Hi,
First time poster but occasional lurker and not TDI savvy even though I have had one for 6 years. I just drive it and change the oil, rinse and repeat.
I just bought a 2004 Passat TDI wagon from a used car dealer via an eBay listing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250682290651
Unfortunately it came with only one regular electronic key/fob and one valet key. My local dealer (Eich Motors, St. Cloud, MN) charges about $200 (w/tax) to provide a key. I have searched the forum where this is a frequent topic and have found that $200 is actually not an unreasonable price for a one stop key buying experience. Any significantly cheaper alternatives?? On eBay I can find uncut keys with cases-only as well as keys with electronics from people who likely have gotten rid of their cars. I assume I could buy an uncut key (with case) and install the electronics from an eBay key, then have it cut by a locksmith and reprogram it myself. Almost takes me up to $200 right there.
Also, the seller included the window sticker. Here is a scan:
http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss42/rsewill/sticker.jpg
What does "Leather Seating Surfaces" mean on the window sticker? Leatherette or real leather? Hard for me to tell just by looking at it and feeling it. I have leatherette in my '03 Jetta TDI sedan (bought new but now has 101k miles) but it is cheapy aftermarket conversion and doesn't have the 'quality' look and feel of the Passat's 'surfaces'. But the Passat doesn't have the suppleness or appearance of leather I have had in some older cars.
Any places to buy a good 505.01 oil besides the dealer? I use Mobil 1 in my Jetta. The forum seems all over the place on oil. Obviously a 10W-40 would be nice. I can probably find a local place that sells the Mobil VW 505.01 oil (or maybe the Pentosin or Valvoline stuff?)
Thanks,
Ron
>>>>
More info for anyone curious:
I had been looking with cash in hand for a nice '04 or '05 Passat TDI wagon for some years, checking this forum and eBay as well as using searchtempest.com to search all of Craigslist in the USA. I wanted something other than the gray exterior, gray interior of my '03 Jetta.
This one has most everything I wanted except it doesn't have power seats. I also really like the beige interior and the Samoa Red (looks brown) exterior. And with 37,500 miles on the odometer it has not even been broken-in.
Well, it had 37,500 miles. Not anymore. I called the eBay seller as soon as the posting went up (he included his phone number in the listing.) He said I called within an hour of his posting the auction but I know I called within minutes of it appearing on eBay based on my search order. It did not have a Buy It Now but did have a reserve of $12k (which I discovered by placing a $14k bid.) He also had it on his sales lot with a window price of $14,995 + his $67.50 title, etc. transfer fees. He described the car in more detail, told me it was a local trade from an older couple whom he said I was welcome to call (but I didn't), and I then offered his asking price which he accepted.
The only bad part was the added expense ($628 for two) of flying out to pick up the car. That and the $1300 in taxes, etc. at our local deputy registrar... Cortez, CO is some 1200 miles from St. Cloud, MN. My son, who will be a high school senior this year, wanted to visit two colleges in Colorado so he came with and got to visit his colleges. We flew because it wasn't practical for us to take the time to drive the Jetta to Cortez and then each drive a car back.
After I completed the transaction the dealer told me he had received a call about an hour after mine from someone who saw the Completed eBay posting and wanted to know why he had stopped the auction. The dealer said the guy sounded quite upset. Perhaps a tdiclub.com member?
The Passat is in very good condition save for a few small scratches on the lift gate and sides and now some paint chips on the front. The dealer had detailed the car which was also a nice touch. Unhappily I did get some damage while driving east on I-90 in South Dakota when we came upon a paving crew working westbound using belly dumps which were turning around to head east right after dumping their asphalt which was flying everywhere including onto 5 places on my windshield. Fortunately I have full glass coverage because the contractor (Knife River) refused to pay damages, telling me it was a 'road hazard' even though the asphalt fell off their trucks and was scattered all over the highway.
Besides the key, I also need a matching center head rest for the back seat (beige). The original owner took it out because it blocked his rear view and he could not find it anymore. Shouldn't be too hard to find from a junk yard.
My wife is very understanding.
Ps. I made a couple of attempts at formatting for paragraphs - hope it works this time.
I've looked at rocketchip, and kerma's websites. I need to make some calls and ask 100's of stupid questions. thanks for the heads up on Malone. 
