New Member!

itmike78 · Aug 2, 2016

Hello everyone,

Mike from Florida here...just purchased a 2012 Touareg TDI Sport, white w/black leather, nav, pano roof. I was happy to find this club online especially given my lack of knowledge regarding the Touareg or the TDI platform. Now to start off I do have a few questions and I'm sure this group will be able to help me out. The first question I have is whether or not I got a good deal! :serious: To me it seemed like a pretty good deal but here are some basics to help you all answer this question for me. As mentioned this is a 2012 TDI Sport - AWD, White, Black leather, Nav, Pano Roof, 111K miles, needs new tires but otherwise things seem to be in great shape like the body and interior. The dealer was asking $21,600 but I was able to get them down to $19K. So no holding back...good deal or not??

Other questions:
- Oil changes: Any special tools required? Recommended oil to use? I typically use Mobile1 Fully Synthetic extended performance
- Tires: needs tires as mentioned... Purchase new tires for stock 19" Everest wheels or buy a 20" wheel/tire package to replace factory
- Hole in front bumper: needs a replacement filler for the front bumper where the jack point is. (at least that's what I think it is)
- TDI engine: So how many miles is this thing capable of racking up?
- Off Road: What does the "On Road" "Off Road" selector switch do exactly?
- Recalls: I think I saw there was one recall for a brake clip? Any info on that or other recalls?
- Window Sticker: Any way to get the window sticker online?
- Towing: There is a hitch on this Touareg. How do I know how much I can tow? I see there were two different options available for towing?

Are there any Florida groups that meet up? Anything else I should know to beware of or that I should be looking forward to with this vehicle? I'm excited to get it on the road! :wink2:

Thanks for any info you guys can provide!

Mike

noobytoogy · Aug 2, 2016

itmike78 said:
Hello everyone,

Mike from Florida here...just purchased a 2012 Touareg TDI Sport, white w/black leather, nav, pano roof. I was happy to find this club online especially given my lack of knowledge regarding the Touareg or the TDI platform. Now to start off I do have a few questions and I'm sure this group will be able to help me out. The first question I have is whether or not I got a good deal! :serious: To me it seemed like a pretty good deal but here are some basics to help you all answer this question for me. As mentioned this is a 2012 TDI Sport - AWD, White, Black leather, Nav, Pano Roof, 111K miles, needs new tires but otherwise things seem to be in great shape like the body and interior. The dealer was asking $21,600 but I was able to get them down to $19K. So no holding back...good deal or not??

Other questions:
- Oil changes: Any special tools required? Recommended oil to use? I typically use Mobile1 Fully Synthetic extended performance
- Tires: needs tires as mentioned... Purchase new tires for stock 19" Everest wheels or buy a 20" wheel/tire package to replace factory
- Hole in front bumper: needs a replacement filler for the front bumper where the jack point is. (at least that's what I think it is)
- TDI engine: So how many miles is this thing capable of racking up?
- Off Road: What does the "On Road" "Off Road" selector switch do exactly?
- Recalls: I think I saw there was one recall for a brake clip? Any info on that or other recalls?
- Window Sticker: Any way to get the window sticker online?
- Towing: There is a hitch on this Touareg. How do I know how much I can tow? I see there were two different options available for towing?

Are there any Florida groups that meet up? Anything else I should know to beware of or that I should be looking forward to with this vehicle? I'm excited to get it on the road! :wink2:

Thanks for any info you guys can provide!

Mike

Personally I'd prefer a proper drain down but this works for quite a few folk and use VW approved 507.00 oil:

VW Touareg TDI and Audi Q7 DIY oil change with oil extractor | VW TDI forum, Audi, Porsche, and Chevy Cruze diesel forum

Read the manual ref the jacking points!

Go to the VW dealer for the missing recovery hook cover for the front bumper and whilst you're there ask them to run off the build sheets for your car, also known as the data sheets, and also ask if the recalls are up to date on the car.

ALWAYS run with 4 IDENTICAL tires - same make, same size, same model, same tread pattern, and no more than 2/32ths tread depth difference. Touareg tires normally wear evenly.

As for the Tdi, they're only good for 112,001 miles so make the most of the time you've got left . . .

JimJ · Aug 3, 2016

As for the Tdi, they're only good for 112,001 miles

Is that written anywhere or from personal experience?

Yeti · Aug 3, 2016

JimJ said:
Is that written anywhere or from personal experience?

That is just Nooby being a smart azz...

2blueyam · Aug 3, 2016

On the towing: if it is a factory hitch receiver, it should be rated for 7700lb, but the tongue weight is the limiting factor. I think it is 700lb on the 2012, but there have been some disagreements / mis-publications on that.

Tires for the 19" wheels are getting common enough now that you don't really need to go to the 20" unless you really want to do so. I think the 19" wheels are a good compromise between ride and handling.

47Driver · Aug 4, 2016

I love reading all these questions. The excitement of the crazy new thing that will change the way you look at cars forever! Welcome.

I think you got a good deal. These Touaregs are hard to find and really price out.

