So at the risk of being flamed I wanted to ask for experience/advice from you all. I have a 2002 1.8T GTI that is self tuned K04 hybrid E85 making good power, but the body of the car is rotting away. I also own a 2012 2.0TFSI DSG GTI that is burning oil like its job. I have been working on VW professionally for a very long time and am not a huge fan of the TSI engine compared to my beloved 1.8T's. So my question is, has anyone swapped an ME7 1.8T into a vehicle originally equipped with a TSI and DSG?? My biggest concerns are cooling fan operation (given the PWM signal the modern stuff uses vs the cooling fan module with ground signal from the ECM the MK4's use, it is unclear to me if the ME7 ECU also uses a PWM or if it just pulls the signal wire to ground) and tied into that is A/C system function. From what I have read most of the problems with DSG swapped cars manifest from the lack of proper ABS/instrument cluster stuff for vehicle speed, but given this car is native DSG it seems to me most of that will be a non issue.

Justin

Anything possible with enough time and money with that said I'd think cooling fans would be the least of worries. I dont think anything will be compatible electronically between the 2. Throttle pedal pot is not the same, cluster won't read tac and will be a complete Christmas tree. The dsg won't bolt up to the 1.8t. The engine side mount might be the same but I doubt it, you'll need a fsi trans or other of later variants that share the early watercooled bolt pattern and flywheel bolt pattern. That's just off the top of my head. If you choose  to go forward with the swap make sure you document  it would be an interesting read. Best of luck

Yust rebuild that TSI engine and you can get more power and more liner torque curve than on 1.8T
For me that would be big downgrade to put in 1.8T, but that is only my opinion
What HP are your goal?

IMO the 1.8t is a gutless wonder.

2.7t and you have something worth doing.

I'd take a vrt over a 2.7 any day