Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI B5-shape
Discussion
As per the title really, I'm considering getting one to replace the Triumph as a daily hack, hopefully before I have to renew its insurance, and all round workhorse. I have done some rudimentary cost calculations, and the petrol costs per annum for the Triumph are simply sickening compared to the passat...
sooo, thoughts and opinions on my plan, yes I know it's diesel, yes, I know it's 'wrong wheel drive', but I personally think they are quite a decent car.
So, PH Massive, any B5 experts out there? Any problems besides the water ingress? Things that go wrong?
Over to you...
sooo, thoughts and opinions on my plan, yes I know it's diesel, yes, I know it's 'wrong wheel drive', but I personally think they are quite a decent car.
So, PH Massive, any B5 experts out there? Any problems besides the water ingress? Things that go wrong?
Over to you...
I had use of a b5.5 pd 130 TDI estate version a few years ago, It was my dads company car and I think it was on an '03 plate. It was ok to soak up the miles and as a load lugger with ok performance from a diesel estate. Handled no where near as well as the replacement mondeos did but you didnt really expect it to.
The worst thing about it were the headlights, just plain a awful. We tried to remedy this by getting some brigter lamps but it was still nothing special. Maybe it was just the way the light clusters were designed, you know s
te! I'm if sure you could find one with hid headlights it would be ok.
Along with a few of the VAG cars of this period check for wet footwells as they are known to leak, the one we had was fine however.
hth
The worst thing about it were the headlights, just plain a awful. We tried to remedy this by getting some brigter lamps but it was still nothing special. Maybe it was just the way the light clusters were designed, you know s
te! I'm if sure you could find one with hid headlights it would be ok.Along with a few of the VAG cars of this period check for wet footwells as they are known to leak, the one we had was fine however.
hth
One of the best built mainstream cars of all time, IMHO.
TDI lumps seem to go on forever - and if you're looking at a B5, rather than B5.5 it'll be an old school diesel, rather than PD, so it'll run on anything.
S spec is poor, so avoid. SE is pretty loaded with kit, including full climate control. Sport gets alloys and Audi-style suspension. (Too hard and harsh)
I had a B5 1.8T, bought at 130k miles, ran to 180k miles in 12 months, all it cost me was regular service bits.
Just watch for dodgy electrics, as water can get into the footwells and play havoc with the 'comfort module' - usually this manifests itself as alarm / immobiliser problems and erratic electric window operation.
Great cars - and although my B6 TDI handled much better than the B5, the B5 definitely had the edge on comfort and quality.
TDI lumps seem to go on forever - and if you're looking at a B5, rather than B5.5 it'll be an old school diesel, rather than PD, so it'll run on anything.
S spec is poor, so avoid. SE is pretty loaded with kit, including full climate control. Sport gets alloys and Audi-style suspension. (Too hard and harsh)
I had a B5 1.8T, bought at 130k miles, ran to 180k miles in 12 months, all it cost me was regular service bits.
Just watch for dodgy electrics, as water can get into the footwells and play havoc with the 'comfort module' - usually this manifests itself as alarm / immobiliser problems and erratic electric window operation.
Great cars - and although my B6 TDI handled much better than the B5, the B5 definitely had the edge on comfort and quality.
Yeah definitely going for a B5, so yes, old school dieseasel all the way. I read up on the wet carpet issue, my mate and colleague actually had the problem with his car, his remote locking and electric windows stopped working, because water had got into the box with the electrics in it. All fixed now though, something to do with removing some bungs?
Just got to raise a bit of cash from somewhere, and we should be good to go. Insurance is higher than what, say a golf TDI would be, and two of my friends have golfs, so can't copy them and i don't want to buy French, even my old Triumph is screwed together better...
Just got to raise a bit of cash from somewhere, and we should be good to go. Insurance is higher than what, say a golf TDI would be, and two of my friends have golfs, so can't copy them and i don't want to buy French, even my old Triumph is screwed together better...
anonymous said:
[redacted]
To be honest I wouldn't be looking for a great deal of kit particularly, anything is better than the current kit levels ive got at the moment... I'm glad it's a well regarded car and no-one has said they are st, see, one can count on pistonheads for sound car adviceTo avoid the water issue take the battery out of the bulkhead, give the whole area a very thorough clean, polish and wax. Then cut out larger holes in the drainage bungs. You can even take them out as water will struggle to climb its way up! Job done.
