Posted: 1/24/2014 6:26:31 PM EDT
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I'm thinking of buying a VW diesel or a BMW diesel. I'm not up on turbochargers. Do they have problems with excess heat causing wear? What about spool up time? How many miles should I expect before the turbocharger wears out? I usually keep cars about 10 years and get about 175,000 miles before I trade them. Anybody getting that kind of milage out of turbo diesel?
Anybody know of problems VW or BMW are having with the diesel models? Any thoughts/opinions are appreciated. |
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02 Jetta tdi here. Close to 250k miles. Bought at 60k
Problems so far: Ac compressor @200k Glow plug harness @180k Throw out bearing at @180kish ( original clutch and still had life left on it but replaced it while I was in there) Check engine light for turbo boost over pressure. Couple possible causes but most like my MAF is going bad Part that I change the oil every 10k with mobile 1 full synthetic And my timing belt and tensioner every 80k Drive from Cumming to Atlanta 3 said a week in rush hour and get 42mpg. On trips my record was 56mpg but normally average around 50. That is as read by the computer not guessing. I have an app on the phone called torque that reads the computer real time. Even though it has a turbo don't think you are going to get any speed records. 95hp is a very generous number. I would not get newer than on 05i think as they changed the fuel system and the pump burns up. Something to help with emissions. Any other questions? |
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I dug into this a couple months ago and talked to two mechanics I trust. I was really trying to get a diesel for the fuel economy and shtf.
One specializes in German auto repair. He said the jettas are the best balance of mpg and reliability but the newer ones are problematic. You have to be proactive with maintenance. I added it up and there might be $2000 worth of stuff you Need to do at the 75-125k mark if you want it to get 200k. Iirc there was a change around 03-04 that made them worse. I don't know anything about the Audi / bmw diesels but I imagine its a similar situation. Turbos are a very mature technology and generally the least of your issues. Most of you issues are going to around fuel delivery and things they did to make it greener. The timing chain thing seems like it might just be a design flaw that is easy to correct and catastrophic if you don't. Some of the stuff is known issues like the timing chains. Other is just wisdom. I'd be really leary about buying a German diesel unless you are willing to invest in the maintenance. If you just want a high mpg car that's a no brainer, a four banger honda is still the most trouble free On a side not he mentioned to newer ford mid sized cars are doing remarkably well. |
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The VW problem started when they changed the body style. It is the fuel pump. Much higher pressure and Much more prone to failure.
One other issue I thought about is the throttle body intake area. It can get full of crap. Easy clean out but can still be ap power robbing problem. That being said I have never had it. Follow the maintenance schedule in the manual and you won't have any problems. A new timing belt Is $1200 every 80k. Or do it your self for around $300. Not that difficult. |
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The VW problem started when they changed the body style. It is the fuel pump. Much higher pressure and Much more prone to failure. One other issue I thought about is the throttle body intake area. It can get full of crap. Easy clean out but can still be ap power robbing problem. That being said I have never had it. Follow the maintenance schedule in the manual and you won't have any problems. A new timing belt Is $1200 every 80k. Or do it your self for around $300. Not that difficult. I read somewhere that the jettas have less issues than the passats in the TDI...Any reason that might be? |
| I can't speak for vw or BMW but I can speak for turbos in general particularly Garret. I have a 2002 f250 with 315k on it that still has the original turbo and I is in great shape. The best thing you can do to extend turbo life is always let is idle before you shut it off. This was the turbo has time to cool down and oil isn't sitting in the turbo getting cooked. You can buy turbo timers that allow you to get out turn the key off and walk away and lock the doors. The car will stay running long enough to cool the turbo and then shut itself off. These usually go for around $200 |
| Nothing wrong with diesels and nothing wrong with turbos. Think about it all big rigs running up and down the road are turbo diesel and most will go 1,000,000 without major problems. Only thing I will say I am not a VW fan after many years in the automotive repair industry we came to call them Hitler's Revenge ! |
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I can't speak for vw or BMW but I can speak for turbos in general particularly Garret. I have a 2002 f250 with 315k on it that still has the original turbo and I is in great shape. The best thing you can do to extend turbo life is always let is idle before you shut it off. This was the turbo has time to cool down and oil isn't sitting in the turbo getting cooked. You can buy turbo timers that allow you to get out turn the key off and walk away and lock the doors. The car will stay running long enough to cool the turbo and then shut itself off. These usually go for around $200 Really? I hadn't heard of this being an issue for cars and trucks made in the last 10-15 years or so... |
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I have a 2013 Passat TDI with the DSG trans.. Wife drives it to work everyday. Great car for under 30k. We plan on about 25,000 miles a year so the diesel is worth it in the long run. Even sitting in traffic almost everyday it still manages 40mpg. Can get 50mpg on the highway if you stay under 70mph.
