2.5 tdi - just how risky is it? And alternatives?
Discussion
I've had a look at a few of the old threads, listing out the problems that can trouble the 2.5tdi lump (turbos failing, oil pumps etc) but haven't really been able to establish just how common these problems are - is it just the poorly maintained few that suffer or is it an inevitability?
I'd love another Allroad for everyday use - I only sold mine because the co car rules changed. I had it for 8 months, during which time the only financial pain it caused me was having the cam belt replaced (ouch).
But having read some of the scare-stories, I'm wondering about alternatives (such a 1.9 tdi 130 A6 Avant or even a Passat Highline). I don't really need 4x4, but loved the Allroad styling and the "planted-ness" of the Quattro set-up. I'd consider an A4 Quattro Avant with the 130 lump, but they're as rare as rocking horse poo and all seem pretty high miles.
Budget is around the £7-8.5k range.
So how big a risk would a 90k mile Allroad be and how good are the alernatives?
(Edited to add: it needs to be an estate and it needs to return more than 30mpg on a run).
I'd love another Allroad for everyday use - I only sold mine because the co car rules changed. I had it for 8 months, during which time the only financial pain it caused me was having the cam belt replaced (ouch).
But having read some of the scare-stories, I'm wondering about alternatives (such a 1.9 tdi 130 A6 Avant or even a Passat Highline). I don't really need 4x4, but loved the Allroad styling and the "planted-ness" of the Quattro set-up. I'd consider an A4 Quattro Avant with the 130 lump, but they're as rare as rocking horse poo and all seem pretty high miles.
Budget is around the £7-8.5k range.
So how big a risk would a 90k mile Allroad be and how good are the alernatives?
(Edited to add: it needs to be an estate and it needs to return more than 30mpg on a run).
Edited by wrighty78 on Tuesday 18th August 12:50
My old man has had a 53 plate 2.5 Allroad for years, and while it's not been entirely without issue nothing mechanically untoward has happened to date - it's actually a pleasant old bus and suits his needs perfectly (he needs the 'Allroad' bit for fishing and shooting expeditions).
I am aware that the 2.5 is regarded as some sort of simmering evil, but either he's lucky or it's not quuuuuuite as bad as people make out. As an aside my mate has run a Porsche 996 for many years and that has not exploded in a giant mushroom cloud of engine parts either... it's almost like these things get blown out of proportion sometimes...
ETA: Per previous post the old man's one does just a fraction under 30mpg I believe - and I'm sure that's more the fault of the gear ratios than anything else - I don't understand why they're not longer. As far as alternatives go, well, the reason he's had his so long is there really isn't anything obvious. if you don't want a conventional '4x4' or something like a Scooby Forester (okay I suppose, but nowhere near as nice inside - or outside to my eye but that's personal preference), it's pretty much got the place to itself so far as I can tell.
I am aware that the 2.5 is regarded as some sort of simmering evil, but either he's lucky or it's not quuuuuuite as bad as people make out. As an aside my mate has run a Porsche 996 for many years and that has not exploded in a giant mushroom cloud of engine parts either... it's almost like these things get blown out of proportion sometimes...
ETA: Per previous post the old man's one does just a fraction under 30mpg I believe - and I'm sure that's more the fault of the gear ratios than anything else - I don't understand why they're not longer. As far as alternatives go, well, the reason he's had his so long is there really isn't anything obvious. if you don't want a conventional '4x4' or something like a Scooby Forester (okay I suppose, but nowhere near as nice inside - or outside to my eye but that's personal preference), it's pretty much got the place to itself so far as I can tell.
Edited by Steve081974 on Tuesday 18th August 14:28
JuniorD said:
I've a 2.5TDI A4 and so far so good touch wood, 50,000 miles (20k in last year) and not a bother with the engine. In fact I didn't know about any potential problems until I read about them on PH. Dosen't leak and isn't too bad on fuel, averaging about 41mpg.
Would I be right in guessing it's FWD rather than Quattro, if you're getting that sort of mpg?Thanks again guys for all the feedback.
...just a quick addition to my earlier comments. By coincidence I did about 90 miles in my father's Allroad last night 5 up, not been in it for months, and was reminded of the following:
1) It really is quite a pleasant old bus - it followed a long line of Range Rovers, Discoveries and M-class Merc's and it's a whole lot less compromised as a road car than any of those ever were.
2) It's noticably smaller than the current generation A6 - though obviously still not 'small'.
3) The engine is so much more pleasant than any 4-pot VW group diesel - especially the miserable 1.9! And it still nips along gamely with 5 average sized adults on board.
4) My father's driving style is FAR from economical! The trip was showing 29.7 mpg over the last several thousand miles and to be honest if he can get that out of it, 33-34 or maybe more must be realistic with a more moderate approach..!
S.
1) It really is quite a pleasant old bus - it followed a long line of Range Rovers, Discoveries and M-class Merc's and it's a whole lot less compromised as a road car than any of those ever were.
2) It's noticably smaller than the current generation A6 - though obviously still not 'small'.
3) The engine is so much more pleasant than any 4-pot VW group diesel - especially the miserable 1.9! And it still nips along gamely with 5 average sized adults on board.
4) My father's driving style is FAR from economical! The trip was showing 29.7 mpg over the last several thousand miles and to be honest if he can get that out of it, 33-34 or maybe more must be realistic with a more moderate approach..!
S.
wrighty78 said:
JuniorD said:
I've a 2.5TDI A4 and so far so good touch wood, 50,000 miles (20k in last year) and not a bother with the engine. In fact I didn't know about any potential problems until I read about them on PH. Dosen't leak and isn't too bad on fuel, averaging about 41mpg.
Would I be right in guessing it's FWD rather than Quattro, if you're getting that sort of mpg?Thanks again guys for all the feedback.
its good but not as good as some of the other engines in the line up. But when the fail, its pretty epic. I have seen some really horrific failures. But to be fair know 1 over 200k and fair few which have ran without hitch. I sold mine with approaching 90k on the clock, and it ran well, I attempted to remap it but it unravelled a can of worms and spent a fortune fixing them, however i set the car back to standard map and it ran like clock work after that. We needed a bigger car, 2.5tdi i would have but I just got itchy about the potential fail, and knowing my great bad luck it would have!
And its only the AKE 180 engine i have seen with big problems the 150/155's seem to fair a lot better.
To be fair i think the 1.8T can be a problem as well if it hasnt been looked after well, the 2.5tdi falls in the same boat i would say.
At the age the only alternative is the 1.9tdi but in the bigger format cars, A6/allroad it never made it into that chassis in quattro form.
Alternatives, 4.0/4.2TDi quattro, seems to be forgotten about.
Keep it standard and look after it and i dont think it will give you any grief.
And its only the AKE 180 engine i have seen with big problems the 150/155's seem to fair a lot better.
To be fair i think the 1.8T can be a problem as well if it hasnt been looked after well, the 2.5tdi falls in the same boat i would say.
At the age the only alternative is the 1.9tdi but in the bigger format cars, A6/allroad it never made it into that chassis in quattro form.
Alternatives, 4.0/4.2TDi quattro, seems to be forgotten about.
Keep it standard and look after it and i dont think it will give you any grief.
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