It's a "paper" gasket and they aren't all that uncommon.

 

My car's a 99.5. Ok, so today I went to a local german auto shop, told them the problem. They said it might be a dirty MAF. They also tried running a VAG but their machine wasn't working but they clean the maf anyways. Now I just have to see if it happens again....LOL @ cardboard motorsports.

 

Man, I was hoping it would be the turbo, so I can find an excuse to stop by EUROCODE and get a new turbo...lol

 

Hey, just think of a new k04 as preventative maintenance.

 

did cleaning the MAF work?

 

LOL I got coilovers due to "preventative maintenance"

 

I don't know if cleaning the MAF will work, I have to drive it for a while first, it doesn't occur right away. But it seems like just a dirty MAF. (Amazing how something so small causes such a big change in the engine functionality.)

@chocalotstarfish ...funny stuff bro..lol

 

You have a leak up there some where if you are smelling the exhaust in the engine bay, I vote for the MAF sensor cleaning aswell, May also want to check the throttle cable or linkage to the throttle body to make sure it is moving freely.