Charcoal canister filter and black exhaust tips

[finetrond]

Just had the car in for service, the mechanic says i need to change the charcoal filter in the engine bay. It is not working and causing the exhaust tips to be black, well that and the added pollution. Neither bothers me too much. I thought i was the fuel being a lesser quality
I was quoted a hefty $445 for the pleasure. Is this guy taking a piss trying to gut a foreigner?

[Paradox1]

Please dont replace it. surely its not that much. was it a VW dealer who serviced your car? the charcoal canisters rarely break. they are there for emission purposes.

Alot of people replace them with a catch tank system anyway. You can vent the breather gasses to the catch tank or to the atmosphere. eitherway is way cheaper than buying a canister.

[Roy_01]

445$ thats a scam. Its just charcoal....

[finetrond]

Yes It did not seem right. I service my car regularly at a dealer. So I guess they thought they had me on hook, line and sinker.
A new filter should suffice then I understand.

[Paradox1]

Just delete it.

Im sure there is enough guides on this forum or on mk5 gti forum, its the same engine essentially