VW Golf MK6 1.4 TSI 122 bhp - chain rattle start-up noise

[MFire]

Hello, I bought a VW Golf MK6 1.4 TSI 122 bhp about a year ago and since january/february it started doing the following noise at cold start-up or when the car sits for more than 1-2 hours:

Golf 6 v1 - YouTube
Golf 6 v2 - YouTube

I did some research and asked some local mechanics and found 3 potential issues:

1)Actually not really an issue but some people told me that it's normal for this engine to sound like this during the start-up, because it needs 2-3 seconds to pump up the oil pressure. Now I'm not really sure what to think about this, it is true that the sound disappears after start-up and the engine runs normally but I don't want to suffer a timing chain breakage either.

2)I need to change the whole timing kit (chain, tensioner etc). About this I've read several opinions about people who changed the timing kit and they still got the same sound after this, I don't want to invest a lot of money if I'm not 100 % that this is the root cause.

3)I need to change the camshaft adjuster. In same cases this has been the root cause and because of this changing the timing kit didn't solve the problem.

Do you have any advice on what should I do or at least how can I 100 % identify the root cause ? I'm driving the car constantly and did like 20.000 km since I bought it and had no problems with it and also read opinions of people who used their car several tens of thousands of kms with this sound but I really want to be sure if it's safe to drive like this or if I should change something.

Thank you,

[Crasher]

That is VERY bad timing chain wear and possible low oil pressure, the system needs changing urgently. Yes you must change the VVT hub AND the control valve as in some cases this can be the actual cause of the noise, we used to leave the hub as it was so expensive but twice we were stung with the noise still being there. We use the Febi kits as their VVT hub they use is the exact same part as VW use but with the VW and Audi part number ground off. I would also recommend replacing the oil pump and chain plus tensioner. I get the kit as Febi 106306 the VVT valve as 104452, oil pump chain kit 170308 but they don’t appear to do the oil pump although FAI will and their parts are OK.

[MFire]

So you would recommend changing the Camshaft Adjuster first instead of the timing kit ? Is there any way in which I can know for sure which one is really the problem ?

[Crasher]

The adjuster is the most expensive part and the job of going back in there to do it again sole destroying, do it right... do it once.

[Crasher]

I will try and get time at work tomorrow to answer your message, it is a bit long to deal with on my iPad.