Reconditioned Volkswagen Polo Gearbox

Polo: do all engine variants come with a manual gearbox, or is DSG also available?

The answer varies considerably depending on the engine. For the majority of units — the 1.0, 1.2, 1.3, 1.6, 1.9 SDI and 1.2 TDI — only the 5-speed manual gearbox is fitted as standard. However, several engine variants offer a choice or come exclusively with DSG: the 1.4 TDI, 1.4, 1.0 TSI and 1.6 TDI can be paired with either a 5-speed manual or a DSG 7; the 1.2 TSI spans all three families — 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual and DSG 7 — depending on power output and generation; the 1.4 TSI is exclusively DSG 7; the 2.0 TSI (Polo GTI) is available with either DSG 7 or DSG 6. The 1.9 TDI, rarer on this model, exists in 5-speed or 6-speed manual. Our catalogue covers generations from 1981 to 2021, spanning around forty different engine codes (AMF, BNM, AZQ, CAYB, CHYA, DKLA, ASZ, BLT, among others).

The identification pitfall on the Polo

The same engine capacity can conceal gearboxes that are incompatible with one another. On the 1.2, engine codes AMF, AZQ, BZG, CGPA and CHZB do not share the same gearbox. On the 1.4 TDI, codes AMF and BNM correspond to different gearboxes. On the 1.6 TDI, the DSG 7 is fitted on certain codes (CAYB) whilst others receive a 5-speed manual. The engine code stamped on the block is the only reliable criterion for avoiding an ordering mistake: engine capacity and year alone are not sufficient.

DSG on the Polo: the technical implications

The DSG 6 and DSG 7 units available here are supplied without the mechatronic unit, with a new dual-clutch included. If your mechatronic unit is faulty, it must be dealt with separately. Two purchasing options are available: supply of a reconditioned unit in exchange for the return of your old unit, or reconditioning of your own gearbox which is then returned to you — these two options should not be confused, as lead times and logistics differ.