I'm sorry.. G12++ (used now by VAG) is G-40...G-38 was the older G12+

http://www.basf.com/group/corporate/...lysantin-e.pdf

 

I don't mean to offend anyone by saying this, but you will always run into dissenting opinions when posting questions like these, just do what I do... Play it safe because the ultimate rule of thumb with our cars is to spend "a little" now so you won't have to spend TONS later.

If your friend NEEDED to put in that yellow stuff, then so be it, just tell to do what A4Cragman said. Flush it out, then flush water a few times, then put in the G12+, it is what our cars are supposed to have and it lasts "forever", it is pink/purple in color.

Flushing the coolant off our cars is not hard to do AT ALL, just somewhat time consuming. There's plenty of walkthroughs online too.

Here's a little tip I found... You can get the G12 at a VW dealer for 1/3 or 1/2 of what an Audi dealer charges. Also, bear in mind, most of the time, they will sell you the concentrated stuff, which means you gotta mix it with water (mixture ratio depends on your local weather) before you put it in. Which is great, because VW sells you a 4-Liter jug for about $20, which ends up being 8-Liters when you do 50/50. (Car takes around 5 or 6).