Looking to buy a 1.9 or 2.5 tdi *Advice Please*

[L16YD L]

Hi all,

I'm looking at selling by 320td BMW Compact and need tomething cheaper as i am moving out of my family home. I've always wanted a B5 A4 so think now is the right time to look for one.

I am looking at a 1.9 or 2.5 tdi sport, saloon or avant, but i need some help. 1. What do i need to look out for? 2. Quattro or not? 3. Automatic issues?

Ay help would be great.

 

[adamss24]

If its automatic you want then it has to be the quattro. They have strong ZF gearboxes but the oil and strayner(gearbox oil filter!) needs changing every 60-80k otherwise the box will act funny. 1.9 is a very ecconomical lump allbeit underpowered for the size of the car. They chip well and get up to 140Bhp (VE engines 110Bhp) while still returning 50Mpg+... The 2.5 tdi is more refined but a bit thirsty. In standard form is ok but chipped is a beast with monster torque. However fuel ecconomy isnt great but when running right, it will embarass many petrol car. The late PD 115 Bhp engine is the best of both worlds 285Nm of torque while still being ecconomical. Stay away from "low" mileage cars as the odometer it's been "massaged" for shure. They have a harsher ride compared to your 3 series beemer but get a good one and you wont look back. Quattros are briliant in bad weather and will make good progress in allmost any terain. The v6 lump is a very reliable lump but feared by many. Early cars had problems with the camshafts but i reckon is down to the Longlife service intervals and the oil being left up to 2 years in the engine ! Use a god quality 5w40 synthetic oil and it will last you long time. Make shure you get one with cambelts done as its a £500 job or better, drop the price down and get it done yourself ! Make shure you throw a new water pump(with a metal impeller) and a genuine thermostat as whell. If its a bit of poke and decent economy you want, you might as well look at the later b6 audi a4, a more modern design but not so strong as they should be. I have 3 v6 tdi: b5 passat fully loaded, c5 audi a6 saloon and a b5 a4 quattro. The a6 and passat ride allmost the same, the quattro is a different animal ! Here is mine:

 

[Broken Byzan]

^^ nice to see you have posting pics and the sig sorted Chris, nice one !!

PS i still want that kit, i just keep doing the lottery

Sorry off topic. Sound advice above he knows his stuff on the Diesels fo' sho

 

[jcb]

what will you be using it for?
long hauls?, towing?, Daily commute?

1.9 is a bit gutless IMO but good for the better economy as above.
2.5 is a much nicer car to drive and has some real grunt when you need it. you pay for that at the pumps though.

Quattro every time if you can

 

[L16YD L]

If its automatic you want then it has to be the quattro. They have strong ZF gearboxes but the oil and strayner(gearbox oil filter!) needs changing every 60-80k otherwise the box will act funny. 1.9 is a very ecconomical lump allbeit underpowered for the size of the car. They chip well and get up to 140Bhp (VE engines 110Bhp) while still returning 50Mpg+... The 2.5 tdi is more refined but a bit thirsty. In standard form is ok but chipped is a beast with monster torque. However fuel ecconomy isnt great but when running right, it will embarass many petrol car. The late PD 115 Bhp engine is the best of both worlds 285Nm of torque while still being ecconomical. Stay away from "low" mileage cars as the odometer it's been "massaged" for shure. They have a harsher ride compared to your 3 series beemer but get a good one and you wont look back. Quattros are briliant in bad weather and will make good progress in allmost any terain. The v6 lump is a very reliable lump but feared by many. Early cars had problems with the camshafts but i reckon is down to the Longlife service intervals and the oil being left up to 2 years in the engine ! Use a god quality 5w40 synthetic oil and it will last you long time. Make shure you get one with cambelts done as its a £500 job or better, drop the price down and get it done yourself ! Make shure you throw a new water pump(with a metal impeller) and a genuine thermostat as whell. If its a bit of poke and decent economy you want, you might as well look at the later b6 audi a4, a more modern design but not so strong as they should be. I have 3 v6 tdi: b5 passat fully loaded, c5 audi a6 saloon and a b5 a4 quattro. The a6 and passat ride allmost the same, the quattro is a different animal ! Here is mine:

Cheers for that, I would something like you b5, looks simple but nice at the same time, what have you changed on it?? I am looking at getting the car lowered so the ride doesnt bother me. Its hard to find a 1.9tdi sport quattro but thats what i am aiming for but i had seen this and thought i could knock him down for the issue but not too sure:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....995765&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_506wt_1167

What do you reakon? I will keep my eye out but need to sell mine first.

 

[L16YD L]

what will you be using it for?
long hauls?, towing?, Daily commute?

1.9 is a bit gutless IMO but good for the better economy as above.
2.5 is a much nicer car to drive and has some real grunt when you need it. you pay for that at the pumps though.

Quattro every time if you can

I will be doing long journeys, Manchester to Liverpool on a regular basis and then commuting to see clients. No towing but might do in the future. If i get a 1.9 and then get it chipped and lowered, how should the car react?

 

[jcb]

"Reason for selling is bought for the wife but she does not like it. "

Ha Ha, probably because it is gold!!
looks OK though

 

[L16YD L]

"Reason for selling is bought for the wife but she does not like it. "

Ha Ha, probably because it is gold!!
looks OK though

Haha, i dont mind it. Just spoke to him and he says that it feels like its missing gears......

