Learn me tdi

So, I accidentally might have bought an 05 jetty tdi sedan for less than challenge budget. Two onerous, service records, clean and rust free southern car. Coworker was pissed about what the dealer offered her on trade in, and I jokingly offered her a grand. She accepted.

Have never driven one. Never even looked closely at them.

What are they actually worth? Any issues to look out for? Anyone looking for one? Real world fuel economy?

If I don't like it, I am planning to flip it, so I want to make sure that there is a decent profit margin, or at least the ability to easily break even.

well first is it an early '05, or an '05.5?

that is the split year between the mk4 body style and the mk5 era.

regardless it should be powered by a "pump duse" engine (aka PD) and has a cam driven injector setup. Because of this they tend to wear out cams more often, but that's replaceable at reasonable cost since it's so common, and plenty go lots and lots of miles.

They're not quite as bulletproof as the '03 and older ALH (external injection pump) motors, but they'll knock down 40+ mpg highway all day.

If it runs and drives for $1K it's a steal! Depending on mileage it's likely a $4-$6K car. Hard to find a nice driver TDI for less than $3,500, and if this is a clean rust free car like you said, you've got a winner.

Has about 230k on it.

Any way to tell about the cam?

Anything else to look for?

Dusterbd13 wrote: Has about 230k on it. Any way to tell about the cam? Anything else to look for?

Should be able to inspect cam lobes/lifters by popping the valve cover off.

http://www.myturbodiesel.com/wiki/camshaft-lobe-wear-inspection-and-replacement-on-tdi-pd-engine/

I've never owned a PD engine TDI, so I'm not sure about much else as for specific things to look at.

Full camshaft replacement kit if it did need all that should be under $600: http://www.idparts.com/camshaft-replacement-kit-bew-p-1317.html

Full timing belt kit/water pump if you were to do all that anyways is an additional ~$220.

In reply to xflowgolf:

Thanks!

Apparently if it's not running like E36 M3, it's probably good. At least the way I understand the link.

Going to give the car a good once over this morning. Wife isn't thrilled by the thought, but said if I could make money, do it. She also said if she likes it, she'll take it to replace her protege5.

Any more last minute things?

Sounds like you need to "Wheeler Dealer" it. Shocked that the value is so low, with all of the post '07's leaving the road soon.

Fix it up as close to new as you can, and sell it.

In reply to alfadriver:

That's pretty much where my head is. Pure profit cow.

Having never done a wheeler dealer attempt, I'm nervous though.

alfadriver wrote: Sounds like you need to "Wheeler Dealer" it. Shocked that the value is so low, with all of the post '07's leaving the road soon. Fix it up as close to new as you can, and sell it.

I thought it was 09+ that were the buyback cars? But either way, yeah, older TDIs in good shape are going to be very easy to sell for good $$$ soon...

Nothing to be nervous about. KBB shows private party values from 1900-2700 depending on condition. I think it's totally worth a nice detail job. Then, take some decent pics and try to double your money. If it doesn't work, then you have a cheap, fuel sipping new daily for the wife.

I was wrong about it being a Jetta. It's a Passat TDI. And it is as clean and as nice as I thought it was. Will need rear tires and a very thorough cleaning. Does it being a Passat change anything?

Hang onto it until the TDI buybacks start and sell it to a former TDI owner who didn't drive them for "environmental friendliness", but for mileage. Prices might start to go up on those. Also, make sure to use the proper oil in it to keep the cams alive, or so I've been told.

STM317 wrote: Nothing to be nervous about. KBB shows private party values from 1900-2700 depending on condition. I think it's totally worth a nice detail job. Then, take some decent pics and try to double your money. If it doesn't work, then you have a cheap, fuel sipping new daily for the wife.

I was going to say the same thing. In the older days, WD spent a lot of time in scrap yards finding good replacements of worn out parts. And most of those parts are wrench parts.

The scary part is if the engine is in really bad shape. But it sounds like it's not bad- just replace gaskets and other bad looking stuff.

As long as there no massive painting or welding- it's not too hard of work.

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220k. Small dent on Deck lid. Needs detailed. Rear tires marginal.

Drives great, comfortable, etc. None rust, no accident damage. 1k.

I can still run until 3pm when she goes to the dealer for her new car.

I'm thinking 2500 car after detail and tires would be reasonable. What says the hive?

In the north its a pretty easy 3k car just because it isnt rusty and people really like the little diesels.

Anyone up for a fly and drive?

so, my wife really likes this thing. berkeley.

what is long term care and feeding like? anything I should look closer at? will pull valve cover and check cam visually for wear.

any higher mileage stuff specific to these? its at 220k. she does about 20k a year in her car, but its all HARD miles. like 2 miles to school. 3 to the grocery store. 20 to church, 40 to family dinner.

I also want her to be in something reliable as gravity and safe, as well as my daughter who is usually with her.

ive never owned a water cooled VW. just a superbeetle.

auto trans failure seems to be the "throw in the towel" failure on high mileage TDI's that aren't worth fixing. The Passats never offered a manual trans in the US, so a conversion to save it isn't easy.

Plot your course for fuel saved vs. initial purchase. What was she driving? Given scrap/partout on the tail end, it'd be hard not to come out ahead. That chassis tends to eat through suspension pieces, as their multi link control arm setup... while it drives nice... tends to get clunky with age. They eat wheel bearings too. Add in VW 2000's era electrical gremlins, and it's hit or miss. A 2000's VW anything isn't going to be anyones recommendation for "reliable as gravity"... but for $1K?

Usually TDI's shine in longer commutes vs. stop/start short daily stuff, but at $1K it's hard to say no. Drive it till it pukes if she likes it, yank the TDI engine, and build a TDI Samurai or something.

On the TDIclub.com forums you'll find plenty of 400K+ cars out there.

currently shes driving a 2002 protege5 with 175k. she says its too small....

her current car is reliabile as gravity. I'm hesitant to trade it for something that isn't....

but the thought of drive it till it pukes IS appealing. her car is an easy 2500 car here any day that ends in y. I think it also crashes better than the p5. its definitely more comfortable and has more room for her teacher/girlscout stuff that she refuses to takeout of a car....

If it moves under its own power, I don't see how you can lose.

I'm falling in love with this damn car. Why should I dump it for profit? There's got to be a reason to run. Got to.

It's a VW...but I can't say anything to bad as I had a 00 Golf tdi that never left me walking and got 50 mpg even doing 80. I say enjoy till it pukes or you get tired of it. Sell me the protege!

Dusterbd13 wrote: I'm falling in love with this damn car. Why should I dump it for profit? There's got to be a reason to run. Got to.

You will indeed love it until the auto trans E36 M3s the bed. Seems to happen to all of them without warning.