Before you add a drop of any fluid anywhere on your VW, read you owners manual. Then ask us, then read the owners manual again. This one tip can save you thousands of dollars. I order my oil online...well, I did until my dealer got wise to my savings plan. Then he offered to change oil at a very reasonable $$ amount. I disappear to all points across the globe within 4 hours of a phone call, so my wife normally takes it in for service while I'm gone. She says it gives the family more time together and shortens my "honey do" list.

Listen to Nooby about the tires. Tires are the second most important thing you put on your car. Don't go cheap.

Diesels are not gassers. Preventive maintenance is very important, and if done right, will save you tons of money over a gasser. Don't wait for things to break. Do things when they are due.

Towing. I tow a 24' travel trailer with my 2010 with 165,000 miles on it. Just drove from Merritt Island to South Dakota and back. No issues...except for getting pulled over for speeding.

I am a bit north of you (close to Panama City) but I do have a VAG Com.

itmike78 · Aug 5, 2016

47Driver said:
I love reading all these questions. The excitement of the crazy new thing that will change the way you look at cars forever! Welcome.

I think you got a good deal. These Touaregs are hard to find and really price out.

Before you add a drop of any fluid anywhere on your VW, read you owners manual. Then ask us, then read the owners manual again. This one tip can save you thousands of dollars. I order my oil online...well, I did until my dealer got wise to my savings plan. Then he offered to change oil at a very reasonable $$ amount. I disappear to all points across the globe within 4 hours of a phone call, so my wife normally takes it in for service while I'm gone. She says it gives the family more time together and shortens my "honey do" list.

Listen to Nooby about the tires. Tires are the second most important thing you put on your car. Don't go cheap.

Diesels are not gassers. Preventive maintenance is very important, and if done right, will save you tons of money over a gasser. Don't wait for things to break. Do things when they are due.

Towing. I tow a 24' travel trailer with my 2010 with 165,000 miles on it. Just drove from Merritt Island to South Dakota and back. No issues...except for getting pulled over for speeding.

I am a bit north of you (close to Panama City) but I do have a VAG Com.

Thanks 47Driver for commenting on whether or not I got a good deal. :smile2: You're the first so far to comment on that question.

OK, so what does this ECU tune do for your 2010??? I'd love to know! :wink2: Same engine in the 2010 and 2012 correct?

I wish I knew what had been done to this car so far maintenance wise. Maybe I'll have to see if the local VW dealer can shed any light on that for me and hopefully the previous owner had all of their maintenance done at VW.

Tried to look at the oil today and the dipstick was stuck. I am afraid to pull on it too hard because it really is stuck! Has that happened to anybody else on here?
Another issue I have is the fact that I only received 1 key. I'm sure adding a second will be an expensive endeavor...

Any other info you think will be helpful to me? You're right...for me this is a crazy new thing. #1 - I've never owned a diesel vehicle (although I just rented one for two weeks in Germany) and #2 - I've never paid that much for a vehicle with over 100K miles on it!!! But I'm confident it was a good decision and that I will be enjoying this Touareg for years to come!

47Driver · Aug 5, 2016

itmike78 said:
OK, so what does this ECU tune do for your 2010??? I'd love to know! :wink2: Same engine in the 2010 and 2012 correct?

I wish I knew what had been done to this car so far maintenance wise. Maybe I'll have to see if the local VW dealer can shed any light on that for me and hopefully the previous owner had all of their maintenance done at VW.

Tried to look at the oil today and the dipstick was stuck. I am afraid to pull on it too hard because it really is stuck! Has that happened to anybody else on here?
Another issue I have is the fact that I only received 1 key. I'm sure adding a second will be an expensive endeavor...QUOTE]

The ECU tune makes the response to my right toe better. The towing difference is where it makes the money. I have set my cruise at 90 (where it is legalish) with my 24 ft travel trailer behind me and flown through the mountains of Wyoming and Montana. I may go all the way with Malone in the future for a bit more umph.

Don't pull to0 hard on that dipstick. Take it in, get to know your maintenance manager, and while he fixes it, ask about pulling up maint history. If it was done at any VW dealer, he can get it for you.

2nd Key, do a bit of searching on the forum. It has been discussed. I'd like to answer, but I really don't know.

itmike78 · Aug 8, 2016

47Driver said:
The ECU tune makes the response to my right toe better. The towing difference is where it makes the money. I have set my cruise at 90 (where it is legalish) with my 24 ft travel trailer behind me and flown through the mountains of Wyoming and Montana. I may go all the way with Malone in the future for a bit more umph.

Don't pull to0 hard on that dipstick. Take it in, get to know your maintenance manager, and while he fixes it, ask about pulling up maint history. If it was done at any VW dealer, he can get it for you.

2nd Key, do a bit of searching on the forum. It has been discussed. I'd like to answer, but I really don't know.

OK, so the T-Reg is at the dealer today. Already I'm promising myself that I will learn how to change the oil myself on this going forward.

