06 Passat - whay do I need to know?

[pstruck]

One option for my diesel estate needs are a Passat. I've seen a couple of nice looking 06 plate TDi 140 Sport models on 30 ish k miles. Anything in particular to be looking out for on these?

[mattman]

REAR TYRES!!!

they suffer with treadblocking as a lot of threads on here will testify, which sounds like knackered wheel bearings (happens about 40mph on my saloon) - so make sure you test drive without the radio on

Does it have satnav? tricky to test, but the headunit freezes up after about an hours use.

[va1o]

Don't know if this applies to the Passat, but on other cars on the MK5 Golf chassis (Touran, A3 etc) there are big problems with the ESP/ABS Control unit failing, which costs arround £1500 at a VW garage to get fixed outside of warranty. Seems to affect 2005-2006 era TDIs mostly. You can tell if you have this problem immediately because the ESP light on dash becomes illuminated and you can't turn the ESP system on.

[Tame Technician]

Dont know why but the ABS module is much less comon on the A4. It might be a diferent spec to the VW one, although they are usually the same.

We probably change one or two a year, not common at all really.

[Escort2dr]

Rear tyres, as above.

Fuel pump - massive problem with these going and 3+ month wait for parts. Most should have had it changed by now.

Other than that, I did nearly 30K in 11 months in mine - it ran like clockwork apart from a slight issue with a camshaft position sensor plug connection, and the radio went wrong. The rear tyre thing was common with the A4 I had before it.

[Iain328]

va1o said:

Don't know if this applies to the Passat, but on other cars on the MK5 Golf chassis (Touran, A3 etc) there are big problems with the ESP/ABS Control unit failing, which costs arround £1500 at a VW garage to get fixed outside of warranty. Seems to affect 2005-2006 era TDIs mostly. You can tell if you have this problem immediately because the ESP light on dash becomes illuminated and you can't turn the ESP system on.

That's a problem on the B5 (98-2003/4) Passats & Audis as well

[R1 GTR]

Escort2dr said:

Rear tyres, as above.

Fuel pump - massive problem with these going and 3+ month wait for parts. Most should have had it changed by now.

Definately check the fuel pump has been sorted, ours actually packed in while VW had it for a service!!

Oh, and they do withstand deer wipe-outs quite well