Things to look for in used R36

[Nico76]

Hey all,

Looking to get into my 1st VW & am seriously considering a 2009 MY09 Passat R36 wagon.

It's for sale through a dealer, has 1 yr factory warranty remaining with 50 000k's on the clock with a VW service history, so pretty comfortable with the mechanical condition & seems to be excellent cosmetically, just wondering if there is anything specifically I should be looking for / checking on a car like this before buying??

Also, what does scheduled VW servicing for these machines cost?

Finally, I believe these need the toothed belt(??) changed at a scheduled interval, which can be a bit pricey. Can someone tell me what this interval is & what I'd be up for. Is there any other big ticket items that needs scheduled servicing??

Thanx!

[johnw]

Can't help you much with other things but here's a reference link for the service schedules including the 3.6L engine.

https://wiki.bentleypublishers.com/display/tech/Volkswagen+-+2009+Maintenance+Schedules

I think the next big service would be the 60K where the DSG service is carried out (apparently $500ish for DSG oil and filter but don't quote me)

[revivor]

Was quoted $360 for my 15,000km service. Not bad for that much of driving. Used to pay more for my Accord Euro which has a service interval of 10,000km.

[Pana]

just wondering if there is anything specifically I should be looking for / checking on a car like this before buying??

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/f27/r36-seats-54672.html

[sloutch]

I reckon you should look out for DSG problems. This issue has been discuss countless times on the forums. Maybe you can bring it up with the dealer and see what he has to say

[kleung]

Looking to get into my 1st VW & am seriously considering a 2009 MY09 Passat R36 wagon.

It's for sale through a dealer, has 1 yr factory warranty remaining with 50 000k's on the clock

The Passat range was refreshed during 2009, so check to see whether the R36 you're looking at has any of the updates.

Externally there wasn't a great deal of differentiation, but the centre stack and instrument cluster were updated progressively - from memory, the 09s got the new instrument cluster (with the white MFD), plus the standard RCD510 touchscreen stereo, and I think it wasn't until MY10 that the Climatronic panel was updated.

[R36 Dreamer]

Save yourself some money and buy my 2008 (08MY) with 50k on it.....

Warranty is current till the end of June, and the factory warranty can be extended for another 3 years for $1,500.

It doesnt have the upgraded 09 dash, but has sunroof, ipod prep, and auto tailgate. Has full VW service history (Car is on a maintained lease) had brakes done at 45k.

Is in great condition. Being a car nut I detail the thing every 6 months with clay bar, polish etc. so it looks fantastic.

[Nico76]

Yes it has the white LED & RCD510 (which poses a conundrum as I planned to upgrade to RSN510, but that seems a waste now)

Save yourself some money and buy my 2008 (08MY) with 50k on it.....

What are you asking?

[R36 Dreamer]

Yes it has the white LED & RCD510 (which poses a conundrum as I planned to upgrade to RSN510, but that seems a waste now)



What are you asking?

I have $55k on it at the moment. Negotiable.

[Nico76]

I have $55k on it at the moment. Negotiable.

I've negotiated $51k for this one including freight mel - syd. Only option is sunroof, but I'm ok with that.

[sloutch]

I've negotiated $51k for this one including freight mel - syd. Only option is sunroof, but I'm ok with that.

R36 shouldn't be going that cheap to be honest LOL!

Pretty much a good deal at $51,000.

[Big_rich]

......
Finally, I believe these need the toothed belt(??) changed at a scheduled interval, which can be a bit pricey. Can someone tell me what this interval is & what I'd be up for. Is there any other big ticket items that needs scheduled servicing??

Thanx!

There is no toothed belt in the V6 engine, it has a timing chain instead. So don't worry about that.

They aren't cheap to service but probably not unreasonable for a "prestige" car. I would recommend getting the factory warranty extension for peace of mind - just one serious issue in the three years after the original warranty is up and you are ahead. There is a long thread here somewhere about all the in's and out's of the extended warranty and how to get best price.

[Nico76]

There is a long thread here somewhere about all the in's and out's of the extended warranty and how to get best price.

After reading the 50+ pages of this thread, the best price I could get on this car is just under $2k ($1998 I think) from Chatswood Classic Cars. If anyone can better this I'd love to hear

[Big_rich]

Going on my experience a month or so ago, that's about the best you'll get for an R36. I actually endied up getting it from my local dealer (who I purchased the new vehicle from) for a couple of hundred more just to maintain that local relationship. You just need to purchase it before the original manufacturer warranty expires but I decided to do it sooner rather than later to guard against price rises - there seems to have been a fairly substantial increase six months or so ago.

Anyway, if you are still pondering the R36 or not, all I can say is that I love mine. It is the best car I have ever owned. I traded in a four year old 3.2l 4-motion Passat, which I had from new. It was a tremendous car but with four more years of product development and the R36 extras, my new R36 just takes it all to another level.

Towards the end with my old Passat I did have a couple of close calls to some pretty hefty repair bills (VWA did end up coming to the party for a $2.5k repair six months after the warranty expired). I hadn't bothered with the extended warranty on this car and so just to avoid the stress I figure the extended warranty is worth the bucks.

I hope you join the R36 fraternity.

[R36 Dreamer]

$2,000 Sounds Good - is that for the 3 year extension. I made one phone call to enquire and got $2,900 - I suppose they will negotiate though, but $2k sounds good.

I would definately pay for the extension if I was keeping the car.