Used VW Cylinder Heads For Sale in South Africa
Typically R3 000 – R22 000
Prices
Indicative South African prices for used units. Final price depends on condition, mileage and availability — send your VIN and we’ll confirm.
| Part | Condition | Price range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 MPI head (CFNA, AKL, BAH) | Used, pressure tested | R3 000 - R6 500 | Polo, Polo Vivo, Golf. Almost always replaced after an overheat. |
| 2.0 8V head (AZJ, AQY, ADY) | Used, pressure tested | R3 000 - R6 000 | Golf 4, Jetta 4, Beetle. Cheapest head in the VW range. |
| 1.8T 20V head (AGU, AEB, AMB, AUQ) | Used, skimmed if required | R3 500 - R7 000 | The 058 casting also fits the naturally aspirated ADR. |
| 1.2 TSI head (CBZ, CJZ) | Used | R3 500 - R7 000 | Confirm 8-valve versus 16-valve — the two are not interchangeable. |
| 1.4 TSI head, EA111 (CAXA, CAVD, BMY) | Used | R4 000 - R8 000 | Chain-driven. Inspect the tensioner while the head is off. |
| 1.4 TSI head, EA211 (CZCA, CHPA) | Used | R5 000 - R9 500 | Integrated exhaust manifold. Does not swap with the older 03C head. |
| 1.9 TDI PD head (ASZ, AWX, BLS, BXE) | Used, complete with cam | R6 000 - R11 000 | Local listings for complete heads with injectors sit around R10 000. |
| 2.0 TDI PD head (BKD, BMM, AZV) | Used, complete with cams | R7 000 - R12 000 | Golf 5 BKD heads list at roughly R12 000-R13 000 complete locally. |
| 2.0 TDI common rail head (CFFB, CBAB) | Used | R7 500 - R13 000 | Injectors need coding to the ECU after refitting. |
| 2.0 TSI EA888 head (CHHB, CJXC) | Used | R8 000 - R16 000 | Gen 2 and Gen 3 castings differ. Match the engine code exactly. |
| 2.8 VR6 head (AAA, AES) | Used | R6 000 - R12 000 | Single head across both banks. Scarce — allow time to source. |
| 3.0 V6 TDI head, per bank (CASA, CJKB) | Used | R8 000 - R16 000 | Touareg and Amarok V6. Left and right banks are different parts. |
| 2.5 5-cylinder head (07K) | Imported | R12 000 - R22 000 | No local strips. Priced in line with the Audi 2.5 five-cylinder head. |
| Head gasket set and stretch bolts | New | R1 200 - R3 800 | Stretch bolts are single-use. Never reuse them, on any engine. |
| Skim, pressure test and valve grind | Machine shop | R1 800 - R4 500 | Worth doing on any used head before it goes onto your block. |
Used VW cylinder head prices in South Africa start around R3 000 for a 1.6 MPI or 2.0 8-valve and reach R22 000 for an imported 2.5 five-cylinder head. In between sit the ones most people need: R3 500 to R7 000 for a 1.8T 20-valve, R6 000 to R11 000 for a 1.9 TDI PD, R7 000 to R13 000 for a 2.0 TDI and R8 000 to R16 000 for a 2.0 TSI EA888. The first question to settle is whether you are buying a bare casting or a complete head. On a PD diesel the camshaft, rockers and unit injectors can be worth more than the casting itself, so get it in writing. The second is machining. Nearly every head comes off because of overheating, and overheating warps the mating face, so budget R1 800 to R4 500 for a skim, pressure test and valve grind before it goes anywhere near your block. Third, buy new stretch bolts. VW head bolts are torque-to-yield and permanently deform when tightened — reusing them is the most common reason a repaired engine leaks again within months. Fix the original cause too: a failed water pump or stuck thermostat will destroy the replacement head just as fast.
