Passat 103 & 125 TDi engines

[Type40]

Hi everyone I have a question regarding the Passat 103 and 125 TDi engines. Can someone enlighten me to the differences between the 2 engines? I have looked at the brochure specs and can see no difference there ( I know the specs would be a laymans generalisation!) but I am curious as to whether the 103 could be upgraded to 125 through ECU re-mapping or another mod.

BTW I have done a search but to little avail. If there are threads that have this info could someone steer me in the right direction?

Many thanks!

[jamie88]

103 has 103kw at the fly, 125 has 125kw at the fly.
as for chipping $1000 will get you a flash tune that gets you about 140 at the fly, like mine however chipping a 125 will only get you to about 145kw at the fly again. vws only tend to lose 10-15kw to the wheels if that helps.

[Greg Roles]

...only with a conservative tune Lowy, the 125 is built to handle a lot more ponies, and the physical differences, in MKV form were comprehensive in the least. I'll find a thread on the differences, I'm not yet up to date with the CR differences as yet, but looking into it, and I expect them to be similar to the 103 vs 125 PD engines from the MKV. Turbo, inlet, ports, valve, head, crank, combustion chamber, pistons, lots of differences off the top of my head.

The 103 chips out to roughly 130kw and 360nm at the wheels with a CCode phase one, whereas the same phase one in the 125, with DPF left in place, is 154kw and 455nm. Again rough @ wheels.

[gldgti]

The 103 is very limited by the turbo, and a bunch of other stuff - but a highly tuned 103 with stock parts will blow a turbo a lot sooner than a 125.

[jazd]

The 103 chips out to roughly 130kw and 360nm at the wheels with a CCode phase one, whereas the same phase one in the 125, with DPF left in place, is 154kw and 455nm. Again rough @ wheels.

154kW at the wheels with DPF? I thought most tunes topped out at about 150kW at the fly.

The 103 is very limited by the turbo, and a bunch of other stuff - but a highly tuned 103 with stock parts will blow a turbo a lot sooner than a 125.

And the 125 is limited by the DPF, but thats easier to take off than to redo all the internals of your 103.

[Greg Roles]

Just going by the quick search I did on a few tuners mate, and yeah, plenty of DPF equipped UK drivers are getting over 210hp, with 230-240hp the DPF off realm for the 125.

[kaanage]

Type40, are you looking into the older, PD engined Passats? (since VGA don't offer the 103kW CR engine for the current Passat)

If you are, then I'd be VERY wary of the PD 125kW models as this is the engine with injectors that seem to be failing far more frequently than you would expect for cars of their age (3-5 years)

[Type40]

Type40, are you looking into the older, PD engined Passats? (since VGA don't offer the 103kW CR engine for the current Passat)

If you are, then I'd be VERY wary of the PD 125kW models as this is the engine with injectors that seem to be failing far more frequently than you would expect for cars of their age (3-5 years)

I'm not looking at buying new. Maybe a 5 year old Passat at best. In all honesty I am trying to do some research to find out the best compromise to suit me and the car that will give the best reliabilty and performance compromise.

I currently have a car that runs vapour injected LPG and have had no issues at all with it and enjoy cheap running costs. The only reason I am considering a change is that I would like a wagon, something european that isnt a BMW or Merc but has similar refinement and build quality.

Having never owned a diesel I am concerned that it wont suit my driving style. I like to get in and have a go from time to time and diesels aren't known for their high revving capabilities! So I need to drive one and see it the low revving and hugely torquey nature they have would appeal to me.

Also, thanks everyone for your replies and info. Keep it coming!

[kaanage]

I'm not looking at buying new. Maybe a 5 year old Passat at best. In all honesty I am trying to do some research to find out the best compromise to suit me and the car that will give the best reliabilty and performance compromise.

Just go for the 103kW model then (it also won't be saddled with a DPF) - I don't see why you would consider the 125kW model if performance isn't the primary and overriding consideration.

As for diesel, I used to own high revving engined vehicles since I got my licence and I LOVE the torque spread of diesels (OT - which is why I think the 6R Polo diesel is a dud as it doesn't have the torque from idle).
Except for on the racetrack (where I'll need to bring a novel to fill in time down the main straight this Sunday), diesels are deceptively fast in the real world.

[Greg Roles]

Drive it and see. It will never be a Type R VTEC yo. It is far more V8 like, but without the soundtrack - and poor economy!

I will have to have a petrol car again as well one day, but it's hard to give up such real world, use in traffic, grunt, and return 6L/100kms all day everyday, and there will always be a autoignition monster in my stable, just too much fun.