the dealers who give the same response ie no fault found.

 

Thankfully from others on here the fault is known at VW GmbH !