Rare Find! Pristine B5.5 Passat TDI Wagon

[ives]

Hey Folks!

Long time no see. I used to run a 2004 Jetta TDI 5spd around about 8 years ago and had a great time with that car. I just bought back into the TDI family with this amazing rare find! It had been stored in a heated garage and driven maybe once a year from 2006-2021. In summer of 2021 it was driven ~2,000 miles, gone over and then was sold to me. I've since put another 2,000 miles on it and I'm taking it for a road trip from Denver to San Diego by way of Portland, Oregon. It will be for sale this summer I think once I have a little fun.

I've just put some improved Nokian tires on it, found a pair of original unopened Monster Mats for it, and gave it some fresh fluids, wipers, and a Thule roof rack so I can carry some road trip gear. Here's some fresh pictures before I got it ready for the road trip.

Website with more photos for when I'm ready to sell it:
https://passat-tdi-for-sale.myportfolio.com --

Please tell me anything y'all know about this vehicle, or feel free to ask me questions about what I know. Any and all comments welcome!

 

[Mongler98]

OMG, i am not going to be able to sleep tonight... im TORN in two between this and my dream bike (RUNE)

 

[Mozambiquer]

Has the balance shaft been deleted/converted?

 

[ives]

Has the balance shaft been deleted/converted?

No, not yet. It only had 25,000 miles on it when it came out of stasis and now has 33k. My understanding is that you probably don't have to worry about that for another 30-50k miles. Good thing to do though. My suggestion to a future buyer would be to do it while doing the timing belt. While the timing belt isn't techincally due till 100k, and despite the fact that the belt looks literally new and not even dirty, I'd probably suggest doing the full job around 50k. What do you think?

 

[Mozambiquer]

No, not yet. It only had 25,000 miles on it when it came out of stasis and now has 33k. My understanding is that you probably don't have to worry about that for another 30-50k miles. Good thing to do though. My suggestion to a future buyer would be to do it while doing the timing belt. While the timing belt isn't techincally due till 100k, and despite the fact that the belt looks literally new and not even dirty, I'd probably suggest doing the full job around 50k. What do you think?

I would recommend doing that and the timing belt, if you even want to get close to that asking price. The balance shaft was bad from the factory, and the timing belt would be way overdue by time.
The PD engines also have an 80k mile or 7 year interval.

 

[ives]

I would recommend doing that and the timing belt, if you even want to get close to that asking price. The balance shaft was bad from the factory, and the timing belt would be way overdue by time.
The PD engines also have an 80k mile or 7 year interval.

The asking price is very much OBO. It's probably the last pristine B5.5 TDI Wagon in the country, but I'd be glad to discount the price of the timing belt and balance shaft for a serious buyer. My 04 1.9 TDI had a 80 or 90k interval, but in the original manual this one says it's 100k. Even still I agree it should be done sooner, though age has not degraded these belts - being in a heated garage in the dry west it's whole life has left the rubber in fantastic shape.

I don't plan to keep this (I really bought it to save it from the last owner who didn't know what they had), and given that the balance shaft issue is not something most mechanics want to do, I'm not very incentivized to drive around the country looking for a shop who has time to do it preemptively.

 

[ives]

OMG, i am not going to be able to sleep tonight... im TORN in two between this and my dream bike (RUNE)

If you want to buy it, I'll make you a VERY good deal.

 

[Mongler98]

If you want to buy it, I'll make you a VERY good deal.

i can't i can only have so many things that do and dont run. 4 motorcycles and 2 cars.... its hard enough for me to get my rune...
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3213901445563418/?ref=saved&referral_code=null

 

[Windex]

If I owned that car, I would change that timing belt (and do the BSM at the same time) before ever starting it again.

That belt is 18-19 years old! *eek!*

 

[Mozambiquer]

On the website, you say it's fully serviced, but the timing belt isn't.
VW released an updated timing belt interval bringing it down to 80k miles on them.
It's also not the top trim, as it's only got the pleather seats and doesn't have the wood grain that the top line one has.
I'm not dissing the price, but stating that if you're wanting to sell it for that, it should be actually serviced. And I would NOT recommend driving it anymore until the timing belt is changed. That is a very old belt and is unsafe to drive like that.

