What to look for in a 1.9TDI polo

[hiho]

Hello all,

Im considering a 2002-2009 polo TDI. What should I look for, what are the issues (kms etc) and how much should I spend?

Cheers!

Matt

[GoLfMan]

Check for full service history (derr :P)
-make sure there aren't any funny noises coming from the dual mass flywheel
-if its close to 100k factor in the cost of a major service + timing belt $$$$$$!!!!!!
-when driving, check the gearbox shifts nicely and that power is smooth (it should rev to 4.5k without too much fuss)
-Turbo's have been known to die. Again, the higher km ones will be more likely to have this problem.

Other than that, check for usual build quality issues with interior/exterior.

Away you go! Get one, chip it, muffler delete and chuck on an intake. Nice suspension and you have a perky city car that wont burn a hole in your pocket!

They go from anywhere from 15-17k :)
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[Buller_Scott]

what josh said!

being in melbourne, i'd ask if you could take it to a reputable VW mechanic, rather than just get the RACV inspection, as, well....... i think you'd be a little bit misguided to presume that your average racv mechanic will know exactly what to look for when he's inspecting a 1.9tdi vag.

josh [golfman] and myself both have polo tdi's, and knowing what i know now, i'd also add:
- you're not going to have any head problems. if you get anything less than 100,000kms on the car, then the engine isnt even run in yet.
- usual issues with EGR and the intake- pop the pipe off and have a bit of a look- if it's clean, then its likely been driven hard, which is good.
- not much else, i guess.

lol, i just realised that i didnt contribute anything. you're a fan of oilers, as i can see from your sig.

even if you got a 2nd hand car with 100,000km's on it, with these engines, it would be the equivalent of getting a second hand petrol car with say 30,000km's on it...... turbo aside [because they're just bolt on anyway], the car isnt even old enough for anything major to have really gone wrong with it, in diesel terms.

[hiho]

thankyou guys for your sage words. I have never owned a car thats younger than i am so service history is something that i would have neglected to check! Im looking to buy something around feb next year.

[GoLfMan]

well they should be even cheaper then! (Thanks to the new Polo ;))

good luck, lets us know how you go

[Buller_Scott]

oh, just one other thing- like what josh said, if it has MORE than 100,000km's, i'd ask/ confirm that the timing belt AND water pump have been replaced [supposed to have been done at the 90,000km mark]. if not, then you're looking for trouble.

dont accept ''well, this car has been well taken care of and my mechanic said that there's no need to do it just yet", because timing belt issues -> major engine damage pretty damn quickly, in these PD engines, from what i've read.

other than that, good luck!