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Are Passat b6 really that bad ?

  • 10-02-2012 06:24PM
    #1
    gijoo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 54 ✭✭


    Hi All,

    I'm looking to buy a 07 or 08 passat. I previously owned a 00 b5 1.9 tdi and was happy with it.

    I've been reading a lot of posts, saying just how bad they are in terms or reliability. DMF/Injectors/Turbo's/Oil Pumps - being common expensive issues that seem to go wrong with them.

    Q1. I'm begining to wonder if I'm better off with something else?
    As the title says are they that bad, if so any advise what to go for in their place ?

    Budget 10k max - straight deal
    I'd leaning towards buying from a dealer(for warantee)
    Diesel with good MPG
    looking for 07 pref 08 for tax reasons.
    low milage < 80k Mile
    have 2 kids so looking for bit of leg room in back. Armrest and Leather Seats are a plus..

    Q2. Seeing passat comforline 07 & 08 prices on Carzone vary greatly. Just say an add lists 12,000 Euro is it mad considering going to see if (ie - are they likely to drop 2k for cash).

    Q3. are DMF and all the above common failures, covered by garage warantees ?

    Wondered about Mondeo, accords(Seem pricey), Volvo's. Seen some threads talking about 320's but I've always assumed that owning a BMW or Merc costs more for servicing/parts down the line ?

    Any advise welcome.
    GiJoo


«1

Comments

  • #2
    -Corkie-
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,025 ✭✭✭✭-Corkie-


    Buy a late 07 or early 08 as the early ones had a few niggly problems. The injector issue has been sorted under a recall but the DMF should be good for 100k plus.
    I cannot see a DMF being covered under warranty as its a consumable item.

    The Comfortline will have an armrest front and rear but you will have to stretch to a Highline for leather..


  • #3
    gijoo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 54 ✭✭gijoo


    So if I buy an 07 with 90k on the clock, is there a fair bit of risk in having a huge bill in the next 1-2 years. from reading am I right in saying that it's 1-2k to replace this ?

    How can I tell if the DMF is good/bad?

    Does anyone know, if I ring a VW dealer, with a reg or VIN will they give me a history of what's been done to the car ? Does it have to be the garage it was serviced in or are all the history's shared among all VW dealers ?

    Thanks.


  • #4
    mickdw
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,898 ✭✭✭✭mickdw


    We have had a few of them in the family. two 05 very early versions and an 08. All 1.9 tdi. The 05 cars were heavy on front tyres. Only other fault was that a fuel cooler fell off one of them. They were recalled for this a few weeks after.
    The other 05 did alot more mileage and has had 3 dmf at this stage although there is currently 280k km on it. No other issues.
    The 08 hasnt had any problems apart from one day the handbrake didnt want to release. It eventually did and dealer fixed it free outside of warranty.


  • #5
    bbam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,410 ✭✭✭bbam


    Remember to take a balanced view...
    On lots of forums and review websites you only get people coming on to complain about bad experiences they've had... They seem to outweigh the number of people going on-line to report happy motoring experiences..

    Definitely some issues exist on certain cars but I don't think it's as bad as it sometimes appears from on-line reviews..


  • #6
    George Dalton
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,728 ✭✭✭George Dalton


    You would have to find the specific garage(s) that worked on the car to get history on any given car. The dealers wouldn't share service info with each other. Only recalls/field action info would be shared.

    Are you thinking of a 1.9 or a 2.0TDI?

    The B6 Passat got a very bad reputation early in its life due to expensive failures of electronic steering column units, parking brake controllers and 2.0TDI injectors. These issues have all been addressed at this stage. The injectors are now subject to a recall and VW have responded to the other two issues and introduced much cheaper ways of fixing them than were originally available. For example the steering column replacement used to be well over €1000 to sort out. Now it is around €350.

    The result of all this is that they aren't a bad car to run at all in my opinion. They do suffer DMF failure but so does every other diesel car in its class and the Passat DMF actually costs less to replace than most others, certainly less than a Mondeo and though I have no information on the Accord given the price of Honda parts in general I wouldn't like to be hit with a bill for an Accord DMF change :eek:


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  • #7
    -Corkie-
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,025 ✭✭✭✭-Corkie-


    gijoo wrote: »
    So if I buy an 07 with 90k on the clock, is there a fair bit of risk in having a huge bill in the next 1-2 years. from reading am I right in saying that it's 1-2k to replace this ?

    How can I tell if the DMF is good/bad?

    Does anyone know, if I ring a VW dealer, with a reg or VIN will they give me a history of what's been done to the car ? Does it have to be the garage it was serviced in or are all the history's shared among all VW dealers ?

    Thanks.

    The car should a full service history stamped by a garage. A new DMF can be done for about a grand. Every DMF will fail at a different stage as it will be down to driving style/conditions.

    If you hear a rattle from the engine that disappears when the clutch is engaged means its fcuked..


  • #8
    gijoo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 54 ✭✭gijoo


    Thanks for the advise guys.

    Can anyone advise on getting the history from VW garage by providing a reg/vin ?

    also - The 2008 b6 (comfort) are 13 - 17. Am I too far off the mark with 10k or do dealers usual allow some room for play ?


