A4 2.5tdi any good..?
Discussion
I am in the market for a 54 plate (or similar) A4 tdi and I was assuming that the 130tdi engine would be the best all round bet but having just noticed the 163 bhp 2.5tdi I am wondering whether this engine is worth considering? Does anybody have any experience of this engine in terms of performance, reliability and economy...?
Also I notice that a lot have auto gearboxes, are these reliable? Do they make the car much less economical?
Would appreciate your input.
Also I notice that a lot have auto gearboxes, are these reliable? Do they make the car much less economical?
Would appreciate your input.
meesterb said:
I am in the market for a 54 plate (or similar) A4 tdi and I was assuming that the 130tdi engine would be the best all round bet
Yes, it is. 1.9 TDI not very high tech or refined compared to what others offered in 2004, but as close to bullet proof as any Turbo Diesel will ever be.meesterb said:
2.5tdi I am wondering whether this engine is worth considering?
No!meesterb said:
Also I notice that a lot have auto gearboxes, are these reliable?
If front wheel drive auto box is "Multi Tronic" - God No!!, not at all.If 4 wheel drive, OK ish, less troublesome, but failures do happen and gearbox's cost more than the car, "Tip tronic" box's hamper MPG slightly 3 or 4 mpg down overall, a bigger hit in town where the torque converter isnt locked up.
Tame Technician said:
meesterb said:
I am in the market for a 54 plate (or similar) A4 tdi and I was assuming that the 130tdi engine would be the best all round bet
Yes, it is. 1.9 TDI not very high tech or refined compared to what others offered in 2004, but as close to bullet proof as any Turbo Diesel will ever be.meesterb said:
2.5tdi I am wondering whether this engine is worth considering?
No!meesterb said:
Also I notice that a lot have auto gearboxes, are these reliable?
If front wheel drive auto box is "Multi Tronic" - God No!!, not at all.If 4 wheel drive, OK ish, less troublesome, but failures do happen and gearbox's cost more than the car, "Tip tronic" box's hamper MPG slightly 3 or 4 mpg down overall, a bigger hit in town where the torque converter isnt locked up.
1 - New cambelt, thermostat, waterpump - £700
2 - Service including replace ATF fluid - £300
3 - Repaint wheel arches after paint was pulled off when front was removed for cambelt change - £150
4 - 4 New tyres - £600
5 - Fix cracked oil cooler - Replace radiator, new coolant, new expansion tank, flush and refil auto box - £650
Then one of the injector sensors went on the blink dropping fuel consumption from 28 to 23. I didn't want to know how much that would cost.
Never again.
Seeker UK said:
Against TameTechnicians advice some months ago, I bought a '52 2.5TDI Quattro Sport Tip. A very nice car to drive but in 5 months:
1 - New cambelt, thermostat, waterpump - £700
2 - Service including replace ATF fluid - £300
3 - Repaint wheel arches after paint was pulled off when front was removed for cambelt change - £150
4 - 4 New tyres - £600
5 - Fix cracked oil cooler - Replace radiator, new coolant, new expansion tank, flush and refil auto box - £650
Then one of the injector sensors went on the blink dropping fuel consumption from 28 to 23. I didn't want to know how much that would cost.
Never again.
You can't really blame service items, cambelt, water pump, tyres etc on a 2.5 TDI engine can you!!1 - New cambelt, thermostat, waterpump - £700
2 - Service including replace ATF fluid - £300
3 - Repaint wheel arches after paint was pulled off when front was removed for cambelt change - £150
4 - 4 New tyres - £600
5 - Fix cracked oil cooler - Replace radiator, new coolant, new expansion tank, flush and refil auto box - £650
Then one of the injector sensors went on the blink dropping fuel consumption from 28 to 23. I didn't want to know how much that would cost.
Never again.
That being said if you want a reliable & cheap to run 1.9TDI every day.
AtticusFinch said:
You can't really blame service items, cambelt, water pump, tyres etc on a 2.5 TDI engine can you!!
No, you're right but I was including them for completeness to give an idea of costs of owning that sort of car. I would say though that Jaguar aside, IME, Audi is one of the most expensive (and involved) cam belts to change - I mean, taking the whole front off FFS?
A second "nooo!" from me.
Little known fact but the camshafts on the 2.5 TDIs are made from something similar balsa wood, only less robust.
Anything VAG-related from that era with the word "multitronic" on must be avoided at all costs.
I nearly fell into that trap but this thread saved me. You'll be glad you read it:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=293...
Tame Technician is very knowledgeable on these matters.
Little known fact but the camshafts on the 2.5 TDIs are made from something similar balsa wood, only less robust.
Anything VAG-related from that era with the word "multitronic" on must be avoided at all costs.
I nearly fell into that trap but this thread saved me. You'll be glad you read it:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=293...
Tame Technician is very knowledgeable on these matters.
My friend's 2.5 TDI has also been troublesome. Turbo stuck on full boost, windows, central locking, alarm etc all failed due to a faulty "convenience ECU" which Audi couldn't fix, control arm bushes don't last long (and there's lots of them on the Quattro), tyres don't last long and the mpg isn't great either.
All in all, I would never own one of these either.
All in all, I would never own one of these either.
i had an 03 A4 2.5tdi quattro sport, bought as a replacement for my 2.8coupe quattro. as it theoretically sounded similar. but it just wasnt. Rest of the car was not bad, but engine-wise i got nervious. Two pals had theirs go belly up, fuel injection pump is a big one, four figure failure. Turbo was OK on mine at 90k when i sold it and was mechancailly OK but the fear of something going wrong just troubled me. In terms of speed was actually slightly slower than my mates 130 tdi sport from 0-60 but quicker above that. it used to average a solid 42mpg which fluctuated by 2-3mpg either way at the most. For the capacity it wasnt particularly good at anything, OK fuel, OK speed, OK cruising. It is old school technology and it showed, horrible lag from a standing start where you fight the traction control and ESP to get moving, but then its fine. The 3.0tdi is a much much better engine. And ironically the previous 2.5tdi (five pot) is a much better engine. This was one that never quite made the mark. The 1.9tdi, in 130tdi guise is the tdi lump of the naughties, just does everything well for what it is. I had mine for 18 months did 20k in it, it was well specc'ed comfy but ultimately too small for my kids in the back. Agree with others comments if you can stretch the 2.0tdi is a good unit, but from what i have seen personally not as efficient as its precedessor!
The only reason i bought a quattro was geography of where i live and work.
In short, its an so-so engine, but Audi/VAG have some much better ones!
The only reason i bought a quattro was geography of where i live and work.
In short, its an so-so engine, but Audi/VAG have some much better ones!
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