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Buying a MkIII Golf GTI - slimjim
I am hoping to buy a MKIII VW Golf GTI, hopefully M-reg onwards and 16V. Has anyone got any advice on what to look out for, and comments on effects of high-mileage (i.e. 100K+ on R-reg etc)? Any help would be appreciated, I've got 3-4K to spend, depending on selling/trading-in my P-reg Hyundai accent
Buying a MkIII Golf GTI - Ben {P}
off the top of my head i would in addition to checking oil and coolant condition etc i would:

Listen for tappet noise- sign of poor servicing. while your there listen to see if there is any excessive noise from the cam chain, these can wear if its only seen crud oil.

rev the engine to between 2k and 3k rpm, hold it there then blip the throttle and lift of- any clinkin noise is likely to be small ends, i think cylinder three often goes first. Do this when the engine is warm and cold.

Before you start it do all the usual checks etc, then grab the engine and rock it to see how knackered the engine mounts are. Then start and check for initial blue oil smoke (sign of knackered valve stem oil seals- expensive). Have a look underneath for leaks from the gearbox/drive shaft flange seals or whatever they are called.

check rear calipers to see if they are leaking or sticking.
Buying a MkIII Golf GTI - epaul
cat converter we have a 97 p reg had to change it (high milage) Had lots of golfs this has been the one with most probs.
However Thats my missus' car i've had a vr6 and it was awesome. Overall you'll get a good car by my opinion
Buying a MkIII Golf GTI - robson
Got a 97 P 16 v with 60k ,was dubious about buying as it had 4 owners before me,got the aa do do a full check possibly money well spent as you`ve got some comeback if it all goes tits up. mileage, owners etc checked out ,or buy a warranty (v`w service costs)seeing as its got 100k
Check the coolant pipe at the front of the engine as this is prone to leaking, noticible as a pinkish residue ,mine was replaced when i had the timing belt done ,another thing to bear in mind.
Good luck in finding one,You`ll enjoy it.
Buying a MkIII Golf GTI - Phoenicks
I have a Mk3 8V - 97 R Plate.

Issues to be aware of:

Rust on sill, can be found generally, if at all under rubber sill strip. Can be quite common on 96 and earlier cars and is not necessarily the result of a crash and bad repair. However rust on rear tailgate is a worry.

Electric windows go a bit funny and are prone to breaking down.

ABS sensors can break under hard cornering and general failure. Some people remove the warning light bulb to pass it thru and MOT. The failsafe of the system means it wont work if the sensor or system is broken. just test it on the test drive.

Throttle valve control are proning to clogging up with carbon and making the car run very roughly. just needs a clean up.

Temperature thermostat can go funny causing poor running. Sometimes just needs a VW diagnostic system check.

Light bulbs behing heater control lights can fail. just pop out heater controls and replace.

Timing belts need to be changed c.5 years and/or 60k miles just to be safe. most VW dealers give differing advice. Dealer will charge about £180. Specialist will charge about £100 to do.

Dont be afraid of a specialist full service history over a Full VW service history. I have found the VW main dealers to give conflicting advice and the service/cost and work done has not been anywhere near as good as independent specialist. Its because a lot of main dealers and their staff are mostly experienced of the newer cars and therefore arent up to date on problems of MK3's. Thats just my experience.

On a test drive check the MFA (computer) to see the MPG is running right - should be about 35mpg when warm on a gentle run in an 8v and say about 32mpg on a 16v. A lower figure could indicate a need for a tune up type thing.


Good solid cars with a couple of minor inexpensive problems that should run for ages and get better with age.
Buying a MkIII Golf GTI - BB
1: Check thermostat is working correctly (I have had 2 on my VR6)
2: Check coil pack has no cracks in it (£200 from VW)
3: If you are buying a three door, check that the hinges are ok as the door is very heavy.
4: Dont buy a 8 valve GTi unless you like driving slowly everywhere.
5: Check the rest as per usual.