The cam follower on the Mk5 2.0 FSI (engine code BPY) is a small part that causes big damage. The high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) is driven off a lobe on the intake cam through a bucket-style follower; if the follower wears through, it destroys the cam lobe and the pump.
Why it matters: a worn-through follower means metal debris, a wiped cam lobe and a dead HPFP — far more than the price of the part itself.
The check — do this:
- Inspect the follower every ~20k miles (and when buying). Pull it and look at the contact face: a shiny wear patch is fine; a hole worn through is failure.
- Fit the updated DLC-coated follower — the revised part lasts far better than the early one.
Symptoms if it's gone: long crank or no-start, low-fuel-pressure codes, rough running.
Which engines: primarily the Mk5 2.0 FSI (BPY); later TSI HPFP setups differ.
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