Maintenance questions from prospective buyer

[psaboic]

Wife is seriously interested in going from her New Beetle to the Passat TDI. I'm older school diesel with my 83 MB and my 02 Jetta TDI, so I have a couple questions regarding the new Passat.

1. Is the oil change interval still 10,000 miles?

2. Is "special" oil required like it is/was on the 2004 and up PD diesel engines or can I use Rotella T6 or Mobil 1 TDT?

3. Does it use a timing belt or a chain?

4. What is the required intervals between timing belt/chain replacement

5. Does the 2.0 use common rail injection, unit injection, or??? (I'm trying to stay away from anything like the older PD system).

6. How do the DSG automatics hold up? I'm trying to talk her into the 6-speed manual, but she wants the auto.

7. Lastly, what appears to be the biggest maintenance issue (if any) folks are seeing?

Sorry for so many questions, but we are going to go looking in the next couple of days, and I want to be as informed as I can.

Many thanks,

Glenn

 

[Cogen Man]

http://www.vw.com/en/models/passat/...on.html#/tab=0c7e8cf95d23608451dd36288fe096fb

May be some things in the above to answer some questions.
To answer a few.
1. Yes, 10K OCI's.
2. As long as it's VW approved. 507.00 spec. Low ash. I believe the Rotella T6 and the Mobile 1 TDT are VW approved. Best to check.
5. Yes. CR as it's called.

 

[TDI_Dan]

Rotella T6 and Mobil 1 TDT are not 507.00 spec and cannot be used in the new CR engines.

I've read the DSG maintenance schedule is at every 40,000mi. At a approximate cost of $400-$800. Some posts have said that some dealerships will tell you it's not needed or say it is at 100k miles.

 

[ekiM]

Rotella T6 and Mobil 1 TDT are not 507.00 spec and cannot be used in the new CR engines.

I've read the DSG maintenance schedule is at every 40,000mi. At a approximate cost of $400-$800. Some posts have said that some dealerships will tell you it's not needed or say it is at 100k miles.

My dealership charges $269 for the 40k DSG maintenance.

 

[40X40]

Wife is seriously interested in going from her New Beetle to the Passat TDI. I'm older school diesel with my 83 MB and my 02 Jetta TDI, so I have a couple questions regarding the new Passat.

1. Is the oil change interval still 10,000 miles?

2. Is "special" oil required like it is/was on the 2004 and up PD diesel engines or can I use Rotella T6 or Mobil 1 TDT?

3. Does it use a timing belt or a chain?

4. What is the required intervals between timing belt/chain replacement

5. Does the 2.0 use common rail injection, unit injection, or??? (I'm trying to stay away from anything like the older PD system).

6. How do the DSG automatics hold up? I'm trying to talk her into the 6-speed manual, but she wants the auto.

7. Lastly, what appears to be the biggest maintenance issue (if any) folks are seeing?

Sorry for so many questions, but we are going to go looking in the next couple of days, and I want to be as informed as I can.

Many thanks,

Glenn

1. Yes, 10,000 mile OCI.
2. Must be 507.00 oil.
3. It has a timing belt.
4. I forget, but 120,000 miles springs to mind. EDIT Niner says 130,000 miles for a 2012 Passat, He can read a manual and owns one of those cars, so I'd listen to him. EDIT
5. Common Rail.
6. DSGs seem to be doing well now.
7. Nothing of note SO FAR.... and I hope it stays that way!

HTH

Bill

 

[Niner]

Timing belt is 130k on the CKRA motor in the 2012 passat.

Oil is hard to find if you service the oil changes yourself, and about $60 in parts from the dealership each 10,000 miles.

As an aside, I, personally, would not put my Significant Other in a VW or a TDI. They are great enthusiasts cars, but require some mechanical aptitude by the driver, to keep running and have some special needs. A car that is more an appliance like a Toyota or Honda is better for the fairer sex, unless you love working on her car too, all the time, in your spare time.

 

[tdiatlast]

DSG service every 40k, period. Probably wise not to stretch it. Dealers charge $269(see above) to $450ish. They will try to charge you even more for the 40k "service", with is cabin filter, fuel filter, OC/filter. those you can do easily yourself.
Air filters go 60k.

 

[TheGrove]

Oil is hard to find if you service the oil changes yourself, and about $60 in parts from the dealership each 10,000 miles.

You can always order the oil from one of the several vendors that support this forum (Impex, IDIParts, and others).

 

[domano 68]

You can always order the oil from one of the several vendors that support this forum (Impex, IDIParts, and others).

What is involved in the DSG 40k service? Fluid change only? Is there an internal tranny filter that needs to be changed out also?

Niner, sounds as if your confidence in the reliability of our wonderful cars is on the low side. ?????

 

[JBell]

Mobil 1 ESP 5W-30 has VW 507.00 spec.

 

[compu_85]

The DSG filter is a cartridge on the top of the trans... easily changed.

