Cheap project T5

[Sunny43.5]

A mate sent me this today.2005 Volkswagen Transporter LWB high roof Auto – Vehicles – Gold Coast, Queensland – Marketplace | Facebook

[aSimpleLife]

Just add 12k for a new engine

[Sunny43.5]

Yes my mate is looking at this van for a camper fit out but after listening to me going on about the issues we had with our older T5 for years he is having second thoughts , he was just here and contacted the seller . He told him the gears changes are good but the noise in the engine is at the top and goes away once its gets going . As this bloke only bought this recently I wondered whether he is misinterpreting the gear driven camshaft noise at idle as a bigger problem , he may not be familiar with VW diesels of this era .

[aSimpleLife]

IMO you would really really want to know your way around these motors and be able to fully repair them yourself before you ever considered buying a second hand one. Otherwise your bargain can be up to plus 12k in the blink of an eye.
I am only keeping mine now at 150k because it's one owner and I know it's been looked after. Even thought that's no guarantee, it reduces the risk. Along with being a single turbo manual (as advised here). I have just started following the other sound advice provided here and am doing my own engine oil and filter changes at 7,500km between services. I use a well regarded independent VW mechanic nowadays but he says it's not needed and just stick to the service schedule. But then I suppose he'll get the work if I need a rebuild anyway

[Sunny43.5]

I sort of wonder what makes these engines so expensive to fix , is it lack of local parts or is there someting in the way they are built . The good old days you could pick up either short motor or a complete recoed long motor for peanuts compared to todays prices .

[Kiels3927]

I sort of wonder what makes these engines so expensive to fix , is it lack of local parts or is there someting in the way they are built . The good old days you could pick up either short motor or a complete recoed long motor for peanuts compared to todays prices .

And beetle mudguards for $15 because they were what the pnel beaters trained their apprentices on.

[Sunny43.5]

I wonder if they have changed pistons from round ones to square ones ?

[Kiels3927]

I wonder if they have changed pistons from round ones to square ones ?

You're thinking of wankers.

[LogicprObe]

LOL!

And the VW dealer only offered me $500 on my 2012 model in great running order!
(admittedly, it's only a SWB model.........)

[Sunny43.5]

LOL!

And the VW dealer only offered me $500 on my 2012 model in great running order!
(admittedly, it's only a SWB model.........)

Well thats what I call being well and truly screwed and the dealers haven't got the decency to use lubricant while they are doing it !!