Discussion
Well thought it was time i put this on.
Its a '97 B5 with the 2.6 V6. Very happy with it, and even happier my dad has handed me the keys
.
I never thought that i would be driving an estate this early on in my driving career but thb i dont care. The sound makes it all worth it and in my experience the girls dont care what you drive as long as you do drive!
Front and Back
A couple inside
The money shot
I think its in good nick for a 13 year old / just shy of 100k mile car. Today i used;
Autoglym shampoo / wash
Autoglym engine / machine wash
Autoglym Interior shampoo
T-Cut clay bar
T-cut clay wax
I really think the clay made a difference. I went in with an open mind (thinking it wa sa bit of a gimmick) but the bodywork is so smooth now. The only thing i have trouble with is the wheels. I just cant shift the 13 years worth of grime / tar thats built up - any product reccomendations?
Im just biding my time until the RS4 become insurable!
Thanks for takign a look
Its a '97 B5 with the 2.6 V6. Very happy with it, and even happier my dad has handed me the keys
. I never thought that i would be driving an estate this early on in my driving career but thb i dont care. The sound makes it all worth it and in my experience the girls dont care what you drive as long as you do drive!
Front and Back
A couple inside
The money shot
I think its in good nick for a 13 year old / just shy of 100k mile car. Today i used;
Autoglym shampoo / wash
Autoglym engine / machine wash
Autoglym Interior shampoo
T-Cut clay bar
T-cut clay wax
I really think the clay made a difference. I went in with an open mind (thinking it wa sa bit of a gimmick) but the bodywork is so smooth now. The only thing i have trouble with is the wheels. I just cant shift the 13 years worth of grime / tar thats built up - any product reccomendations?
Im just biding my time until the RS4 become insurable!
Thanks for takign a look
VeeFour said:
Great cars. The VAG B5 platform cars were some of the best finished mainstream cars of all time.
Up to a point - there are some known issues around the front suspension. The ball joints wear out & there are other problems as well.Whatever you do keep the engine bay (round the battery) free of leaves & clean it out regularly or you can get a swimming pool in there (which leaks in the car & screws up the CCM unit (stupidly) located in thefloor in front of the passenger seat. Keep the footwells dry.
Re the wheels - for 50-60 quid a corner you could probably get them repainted.
I know there are a couple of issues... Front suspension wear is due to the very trick and complex setup, and water getting into comfort modules can be painful.
However, they're built like tanks, wear obscene mileages very well and feel like a much more expensive car. They put similarly aged BMWs and Mercedes to shame.
I had a B5 Passat 1.8T SE which I ran to nearly 200k miles. You'd have said it was a quarter of that to look at it and drive it,though.
However, they're built like tanks, wear obscene mileages very well and feel like a much more expensive car. They put similarly aged BMWs and Mercedes to shame.
I had a B5 Passat 1.8T SE which I ran to nearly 200k miles. You'd have said it was a quarter of that to look at it and drive it,though.
VeeFour said:
I know there are a couple of issues... Front suspension wear is due to the very trick and complex setup, and water getting into comfort modules can be painful.
However, they're built like tanks, wear obscene mileages very well and feel like a much more expensive car. They put similarly aged BMWs and Mercedes to shame.
I had a B5 Passat 1.8T SE which I ran to nearly 200k miles. You'd have said it was a quarter of that to look at it and drive it,though.
All true. I had a B5 A4 Avant (just a 1.8) & I have a B5 passat 1.8T (which will be gone by Wednesday I hope!). My Passat has 115K on it & if I don't get rid of it now I can see it costing me at least what its worth in the next 12 months to maintain it, possibly double if something like the clutch or the turbo failed. The Audi was traded at 115K also & it had been a pain in the neck for the previous 10KHowever, they're built like tanks, wear obscene mileages very well and feel like a much more expensive car. They put similarly aged BMWs and Mercedes to shame.
I had a B5 Passat 1.8T SE which I ran to nearly 200k miles. You'd have said it was a quarter of that to look at it and drive it,though.
I've had front suspension go on both of them, the AC go on both of them, thermostats failed on both of them as did water temperature senders. Radiator failed on the passat, both have had power steering fluid leaks, cam cover gasket leaks & assorted other issues too numerous to mention as well. The Passat would have been gone on Friday only the rear door lock failed (in the locked position with the door closed
). The other one was replaced a couple of years back.They are pretty good cars when they are working though & I'd imagine the V6 will be a nice, understressed thing.