-J

 

[Niner]

Nah I am fairly mechanically inclined, and I have a good TDI tech in Matt-98AHU that can handle the heavy or harder stuff that I can't do. Everyone should have access to a good TDI tech specialist, if one owns a TDI. You really can't afford not to, with the way dealer, er, stealerships are these days with the run around one gets.

TDI's are maintenance whores, in my opinion. Certainly compared to old Toyotas and Hondas.

 

[dieselyeti]

TDI's are maintenance whores, in my opinion. Certainly compared to old Toyotas and Hondas.

Apples and oranges. And that sure won't change now that the TDI exhaust system is so damn complex with three catalysts and the DPF. (or Adblue if so equipped) When/if Toyota or Honda ever starts selling their diesels in the US the maintenance gap will narrow. However, I'm really curious to see what Mazda ends up selling here with their new Sky-D diesel. It's got a simpler emissions system and should be less of a PITA long term.

 

[no-blue-screen]

Totally different engine. Urea injection and the latest bosch solenoid injectors (less expensive). We are talking about the Passat right? They are two different animals. I think the Beetle will fall in line with the rest of the smaller vehicles which will not use urea injection and have the piezo injectors.

As far as fuel economy....I am pulling down numbers almost as good as my ALH beetle.

All the 2009+ require 507.00 spec oil due to emissions equipment.

 

[Niner]

Totally different engine. Urea injection and the latest bosch solenoid injectors (less expensive). We are talking about the Passat right? They are two different animals. I think the Beetle will fall in line with the rest of the smaller vehicles which will not use urea injection and have the piezo injectors.

As far as fuel economy....I am pulling down numbers almost as good as my ALH beetle.

All the 2009+ require 507.00 spec oil due to emissions equipment.

Ditto for me, numbers almost as good as my 2002 ALH Jetta GLS.

 

[LimonPani]

Nah I am fairly mechanically inclined, and I have a good TDI tech in Matt-98AHU that can handle the heavy or harder stuff that I can't do. Everyone should have access to a good TDI tech specialist, if one owns a TDI. You really can't afford not to, with the way dealer, er, stealerships are these days with the run around one gets.

TDI's are maintenance whores, in my opinion. Certainly compared to old Toyotas and Hondas.

While the newer Japanese are still reliable but I feel they are not what they used to be.

Though I have never had a German vehicle, I feel as long as I do not get a lemon, if I take care of it, it will be fine.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Regarding the commonrail injection system, the Passat has high speed SOLENOID injectors, compared to the Golf/Jetta/JSW's PIEZO injectors... Simpler design and hopefully they will be less expensive to replace when the time comes (a long time from now).

The biggest thing with maintenance is the 40,000 mile DSG service. Buy yourself a VCDS and save $BIGNUM by doing that service yourself compared to at the dealership.

 

[IXLR8]

I am not sure what all the complaints are about VW's and maintenance. I presently have 262,000 miles on my '02 TDI Golf, I don't think I have spent more than $350 on non scheduled maintenance costs. Although that is not counting the $800 mice damage repair bill. Granted I have done all of those repairs myself. On the other hand, my ex-wife spent over $2300 on non scheduled maintenance costs in the 146,000 miles she had her '00 Toyota Camry. But Toyota's are cheap to own and VW's are expensive!!??

 

[kydsid]

I am not sure what all the complaints are about VW's and maintenance. I presently have 262,000 miles on my '02 TDI Golf, I don't think I have spent more than $350 on non scheduled maintenance costs. Although that is not counting the $800 mice damage repair bill. Granted I have done all of those repairs myself. On the other hand, my ex-wife spent over $2300 on non scheduled maintenance costs in the 146,000 miles she had her '00 Toyota Camry. But Toyota's are cheap to own and VW's are expensive!!??

I think that ANY car driven past 100,000 miles without proper care, not only maintenance but also how hard it is used, will be potentially very expensive.

What most people are commenting on is the pre 100,000 mile repairs, or at least that is how I always viewed it. Even then it didn't scare me away.

 

[psaboic]

I am not sure what all the complaints are about VW's and maintenance. I presently have 262,000 miles on my '02 TDI Golf, I don't think I have spent more than $350 on non scheduled maintenance costs. Although that is not counting the $800 mice damage repair bill. Granted I have done all of those repairs myself. On the other hand, my ex-wife spent over $2300 on non scheduled maintenance costs in the 146,000 miles she had her '00 Toyota Camry. But Toyota's are cheap to own and VW's are expensive!!??

AMEN Brother!! I'm sooooo tired of the mentality of "its a (insert your choice of Japanese car maker here) so it is the most reliable, cheapest thing to own....period" Yes, the Asian makes were hard to beat a few years back, but things have changed.......

 

[Niner]

My 88 Toyota Xtra Cab 4x4 with 22RE motor has not changed hardly at all... well maybe the timing chain, rear main seal on the transmission, rear diff seal, alternator brushes, water pump and coolant, as well as gear box oil, but that's about it, brake pads too on front, and a few fan belts. 231k miles on it.