Golf PD 150 reliability
Discussion
Hi, I've seen a tidy, low mileage MK4 Golf PD150 with full VW service history which I'm interested in. It's being advertised with just shy of 70k miles which is backed up by the MOT history.
I've read these engines can suffer from prematurely worn camshafts, is there any truth to this? I appreciate VW sold millions so I was wondering if I should be put off or not.
I've read these engines can suffer from prematurely worn camshafts, is there any truth to this? I appreciate VW sold millions so I was wondering if I should be put off or not.
I think that era of VW was when they were very dependable. The few we had in the family at that time were always dependable.
Our neighbour has a Passat with the same engine. It had 270000 miles on it when are it's turbo. The owner is the kind of person who believes that having a car MOT'd is as good as having it serviced. Treat it to regular oil and filter changes and occasionally some decent fuel and the engine will probably be more solid than most current diesels.
Our neighbour has a Passat with the same engine. It had 270000 miles on it when are it's turbo. The owner is the kind of person who believes that having a car MOT'd is as good as having it serviced. Treat it to regular oil and filter changes and occasionally some decent fuel and the engine will probably be more solid than most current diesels.
wormus said:
Thanks, you're probably right. I had a Passat PD130 years ago which I put 90k miles on without a single issue. In fact it was boringly reliable.
Doing my research as one does, uncovered lots of stories about worn camshafts and I started to think I'd just got lucky.
Thought it was the 150PD that had the camshaft prone to wear.Doing my research as one does, uncovered lots of stories about worn camshafts and I started to think I'd just got lucky.
HannsG said:
Is it still worth buying these tidy diesel motors the way the government is banging on about diesels?
I have a holiday home in the IOM, with a garage. The plan is to export it and they don't care about such things over there, they don't even have an MOT although the car must be inspected for road worthiness before it gets its new plates. Main thing I want the car for is to get about the island with my family as I'm tired of hiring cars and taking the bus!
It also has to fit in the garage with my bike and hatch backs of this era were not as big as today's equivalents. I've also been looking at Ford Focuses but they seem to be a lottery when you look around the £2.5 - 3k mark, there are a lot of sheds out there. Alfa 147 was another contender but they seem to suffer the same fate.
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 7th May 15:51
Willy Nilly said:
It must be getting on for 15 years old. Even if it was the best engine in the know universe, the rest of the car may be falling to pieces around it.
Why? It's done less than 70k miles and has a full VW service history with one owner. It's usually neglect that makes cars fall apart. Anyway, I've check the on-line MOT history and it's faultless.wormus said:
Willy Nilly said:
It must be getting on for 15 years old. Even if it was the best engine in the know universe, the rest of the car may be falling to pieces around it.
Why? It's done less than 70k miles and has a full VW service history with one owner. It's usually neglect that makes cars fall apart. Anyway, I've check the on-line MOT history and it's faultless.wormus said:
Hi, I've seen a tidy, low mileage MK4 Golf PD150 with full VW service history which I'm interested in. It's being advertised with just shy of 70k miles which is backed up by the MOT history.
I've read these engines can suffer from prematurely worn camshafts, is there any truth to this? I appreciate VW sold millions so I was wondering if I should be put off or not.
Which other 15 year old vehicle are you expecting to buy that will be guaranteed to not let you down? Every man and his dog knows that these are decent engines, on a car that old pay your money and take your chance. I've read these engines can suffer from prematurely worn camshafts, is there any truth to this? I appreciate VW sold millions so I was wondering if I should be put off or not.
Willy Nilly said:
The car has a design life and won't last for ever. Rubber and plastic will perish letting moisture and the paint and rust proofing will be not what it was. A car that is well maintained will certainly last longer, but won't last indefinately. I've used all sorts of machines over the years and unlike wine and cheese, none have got better with age.
Really not sure of your point, there are plenty of older cars still on the road and not all of them are sheds. OK, it's not a new car but my question was about its reputation for eating camshafts, not Entropy. 