We've had no issues with the the car, however some of the earlier Passats (2012-2013) had a few turbo issues but that seem to have been handled and fixed by VW. Turbo should not be an issue with the current cars. We plan on keeping this car for a while so we'll find out. |
| I have a 2005 f350 as well as my 2002 f250 the oil that goes through the turbo is cooled by an oil cooler. It won't kill a turbo to just get shut off it just isn't a good idea if you want whatever you are driving to last. I try to take everything into consideration from not turning the wheel hard when its cold to keep from busting steering lines to how easy I shut the doors whenever I do something with vehicle I always think how can I minimize wear and tear. I always try to think how can I reduce wear on my car or guns for that matter |
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My sister has an x5 diesel. It's a pretty cool car! I like it and they are built solid!
Let's out it this way..I would buy a diesel BMW before a gas one lately, the transmissions on the diesels is stockier. Since I have a duramax I'm pretty partial to diesel ;) |
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It's 2014. Considering I sit in rush hour traffic everyday I thought that was pretty good. And the mpg is steadily increasing. Quoted:
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What year? 38 is kind of low. Have you replaced the filters? Specifically the fuel filter? It's 2014. Considering I sit in rush hour traffic everyday I thought that was pretty good. And the mpg is steadily increasing. Actually that isn't bad for the newer ones. They have a much higher pressure fuel system so the mpg is lower. Automatic also lowers that. Congrats on the new car. I like the newer ones to but I haven't hit 500k miles on mine yet so I just can't bring myself to replace it. I too sit in traffic. Average an hour for my 32 mile commute, both ways. 
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Really? I hadn't heard of this being an issue for cars and trucks made in the last 10-15 years or so... Quoted:
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I can't speak for vw or BMW but I can speak for turbos in general particularly Garret. I have a 2002 f250 with 315k on it that still has the original turbo and I is in great shape. The best thing you can do to extend turbo life is always let is idle before you shut it off. This was the turbo has time to cool down and oil isn't sitting in the turbo getting cooked. You can buy turbo timers that allow you to get out turn the key off and walk away and lock the doors. The car will stay running long enough to cool the turbo and then shut itself off. These usually go for around $200 Really? I hadn't heard of this being an issue for cars and trucks made in the last 10-15 years or so... I think it has more to do with people who race turbocharged cars. Most people who drive to commute probably never have to worry about it. |
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I think it has more to do with people who race turbocharged cars. Most people who drive to commute probably never have to worry about it. Quoted:
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I can't speak for vw or BMW but I can speak for turbos in general particularly Garret. I have a 2002 f250 with 315k on it that still has the original turbo and I is in great shape. The best thing you can do to extend turbo life is always let is idle before you shut it off. This was the turbo has time to cool down and oil isn't sitting in the turbo getting cooked. You can buy turbo timers that allow you to get out turn the key off and walk away and lock the doors. The car will stay running long enough to cool the turbo and then shut itself off. These usually go for around $200 Really? I hadn't heard of this being an issue for cars and trucks made in the last 10-15 years or so... I think it has more to do with people who race turbocharged cars. Most people who drive to commute probably never have to worry about it. Yup. By the time you've cruised to the parking spot, unplugged the cell, grabbed the coffee and turned the key it's cooled down plenty. I've got a 300hp VW GTI and absolutely love my little turbo rocket. |