 

[chickensoup2180]

wow thats a CLEAN b5.5

 

[bigsexyTDI]

That thing is unbelievable

 

[Toothreaper]

Hmu id be down to negotiate. I left a message to you on your sale link site but I feel like this would be an awesome buy. Either way though after all the research I have done on this vehicle from this specific site actually and some of the other forum peeps here I would also agree price needs to come down a quite a bit since neither of those major jobs haven't been done to this Wagon yet.

 

[vwxyzero]

If you take it on a road trip with an 18 year old timing belt (shelf life is 7 years) you are going to be sorry. Regardless of what that belt looks like, it's way beyond overdue, it's very likely that you'll destroy the engine on that road trip.

 

[1854sailor]

...It's also not the top trim, as it's only got the pleather seats and doesn't have the wood grain that the top line one has...

What Mozambiquer said. If it was an SEL, it would also have cruise control and radio buttons on the steering wheel...

 

[Mozambiquer]

What Mozambiquer said. If it was an SEL, it would also have cruise control and radio buttons on the steering wheel...

Yup, I thought mine was, as it had the monsoon radio and it's a GLS model, but then got a top line GLS and it's not the real leather, mfsw and woodgrain.
I want to make one of my other ones like that, as I have a multi function steering wheel, w8 cluster, all the wood grain pieces and etc. I thought about getting leather electric seats for it as well... We'll see if that happens...

 

[TurboABA]

I wonder if this thing self destructed on it's trip.... would be interesting to hear how it all went.

 

[Mozambiquer]

I wonder if this thing self destructed on it's trip.... would be interesting to hear how it all went.

Yeah. I just picked one up, almost as pristine as this one in outward condition, needs a cam and balance shaft delete, and it's the top of the line model with the real leather and wood grain trim, leather steering wheel, etc.

 

[oilhammer]

The leather/wood was an option on the GLS. There was also the rarer leather only option... again, GLS only. There really were not many options on B5s. GL or GLS, then the above mentioned leather or leather/wood. All the GLS had Monsoon, all the GLS had aluminum wheels and sunroof. And all the TDIs were automatic. The rarest ones are the GLs. Steel wheels, no fog lights, and often no sunroof. I think ESP may have been optional, not sure. Both my 2004s have it, but I did have one (a gasser) that did not. But I am not sure if it was standard with the TDI, standard with the automatic, or standard with GLS trim.

 

[ives]

On the website, you say it's fully serviced, but the timing belt isn't.
VW released an updated timing belt interval bringing it down to 80k miles on them.
It's also not the top trim, as it's only got the pleather seats and doesn't have the wood grain that the top line one has.
I'm not dissing the price, but stating that if you're wanting to sell it for that, it should be actually serviced. And I would NOT recommend driving it anymore until the timing belt is changed. That is a very old belt and is unsafe to drive like that.

TIMING BELT:
The engine runs perfectly as if it was new, it's never even had a check engine light in it's life. Engine sounds great, starts up immediately, runs perfect, quiet, and gets 40+mpgs on the highway, loaded with cargo doing 75mph with no smoke.

I just had it serviced by Hillside Imports in Portland Oregon. They are one of the only remaining TDI specialists in the country. I paid for a full head to tail inspection and it has ZERO things wrong with it. I replaced all fluids and filters anyways. I put new tires on. THEY TOLD ME that the belts are all fine and suggested I do the timing belt in the next 10-20k miles just to be safe (I was at 33k at the time). I'm no mechanic, just a diesel enthusiast who has stewarded multiple TDI's to high mileage with no problems. I just listen to the experts. Having said that, I do think it should be done as I'm now at 39k miles. And I will do it before it sells if the buyer wants that, but I was holding off because maybe some enthusiast-mechanics wants to do it themselves with a balance shaft job..... up to the buyer. I think that makes perfect, reasonable sense. But people can yell if they want to...

