Turbo Diesel Golfs - 150hp spec

[Jim 2]

I prefer petrol turbos to be honest, if you can stomach the fuel bills, but diesel motors like BMW's awesome 335d are just incredible and don't actually feel like diesels as they have better rev ranges than VAG's deisels.

 

But to be fair, VW's diesels cost nothing like BMW's diesels.. especially the 335d - so they don't really compare!

 

Its like calling the VR6 engine unrefined and weak, in comparison to something like an Audi 4.2 V8 ;)

[peteTDI 0]

find out if the water pump was changed with the cambelt

and if you want more power get it remaped don't buy a tuning box as they can blow turbos and bend the con rods

[davidwort 0]

The way I see mk4's is the turning point for VW's, the 70's, 80's and early 90's they made cars with excellent chassis and handling and engines that were OK but not the best.

With the MK 4 the engines improved dramatically but the handling didn't progress to match, in fact with the extra weight of airbags air con etc, etc. they feel like a step back.

You may be impressed with a VW TDI engine but be prepared to be disappointed with the car, general reliability and build quality is pants, the soft touch plastics damage far too easily, trim rattles and squeeks are really annoying (it's not like the firm suspension can be blamed) the window mechs snap and some of the 'ergonomics' are far from ideal, there's nowhere to put 'stuff' the centre armrest gets in the way up or down and whoever decided the best place for the heater controls and stereo was behind the gear lever and under the cup holders should be taken out the back ...

Oh, and the seats are the only VW ones that have ever given me back pain.

:)

[Lippy 0]

davidwort, but whats not too like? ;) :lol:

[Kevin Bacon 5]

But to be fair, VW's diesels cost nothing like BMW's diesels.. especially the 335d - so they don't really compare!

 

You get what you pay for ;-)

 

Its like calling the VR6 engine unrefined and weak, in comparison to something like an Audi 4.2 V8 ;)

 

Well not really. VW make a 6 cylinder diesel and it's no where near as good as BMW's 6. Even Bimmer's 4 pot diesel is leagues ahead of VW's and it weighs only 120Kg, compared with VAG's 180Kg.

 

The Bimmer 330d is the only diesel I've driven where you completely forget it's a diesel at all. VAG diesels are still too agricultural for my liking.

[iow_corrado_g60 0]

check the elec windows the regulators go on here quite frequently

[Jim 2]

Well not really. VW make a 6 cylinder diesel and it's no where near as good as BMW's 6. Even Bimmer's 4 pot diesel is leagues ahead of VW's and it weighs only 120Kg, compared with VAG's 180Kg.

 

The Bimmer 330d is the only diesel I've driven where you completely forget it's a diesel at all. VAG diesels are still too agricultural for my liking.

 

Well yeah - thats why BMW costs more. But the point I was trying to get at, is that to compare a 1.9TDI to the 335d is totally pointless, and surely outside of the scope of this discussion! You won't be going out and picking up a relatively recent 335d for the same money as a MK4 1.9TDI.

 

Ye pedantic old git ;)

[G60Jet 1]

check the elec windows the regulators go on here quite frequently

 

Yeah if they are noisey they are on there way out....however a 2002 model should have the updated regulaters. they are easy to replace. I´ve did one on my other halfs golf.

 

The VAG PD150 tdi is a great engine, as you all know i run the Leon, my other half runs a 100PD golf. they are simply great engines. we both enjoy around 500miles per tank. The golf is heavy but the build is good. 60k is the interval for the cam belt, water pump needs checking to, and if its not changed at 60k then it needs a eye kept on it. VW charge a fortune for the cambelt change, but a ve specialisy should be able to do it without taking the cars front off, which vw like to do, from what a local vw dealer told me.

 

MAFs do go, but you can prelong there lifes with silicone dillectric grease on the electrical contacts. I´ve not had one go yet on 30k though.

 

Mk4 golfs you can still use the standard VAG-COM too unlike the mk5 golf that needs a CAN interface lead. The PD 150 is responsive off the line, however you need to learn to drive a diesel to get the best out of it. and its all over at about 120mph, however, getting there is a pleasure. they pull like an ox

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Come off it Jim, I just slipped that comment about BMW in there just as a bit of chat about diesels in general and now you've turned into a VW versus BMW debate, which IS out of scope of this thread :lol:

 

Absolutely there is no comparison between a 6 pot creme de la creme BMW motor and a VAG 4 pot, I was just trying to illustrate how far Diesel technology has come in recent years, in a round about kind of way, LOL!

 

Sorry my ramblings went a bit south.....

[mtc R32 0]

^^^^^^ Well Said G60 JET^^^^^^^

[Jim 2]

Ah fair enough. I just feel that VAG diesels don't really deserve the agricultural title as they're really not that bad. I mean you drove mine and it was a bit tractor like but it had done over 120k! :)

 

Went out in a brand new Audi A6 2.7TDI Quattro on Tuesday.. by heck thats one quick, refined car! The TDI doesn't sound like a diesel at all.. think its a V6 which probably causes the 'growl' that it gives out! :)

[swfblade 0]

the mk4 doesnt have front engine mounts? :roll:

Well, wotever it is that holds the engine in then! Im not a mechanic by any streatch of the imagination, so If ive got the terminology wrong, i apologise. :roll:

[herisites 0]

Went out in a brand new Audi A6 2.7TDI Quattro on Tuesday.. by heck thats one quick, refined car! The TDI doesn't sound like a diesel at all.. think its a V6 which probably causes the 'growl' that it gives out! :)

 

My old mans got an Audi 2.5 Tdi which is a V6 and you are right they sound much better than the lower models, my dads sounds like a fcuking jet pulling up outside, just pure fan noise lol. It goes well as it has about 180bhp and a shed load of torque but like with all turbo diesels it just hasnt got the revs, 1st and 2nd are pointless but once you get going they do go like stink!!