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 7th May 16:39
wormus said:
Willy Nilly said:
The car has a design life and won't last for ever. Rubber and plastic will perish letting moisture and the paint and rust proofing will be not what it was. A car that is well maintained will certainly last longer, but won't last indefinately. I've used all sorts of machines over the years and unlike wine and cheese, none have got better with age.
Really not sure of your point, there are plenty of older cars still on the road and not all of them are sheds. OK, it's not a new car but my question was about its reputation for eating camshafts, not Entropy. Edited by wormus on Sunday 7th May 16:39
Your car is 15 years old. That's 15 winters of salt, 15 summers with sun light perishing rubber and plastic, 15 damp autumns when it's not dry for months on end. It may well be fine, but it's not a 2 year old 70,000 mile car.
Jag_NE said:
Which other 15 year old vehicle are you expecting to buy that will be guaranteed to not let you down? Every man and his dog knows that these are decent engines, on a car that old pay your money and take your chance.
Yes, that was why I was considering one. For me, it comes from the era when VW stood for reliability and before the early common rail diesels came in. The alternative would be to look for a hatchback from Honda or Toyota but I'm not sure I can bring myself to get something my Mum would drive Willy Nilly said:
Years ago a mate of mine bought a MKII Golf TDI. It wasn't very old at the time and had done, iirc 150k and ran well. He kept it a couple of years but got sick of chasing various gremlin around the car, lights, central locking, electric windows, that sort of thing. But the engine was fine.
Your car is 15 years old. That's 15 winters of salt, 15 summers with sun light perishing rubber and plastic, 15 damp autumns when it's not dry for months on end. It may well be fine, but it's not a 2 year old 70,000 mile car.
I see your point but by comparison, I also have a 2006 Monaro which I've owned from new. I paid to have it professionally rustproofed (they don't have salt in Aus) and it's kept in a dry, dark garage. It never goes out in rain and only done 33k miles. As a result, it's in better condition than many 2 year old cars and drives like new. Your car is 15 years old. That's 15 winters of salt, 15 summers with sun light perishing rubber and plastic, 15 damp autumns when it's not dry for months on end. It may well be fine, but it's not a 2 year old 70,000 mile car.
My 14 year old Saab hasn't led a charmed life either, hardly ever gets washed and lives outside but it gets serviced and other than a few battle scars from its daily trip to the train station, there's nothing wrong with it and everything works.
Nothing wrong with older cars but they need regular maintenance granted. Anyway, I digress...
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 7th May 17:10
On a PD Engine I would check -
Regular servicing with correct PD oil (not long life service periods)
Timing belt and water pump have been done
Injector loom has been changed (it's under cam cover, tends to degrade with heat and oil)
Turbo vanes aren't gummed up (I think more likely on a motorway car doing sluggish miles. Plenty of fuel tank additives can address this, or Mr muscle direct)
That pretty much covers all the issues I've seen or experienced personally on a PD.
Otherwise, it's an old car. Brakes start seizing, Aircon fails, gear linkage starts to slacken and may struggle with reverse etc.
Regular servicing with correct PD oil (not long life service periods)
Timing belt and water pump have been done
Injector loom has been changed (it's under cam cover, tends to degrade with heat and oil)
Turbo vanes aren't gummed up (I think more likely on a motorway car doing sluggish miles. Plenty of fuel tank additives can address this, or Mr muscle direct)
That pretty much covers all the issues I've seen or experienced personally on a PD.
Otherwise, it's an old car. Brakes start seizing, Aircon fails, gear linkage starts to slacken and may struggle with reverse etc.
Pretty sure they don't suffer from the problems associated with short journey's like more modern diesels which is good considering you will be doing mainly short journeys on the IOM.
However why not just get a med size petrol?
Less to go wrong and you'll be able to pick up a newer 1.6/1.8 Focus or Civic for peanuts.
The MK4 TDI's with low mileage go for a premium.
However why not just get a med size petrol?
Less to go wrong and you'll be able to pick up a newer 1.6/1.8 Focus or Civic for peanuts.
The MK4 TDI's with low mileage go for a premium.
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