BALANCE SHAFT:
I hadn't originally done the timing belt because I was trying to find somewhere to do the balance shaft at the same time. I called 4 different TDI specialists listed on this website. NONE OF THEM wanted to do the balance shaft, and NONE OF THEM said they thought I should worry about it. They all said they've never seen a balance shaft die and ruin an engine, that it's always noticable as it starts to go, and that even then, they've seen many 2.0 TDIs never do it and never have problems. It's a lie to say it's 'broken from the factory'... The car works perfectly at the moment and it's been out of the factory for a while. If the shops say no to the balane shaft, then it's a no from me. I'm not doing it myself or paying a backyard mechanic with no warranty to work on it. Again, I think this makes reasonable sense to default to the experts who work on these vehicles for a living and have great customer and service track records.

I understand this car is 'unbelievable' but it was kept in a climate controlled garage it's entire life. It was used only a few times a year. And then I just drove it a few thousand miles in the last few months. Everything works great. No leaks, no smoke, quiet and good!

 

[ives]

I wonder if this thing self destructed on it's trip.... would be interesting to hear how it all went.

It performed perfectly. 40+ mpgs the whole time doing 75mph... 9k miles all over the west.

 

[ives]

Yeah. I just picked one up, almost as pristine as this one in outward condition, needs a cam and balance shaft delete, and it's the top of the line model with the real leather and wood grain trim, leather steering wheel, etc.

Let's see it.... As far as I had found, wood and 'real leather' were for GLX packages which didn't come on any TDI wagons.

 

[ives]

For those interested:

Price is now set at $15,000 or $16,500 with a new timing belt and it's officially for sale. I'm open to reasonable offers. I think this is very very fair for a showroom condition rare VW with 39k original heated-garage-kept miles.

 

[Mozambiquer]

Let's see it.... As far as I had found, wood and 'real leather' were for GLX packages which didn't come on any TDI wagons.

They were on the TDI wagons too. I've got two of them with real leather and wood grain trim. The other ones I have are also GLS, but they have the pleather seats and non wood grain trim, like yours.

 

[ives]

They were on the TDI wagons too. I've got two of them with real leather and wood grain trim. The other ones I have are also GLS, but they have the pleather seats and non wood grain trim, like yours.

Neat, well... most don't have that, I've literally never seen one which is why I asked to see it. Mines a GLS. It has GLS options. I personally didn't like the wood look anyhow. Either way, this is still well-optioned, low miles, great condition, and I think... a reasonable price at $15k obo.

 

[oilhammer]

Can't buy much of anything new like that now at any price. If I were able, I'd buy it. Good luck with your sale.

Trying to get $9k for an F-250 I bought to fix up!

 

[ives]

Hmu id be down to negotiate. I left a message to you on your sale link site but I feel like this would be an awesome buy. Either way though after all the research I have done on this vehicle from this specific site actually and some of the other forum peeps here I would also agree price needs to come down a quite a bit since neither of those major jobs haven't been done to this Wagon yet.

Not sure if we already talked but send me a message if interested. Asking $16,500 with a full, fresh belt job with all the fixings.

 

[ives]

If you take it on a road trip with an 18 year old timing belt (shelf life is 7 years) you are going to be sorry. Regardless of what that belt looks like, it's way beyond overdue, it's very likely that you'll destroy the engine on that road trip.

9k miles and zero problems... being kept in a climate controlled garage really helps. Timing belt is happening next week tho to be extra safe

 

[1854sailor]

You really need to read up on the history of Balance Shaft Module failures on these cars. GLWS...

 

[ives]

I've read things, talked to many pros and looked through the forums.

Timing belt is being done. Whoever buys it is welcome to do a balance shaft mod but I am not a mechanic and every mechanic I talk to won't do it and also says not to worry about it - especially in its low mileage condition. I've also seen multiple for sale with 180k-250k miles and none of those had it done...