T5...and then it went bang...looks like another costly careless mistake

[aSimpleLife]

I didn't realise they sold T5's with petrol engines in Australia. Maybe some of the early ones. Mine is the 2.0 diesel which I suppose is a big part of why I get the excellent fuel economy - and it rarely feels underpowered - even being the 103kw.

In relation to DMF and solid - I see the old post about it. Was there any generally accepted outcome on the best solution? It reads like either solution has risks.

[brad]

Have I made a terrible mistake buying a T5 as my van for hopefully the next 20 to 30 years?

I think anyone buying a vehicle built since 1990 - 2000 & thinking it will last 20-30 years without a lot of love & a lot of money or a lot of mechanical smarts is kidding themselves.

You won't even get that service life out of a modern Hi-Ace.

[aSimpleLife]

Thanks for the input and I think I do understand that. I like the benefits I get from a modern vehicle such as fuel economy, comfort and maybe even price compared to older vehicles which are now too old anyway. I am just trying to get a handle on the likely degree of love and money (I will probably never have the smarts required for a T5 compared to other vehicles over that time period. If it is likely to be double, then I am probably better cutting my losses now while I can still afford to and go without on something else. Making sure I have the best possible vehicle now is a very important decision for me I feel. And why I am annoyed at myself for not doing my research fully before I bought. And I know I'm saying it again but I am definitely not trying to bag T5's. Most of my costs to date are from my own carelessness - and that's not so bad as a business expense - hopefully I get smarter before I retire

[Transporter]

Thanks for the input and I think I do understand that. I like the benefits I get from a modern vehicle such as fuel economy, comfort and maybe even price compared to older vehicles which are now too old anyway. I am just trying to get a handle on the likely degree of love and money (I will probably never have the smarts required for a T5 compared to other vehicles over that time period. If it is likely to be double, then I am probably better cutting my losses now while I can still afford to and go without on something else. Making sure I have the best possible vehicle now is a very important decision for me I feel. And why I am annoyed at myself for not doing my research fully before I bought. And I know I'm saying it again but I am definitely not trying to bag T5's. Most of my costs to date are from my own carelessness - and that's not so bad as a business expense - hopefully I get smarter before I retire

IMO,
the 2.0TDI despite being a smaller capacity engine for a van, should with proper care outlast many other more popular brands, even when fitted into the T5.
The parts are reasonably priced and it should not cost you a fortune to keep it on the road. You have the 6speed manual, so no DSG long term question here. When I talk long term, I mean well beyond 200,000km.
Shortening today's long service intervals as well as using the highest quality oils and filters, will go a long way in extending your engine's life.
Just get yourself familiar with the maintenance schedule, and if the manual says "the life time oil fill, no oil (or fluid) change required", change the oil on regular basis regardless.

Does your MY10 T5 now after 5 years need many mechanical repairs, which would indicate it's going to be expensive to keep it on the road?
If not, then don't pay too much of attention what people post over the internet. People only complain when they have a problem. Todays cars are more reliable than those made 30 or more years ago, when we didn't have the internet, otherwise it would've just crashed from the overload of people complaining.

[aSimpleLife]

Once again thankyou very much for your time, knowledge and experience.
Yes I have looked after mine since new (demo model) apart from a few careless acts Only actual repairs so far have been the catalytic converter under warranty and the front axle, which I contributed to and where I probably didn't need to do the left side and also could have then left the front discs till a later time too). When I changed from VW to my local mechanic he insisted on shortening the service intervals to 10k (he reckons that's caused by a conspiracy of the car leasing companies) and that I need to pay more for the right oils. I will also now pay much closer attention to the service manual - had just left it up to the mechanic till now. (I don't do any of my own maintenance while trying to run a business.)
And while I am here "whining" on the internet that actually wasn't my starting point. Ever since I started with my "old school" mechanic he's been telling me I made the wrong choice of vehicle and then when I try to explain I want to keep it for the long term he gets positively agitated, which then makes me start to question my decision, which is when I turn to the internet and I tend to find confirmation that there are issues - but quantifying and comparing them is more difficult - and what I am now trying to do. He says if I insist on keeping the vehicle only do that until I finish the business. Do not try and maintain it with personal money. If I have to have a van choose a Hiace and if I can squeeze into something smaller go a Commodore wagon auto. It should be said he also tells me I am mad for wanting to keep a vehicle forever. But it's a financial decision for when I don't have much money. And if it was just a vehicle then I would probably stop trying but it's all the other money I have put into the van fitting it out, having a remote power system, towbar and roof racks, that I want to get value out of in the long term.
Apologies that I keep quoting "my mechanic" as if he's some demi-god, however I don't really have anything of value of my own to add, and I feel I need to be up front with where I am getting my info.

