TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Jun 20, 2008 3:42 pm

HELLO

Was think of buying a used TDI Jet fixer upper ! and selling my bug.

Are they any good ? best years by ?
How hard are they to work on ?
Good and bad things about them ?

Thanks for your help.

Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:50 pm

I've got an 04 with 65,000 trouble free miles. I'm having a really hard time thinking of anything negative to say about it. I haven't done anything but change the oil/filters. Definitely check out this site if you havent: http://forums.tdiclub.com/

Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:51 am

My TDI has 160 000 miles and it is still going strong. The only thing thing that is really expensive to have done is the timing belt, and you don't want to cheap out on that one, if it breaks your engine is junk. If you like to fix it your self, get VAG-COM, you need it to clear codes and stuff. Best $100 you can spend on it. 50MPG is nice too. :D

Wed Jul 09, 2008 6:30 am

you want to make sure you get a 90 hp for the best fuel mileage, and the MKIII is lighter than the MK4. I agree about the VAG-COM, one glaring issue to look for is EGR tar, the intake can get completely gobbed up and rob power, I had a friend who was able to get a B3 Passat for a song because the owner was told the turbo was bad, but in reality the intake was so stopped up that there were only pencil sized openings going into the head. pulled the intake, cleaned, and ran like the day it was built.

Wed Jul 09, 2008 4:41 pm

The intakes do tend to clog up if you're just puttering around in them. It seems better to RUN them.

Thu Jul 10, 2008 6:41 am

I have 4 TDIs. 325,000 265,000 200,000 215,000 miles Had to rebuild one Son let the oil and water level drop too low(water leak in hose) but other than timing belts and water pumps no work on the other cars. You're looking for a vehicle that is selling for more than its worth now because of fuel costs. I've had mine for four-five years they're worth more than I paid for them now.