Replacements for 2.0 TDI 140hp (BRE)

John_Tuohy

John_Tuohy

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Blown engine and my pride & joy is off the road.

It's a 2008 Avant A4 S-Line 2.0 TDI 140bhp (B7 engine code BRE, VDS is 8E5)

Good BRE engines are hard to come by these days so I am wondering if I can expand the search range to 2.5, 2.7 or 3.0 TDI engines.

One clever guy on this forum did a straight swap of a 2.0TDI for a 2005 3.0 TDI, and apparently the fit, mounts and harnesses were compatible.

  • Can anybody advise on compatible replacements for the engine above?
  • Also what are the chances of fitting B8 engines?
 
Another BRE is your best bet.

That or a BRD but the injectors/loom will need changed over

Was it the oil pump?

I wouldn’t go up in size. Especially not the 2.7
 
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tr7 said:
Another BRE is your best bet.

That or a BRD but the injectors/loom will need changed over

Was it the oil pump?

I wouldn’t go up in size. Especially not the 2.7
Click to expand...

The pump mod was already done.
In this case, an injector tip broke off. Does the BRD have a DPF?
 
Yes BRD comes from a DPF car.

But my understanding is that engines are essentially the same besides what you bolt to them. (And the oil pump configurations).

Example.

I personally replaced a BRD 170 engine with a BRE engine from a 140 car.


It's the same engine (essentially).

Just the injectors/loom needed swapped over as they are different.

What makes a 140 car a 140 car is the turbo you bolt to it and the injectors.
What makes a 170 car a 170 car is the bigger turbo you bolt to it and the bigger injectors.

They're interchangeable.

BRE engine in trailer, brought a BRD 170 Special Edition back to life after engine failure

IMG 2425
 
Last edited:
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tr7 said:
Yes BRD comes from a DPF car.

But my understanding is that engines are essentially the same besides what you bolt to them. (And the oil pump configurations).

Example.

I personally replaced a BRD 170 engine with a BRE engine from a 140 car.


It's the same engine (essentially).

Just the injectors/loom needed swapped over as they are different.

What makes a 140 car a 140 car is the turbo you bolt to it and the injectors.
What makes a 170 car a 170 car is the bigger turbo you bolt to it and the bigger injectors.

They're interchangeable.

BRE engine in trailer, brought a BRD 170 Special Edition back to life after engine failure

View attachment 209146
Click to expand...

Any idea why a BRD has a DPF and a BRE doesn't then?
 
Pie-eyedpiper said:
Any idea why a BRD has a DPF and a BRE doesn't then?
Click to expand...
I actually presumed the BRE had a DPF.

Do late 07+ 140 cars not have DPF's?

I've owned a BLB January 2006 car for 6 years (no DPF). Now a 2008 BRD (with DPF)

My assumption was the later 2007+ all came with DPF's due to regulations?

Early = 2005-2006
Late = 2007 -2008

Early 140 - Late 140
BLB BRE

Early 170 - Late 170
B?? BRD

So in theory (though not wise) you could bolt a BLB into a originally BRD car.

As asides from some internal configuration like we all know primarily the oil pump/balancing system they are essentially the same. Even the BKD can be mated/fitted with oil pickup/sum modification.
 
No no DPF on the BRE, thankfully.
Did you mate your replacement BRE up to the DPF from the BRD?
To be honest I have no idea what the DPF does and quite why the BRD does and the BRD doesn't. No putting Adblue in either.
I think this was the last diesel not to be fitted with one.
 
Yes everything went back in/mated up to the BRD inlet and exhaust manifolds etc.

BRE was out of a low mileage Automatic. Only needed the needed the injectors swapped and maybe flywheel?
Everything was interchangeable
(We also changed the sump over but this was because I damaged it in transit)

Fairly sure that car was remapped and there was a cut and weld on the DPF. But it all matched up and I still see it driving near to me locally to this day
 
Anyway, to the OP

2.7 are incredibly rare and also if going to the length, a waste when you could go 3.0.
3.0 though would be challenging unless you're a mechanic yourself, and no working mechanic would lookforward to taking this on due to unknowns. You'd also do best to buy a second full car for the swap. There is always something you forget and small bits can add up £££
So again, all of the above = nightmare.

To me, I'd only consider
Find yourself a low mileage BRE or BRD out of an Automatic. This is what I did personally and imo your best bet
 
tr7 said:
Yes everything went back in/mated up to the BRD inlet and exhaust manifolds etc.

BRE was out of a low mileage Automatic. Only needed the needed the injectors swapped and maybe flywheel?
Everything was interchangeable
(We also changed the sump over but this was because I damaged it in transit)

Fairly sure that car was remapped and there was a cut and weld on the DPF. But it all matched up and I still see it driving near to me locally to this day
Click to expand...

So the turbo and injectors fitted straight on? Was the loom swap a tricky job?
 
audi upgrades
On my phone so hard to type.

But yes.

I didn’t personally do the engine swap. But I believe so. Mechanic would have asked me for more parts and or money if it didn’t!

Everything in the 170 car bolted up to the 140 BRE engine.
Simply old BRD engine removed and BRE dropped in.
Original exhaust manifold was kept etc. Never left the car.

Injectors needed switched over. Are simple to remove with correct technique and loom is just beneath rocker cover obviously.

After that it was plug n play.
 
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