davecheng

I guess we're talking routine maintenance.

Thinking to some of the other cars in the VAG family:

-- VW Passat W8 oxygen sensor replacement. Step one is remove engine, according to ELSA.

-- VW Touareg V8 alternator replacement also requires removal of engine.

Surely there must be something even more ridiculous on this car.

Smarty39

The core itself only costs ~$50 and it requires the entire dash and supporting brackets to be removed...everything right down to the firewall. I think the shop manual says something like 8 hours to R&R...took me the better part of two days going slow! Check my pic poster for the carnage...

P. Bauer

heater core, power steering lines (both), fuel filter (for some).

Roque

I don't ever want to do that!

davecheng

Images in your PP are frightening. Moreso than a motor pull. Interior is probably squeak city now?

Smarty39

And yes, I would rather do an engine pull again than have to deal with that! I was very careful putting things back together in order to avoid squeaks but I think I missed the main clip by the sensor...which is why it rattles. I'm contemplating doing an alcantara dash, so it may come out again anyway

Couver

I'd sell the car before going through that

Smarty39

I thought about taking it to the wreckers when all the pieces were on the floor lol

FatFreeVW

power steering i was able to sneak through the wheel well once....

and another time i had to drop the engine to pull teh rack...

actually swapping turbo's is a royal pita too

UberVier

but yea heater core on any car sounds god awful.