VAG 1.9 TDi engine lifespan?

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BTB 500

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We've got a 1996 Audi A4 estate with the 110 bhp 1.9 TDi engine. It's done just under 110k miles.

Looks like it now needs a recon. (auto) gearbox at £1100 plus VAT :(

Obviously the options are (1) scrap/sell the car and buy something else, or (2) get it fixed.

Generally the car is OK AFAIK apart from the gearbox problem, anybody know how long the 1.9 TDi engines typically last?
 
A bloke at work bought my 1998 Passat 90hp TDI company car from the leasing company when I handed it back in 2002 at 84k miles. I was asking him about it the other day and he said it'll click over to 200k miles sometime in the next month. All the engine has ever had other than oil and filter changes is cambelt & tensioner changes every 60k. It doesn't burn oil, still goes well and returns about 50mpg. Hope that helps.
 
I sold my Golf TDI Estate with 190k miles. It had the 90bhp 1Z engine - same as 90 bhp Audi A4. The engine used no oil, started immediately and was great. Just keep it serviced and the cambelt changed and you will have no problems. I have heard that 300k is no problem and that the odometer goes back to zero instaed of 300,001 miles?!

If the car is good apart from the gearbox and you plan to keep it why not fix it with a secondhand or recon box. Can you get a replacement diesel estate with a lower mileage and a known history for less money?
 
Modern engines typically last the lifetime of the car if they've been properly serviced and driven with some sort of respect, let alone diesels.

110K miles is nothing really, and although the car is not worth a fortune, it's got to be worth repairing. IIRC didn't you have a load of work done on it just recently? If the rest of the car is in reasonable nick, I wouldn't hesitate to treat it to a re-con gearbox.

£1100+vat sounds like a lot of money, but bearing in mind how much modern cars depreciate, it's pretty small change in the big picture.

I'd imagine that your Audi should steam right through 200K fairly easily, just keep it well serviced.

Lastly, future resale value should be pretty good if it's clean and drives well, with evidence of good care in your ownership (ie, a re-con gearbox xx miles ago etc) I imagine it's current value (broken) isn't a lot?

Will
 
Hmm ... thanks guys.

We had a cambelt change last year (big job as most of the front of the car has to come off).

The £1100 quote was for a recon. box, fitted by a gearbox outfit. Neither of the local Audi indis I tried would touch auto gearboxes beyond a fluid/filter change (already done that).

I suppose I could get a quote from a main dealer, for a bit of a laugh?!
 
our old mercdedes 308D van has over 500k miles and is going stong, only oil filter and service parts.
 
cant tel you about the autobox but had a VW sharan with the same 110bhp tdi engine and it went well sold it with 335,000 on the clock to another taxi company !!!,

so I woudnt worry about the motor. as they go for hundereds of thousands of miles.
 
I suppose I could get a quote from a main dealer, for a bit of a laugh?!

OK just done that ... Camberley Audi quoted £2484 for a recon. gearbox ... plus labour (considerable) and VAT!
 
OK just done that ... Camberley Audi quoted £2484 for a recon. gearbox ... plus labour (considerable) and VAT!

I had an Audi 80 2.6 auto in 1996 and after 40,000 miles needed a new auto box....cost then was |£2600......lucky it was a leased co car....:D (out of warranty) by 2 months....audi not interested..
 
Well it's booked in at the gearbox specialist now (£1100 plus VAT) ... they need it for a week. Interestingly the Audi dealership mentioned their name this morning, and said they do work for them.
 
Well it's booked in at the gearbox specialist now (£1100 plus VAT) ... they need it for a week. Interestingly the Audi dealership mentioned their name this morning, and said they do work for them.

Its a good move because at the end of the day the car is worth more to you than anyone else now. Plus the car will still be worth a couple of thousand in a few a years just because of the Audi badge and the fact that its a diesel.
 
we have got 2 audi a6 Avants with the 2.5 tdi engines, both needed new auto boxes at around 70k :devil: cost a fortune..........both time audi said tough.....................
 

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