  • #9
    -Corkie-
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,025 ✭✭✭✭-Corkie-


    gijoo wrote: »
    Thanks for the advise guys.

    Can anyone advise on getting the history from VW garage by providing a reg/vin ?

    also - The 2008 b6 (comfort) are 13 - 17. Am I too far off the mark with 10k or do dealers usual allow some room for play ?

    10k is a bit optimistic but who knows. Al Hayes always has a good selection..


  • #10
    George Dalton
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,728 ✭✭✭George Dalton


    Very optimistic. You are looking for:

    Good Spec
    Low Mileage
    Low price

    Usually you can only have 2 of the above, not all 3.


  • #11
    L-M
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,694 ✭✭✭✭L-M


    "Anything worth the money in a Passat is clocked"

    This is what i've been hearing of late from a lot of people, so be very warey of any English imports with sub 60k miles on them that are cheap, and do a good check on the dear ones.

    Should be able to get a decent enough 08 for around the 13k to 14k mark. A friend of mine bought an irish one last week for €10,500, but it needed a timing belt, service, nct etc.


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  • #12
    gijoo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 54 ✭✭gijoo


    ok - so 2007 is more realistic.
    Does a log book identify if it's a uk import ? Can I request a look at the log book and service stamps.
    Limerickman - have seen a 07 passat in our area, but I suspect it may be sitting in the lot for a while. the tax disk shows 03-2011.
    Would this be something to be concerned about ?

    Would you advise bringing a mechanic to inspect or should limerick VW dealers word be taken as is ?


  • #13
    L-M
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,694 ✭✭✭✭L-M


    gijoo wrote: »
    ok - so 2007 is more realistic.
    Does a log book identify if it's a uk import ? Can I request a look at the log book and service stamps.
    Limerickman - have seen a 07 passat in our area, but I suspect it may be sitting in the lot for a while. the tax disk shows 03-2011.
    Would this be something to be concerned about ?

    Would you advise bringing a mechanic to inspect or should limerick VW dealers word be taken as is ?

    Pm me a link if it's online.


  • #14
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 23,339 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    George Dalton wrote: »
    ......... I have no information on the Accord given the price of Honda parts in general I wouldn't like to be hit with a bill for an Accord DMF change :eek:

    €3000 from J&P in Cork on a 2005 model.
    Blackwater Motors do 1.9s for €1100 iirc.


  • #15
    L-M
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,694 ✭✭✭✭L-M


    RoverJames wrote: »
    €3000 from J&P in Cork on a 2005 model.
    Blackwater Motors do 1.9s for €1100 iirc.

    :eek:

    Lol...

    That makes me smile at a snide bitch that bought one recently :pac:


  • #16
    BrianD3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,744 ✭✭✭BrianD3


    George Dalton wrote: »
    The result of all this is that they aren't a bad car to run at all in my opinion. They do suffer DMF failure but so does every other diesel car in its class and the Passat DMF actually costs less to replace than most others, certainly less than a Mondeo and though I have no information on the Accord given the price of Honda parts in general I wouldn't like to be hit with a bill for an Accord DMF change :eek:
    Does the Renault 1.5 DCi in the Megane and Laguna suffer from DMF failure? I ask this because I have never heard of it happening.


  • #17
    bazz26
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 51,551 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    -Corkie- wrote: »
    10k is a bit optimistic but who knows. Al Hayes always has a good selection..

    If you can find it somewhere among the numerous acres of used cars he has.

    OP, they were much improved from 2008 onwards but unfortunately anything diesel on the newer tax system will cost more to buy as they are in higher demand.

    A UK import will have a mph and kmph speedometer. Irish models from 2005 onwards would have a kmph only speedometer. UK imports also never came with the fake wood interior that Irish Comfortline models or higher models came with. UK imports models came in S, SE, Sport, SE-S and Highline. Irish models came in Baseline, Comfortline, Sportline and Highline.


  • #18
    johnos1984
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,096 ✭✭✭johnos1984


    OP I'll sell you a 2006 TDI Passat if you really want one :D


  • #19
    L-M
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,694 ✭✭✭✭L-M


    They swapped Baseline for Trendline to make it sound more... trendy? LOL

    OP, how you can tell a basic spec from a better spec is the lack or the presense of "chrome" trim, and also clear rather than orange indicators in the lower front bumper. Most of the English specs came with alloys, it's a sort of mis match.


  • #20
    -Corkie-
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,025 ✭✭✭✭-Corkie-


    Limerick man wrote: »
    They swapped Baseline for Trendline to make it sound more... trendy? LOL

    OP, how you can tell a basic spec from a better spec is the lack or the presense of "chrome" trim, and also clear rather than orange indicators in the lower front bumper. Most of the English specs came with alloys, it's a sort of mis match.

    Slightly O/T but a man in Longford who sells such cars had a Trendline with CC alloys..

    The ad said `Special order CC alloys and special order factory de-chrome`..:rolleyes:


  • #21
    Lex Luthor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,220 ✭✭✭✭Lex Luthor


    friend of mine is just about to advertise his 08 1.9TDi shortly. He's going to put it on for about 10.5k...mileage is around the 50k mark (miles). It was brought in from NI about 6 months old I think.