Oil Change Service + "Go through the dash to get service history" $245
4-wheel alignment $248
New cabin air filter and clean the housing $78

So $570 for my first trip to the dealer. No discounts, coupons, etc offered by my new maintenance manager. Overall I'm not familiar with the typical cost for any of these VW services as they relate to the T-Reg but I definitely will take on any service that I can perform on my own to save a bit of $$.

EulessDave · Aug 8, 2016

Did the service manager say anything about the dipstick? There are a lot of posts on here about them and why they get stuck, so if he unsticked it, then fine. Otherwise see if there's a post on what to try.

Changing the oil is a piece of cake, just make sure you use the right oil and filter.

That cabin filter is a 10 second pop-in job that you can do, too. You might also consider getting a VCDS system. This is a VW specific diagnostic tool that can read and clear all codes from the car. With mine I basically scan the car and get the number of any codes that pop up, then come here and search for them to see what the issue is. Sometimes it's something you can easily or cheaply fix, sometimes not. But at least you know the problem before the dealer starts their work.

You did get a good price on this! The TDI's are coming down because of the EPA thing, but that doesn't mean the car doesn't perform well.

As for mileage, these TDI's will get up over 300,000 before they're really broken in. Keep the maintenance up and I see no reason why you can't expect 400,000. Mine is closing in on 300,000 now and (knock wood) running like a champ. I was up over 95 MPH for about 3 hours going from Midland to El Paso. Or maybe not.

itmike78 · Aug 8, 2016

EulessDave said:
Did the service manager say anything about the dipstick? There are a lot of posts on here about them and why they get stuck, so if he unsticked it, then fine. Otherwise see if there's a post on what to try.

Changing the oil is a piece of cake, just make sure you use the right oil and filter.

That cabin filter is a 10 second pop-in job that you can do, too. You might also consider getting a VCDS system. This is a VW specific diagnostic tool that can read and clear all codes from the car. With mine I basically scan the car and get the number of any codes that pop up, then come here and search for them to see what the issue is. Sometimes it's something you can easily or cheaply fix, sometimes not. But at least you know the problem before the dealer starts their work.

You did get a good price on this! The TDI's are coming down because of the EPA thing, but that doesn't mean the car doesn't perform well.

As for mileage, these TDI's will get up over 300,000 before they're really broken in. Keep the maintenance up and I see no reason why you can't expect 400,000. Mine is closing in on 300,000 now and (knock wood) running like a champ. I was up over 95 MPH for about 3 hours going from Midland to El Paso. Or maybe not.

Thanks for your reply!

It turns out the "stuck dipstick" was just a tire shop trying to check my oil and not knowing what they were doing. The service manager said something about there being an electronic system for that and that you have to do it from the dash computer's controls. Like an electronic release or something I'm guessing? So it wasn't stuck after all so that's good.

I think I will change my own oil from this point forward. I know there are quite a few discussions online on the correct procedure and oil to use so I'll just review all of that before I do anything. I've changed the oil in my vehicles before and always have used Mobile1 Fully Synthetic. I read that this needs a different type of Mobile1 specific to diesel vehicles. After I do it once it will be like riding a bike... :wink2: How about that tank in the back for the Blu something or another? Can you do that on your own too?

As for the cabin filter I just had them go ahead and do it. It smelled pretty bad when the air was on (not sure if it was mildew or a smoker's car) so the dealer was also able to run something through the system to clean it. They said the filter was completely clogged and old and the car smells much better now so I think it helped a lot. Probably could have done that myself like you said but not sure if I could have cleaned out the system as well.

Glad to get some reassurance on the deal/price. It turns out I actually have the TDI Lux model and not a Sport. It's pretty much fully decked out with every option so I'm happy. This thing drives great and I love the torque!! I don't speed though!! >

47Driver · Aug 9, 2016

I order all my oil and filters online from a vendor in MA that specializes in Diesel cars. I also use an oil extractor rather than drain. Many different views on which is best. I prefer extracting, just make sure your oil is hot.

The only oil I put in my cars is Liqui Moly or Pentosin. All other (in my humble opinion) are not worthy of being in my cars.

AdBlue...you opened a debate. So, I'm in the aviation business. I purchase the crazy expensive stuff from the dealer, and the DEF from a truck stop. Sent two samples off to the lab for testing. They came back as identical. Here is where you can get hosed. DEF does have a shelf life. If you find a box at WalMart that is covered in dust, don't get it. The WalMart that I get mine hardly can keep it on the shelf (next door to the Flying J), so it is always fresh.

The smell in the cabin. Mine smells like Crayons. Not sure why, but I was that kids in grade school who ate them, so I'm happy with it. It reminds me of the good old days.

Last thing. Read your owners manual. No really. Sit down and read it. It will save you hours and days of frustration later. This car isn't the chevy we are all familiar with.

EulessDave · Aug 9, 2016

47Driver said:
I was that kids in grade school who ate crayons, so I'm happy with it. It reminds me of the good old days.

Crayons taste awful!

I'll stick with paste.

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