Units we commonly carry
1.8T 20V Cylinder Head
Code: 058 103 373
R3 500 - R7 000
- Valves
- 20 (5 per cylinder), DOHC
- Engine codes
- AGU, AEB, AMB, AWT, AUQ, ADR
- Casting
- 058 — shared with the naturally aspirated ADR
- Supplied
- Bare or complete with cams and valves
Fits: Golf, Jetta, Passat, Beetle
1.9 TDI PD Cylinder Head
Code: 038 103 373
R6 000 - R11 000
- Valves
- 8, SOHC with unit injectors
- Engine codes
- ASZ, AWX, BLS, BXE, BKC, ATD
- Supplied
- Often complete with cam, rockers and injectors
- Check
- Cam lobe and rocker roller wear — the PD weak point
Fits: Golf, Jetta, Passat, Caddy, Touran
2.0 TDI PD Cylinder Head
Code: 03G 103 351
R7 000 - R12 000
- Valves
- 16, DOHC with unit injectors
- Engine codes
- BKD, BMM, AZV, BKP
- Supplied
- Bare, or complete with cams and injectors
- Check
- Cracking between the valve seats on high-km heads
Fits: Golf, Jetta, Passat, Touran, Caddy
2.0 TDI Common Rail Cylinder Head
Code: 03L 103 351
R7 500 - R13 000
- Valves
- 16, DOHC
- Engine codes
- CFFB, CBAB, CLCA, CFHC, CDCA
- Injection
- Common rail — no unit injectors in the head
- Check
- Glow plug threads and injector bore condition
Fits: Golf, Jetta, Passat, Tiguan, Caddy
1.4 TSI Cylinder Head (EA111)
Code: 03C 103 373
R4 000 - R8 000
- Valves
- 16, DOHC
- Engine codes
- CAXA, CAVD, BMY, BLG
- Timing
- Chain-driven — inspect the tensioner while apart
- Check
- Carbon build-up on the inlet valves
Fits: Golf, Jetta, Polo, Caddy, Scirocco
1.4 TSI Cylinder Head (EA211)
Code: 04E 103 404
R5 000 - R9 500
- Valves
- 16, DOHC
- Engine codes
- CZCA, CHPA, CZDA, DADA
- Feature
- Integrated exhaust manifold in the casting
- Timing
- Belt-driven on EA211 — unlike the EA111
Fits: Golf, Polo, T-Roc, T-Cross, Tiguan
1.2 TSI Cylinder Head
Code: 03F 103 373
R3 500 - R7 000
- Valves
- 8 on early EA111, 16 on EA211
- Engine codes
- CBZA, CBZB, CJZA, CJZB
- Check
- Chain guide debris in the head oil galleries
- Supplied
- Bare or complete with cams
Fits: Polo, Golf, Caddy
2.0 TSI Cylinder Head (EA888)
Code: 06K 103 404
R8 000 - R16 000
- Valves
- 16, DOHC with variable exhaust timing
- Engine codes
- CHHB, CJXC, CCZB, CZPA
- Feature
- Integrated exhaust manifold and water jacket
- Fitment
- Golf 6/7 GTI and R, Tiguan, Passat, Arteon
Fits: Golf, Tiguan, Passat, Arteon, Scirocco
2.5 5-Cylinder Cylinder Head (07K)
Code: 07K 103 351
R12 000 - R22 000
- Valves
- 20, DOHC
- Engine codes
- 07K family — BGP, CBTA, CBUA
- Supply
- Imported stock only — no local strips
- Check
- Chain drive at the rear of the head
Fits: Jetta, Golf, Beetle, Passat
2.0 8V Cylinder Head
Code: 06A 103 351
R3 000 - R6 000
- Valves
- 8, SOHC
- Engine codes
- AZJ, AQY, ADY, AGG
- Supplied
- Usually complete with cam and valves
- Check
- Warp across the face — skimming is often needed
Fits: Golf, Jetta, Beetle, Citi Golf
1.6 MPI Cylinder Head
Code: 036 103 373
R3 000 - R6 500
- Valves
- 8, SOHC
- Engine codes
- CFNA, BAH, AKL, CLS
- Fitment
- Polo, Polo Vivo, Polo Sedan, Golf
- Check
- Overheating damage — the usual reason it is replaced
Fits: Polo, Polo Vivo, Golf, Jetta
2.8 VR6 Cylinder Head
Code: 021 103 373
R6 000 - R12 000
- Valves
- 12, single head over both banks
- Engine codes
- AAA, AES, AFP
- Design
- One head serves all six cylinders (15° VR layout)
- Check
- Chain guide wear at the rear of the block
Fits: Golf, Jetta, Passat, Sharan
3.0 V6 TDI Cylinder Head (per bank)
Code: 059 103 063
R8 000 - R16 000
- Valves
- 24 total, DOHC — sold per bank
- Engine codes
- CASA, CATA, CJKB, DDXC
- Supplied
- Left and right banks are different castings
- Check
- Confirm which bank you need before ordering
Fits: Touareg, Amarok
Common questions
How much is a used VW cylinder head in South Africa?
