Thermostat Gates or OEM Volkswagen

I’ve got the gates 180, 5 years strong no issues

Man, you just get the thermostat itself. Nothing more. Something like that was for 2008 Rabbit (2.5 I-5). Mine car had exactly same symptoms. It would reach 70 C and maybe at some point 80, but had tendency to stay cool (below 80) when driving. I know thermostat opens at 80 C, so anything below 80 is not quite right.

I got the GATES 34710 Thermostat. I haven't had any problems since replacing it 3 years ago.

Noticed coolant was low and could smell it sometimes. Dealership pressure tested system and found coolant leak at thermostat housing. Thermostat replaced under warranty. Its probably been leaking slowly for a year or more.

Independent mechanic noticed leak. Dealership confirmed the thermostat was cracked and leaking. Took a week for parts to arrive. Took a day to repair. All covered under warranty.

Bypass thermostat yellow arrow Included with radiator upper hose and you should be able to find the bypass by itself.

Forgot to add I test drove her last night to the store, holy $hit it runs like a beast, if I had to guess it feels like it got 20hp back and idles smooth as a new mk7 no shaking no cel lights just butter, it accelerates much smoother and faster then I ever had it. Such a difference it was amaze balls.

I'll throw a lower temp thermostat see if I can get her temp to stay low as possible for now

mine is also a problem an my car is 1.5 yrs old. Sometimes the temp gauge acts as if it is -40C outside even if it is a couple degrees above freezing. Often the car will take 4-5minutes to get near base idle when it is cool outside, but when it's really cold, sometimes it takes 30seconds and there is no way it's warmed up. Can also smell coolant anytime I open the hood. Sad.

I had my water pump and thermostat changed in August under warranty. I went for an oil change in Dec and they told me they think the thermostat is leaking. I told them they just replaced it 4 months ago. They went back and cleaned up the area around the thermostat and oil pan and said we need to monitor it to see if it's really leaking again. They were not surprised when I asked if it was possible it could be leaking again. They told me they see the part fail all the time.