Used R36 Passat, has had Mechatronic replaced, would you care?

[idaho52]

Hi folks, apologies if this is a bit of a common or over asked question but as with a lot of forums the searches are often hard to use for new guys so please bear with me, as i've not had much success finding an answer to this question.

I've been looking around at a R36 Passat for a new family car, and having driven a few have decided i'd really like to pull the trigger on one. I have found one with reasonable kilometers (around the 90 thousand mark) but when test driving it the chap selling mentioned that the mechatronic unit had been replaced earlier in the cars life - at around 60 thousand. The car otherwise has perfect service history and seems like a good one in terms of how it presents (very neat, no panel damage, extremely clean inside barring some wear to the wheel and DSG knob) but i would like to ask as there is probably more than one person here who has had an issue with this specific model. Would the knowledge that a fairly expensive and from 'some' reports fairly average part has failed and been replaced? would you steer away and look at one without history of DSG work or not?

At this stage I'm not overly concerned about it, thinking along the lines of - it was a bad part and has obviously been replaced under warranty and should likely be sweet for several thousand more kays of pretty damn fun driving. But if anyone has had the units replaced or has had any massive issues - particularly after DSG repairs, well some first hand experiences and opinions would be awesome.

Thanks and apologies again for what is possibly a well trodden question - but when dropping 30-odd grand on a new car, one likely to be carrying around the missus and likely a baby in a year or two, it is giving me a slightly more cautious outlook.

Cheers for any help.
Luke

[Darks RS]

I bought mine in the same situation. When I rang the servicing dealer they elaborated even more than what the owner knew about the issue and also advised that it was still covered under warranty, although in. My case it was mechatronic, dsg and whatever else involved with driveline. Give the dealer a call re service history ie was anything not done when it should have been and also what was replaced etc.
My car may have had 140k when I got it, but due to the anal service history and the driveline being changed it drives as many with had the ks.

Ps I carry two kids 5&1 and they fit snugly, a third may be pushing it!

[Amalgam]

Hi Idaho52,

Personally, if the mechatronics were replaced correctly and there are no other drivetrain issues, I would think that it would be a better buy as the DSG is only 30,000km old not 90.

I would always get a pre purchase inspection from a dealer or independent VW specialist.

[booba]

I would think that it is an advantage to buy a vw with the mechatronic already replaced so you have an increased chance of avoiding any further problems as it is both newer and likely to be one without any of the known mechatronic issues.

The cost of mechatronic replacement is easily $4k+ if you were to have to do it and you wouldn't be happy if you bought a vehicle then had to form out another 4k.

[idaho52]

Cheers for that guys,
i spoke with the guys who have done all of the servicing on the car i was/am looking at today and they basically said its been a decent one -its allegedly overdue for some new spark plugs but other than that the service chap said he had no notes in their system that would be a cause for concern.

Im still kinda cross shopping these and the Octavia VRS' mostly cos i can find a wagon in the VRS easier in my price range but the comments have definitely given me some food for thought, hopefully i can get into something one way or the other soon enough.

cheers again.