[brad]

I think if the mechanic isn't in the boat with you then find another mechanic who wants to share the journey as he will always be trying to show you how smart he is and why you made a "bad" decision. (nb: I don't think you've made a bad decision). It almost like a bad marriage.

I don't think Hi-Ace are the King of the Hill anymore (not by any huge margin). I know people with Toyotas that have had plenty of issues. Hyundai diesel vans seem to be the choice these days but that might be a TCOO decision over a 3 year lifespan.

I'll admit, if I wanted a second hand van for retirement I'd probably buy a Tarago (one of the older 6 cylinder ones) & gut it to fill with bikes & camping gear as they handle well & go like a rocket.

My other choice would be a jap import like an El Grande or similar.

[aSimpleLife]

Yeah I know what you mean about the mechanic - I've been thinking that too - but he's close by - and he does look after me in some ways - and I think I can trust him, as he's been my brother's long term mechanic and they've got a friendship tieup - still doesn't help me when I get distracted by the negative comments about euro vehicles - but I have to offset that by trying to find someone sensibly pro T5 that I can trust and afford.
Thanks for the input on vehicles. It all helps me. I'll add those to my list. Those Tarago V6's start at 20k which will be my initial purchase limit if I did change. I've seen those El Grande "beasts" around from time to time but never thought I'd be looking at one. Pricing marginally less than the Tarago although they do have older/cheaper 6 cyl ones. I suppose the fuel ecomony on those 6's will be almost half the T5. Five years back when I looked the iLoad didn't have a long enough internal dimension to do what I wanted then.
And pleeeaaase DON'T get me started on marriages
If you think I whine about T5's...

[brad]

I didn't say my choices were sensible or reliable...

[LogicprObe]

I'd be checking what oil that friendly mechanic is using as well.
I discovered some time later that mine was using 505 spec when my T5 required 507 spec.

[garydowling1]

Thankyou for the replies - I feel bad that I only come hear looking for things and contribute pretty much nothing back - but your assistance is always so good, I can't help myself - I am planning on keeping my T5 forever though - so hopefully one day I'll be able to make the time to be more of a contributor and put something back.

Yes, that sounds like what it will be.
I was going to add in my original post, but didn't want to complicate things, that for the last 6 months or so I had noticed that slackness in the drive train, particularly at low speed cruising when deaccelerating, like a clunk. I had reported it to my mechanic at the last service, but he didn't identify the problem. He thought it might have been a worn rear engine mount, so replaced that, which might have made a small improvement, but the issue was still there. I was just too busy to look into it further...my mistake.
When accelerating in first, especially up an incline with some load, I had at times also noticed a tweeting noise, like an old beetle with a leak in the head gasket. Had also noticed at times a spring like noise too, again like the old VW beetle with clutch plate issues.
I guess I knew there was probably an issue developing, but I had no idea what it was, and my mechanic missed it too.

I've had the T5 since new and have only done 90,000km. I basically just use it for commuting mostly with very little load. Have only recently put on a towbar and used it once moving some bricks. But I do tend to drive the car hard, not thrash, but I've always driven like that. Maybe I need to modify my driving habits with this vehicle in future? Anything else I can do to prevent it happening again?

And anything I need to get clear with my mechanic with the repair? I've been with him a long time and he's not let me down before but he's not a VW expert. What sort of cost should I be looking at?

Thanks very much again.

PS - note - I had forgotten to mention the T5 is a 2010 manual 5spd.

Is this problem in the dsg box as well as the manual?

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