A4 (B6) 1.9TDI Buying Advice & Questions
Discussion
Hi,
I'm looking for a new daily driver for work and have been considering an A4 (B6) with any of the 1.9TDI engines (and either saloon or avant models). Hopefully someone on here will be able to help me answer a number of queries I have about them:
1) I see the 1.9TDI engines come in 100, 115 and 130bhp variants. The 100bhp model is a bit cheaper to tax which is an obvious attraction, but is this particular engine a bit too weak for the size/weight of the car?
2) What are the serving intervals and major service mileages for them (ie when is the cambelt supposed to be replaced)?. I'm sure i've read before that the Golf tdi's must be run on a particular type of oil - is this the case with the 1.9TDI's in the A4s? Should I be looking for one with a FASH or will an independant service history be ok?
3) What are the servicing costs like? (both main dealer and independant)
4) Do high miles pose any significant problems with these cars? I'd like to buy one with as little miles as possible, but my low budget looks to be pointing towards ones with upwards of 120K on them.
5) What sort of real world MPG are people getting with them - the book figures are around 50MPG (combined), but are these accurate?
6) Are there any common problems I should be looking out for when viewing them?
7) Do the rear seats on the saloon models fold forward to allow access to the boot?
Thanks,
Agar
I'm looking for a new daily driver for work and have been considering an A4 (B6) with any of the 1.9TDI engines (and either saloon or avant models). Hopefully someone on here will be able to help me answer a number of queries I have about them:
1) I see the 1.9TDI engines come in 100, 115 and 130bhp variants. The 100bhp model is a bit cheaper to tax which is an obvious attraction, but is this particular engine a bit too weak for the size/weight of the car?
2) What are the serving intervals and major service mileages for them (ie when is the cambelt supposed to be replaced)?. I'm sure i've read before that the Golf tdi's must be run on a particular type of oil - is this the case with the 1.9TDI's in the A4s? Should I be looking for one with a FASH or will an independant service history be ok?
3) What are the servicing costs like? (both main dealer and independant)
4) Do high miles pose any significant problems with these cars? I'd like to buy one with as little miles as possible, but my low budget looks to be pointing towards ones with upwards of 120K on them.
5) What sort of real world MPG are people getting with them - the book figures are around 50MPG (combined), but are these accurate?
6) Are there any common problems I should be looking out for when viewing them?
7) Do the rear seats on the saloon models fold forward to allow access to the boot?
Thanks,
Agar
1. The 100 is fine depends what your used to.
2. Oil + filter every 10k
cambelt 55k
3. £250 at an Indy garage for cambelt + water pump
4. These engines are almost bulletproof, if it's been taken care of it will hapilly do 250k+
5. 50 - 55 mpg is what I average that's with 70% highway 30% urban
6. Check for any rust if it has panel rust it must have had a bump since they are galvanised, check for blue or White smoke out the exhaust when starting the engine from cold if there is, walk away.
Carl.
2. Oil + filter every 10k
cambelt 55k
3. £250 at an Indy garage for cambelt + water pump
4. These engines are almost bulletproof, if it's been taken care of it will hapilly do 250k+
5. 50 - 55 mpg is what I average that's with 70% highway 30% urban
6. Check for any rust if it has panel rust it must have had a bump since they are galvanised, check for blue or White smoke out the exhaust when starting the engine from cold if there is, walk away.
Carl.
Won't feel as pokey as the golf, but will still pull well and be more than capable of overtaking on a motorway with ease
if your feeling frustrated with the power just look at the odometer and think " I've just had 650 mile outta this tank " or you could put in bigger injectors and get a remap to get about 130 - 140 bhp 250+ lb ft torque and better economy if you don't thrash the extra power.
if your feeling frustrated with the power just look at the odometer and think " I've just had 650 mile outta this tank " or you could put in bigger injectors and get a remap to get about 130 - 140 bhp 250+ lb ft torque and better economy if you don't thrash the extra power.
My mans talking bobba.
Most of them are on longlife servicing, approx 18k between services depending on driving style. Cambelt is due every 75,000 miles or 5 years, people always say it must have had the water pump changed aswel but these dont really go wrong on the diesels so wouldnt worry me.
Would definently be looking for one with full Audi history as the cars i see with so called 'specialist' history seem to be sheds and the full Audi history ones seem to have been looked after with the common issues sorted.
Most of them are on longlife servicing, approx 18k between services depending on driving style. Cambelt is due every 75,000 miles or 5 years, people always say it must have had the water pump changed aswel but these dont really go wrong on the diesels so wouldnt worry me.
Would definently be looking for one with full Audi history as the cars i see with so called 'specialist' history seem to be sheds and the full Audi history ones seem to have been looked after with the common issues sorted.
00161wj said:
My mans talking bobba.
Most of them are on longlife servicing, approx 18k between services depending on driving style. Cambelt is due every 75,000 miles or 5 years, people always say it must have had the water pump changed aswel but these dont really go wrong on the diesels so wouldnt worry me.
