Thank you for mentioning this.
I am a owner of an affected TDI but did not receive the letter (or threw it away mistaking it for another car warranty junk mail letter) and was unaware of the "TDI Goodwill package"
I am a owner of an affected TDI but did not receive the letter (or threw it away mistaking it for another car warranty junk mail letter) and was unaware of the "TDI Goodwill package"
Any time I go in for service they ask if I've registered for the package yet and bug me to do so (presumably so I get the dealership card and they know I'll be back).
I bought mine used from a 3rd party dealership (non-VW specific), and still got the goodwill package.
Sign up for it here: https://www.vwdieselinfo.com/goodwill_package/
I'm a big do-it-yourselfer and generally avoid dealerships.
BTW If you haven't changed your serpentine belt lately, do it! Mine broke at 90,000 miles, wrapped itself around the timing sprocket, cause the engine to jump timing and broke 7 valves. Cost me about $3500 for a new head. Apparently it's fairly common.
Forum threads:
https://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=424956
https://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=407745
There is a design flaw that allows a shredded serpentine belt to work it's way past the timing cover and wreak havok. When I took apart the engine, the timing belt was in-tact.
There is now available a guard that you place behind the main crankshaft pulley to stop this from happening but I can't find it right this second.