Mk 4 TDi Reliability

[smiiithy]

Hi all,

I'm looking at a 2002 02 Reg VOLKSWAGEN Golf 1.9 GT TDi 150 with 151k on the clock. It's had 2 owners, Volkswagen service print out and cambelt changed at 121,000. I just want to know those of you with a Mk 4 TDi how many miles have you done and have you had many problems? Have you had to spend much on your car other than basic servicing and maintenance costs? Unsurprisingly my 2002 Clio 1.5 dCi has been very unreliable and caused me a list of problems. Can't wait to get rid and wouldn't mind a 150 which by comparison goes like sh!t off a stick.

Cheers,

Mike

[efunc]

the engine is built like a tank and will do double those miles if it's regularly serviced. other mechanical parts will probably benefit from replacement - shocks, wishbone, rear beam bushes, top mounts, maybe clutch as well. you shouldn't have too many problems. you'll know what needs to be renewed by driving it and inspecting it. if you take your time you can normally sort things out cheaply as and when.

[Rhyso]

i've got a 130PD and over the last 3 years or so I have replaced..

clutch & flywheel replaced (remap killed it lol)
wishbone bushes
rear beam bushes (need doing again - 60K seems about their limit)
cambelt & water pump
window regulator clips (fail for a pass time until replaced with the metal version)

rest have been upgrades / modifications / fancy shiney things

Thing to look for with the 150 is that the correct oil has been used - you may also want to check for white smoke / lumpy idle as well as the performance as the camshaft & rollers can be prone to failure on them even though it uses the same camshaft as the 130    only other way to double check is to whip the rocker cover off but that's a little extreme when viewing a car

[smiiithy]

Thanks for that. Do you know exactly oil it is? I'm hoping to take my mate who's a MOT tester.

[efunc]

the spec changed from 505.01 to 507 I believe. ie the same stuff as long life service oil.

[Rhyso]

Thanks for that. Do you know exactly oil it is? I'm hoping to take my mate who's a MOT tester.

look through the receipts - it should be VW approved at the very worst; anything else you'll have to a do a bit of checking to ensure its VW approved

[tg1]

did you replace the rear beam bushes with powerflex ones? or just standard.

mines poweflexed now, and its rides over big bumps better now than when it was broke.

little bumps are a bit worse though.

That said i need new springs and shocks might have something to do with it

[Rhyso]

at the time I just replaced with standard but I've got some Fabia VRS bushes ready and waiting to go on 

[tg1]

i was gonna get vrs ones, but my garage wouldn't fit parts not for a golf. 

Wouldn't put tt front wishbone bushes on even though he said they would fit 

something about me blaming him when if it went tits up.

Of course i would thats why i paid for someone else to do it. (plus i'm not that handy with a spanner tbh)

[smiiithy]

Just spoke to the garage and he says to his memory the service history shows last service by VW at 121K when the cambelt was changed. It’s now at 151K. Could this be a big no go? Asking price is £2,985.