    PM me if you want a link


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  • #22
    George Dalton
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,728 ✭✭✭George Dalton


    -Corkie- wrote: »
    Slightly O/T but a man in Longford who sells such cars had a Trendline with CC alloys..

    The ad said `Special order CC alloys and special order factory de-chrome`..:rolleyes:

    That sort of rubbish drives me demented :rolleyes:


  • #23
    johnos1984
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,096 ✭✭✭johnos1984


    George Dalton wrote: »
    That sort of rubbish drives me demented :rolleyes:
    Still though, someone out there is thick enough to believe it


  • #24
    galwaytt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,784 ✭✭✭✭galwaytt


    johnos1984 wrote: »
    George Dalton wrote: »
    That sort of rubbish drives me demented :rolleyes:
    Still though, someone out there is thick enough to believe it

    ...hmmm bit of a mixed bag, really......we have an 06 2.0 Tdi and it's had all of the bits mentioned done. Several times. Which means that even if the car you find has them all done......is no guarantee of anything. You could end up doing them again anyway.....

    As for values, I think you're optimistic, and paying a premium for an 08 car just for the cheap tax may well be false economy.......our 06 is worth......6k ?

    Ode To The Motorist

    “And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, generates funds to the exchequer. You don't want to acknowledge that as truth because, deep down in places you don't talk about at the Green Party, you want me on that road, you need me on that road. We use words like freedom, enjoyment, sport and community. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent instilling those values in our families and loved ones. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the tax revenue and the very freedom to spend it that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a bus pass and get the ********* ********* off the road” 



  • #25
    galwaytt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,784 ✭✭✭✭galwaytt


    George Dalton wrote: »
    The result of all this is that they aren't a bad car to run at all in my opinion. They do suffer DMF failure but so does every other diesel car in its class ...

    Well our 06 Saab 1.9Tid has 165k kms on it, and is on original one still, and I'm not aware of any trend in them for DMFs in anything like the same fashion as the VAGs. Engine is more refined and smoother, so maybe that's why DMF lasting longer... . 06 Passat is well into its second one (similar mileage). Saab isn't as light on juice......but overall cheaper to buy and run than the Passat.

    Ode To The Motorist

    “And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, generates funds to the exchequer. You don't want to acknowledge that as truth because, deep down in places you don't talk about at the Green Party, you want me on that road, you need me on that road. We use words like freedom, enjoyment, sport and community. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent instilling those values in our families and loved ones. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the tax revenue and the very freedom to spend it that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a bus pass and get the ********* ********* off the road” 



  • #26
    -Corkie-
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,025 ✭✭✭✭-Corkie-


    I have a 2.0 Passat with 102k and the DMF is fine so far.


  • #27
    johnos1984
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,096 ✭✭✭johnos1984


    Mine is starting to knock but it's up to 225k km

    Haven't a clue how much more life is left in it...........don't fancy finding out either


  • #28
    -Corkie-
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,025 ✭✭✭✭-Corkie-


    johnos1984 wrote: »
    Mine is starting to knock but it's up to 225k km

    Haven't a clue how much more life is left in it...........don't fancy finding out either

    Thats because all the mileage is done on the back of that recovery truck..:p


  • #29
    johnos1984
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,096 ✭✭✭johnos1984


    -Corkie- wrote: »
    Thats because all the mileage is done on the back of that recovery truck..:p

    It's knocked up a few more miles since :mad:


  • #30
    George Dalton
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,728 ✭✭✭George Dalton


    galwaytt wrote: »
    Well our 06 Saab 1.9Tid has 165k kms on it, and is on original one still, and I'm not aware of any trend in them for DMFs in anything like the same fashion as the VAGs. Engine is more refined and smoother, so maybe that's why DMF lasting longer... . 06 Passat is well into its second one (similar mileage). Saab isn't as light on juice......but overall much cheaper to buy and run than the Passat.

    The flywheels in the Vectra/9-3 1.9 diesels give trouble alright. To be fair they usually go a bit further than the Passat one in that they last 180,000km on average compared to maybe 150,000km on the Passat, but when they go they cost more than the Passat to change because unlike the Passat the subframe needs to be lowered to get the gearbox out so it is swings and roundabouts really.

    I remember having a similar discussion with you previously in another thread. Given my experience with both models at work I would say that you have been lucky with the Saab and unlucky with the Passat. The Saabs have plenty of expensive faults as well even though you haven't experienced them.

    It it understandable that you feel the way you do about both cars but your experience alone doesn't mean that the Saab is a better car than the Passat.


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  • #31
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 23,339 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Limerick man wrote: »
    :eek:

    Lol...

    That makes me smile at a snide bitch that bought one recently :pac:

    It made me smile too, the lad who got that quote has the arse bored off us telling us how he's building a garage at the moment so he can tinker away with little projects as he used to be "dropping gearboxes" back in the day :pac:

    L O fecking L

    I actually mentioned him in another thread months back about folk who talk out their arse about cars.


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