VAG 2.0 TDI Engines

[matt666]

Hi All, I'm on the lookout for a new work car, I do some big mileage so it needs to be economical and reliable. I'm thinking of something from the VAG stable and i wondered what people's opinions were of the 2.0 TDI fitted to Passats and A4's.

From reading a few posts on here the consensus seems to be -

2.0 PD - crap
2.0 Common Rail - good
1.9 PD - good

I have a 53 Passat at the moment so can confirm the 1.9 PD is a good, reliable engine. I have some questions on the 2.0.

Is the 2.0 PD really that bad, what are the common faults?
What year did they start fitting the 2.0 CR to Passats and Audis?
Is the 170PS worth getting over the 140?
Is there much fuel economy difference between the two, autotrader figures are practically the same
Is the BMW 177bhp engine in the 320d diesel better?

Thanks for any input.

[Dr G]

The later you go with a PD the better they get but whether you'd then be better off buying a CR engined car will come down to your budget.

The common rail injection injection was released in 2008 although different models got it at slightly different times. If you're looking at an A4, for example, the 'old' model (B7) never got it and the B8 had it from launch.

If you had 5 grand to spend a 1.9 Octavia is going to be a far better bet than a ropey 2.0 Audi - whereas if you had 12 a B8 A4 is a better bet than a really nice, late B7.

I know very little about the BMW engine.

[DaineseMan]

I'm driving a 13 plate loaner A5 2.0 TDI. I confirm it is crap.

[Dr G]

I sincerely doubt that it is crap, objectively speaking. It's far more likely that a low powered economy car does not match your personal preferences.

I also drive one currently and whilst I wouldn't buy one it does what it's supposed to just fine.

[Kawasicki]

Back in the day I leased a 130hp 1.9 in a Passat B5, I swapped it for a 140bhp 2.0 in an A4. I was disappointed in the performance, fuel and oil consumption of the 2.0.

[Kell]

I guess it's all horses for courses.

I was genuinely impressed with the 150TDi PD in our friend's MK4 Golf GT TDi. At the same time, we had a 1.8T petrol GTi and I reckon the diesel was by far the better engine. I also seem to remember that the Pump Duse technology was applauded at the time for the step up that it had taken.

What speaks volumes then, is that if those cars were good at the time, then modern diesels are streets ahead again for them to now be considered 'bad'. Or if not bad, then at least surpassed.

[matt666]

Good info, thanks. I didn't realise the B7 Audi didn't come with the CR engine. The budget can stretch to B8 Audi so it could be between that and a 320d, with a Passat in reserve as a cheap option.

[DaineseMan]

Dr G said:

I sincerely doubt that it is crap, objectively speaking. It's far more likely that a low powered economy car does not match your personal preferences.

I also drive one currently and whilst I wouldn't buy one it does what it's supposed to just fine.

Agreed. I just can't see why anyone would spec that engine on a convertible

[BE57 TOY]

DaineseMan said:

Agreed. I just can't see why anyone would spec that engine on a convertible

Because they want a convertible with good economy?

[BE57 TOY]

DaineseMan said:

Agreed. I just can't see why anyone would spec that engine on a convertible

Because they want a convertible with good economy?

[DaineseMan]

BE57 TOY said:

DaineseMan said:

Agreed. I just can't see why anyone would spec that engine on a convertible

Because they want a convertible with good economy?

But although you could argue that from the inside the engine is relatively refined (due to all the insulation stuff they've developed), once you put that roof down you literally feel like you're driving a Transit.

[custardkid]

A hand held blue fin chip thing will take:

140 to 170
170 to 200

I can confirm that a biking / walking trip in the élan valley this wkend the chipped 140 is nice
Lots of torque and grunt
Returning a worst of 32mpg and a trip average of 50.5 mpg (Leon PD)

How ever I did think 200bhp would be nice for slightly brisker overtaking

Wife usually gets 56 mpg on her 20 mile country lane commute

Custard

[custardkid]

The Exeo estates look good VFM

(Mix of old Audi body and new engines? )

Any one had any experiences?

[Tame Technician]

DaineseMan said:

But although you could argue that from the inside the engine is relatively refined (due to all the insulation stuff they've developed), once you put that roof down you literally feel like you're driving a Transit.

Ok so thats the experience in a 13 plate A5 cab. Now try it in an 07 plate A4 cab with a PD 2.0TDI engine, then you will wish it was as smooth a quiet as a transit van.

In General the 2.0TDI engines go like this.

2.0 PD TDI is poor both regarding reliabilty and smoothness / noise compared with other manufacters CR engines from this era.

1.9 PD TDI is even less refined than the 2.0 but they seem to go on and on with far fewer problems.

2.0 CR TDI is refined inline with other manufactures, better I would say than the 2.0 2.2 in the jag x type one par with BMW but without any damger of broken timing chains.

[MJK 24]

Tame Technician said:

DaineseMan said:

But although you could argue that from the inside the engine is relatively refined (due to all the insulation stuff they've developed), once you put that roof down you literally feel like you're driving a Transit.

Ok so thats the experience in a 13 plate A5 cab. Now try it in an 07 plate A4 cab with a PD 2.0TDI engine, then you will wish it was as smooth a quiet as a transit van.

In General the 2.0TDI engines go like this.

2.0 PD TDI is poor both regarding reliabilty and smoothness / noise compared with other manufacters CR engines from this era.

1.9 PD TDI is even less refined than the 2.0 but they seem to go on and on with far fewer problems.

2.0 CR TDI is refined inline with other manufactures, better I would say than the 2.0 2.2 in the jag x type one par with BMW but without any damger of broken timing chains.

From what year onwards is the 2.0 TDI considered reliable with regard to oil pump drive failures, injector problems and DPF issues? The parents are considering a Passat CC or a current A6 (both used 2.0 TDI) and I really don't want them to get their fingers burnt in the future! Thanks in advance

[va1o]

Exeo is potentially a good about here, much cheaper than a B8 with the same engine and as a car it's the B7 with most the problems ironed out. Nice and rare too, its quitely a very good car that most don't know about.

[fr 150 boy]

I got a 2005 SEAT leon "FR" 150 TDi & the wife has got a 2007 VW Touran 2.0 TDi 140 & to be honest with you the ole' 1.9 is much much better,driving & M.P.G. To the much newer 2.0l

[Nick1point9]

DaineseMan said:

But although you could argue that from the inside the engine is relatively refined (due to all the insulation stuff they've developed), once you put that roof down you literally feel like you're driving a Transit.

Feel like a transit? Christ it might sound like a diesel but that's where the van comparison would end. Some people don't care what a car sounds like if they spend 2/3 on fuel and much less on tax...

[jamcam23]

Hired a Seat Exeo for two weeks in Spain and it was excellent. 140bhp version is fine up to about 80mph, then it gets a little stressed. But seeing as you shouldn't be going more than 70, its fine.

[Fatboy40]

I'm trying to find out some info on which of the following 2.0 TDI CR engine codes would be considered the most reliable ?...

CBAA, CBAB, CBDB and CFHC

... but I'm not having much luck.

I was one of the unlucky owners of a 1.9 TDI PD with a BXE engine code that spat out a conrod, with zero warning, so I'm cautious of which 2.0 TDI CR I may own (I currently have a 2002 Skoda Octavia with an engine code starting with 'A', so it sounds like a tractor but in theory should last until I have money saved up to replace it, and it's only done 85k).

Thanks.