[G60Jet 1]

BMWs are over priced. i looked at them and merc before buying the leon, the cost of a BMW and ther servicing was stupid. I nearly purchased the MERC C class coupe, just becasue its the only car that i could find that had the same driving position as the rado. However, merc parts are expensive...and i could only afford a second hand C coupe..so SEAT was the way to go. I´d rather have my Leon than Any BMW TDI any day.

[Kevin Bacon 5]

They're only overpriced here because BMW know what badge snobs British people are. They're just taxis in Germany and the smart money goes on an import.

I'd rather have a BMW diesel than any VAG one, if just for the fact that all that torque is better deployed to the road via a 5 link rear axle than the front wheels....not to mention the incredible refinement of the BMW, it's build quality, handling, residuals....all leagues ahead.

[davidwort 0]

...I'd rather have a BMW diesel than any VAG one, if just for the fact that all that torque is better deployed to the road via a 5 link rear axle than the front wheels....not to mention the incredible refinement of the BMW, it's build quality, handling, residuals....all leagues ahead.

 

Chain driven cams on the Diesel BMW 4 pots too, so none of this cam belt change business every few thousand miles like the VW PD's.

Have heard the turbo's on the later more powerful 4 pots are a bit strained though. Was looking at a 2003 320D touring a while back, nice cars and can be picked up for not much more than a VW TDI, but small luggage space because of the rear wheel drive.

I can totally see why the 330 diesels hold their value as they do though.

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Indeed, good point.

 

I don't dislike VAG diesels, far from it. They were after all the first company to inject a bit of life into derv motors with their super clever and basic PD system, which is so much lighter and less complicated than the usual methods of inducing very high pressure at the nozzles, but being built into the head, they can be a pain if they go wrong, and expensive.

 

Another thing - PDs have variable vane turbos, which do away with the need for a wastegate, which is nice, keeps things cheap and simple. But if the vanes jam shut in the max boost position (and they can do!), the engine over boosts itself to death, so it's imperative to get the turbo checked over periodically.

[peteTDI 0]

They're only overpriced here because BMW know what badge snobs British people are. They're just taxis in Germany and the smart money goes on an import.

I'd rather have a BMW diesel than any VAG one, if just for the fact that all that torque is better deployed to the road via a 5 link rear axle than the front wheels....not to mention the incredible refinement of the BMW, it's build quality, handling, residuals....all leagues ahead.

 

 

good cars them bmw's shame the injector looms burn out,the injectors burn out, the fuel pumps burn out, the rear beam bushes split,rear springs snap, rear brake pipes rot,door handles snap just like the raddo's,engine temp senders over read making the cooling fan stay on so you come back to a flat battery,water pump inpellers fall off (just like the vw's do)

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Define 'them BMWs'.....they ALL do that do they? Plum....

[A1 VR6 0]

If I could re-create the shove in the back that I get from my MK5 2.0 Tdi 140 bhp in my VR without spending shed loads of money I'd be a very happy man. Got the same shove from my Leon Cupra 150bhp Tdi when I had one. Admittedly both fitted with tuning boxes but I'd highly recommend them to anyone and the newer 140 engine is a lot less agricultural than the old 150 plus the chassis on the MK5 is a huge improvement over the MK4. I speak from the driving experience of these 2 cars over a few years and not a brief test drive before dissing the diesels - try one long term and you'll be hooked. I would hate to have to make a choice between the Tdi and the VR and fortunately I don't have to as there are so many pro's for both and not many cons.

[Kevin Bacon 5]

That's true, the newer 140s are indeed a lot more refined than the older units.

 

Unfortunately VRs don't have a turbo, so you're never going to get a kick in the back from them as the power delivery is very linear.....but where the VR lacks in the bottom end, it makes up for at the top end.

 

Every time I get out of the VR and into a diesel, I always end up over revving it and I find that quite frustrating.....but they're getting better and better all the time....if only someone would make a diesel that pulled from 500rpm to 7000rpm, then I'd make the switch.

[A1 VR6 0]

if only someone would make a diesel that pulled from 500rpm to 7000rpm, then I'd make the switch.

 

Yeh, that would really be something, the balance between VR and diesel would really be starting to lean over.

[mtc R32 0]

While I was getting my PD130 remapped..... There was a guy on the rollers, who also had a pd130 but his was alittle special..

 

Firstly he'd replaced all shitty plastic thin pipes with some oversized aly ones... Had an uprated front mounted intercooler and uprated turbo.... Anyhow, it ran on the rollers and his figures produced after a live map was astonishing!!!! Just shy of 220bhp with 335 lb ft torq... :shock:

 

He also has a secret weapon... NOS!!!!

After the mapping was done he let me take the car for a spin... And bloodyhell, the car was breath taking. My stomach had never been churned as much before in a car....

 

Now thats what I'm aiming for....:smile: Talking to the guy it didn't really cost him a fortune either......

[A1 VR6 0]

And bloodyhell, the car was breath taking

 

We'll convince all the non-believers one day.

[mtc R32 0]

And bloodyhell, the car was breath taking

 

We'll convince all the non-believers one day.

 

:thumb right: