High mileage Golf GT TDI 130.....

[Farky]

Hopefully Tame technician will read this!!!
Maybe looking at a Mk4 Golf GT TDI 130, car is a 53 plate but with 129,000 miles on the clock. Car is in outstanding condition and has a FULYY documented service history, all receipts etc etc. Should i be worried about a car with this mileage??

[red tasman]

No! not if history is good and no signs of body damage/repair.

[saleen836]

On the subject of these my partner really likes the one she bought, what sort of mileage to a tank are people getting? she is on her first full tank and has managed approx 550miles with just under 1/4 tank left.

[Northern Munkee]

Farky said:

Hopefully Tame technician will read this!!!
Maybe looking at a Mk4 Golf GT TDI 130, car is a 53 plate but with 129,000 miles on the clock. Car is in outstanding condition and has a FULYY documented service history, all receipts etc etc. Should i be worried about a car with this mileage??

No, if its straight and the service history genuine. I'm on 160K, on an 02, only had to replace a glove box lid, just changed the original exhaust.

[FoolOnTheHill]

I bought a Bora 130 TDi, 2002 model, with 105k on the clock, but full fixed service (10k) history. Done 11k in it now and beyond regular servicing costs have only had to replace a temperature sensor, which apparantly is very common, only cost me 50 quid. Car seems fine.

[clonmult]

Those engines go on forever (well, 300k is attainable), so with a full service history at 129k on the clock, should be good for a few years

[Seez]

You need to make sure the car has had regular oil changes with the correct specified oil. If it has then you won't go far wrong with this car.

[Tame Technician]

At 120k miles its never gonna drive like one thats done only 36K. As long as its got full service history and its priced correctly for the mileage, with a fresh MOT, then should be ok.

Dont be massively surprised if you have to spend a bit of money on it.

Examples of what you might run into.

Serviceable stuff

Cambelt + water pump
Disc and pads all round.
C.V Boot
Clutch
Wheel bearings

Typical higher mileage failures

Front anti roll bar and bushes
Front lower wishbone bushes
Air mass meter
Coolant level sensor
Coolant temp sensor
Brake light switch


Absolute worst case scenario (very unlucky)

Turbo
Sycro's on gearbox, 3rd and 4th gear
ABS wheel speed sensor
ABS lateral/longitudinal sensor.

[MElliottUK]

mines on 130K, suspension is abit crashy now but other than that all seems well tho i suspect a wheel bearing maybe on its way out.

Ive also replaced all the brake disks other than that just routine maintenance

[LaSarthe+Back]

Tame Technician said:

At 120k miles its never gonna drive like one thats done only 36K. As long as its got full service history and its priced correctly for the mileage, with a fresh MOT, then should be ok.

Dont be massively surprised if you have to spend a bit of money on it.

Examples of what you might run into.

Serviceable stuff

Cambelt + water pump
Disc and pads all round.
C.V Boot
Clutch
Wheel bearings

Typical higher mileage failures

Front anti roll bar and bushes
Front lower wishbone bushes
Air mass meter
Coolant level sensor
Coolant temp sensor
Brake light switch


Absolute worst case scenario (very unlucky)

Turbo
Sycro's on gearbox, 3rd and 4th gear
ABS wheel speed sensor
ABS lateral/longitudinal sensor.

Pretty much agree with all that.

On top of the servicable stuff, my A3's had:

ABS wheel speed sensor
ARB and bushes
Brake light switch
MAF coolant temp sensor.

Luckily, they aren't on their own very expensive. I got the metal water pump done the last cambelt change. Can't believe they thought a plastic one would be OK!!!

Edited by LaSarthe+Back on Sunday 8th November 22:57

[cptsideways]

I've just aquired a 2000 130 tdi estate with 160k on the clock, apart from needing a bottom arm at £29 it drives without fault (touch wood) I popped to ring & back in it last weekend, great engine/gearbox combo for eating up the miles at speed & it still did 50mpg!

Next job is get cruise retrofitted, I've given it a service & all seems fine. Wooly suspension stuff is cheap to fix with the likes of GSF & Euro Car parts.

[emicen]

Is there any significant difference in reliability between the 115, 130 and 150 variants?

I seem to remember reading the 150 unit had issues but the 130 and 115 were fine.

I'm looking at selling my 3 series and going back to one. My previous one was a chipped 115 (bum-on-seat dyno says 130-140ish) and it performed well enough. Only bug bear were caused by it having had a frontal impact at some point I didnt know about when I bought it that made the steering rack loosen off and need replacing. Figure £2500 should get me in to a ~130k mile 6sp PD engined one, which is roughly what I'd lose on my 320Cd this year in depreciation alone

ETA, definately nothing to worry about running high miles in them. My mk4 was bought by me at 117k and I sold it on at ~144k and last I heard it was still going strong.

Edited by emicen on Monday 9th November 09:10

[macp]

emicen said:

Is there any significant difference in reliability between the 115, 130 and 150 variants?

I seem to remember reading the 150 unit had issues but the 130 and 115 were fine.

I'm looking at selling my 3 series and going back to one. My previous one was a chipped 115 (bum-on-seat dyno says 130-140ish) and it performed well enough. Only bug bear were caused by it having had a frontal impact at some point I didnt know about when I bought it that made the steering rack loosen off and need replacing. Figure £2500 should get me in to a ~130k mile 6sp PD engined one, which is roughly what I'd lose on my 320Cd this year in depreciation alone

I was told the 150`s had chocolate cams not sure if thats true though.Amongst the Vdub frat I was again told the one to for is the 130.I had a 115 and that was none too shabby.The mrs has a Polo Tdi sport 100bhp (same engine) with 100k under its wheels and apart from needing new ARB`s its a cracker.

[cptsideways]

I'm still amazed at how well our 130 goes, however in the damp the rest of the chassis really can't cope with it

That little winky light on the dash is on almost all the time on the windy roads