[ccc171]

Just went through this with mine. http://newbeetle.org/forums/2-0-liter-gas/58804-head-gasket-fail.html

You can check the head for square but I sent mine out to a local shop, who cleaned it up and machined it, for about $100. Get the head gasket set from Ebay
2.0 vw head gasket 2002 | eBay
The Mizumo is a complete kit and way cheaper than others; also included head bolts. Good quality stuff.

With all the special tools, parts and outsourcing I probably have about $500 tied up into it right now;that includes the new pump, both belts, all mount bolts, 2 bottles G-12, Mann filter and oil, head hose flange/sensor, thermostat/housing, plugs/wires and Bently's. I shopped at germanautoparts.com, but my local Napa stocks the OEM stuff (G-12, Mann, etc) for less than germanauto with shipping.

Read my thread, and heed everything. I'm currently fighting a leak in the cooling system, which could have been avoided. Good luck.

 

[ccc171]

I did nearly all the work myself and got a deal on the head work; most of my cost was in parts. Not 100% sure, but I believe, for all the work I did, a shop would charge upwards of $2,000, considering I was quoted almost $800 for just the timing belt/water pump change; Audi wants about $2,000 for that service alone, and that was 3 years ago.