 

[aragorn]

Some people think the 2.5 is a bit laggy, it doesnt do much until its above 2k, and then its only just on song when you hit the governor like a wall. The Auto probably makes it worse, so might explain why he thinks its missing gears, unless of course it is actually messing up the shift. Unfortunately i dont do autos, i'd rather the car wasnt second guessing me when i'm trying to drive!

Chipping will help the lag though if thats whats causing it.

Be warned, the 6 cyl bosch VE pump used in those motors is notorious for failing, and that alone would put me off buying one. If it fails your looking at a grand for a rebuild. The same pump is fitted to E36 beemers and suchlike and has the same issues there.

Its a bit of a difficult choice i think. I looked at tdi's when i got ours, but decided the 1.9 would be lifeless without a lot of tuning work, and the 2.5 was too much of a risk and its fuel economy wasnt THAT much better than a 1.8T to justify the extra expense.

 

[adamss24]

^^ nice to see you have posting pics and the sig sorted Chris, nice one !!

PS i still want that kit, i just keep doing the lottery

Sorry off topic. Sound advice above he knows his stuff on the Diesels fo' sho

No worries Mark, drop me a line when you ready for it, it gathers dust in me garden... Thanks again for pointers on the sig side, could not have done it without your help !

 

[adamss24]

Some people think the 2.5 is a bit laggy, it doesnt do much until its above 2k, and then its only just on song when you hit the governor like a wall. The Auto probably makes it worse, so might explain why he thinks its missing gears, unless of course it is actually messing up the shift. Unfortunately i dont do autos, i'd rather the car wasnt second guessing me when i'm trying to drive!

Chipping will help the lag though if thats whats causing it.

Be warned, the 6 cyl bosch VE pump used in those motors is notorious for failing, and that alone would put me off buying one. If it fails your looking at a grand for a rebuild. The same pump is fitted to E36 beemers and suchlike and has the same issues there.

Its a bit of a difficult choice i think. I looked at tdi's when i got ours, but decided the 1.9 would be lifeless without a lot of tuning work, and the 2.5 was too much of a risk and its fuel economy wasnt THAT much better than a 1.8T to justify the extra expense.

Just to add a bit: the v6 is a bit laggy but easily sorted with a chip/tuning box or remap. Biesel Bob refurbish the vp44 for 680 quid all in and they are childrens play to fit if you have the right tools and vag-com. Economy wise, the FWD get up to 50Mpg on the motorway driven sensibly, quattro does 35Mpg in town and 45 Motorway at speeds of 100Mph. I drove today my friends 51 plate v6 tdi quattro a6 and i would say mine pulls much much harder than his one remapped- his is the 180Bhp standard and mine is b5 with a 180Bhp engine. Mine has a chip, his a remap. I dont need to hit the governor on the diesel pump as it runs out of puff after 3000rpm or so, then i change gear... Hitting guvernor in 6th means over 140Mph tested ! To the OP: stay away of the auto if they give problems...Its most likely a leaky valve in the valve body, a burnt clutch pack or a non locking torque convertor. You will spend best part of 1000 quid and will most likely fail within 6 months ! Been there done that...auto gearbox specialists are pants overhere ! I would rather spent the grand on a good running car with a 6 speed manual box.

 

[adamss24]

I will be doing long journeys, Manchester to Liverpool on a regular basis and then commuting to see clients. No towing but might do in the future. If i get a 1.9 and then get it chipped and lowered, how should the car react?

Why get a 1.9 if you will use it for comuting and towing ? The v6 will make it efortlessly. 1.9 tdi quattro's are still big money while being poverty specced. Had an kingfisher blue estate at some point, sport trim but no leather- nice colour though ! the v6 its in a different league. I paid for mine 1400 quid last february and spent more than 3 grand on it allready to sort the handling ! It was not the best base car but its straight and decent specced. Underneath its an b5 rs4 with the WRONG engine and box. On the outside i just fitted: s4 front bumper, facelift xenon headlights, rs4 satin alloy roof bars, rear VOTEX lower valance and a VOTEX tailgate spoiler. Front ATE Power Kit (330mm brake discs and 4 pot calipers+ braided hoses), rear 312mm rs4 brakes, eibach springs on rs4 shocks all round, eibach front antiroll bar, rear quattro GMBH 17mm antiroll bar, rs4 rear subframe + diff/driveshafts and uprights, mix of rs2/4 rear bushes and tie rods + droplinks, gutted cats, 180 Bhp turbocharger, ported heads, BDU cylinder heads+ injectors, silicone vacuum hoses, new MAF, blocked EGR valve, 180Bhp engine breather, rs4 engine mounts and genuine CV joints... There is much more but thats just from the top of my head ! On the last quattro i had an even better engine: 3L block mated to AKE cylinder heads...240+ Bhp and about 500Nm ALL estimates... That would have kept up with s4 and m3 all day long ! I still miss it though ! Sold it top a mate who crashed in Europe, car is in his parents garrage sitting there, might go there and buy it back !

 

[L16YD L]

Does anyone know how hard and how costly it would be to change from a auto to manual on a 2.5 tdi quattro?

 

[adamss24]

Unless you have a manual one to swap bits from, its not that easy. You need box, pedals, clutch, dual mass flywheel, crankshaft needle bearing, gear shifter linkage, re-programming the ECU and a lot more. I have done one and i wont tackle that job again. Much easier to buy a factory manual one as gathering all the bits is expensive and pointless really.