A 1.6 MPI or 2.0 8-valve head runs R3 000 to R6 500. A 1.8T 20-valve is R3 500 to R7 000, a 1.9 TDI PD head R6 000 to R11 000 and a 2.0 TDI R7 000 to R13 000. The 2.0 TSI EA888 sits at R8 000 to R16 000 and the imported 2.5 five-cylinder head at R12 000 to R22 000. Local listings for complete TDI heads with injectors cluster around R10 000 to R13 000.
Is the head sold bare or complete?
It varies, and the difference is significant. A bare head is the casting with valves and seats only. A complete head adds camshafts, rockers or lifters, and on a PD diesel the unit injectors as well. Injectors alone can be worth more than the casting, so always confirm in writing exactly what is bolted to the head before agreeing a price.
Should a used head be skimmed before fitting?
Almost always. Most heads come off because of overheating, which warps the mating face. A machine shop will check flatness, skim if needed, pressure test for cracks and grind the valves for R1 800 to R4 500. Skipping that step to save money is how people end up doing the same job twice within a year.
Do I need new head bolts?
Yes, without exception. VW uses torque-to-yield stretch bolts that permanently deform when tightened. Reusing them means unreliable clamping force and a gasket that fails again. A full gasket set with new stretch bolts costs R1 200 to R3 800 depending on the engine, which is trivial against the labour of pulling the head twice.
How do I know whether my head is cracked or just gasket failed?
A blown gasket typically shows white exhaust smoke, coolant loss with no external leak, oil and coolant mixing, or bubbles in the expansion tank. A cracked head shows the same symptoms but persists after a gasket replacement. The only reliable answer is to remove the head and have it pressure tested — visual inspection misses hairline cracks between the valve seats.
What causes VW cylinder heads to fail?
Overheating is the main cause, usually from a failed water pump, a blocked radiator or a stuck thermostat. On 1.9 and 2.0 PD diesels the second cause is camshaft and rocker wear, where the lobes flatten and take the head with them. On TSI petrol engines it is carbon build-up and timing chain debris finding its way into the oil galleries.
Can I fit a head from a different engine code?
Only within the same family. The 058 1.8T casting fits both turbo and naturally aspirated 20-valve engines, but an EA111 1.4 TSI head will not go onto an EA211 block despite the same displacement, and PD and common-rail 2.0 TDI heads are entirely different. Send us your engine code and we will confirm the exact casting you need.
What warranty comes with a used cylinder head?
Three to six months on the casting, covering cracks and porosity. Warranty is void if the head was fitted without being pressure tested and skimmed, if old stretch bolts were reused, or if the original overheating cause — water pump, thermostat, radiator — was not repaired at the same time.
Get a firm price today
Send us your VW model, year and VIN. We’ll confirm what we have and what it costs, delivered.