The first one then, what do I buy?

I've looked for suspension dust covers, but if I'm honest, I have no idea. Will a mechanic need to look for the specific part?

It's a mechanic doing it outside of work. "On the side" type of thing.

He won't supply them.

It's a mechanic doing it outside of work. "On the side" type of thing.

He won't supply them.

That he is doing it on the side doesn't explain why he won't get the parts himself as he could easily get them through his day job. Of course that assumes his day job is as a mechanic, but even if it isn't, the fact that he is working as a mechanic in his spare time means he must be able to get parts himself. I could understand if it was something rare, very old, or obscure, where it may not be that easy through conventional sources, but not for a Golf.

Do you really have no other options in your area? (where is that?)

I just want to know what parts to get - particularly the first advisory, which was a 'fix as soon as possible one.'

I've no idea which cover type thing to buy.

The other day I copied and pasted the dust cover bit into Google prefaced with 2007 VW Golf. Didn't get any results specific for the car, but there are a few available described as universal. Did it again just now and found a comment from a VW T4 forum, and while I realise that isn't what your car is, I'd imagine the same applies. The OP in the thread asked basically the same question re the dust cover and another forum member came back with this:

I'd just replace the ball joint - they're not that expensive and since you've got to split the taper anyway to fit a new cover you may as well IMO.

You can also check the condition of the inner driveshaft splines and regrease while you're about it, as it's a common fault at around that mileage and you'll have done most of the work to get at it.

After reading that, I did have a look at the price of the ball joint itself (which comes with a dust cover), and the one listed on Autodoc ('03-'09 Golf, but didn't put in the reg number) is under £20.

Wish I hadn't mentioned about the mechanic & supplying my own parts!

If you are interested in learning more, you could get a Haynes manual for the Golf (up to model year 2008, say) either new (perhaps) or certainly second-hand on E-bay.