Mate of mine bought a B5 after I had bought my B5.5, told him what to do, he didn't, he got wet feet and shagged electrics
Mate of mine bought a B5 after I had bought my B5.5, told him what to do, he didn't, he got wet feet and shagged electrics
my dad has a 51 plate diesel 130 SE estate, got it about 5 years ago with about 115,000 on the clock. the first VW he had ever bought.....
Now its done 170,000 and still goes like a dream... the styling looks a bit old now but fantastically comfortable and gets a great return to the gallon.
Other that brakes, tyres, wipers etc....
This is what he has had done to it....
New clutch....(you may also have to renew flywheel as it is a Dual-Mass Flywheel which has a pair of rotating masses which rotate freely relavtive to one another eliminating vibration)
Water pump....(Has a plastic impellor which wears down through time)
Some wee sensor at the bulk head which assists the turbo..( causes intermittent turbo failure..
Car is almost 9 years old now and i cant get him to change to another car.....
So a big YES from him.
S.
Now its done 170,000 and still goes like a dream... the styling looks a bit old now but fantastically comfortable and gets a great return to the gallon.
Other that brakes, tyres, wipers etc....
This is what he has had done to it....
New clutch....(you may also have to renew flywheel as it is a Dual-Mass Flywheel which has a pair of rotating masses which rotate freely relavtive to one another eliminating vibration)
Water pump....(Has a plastic impellor which wears down through time)
Some wee sensor at the bulk head which assists the turbo..( causes intermittent turbo failure..
Car is almost 9 years old now and i cant get him to change to another car.....
So a big YES from him.
S.
Hi second year with one all good so far daily comute and munchkin mover.no 130k just servicing required. The water issue was a factory recall, check that its been done . The black box thingy is in the passenger footwell.quite pricy i here .Oh and yes the lights are s!#t. Other than that it is what it is a motorway mile muncher at 55 to gal.
CHEERS Andy
ps forgive spelling etc pre caffine injection
CHEERS Andy
ps forgive spelling etc pre caffine injection
Bought one last year and cant fault it really. At the time (fuel prices were diff)it did 600 miles to a tank of £50, just ran and ran air con worked had a cd auto changer etc etc its a 99 V with 90+ K
used it while travelling round looking for a 911, bought the porsche still have the B5 as it was too good to give away !
Its for sale now hint hint !!!
used it while travelling round looking for a 911, bought the porsche still have the B5 as it was too good to give away !
Its for sale now hint hint !!!
DJC said:
Wtf is a B5?
How about using simple and normal Google search and finding millions of pages giving the answer, especially the one at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Passat
EFA.How about using simple and normal Google search and finding millions of pages giving the answer, especially the one at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Passat
I concur, the lights on my B5.5 are awful, especially after being used to xenons on my previous Focus. I tried upgrading them with some brighter bulbs but they still aren't great by any means.
Otherwise, I bought my 130 PD as a daily hack and for long runs on the motorways and cannot fault it. It has been very reliable, started instantly even in last year's very cold weather and sailed through three MOT's only requiring tyres.
It's now on 104000 miles and everything still works as it should and feels tight. My one has spent 90% of its life on the motorway and I think this suits these cars, so don't let high miles put you off as long as it's been serviced.
It's very comfortable and gives great MPG but these are not cars designed for fun, more like cruisers I'd say!
My B5.5 Passat for the chap that was asking what the models are...
Otherwise, I bought my 130 PD as a daily hack and for long runs on the motorways and cannot fault it. It has been very reliable, started instantly even in last year's very cold weather and sailed through three MOT's only requiring tyres.
It's now on 104000 miles and everything still works as it should and feels tight. My one has spent 90% of its life on the motorway and I think this suits these cars, so don't let high miles put you off as long as it's been serviced.
It's very comfortable and gives great MPG but these are not cars designed for fun, more like cruisers I'd say!
My B5.5 Passat for the chap that was asking what the models are...
I have a 2000 Tdi Estate, and she is a superb motorway muncher and generally good car. She is comfy to spend all day in cruising the country in, and still returns 50mpg, and generally reliable (save for the box which makes the Turbo think it should stop of course, which has now been replaced twice, but that's in about 6 years of ownership). Got her at 65k and she's now on 135k, and still going strong.
ABS, Traction Control, Climate Control (climatronic), full electric windows are some of the gadgets on her, and there is enough room in the back for 2 adults to sit comfortably as well.
All in all a very nice machine to own IMHO.
ABS, Traction Control, Climate Control (climatronic), full electric windows are some of the gadgets on her, and there is enough room in the back for 2 adults to sit comfortably as well.
All in all a very nice machine to own IMHO.
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