Would definently be looking for one with full Audi history as the cars i see with so called 'specialist' history seem to be sheds and the full Audi history ones seem to have been looked after with the common issues sorted.
for the extra 30 quid get the water pump done - mine went on 1.9tdi 130 - snapped cambelt when it seized and caused 2K worth of damage. The cambelt had been done but not the water pump - and main dealer.Most of them are on longlife servicing, approx 18k between services depending on driving style. Cambelt is due every 75,000 miles or 5 years, people always say it must have had the water pump changed aswel but these dont really go wrong on the diesels so wouldnt worry me.
Would definently be looking for one with full Audi history as the cars i see with so called 'specialist' history seem to be sheds and the full Audi history ones seem to have been looked after with the common issues sorted.
Aaaah my thread.....
Right first ill tell you a little about the starship enterprise.
Silver in colour. She has 4 doors and a mightily powerful 1.9tdi 130bhp engine.
At present mileage stands at 281000 miles.
She has broken down once in 6years and all that mileage. This was caused by a pulley seizing and shearing a bolt in the engine bay meaning if i kept driving i risked getting the belt wrapped in the cambelt etc so pulled over and got it recovered.
The car is if looked after bullet proof.
Issue???
Rear arb is a known fail point 250 to repair but no biggie if it goes wrong barely noticeable.
Windscreen wiper mechanism. They have a tendency to seize. 80 quid to replace if you do it yourself. (its a piece of piss)
Service is every 15-18k. I get mine done by a national chain rather than the dealer full service is 200 quid.
Car does use a specific oil costs around 14 quid a litre.
You will however use very little i would hope as mine certainly doesnt use much.
I used to get 750miles from a tank all day long these days its more like 650 (with 50 in reserve)
Cambelt and water pump should always be done same time every 60k miles although saying that they may have changed the impellar from plastic to metal clearing the problem by now not sure.
Rear seats are i believe folding in all models and even better can be locked with the car key meaning even if someone breaks into the car they cant get into the boot.
Front disks and pads are around £250 oem fitted by an indy.
Tyres if running 16's on michelin (original spec~) should last around 20-25k front and 30k+ rear.
Depending who services the car it can cost from 70 quid indy to 700 quid esp if you get audi to do the cambelt.
Various trim levels available try get one with lumbar support which was an option.
Mine btw hasnt been serviced in around 30ish thousand miles and is running fine bar a little hiccup on the odd morning. Luckily due a new windscreen mot and full service in three weeks as poor thing has been very busy recently.
Any other questions feel free to ask.
Eta also rust. Mine hasnt got a huge amount of rust other than on the rear windows where there is a black triangular plate which has rust bubbling under it but has been like that for 2/3yrs now. I am however reasonably fastidious and take the car through a full underbody etc carwash whenever its cold enough for them to grit the roads once a week.
Right first ill tell you a little about the starship enterprise.
Silver in colour. She has 4 doors and a mightily powerful 1.9tdi 130bhp engine.
At present mileage stands at 281000 miles.
She has broken down once in 6years and all that mileage. This was caused by a pulley seizing and shearing a bolt in the engine bay meaning if i kept driving i risked getting the belt wrapped in the cambelt etc so pulled over and got it recovered.
The car is if looked after bullet proof.
Issue???
Rear arb is a known fail point 250 to repair but no biggie if it goes wrong barely noticeable.
Windscreen wiper mechanism. They have a tendency to seize. 80 quid to replace if you do it yourself. (its a piece of piss)
Service is every 15-18k. I get mine done by a national chain rather than the dealer full service is 200 quid.
Car does use a specific oil costs around 14 quid a litre.
You will however use very little i would hope as mine certainly doesnt use much.
I used to get 750miles from a tank all day long these days its more like 650 (with 50 in reserve)
Cambelt and water pump should always be done same time every 60k miles although saying that they may have changed the impellar from plastic to metal clearing the problem by now not sure.
Rear seats are i believe folding in all models and even better can be locked with the car key meaning even if someone breaks into the car they cant get into the boot.
Front disks and pads are around £250 oem fitted by an indy.
Tyres if running 16's on michelin (original spec~) should last around 20-25k front and 30k+ rear.
Depending who services the car it can cost from 70 quid indy to 700 quid esp if you get audi to do the cambelt.
Various trim levels available try get one with lumbar support which was an option.
Mine btw hasnt been serviced in around 30ish thousand miles and is running fine bar a little hiccup on the odd morning. Luckily due a new windscreen mot and full service in three weeks as poor thing has been very busy recently.
Any other questions feel free to ask.
Eta also rust. Mine hasnt got a huge amount of rust other than on the rear windows where there is a black triangular plate which has rust bubbling under it but has been like that for 2/3yrs now. I am however reasonably fastidious and take the car through a full underbody etc carwash whenever its cold enough for them to grit the roads once a week.
Fairly odd that. My history file was impeccable upto around 120-180k miles at which point i lost interest as i planned on keeping it till it dies. Problem is it wont die and am now stuck in a wanna replace it just to have something new situation but dont want to sell it because its so reliable.
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