New car advice - Audi A4 1.9 TDi 2001 with high mileage

[mark1984]

I've decided its time to get a more economical car, my budget is about £3k. I've decided that the Audi A4 1.9 TDi is the way to go, however in my price range they are about 9-10 years old with high mileage (around 140k).

What should I look out for on the A4's with high mileage? Is high mileage anything to worry about on these engines? Are they prone to any problems?

Thanks for any advice.

Mark

[maltloaf]

Passat better value and much the same car imho. You will get the higher spec 130hp model for your budget I would expect.

[mark1984]

Passat better value and much the same car imho. You will get the higher spec 130hp model for your budget I would expect.

I must admit I've only been looking on autotrader and I did have a quick look at the Passat, but like the look on the A4 more... but if I cant find a nice A4 within my budget then it might be a Passat, but I'll probably test both before I make the final decision; although I'd like to get an idea of what to look for before I go look at them.

[Pie]

Got a 99 A.4 tdi with 143000 on the clock cars been no bother apart from suspension arms seems to go though a couple every year no to expensive but wud check them would amagine there the same on the passat

[mark1984]

Got a 99 A.4 tdi with 143000 on the clock cars been no bother apart from suspension arms seems to go though a couple every year no to expensive but wud check them would amagine there the same on the passat

Thanks, are they easy to check? or is is a case of listening while driving it?

[BigBrand]

Also look at the Bora, slightly smaller but same 150bhp 1.9 gt tdi pd engine. Rock solid.

As long as cambelt has been done and you're happy with this, should be no issues. Expect clutch to go around 200k tho

[fanni]

Also these lumps have the dual mass flywheel which are also prone to going look for engine vibrations

[BigBrand]

All the VAG owners I know with dual mass flywheels have had 100+ from the original clutch, so maybe you've had a bad run?

[Over Carl]

Funnily enough I was in a garage yesterday when the mechanic was going on to my mate about vag dmf issues, he seemed to be suggesting it hit the golf mk 3/4 tdi hard iirc (I'm guessing probably these would be when dmf's were just brought in), although he was also talking about the dmf taking out a chunk of the gearbox casing.

[fanni]

My DMF went when the my MK4 Golf was on about 130K it ripped the clutch to bits and got locked in a position where i couldn't get to the bolts holding it in place had to cut the front plate off with a grinding wheel and took me about 4 hours to cut off

Car is now on 180K and still pulls like a train 130BHP probably one the best diesel lumps out there

[BigBrand]

My DMF went when the my MK4 Golf was on about 130K it ripped the clutch to bits and got locked in a position where i couldn't get to the bolts holding it in place had to cut the front plate off with a grinding wheel and took me about 4 hours to cut off

Car is now on 180K and still pulls like a train 130BHP probably one the best diesel lumps out there

For sure, I've got a 130, and did have a 150 PD. I've had my 130 remapped by R-Tech. It pulls like an absolute train with 55mpg! Just brilliant.

[Rob]

I had the 130 version on a golf mk4 gtd the thing went like a rocket. A friend had the same engine on a A4 obviously a little slower due to the extra weight but the inside was a better place to be. I can't comment on high mileage as I had mine from 58K - 110K and never had any serious issues. Older deisels are more reliable than the more recent versions providing they have been looked after.

[cbrookes]

If your not bothered about the badge have a look at the Skoda Octavia and Superb, you could live in a Superb! Also I would stick with the 130 over the 150 as the 130 seems to have more torque lower down imo

[Brydo666]

I had the B5.5 (2004) Passat with the 1.9 TDI 130 lump and had zero issues, very nice car. Will pick up one of those with <100K in your budget no problem ... the Sport's have 16" Alloys, Lower Suspension & Front Fogs.

Replaced it with a B6 (2007) Passat with the 2.0 TDI 170 lump... love Passats.

Audi's are nice cars, but I can't justify the extra cost.

[casio]

im thinking about swapping my 2001 2.0 petrol focus cos i'm only getting the low to mid 20's to the gallon and its costing a fortune, the main reason ive still got it is that the cam belt went about a week after I started looking around last time and it cost so much to have fixed I wouldnt get much back out of it when I resold.

after having all the upper half of the engine rebuilt I decided to stick to cars with a chain style cam rather than the belt I have at the moment -like some of the older rovers and a couple of the older honda's had (its been 10years since I last bought a car and im guessing its pretty much all changed to say the least lol) do any of the VAG diesels in the 3-4k range have the chain style belt or are they all the rubber style like I already have?

other than that as long as its 4 door and a diesel and has space in the boot for a wheel chair I dont mind vw,skoda or audi

[funkyg]

For some reason, a lot of diesels have belt where the petrol has chain. My petrol Avensis was chain where the diesel versions had belt.

[Brydo666]

I don't think any VW diesels are chain driven.

[Over Carl]

Some engines are non interference designs - i.e. if the belt/chain breaks, the valves will not hit the pistons.

[Oily]

Mercs use a chain instead of a belt on some diesels.

To the op:
I've had an A4,like other have said,front suspension arms go,aircon control unit in the dash can give you trouble too.
Have you considered an Alfa 159(cue cries of 'oh no not an Alfa!'),just slightly over your budget but you could pick one up with 100k miles for less than £4000 if you haggled?

The 2 Alfa's I've had were great to drive,1st one a petrol 1.8TS and the one I have now is a 2.4JTD,had it 6 yrs+,only major problems I've had were the inner pot joints on the drive shafts and I've just changed the original clutch on it after 156,000miles.Very quick and pulls like a train.

Edit,quick look on Autotrader
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...1501?logcode=p

[Oily]

im thinking about swapping my 2001 2.0 petrol focus cos i'm only getting the low to mid 20's to the gallon and its costing a fortune

And I thought my RX8 was bad!!