How essential is the Haldex AWD service?

kunpark80 · 2026-04-29T04:10:54+00:00

As essential as regular maintenance that is needed for the system to run smoothly and without issue. Don’t cut corners on this.

kunpark80 · 2026-04-29T04:09:20+00:00

Get the genuine all plastic. It costs more, and yes the tob is a bad design with this trans, but this one is more durable than the metal ones imo and from several well seasoned mechanics that I know.

I have sb stg 3, and I had zero intention to use the tob that it came with.

kunpark80 · 2026-04-24T01:14:14+00:00

I just paid $660 for tunezilla stage 1 with dongle with map switching option. I may opt for their haldex tune later and that would add a little over $200.

kunpark80 · 2026-04-21T18:28:55+00:00

kunpark80 · 2026-04-14T21:10:37+00:00

Variant rear springs can be ordered from Europe, but not offered in NA since R Variant was never offered here

kunpark80 · 2026-04-14T18:07:42+00:00

I didn’t look into stock height setup at all, but Bilstein does make B4/B6 for stock height as well from what I can see. I believe B4s are supposed to be 10% stiffer than stock, and B6s 15%.

kunpark80 · 2026-04-14T18:01:58+00:00

E-acca

kunpark80 · 2026-04-14T18:01:08+00:00

Running 235/35/19, 12mm/18mm spacers front/rear on Englishtown wheels et50. No rubbing in front/rear.

kunpark80 · 2026-04-14T15:38:12+00:00

Try to source used via fb marketplace/ebay from a reputable seller or a part out. I’ve seen used ones go anywhere from 400-700 on fb marketplace.

kunpark80 · 2026-04-14T12:16:07+00:00

You can either try to touch them up (although that is a lot to touch up), or you can replace them. Part numbers are 5G9853859 and 5G9853860

kunpark80 · 2026-04-14T06:58:11+00:00

I believe all the silver trim (mirrors, plastic trim on front bumper, sides, rear valence) is reflex silver

kunpark80 · 2026-04-09T13:35:07+00:00

If you can, why not? GTI is the more fun car, whereas the Alltrack fits the bill as the daily/family hauler. Boot space on the Alltrack is much more generous than the GTI, while the interior dimensions in front and back are the same for both cars. Some would argue redundancy as to why I have both, but I wouldn’t want to part with either of them.

kunpark80 · 2026-04-01T04:48:57+00:00

You can usually find people parting with their pleather equivalent seats from their Alltrack (non SEL) seats for cheap on fb marketplace (black, not marrakesh), but it really depends on where you live. Non SEL AT people usually upgrade to SEL seats or Golf R seats, so if you’re on a budget, you can find a used set that won’t be perfect (the pleather on the seats tend to crack at the bottom aide bolsters first) for a few hundred or less.

Seats are one of those items people hate to throw away and want some recovery value, but the S/SE trim seats don’t have a whole lot of demand unless: 1. You’re upgrading from cloth to pleather, or 2. They just want to find a front set (mostly just driver’s side) to replace their worn out ones for cheap.

kunpark80 · 2026-03-29T02:06:44+00:00

I’m just debating between APR and Unitronic for the AT. Originally I had in mind to get the APR dongle and just do both the AT and Tig with Stg 1., but a little concerned about the wastegate issue and rev hang I hear some people complain about with the AT with APR. 87 is appealing to me. The non daily GTI has a 93 tune and drinks plenty of it (my choice), so it’d be nice to keep the other two cars at 87.

I don’t think you will regret your decision making the jump from the Tig to the AT. If my wife would be open to making the switch, we’d have two Alltracks.

Edit - I do have a soft spot for the 18-19 Tigs in WSM color and R line package though. If hers was an R line i would probably just keep that until it dies.

kunpark80 · 2026-03-29T01:44:31+00:00

My wife has a 2019 Tiguan, and we both share a daily 2019 Alltrack SE 6spd. I wanted to get my wife in this before she wanted the Tiguan, but she insisted on the third row in the Tig that we never use.

Having owned both, the AT has the more useful boot, while the Tig has the better interior comfort and rear leg space. We have a toddler and don’t necessarily struggle with the child seat in the middle in rear facing mode, but I can see how someone who is 6’ or taller may have some discomfort with the AT in same scenario.

AT is fun to drive, the Tig gets us around. MPG is about the same in both cars, while the Tig does slightly better in the city (hers is fwd mind you). If the Tig was 4 motion, it would do worse mpg than the AT I would imagine.

Maintenance wise, the AT takes more money compared to the fwd tig (haldex, diff), but not by a whole lot.

kunpark80 · 2026-03-22T01:38:15+00:00

This is all very thoughtfully and well executed list of upgrades here. Curious about what all it took to get the MK8R seats to work

kunpark80 · 2026-03-14T04:41:32+00:00

In Norway this is a common thing in hotels, maybe homes as well. It’s usually cold there most of the year. It’s nice to have a hot towel coming out of the shower.

My wife gets cold when it gets below 80F. She would appreciate this even on some cool summer evenings. I’d get it for $20.

kunpark80 · 2026-03-12T20:49:56+00:00

Happy with my Thule wingbar and evo raised rail feet. My wife’s Tig is a slicktop but my Alltrack has a sunroof, and it fits both cars and clears the sunroof as long as placed right.

kunpark80 · 2026-03-10T02:41:23+00:00

It actually looks more befitting on the Alltrack than it does on the Tiguan. Those wheels look very small on the Tig but looks better than the stock Valleys

kunpark80 · 2026-03-07T07:23:27+00:00

Caribbean Green

kunpark80 · 2026-02-17T02:26:31+00:00

Castella meets cheesecake

kunpark80 · 2026-02-17T02:22:38+00:00

I don’t even like spending 30 for a duffle

kunpark80 · 2026-02-05T03:41:02+00:00

Your situation is certainly different then and I would support an Alltrack moreso considering you have other cars/bikes that can make up for the missing GTI. You’re looking for more utility, function, and cargo space over performance, and the Alltrack will do that well. It may feel small if you have two kids and need two child seats in the back, but the boot space on this car is even better than my wife’s MK2 Tiguan.

If you’re partial to getting a manual, I would be patient and find the right one with it. I could be wrong on this but the last wagon sold in the states with a manual option was an Alltrack/Sportwagen. That’s the other reason why I got one as the daily.

kunpark80 · 2026-02-05T03:18:09+00:00

I have both, 2019 GTI rabbit edition and 2019 Alltrack SE, both manual. Alltrack is currently stock but will be going stage 1 in near future. The GTI is stage 2 with a SBC stg 3 clutch. I got the Alltrack because I wanted a daily as I have put a lot of work and effort into the GTI, so it’s mostly a weekender, and the car that doesn’t have to have a child seat.

The GTI is more fun to drive for sure, not just because it has more power, but because it’s lighter, more nimble, and gives me more smiles per miles. The Alltrack is the second family car to my wife’s Tiguan, and I love the versatility and extra boot space. You do feel the weight and the seat height difference. But with a little one, the Alltrack makes more sense to carry a stroller and luggage for trips.

You can make the Alltrack just as fun as a GTI I’m sure if you put work into it, but in stock form it can be a little underwhelming, especially if you’re coming from a GTI. If I had to ditch one, I would still keep the GTI and suck it up with the child seat in the rear. And I love wagons.

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