Edited by IainZ on Monday 12th September 09:10
IainZ said:
keep the engine bay (round the battery) free of leaves & clean it out regularly or you can get a swimming pool in there
Yes, this happend before, it got to the point where the front passenger footwell was getting saturated. Simple fix was to drill a small drainage hole. We did this around 3 years ago and havent had water pooling in there since. We havent had any issues with the suspension / ball joins (yet). The rear right got a bit squeaky ages ago but i believe the bushes were changed and that sorted it.The only major hassle with it is the imobiliser although, touch wood, its been quiet now for a few years.
OMNIO said:
Yes, this happend before, it got to the point where the front passenger footwell was getting saturated. Simple fix was to drill a small drainage hole. We did this around 3 years ago and havent had water pooling in there since. We havent had any issues with the suspension / ball joins (yet). The rear right got a bit squeaky ages ago but i believe the bushes were changed and that sorted it.
The only major hassle with it is the imobiliser although, touch wood, its been quiet now for a few years.
That's bad & you were very luckyif its all still working OK - though your alarm issues could be related.The only major hassle with it is the imobiliser although, touch wood, its been quiet now for a few years.
The CCM is in the floor just in front of the Passenger seat. Under no circumstances get it wet!
Edited by IainZ on Monday 12th September 09:09
Decent engine with enough poke and car still looks good. IainZ said:
That's bad & you were very lucky of its all still working OK - though your alarm issues could be related.
The CCM is in the floor just in front of the Passenger seat. Under no circumstances get it wet!
. The CCM is in the floor just in front of the Passenger seat. Under no circumstances get it wet!
:-/ Didn't think it could get that serious! Thanks for the tip! Like I say no visible saturation or dampness since we drilled the drainage hole so I recon its fixed (albeit a bit of a bodge)
SXi Lad said:
Getting this image of gremlins spouting from under neath the dash...
If you get the CCM wet the car can start behaving as if it does have gremlins living under the dash ! Interior lights flashing, windows going up & down, doors locking & unlocking alarm problems etc etc etc.
The CCM controls all that stuff & they put it in the floor instead of tucking it away somewhere safely under the dash!
One last thing - see that brake fluid reservoir? Next time you change the fluid get a new one - they just lift off from the servo. They are made of nasty thin plastic that goes brittle.
Under no circumstances use a pressure bleeder on it till you've changed it (about 35 quid ISTR). Less than 10psi on a pressure bleeeder on the one on my Passat and "Pop"
!! (Yes, it was full of fluid but very fortunately only split at the top).Edited by IainZ on Monday 12th September 09:15
IainZ said:
If you get the CCM wet the car can start behaving as if it does have gremlins living under the dash ! Interior lights flashing, windows going up & down, doors locking & unlocking alarm problems etc etc etc.
The CCM controls all that stuff & they put it in the floor instead of tucking it away somewhere safely under the dash!
One last thing - see that brake fluid reservoir? Next time you change the fluid get a new one - they just lift off from the servo. They are made of nasty thin plastic that goes brittle.
Under no circumstances use a pressure bleeder on it till you've changed it (about 35 quid ISTR). Less than 10psi on a pressure bleeeder on the one on my Passat and "Pop"
!! (Yes, it was full of fluid but very fortunately only split at the top).Edited by IainZ on Monday 12th September 09:15
Very nice ( apart from the B&W numberplate ) !
I just sold my B5 S4 Avant which I now regret. Took it up to 140K miles then replaced it with a A4 oilburner which is although is 'sensible', makes me feel old. I also prefer the front grill on the older model, newer ones just don't do it for me. Had the new one a couple of months and it's going back on the market.
I just sold my B5 S4 Avant which I now regret. Took it up to 140K miles then replaced it with a A4 oilburner which is although is 'sensible', makes me feel old. I also prefer the front grill on the older model, newer ones just don't do it for me. Had the new one a couple of months and it's going back on the market.
gifdy said:
Very nice ( apart from the B&W numberplate ) !
I just sold my B5 S4 Avant which I now regret. Took it up to 140K miles then replaced it with a A4 oilburner which is although is 'sensible', makes me feel old. I also prefer the front grill on the older model, newer ones just don't do it for me. Had the new one a couple of months and it's going back on the market.
Photoshopped I just sold my B5 S4 Avant which I now regret. Took it up to 140K miles then replaced it with a A4 oilburner which is although is 'sensible', makes me feel old. I also prefer the front grill on the older model, newer ones just don't do it for me. Had the new one a couple of months and it's going back on the market.
I have the standard UK plates.I would love either an S4 or an RS4, £1600 - £2000 for insurance is still a bit high though.
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