Things to look for in used R36

[Big_rich]

Yes, it is the full manufacturers new car warranty 3 year extension, underwritten by Allianz and sold with VW branding. Best quote I got was $1994. I was happy with a couple of hundred more from my local dealer.

[Steve]

The 3 year warranty for my R36 runs out in a few months, and I'm probably going to go with the extended warranty. Is there any requirement for dealer servicing, or can I keep taking my car to my much more convenient independent specialist?

[Nico76]

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

Hmmm, I really thought I read somewhere that there's a big ticket service item that's scheduled for replacement round 70-100 000k on the R36? Anyone??

[Big_rich]

Nico, I really don't know of anything - I traded a MY07 3.2l V6 Passat just before Xmas. After four years and with 87000 km on it then there was no real scheduled "big ticket service item". It was absolutely serviced by the book by my local VW dealer - it was on a lease. This car has really all the same major mechanicals as the R36, i.e. 4-Motion and the same basic engine, just 400cc less capacity.

When I tried a few dealers for trade-in valuation, I had one directly tell me that he would have to value it down due to the timing belt replacement service being imminent. Another inferred something similar. Now they were either trying it on or they simply didn't know their products very well because they are simply wrong. I have now got a copy of the workshop manual for the BWS engine which is in the R36, and it is absolutely definitely timing chains. All the four cylinder engines of recent years have had toothed rubber timing belts I believe and so that might be what confuses people.

Probably the only service item that surprised me a little was replacement of front disc brake rotors at 75000 km. I am pretty easy on my brakes. All previous cars of mine, I might have had new pads and discs machined all round at a similar distance but not disc replacement. Anyway, the discs themselves were only $210+GST each - which I didn't think was too bad. When I look into it seems that this sort of brake wear is not at all unusual, particularly with higher performance modern European cars.

The most expensive service I had on the old Passat was the 75000 km, not quite a year ago. It came to $1642 but about $800 of that is for the brakes (pads all round, new discs for the front and machining of the rears). There was about $150 for the labour and parts for the Haldex oil and filter replacement. VW dealers certainly charge a pretty hefty hourly rate.

The other item that I wasn't quite used to was the cost of tyres, if you are staying with anything close to OEM (Conti Sports Contact 3). I believe that if you buy into this league of vehicle you're mad not to maintain really top shelf tyres. For the CSC3's you may be nudging $400/tyre and they are fairly soft to give the level of grip so they certainly don't wear like what they put on a Camry. Anyway, there's plenty of tyre threads on VWWC if you want to research that more.

To summarise, I was very pleased with my 3.2l Passat - best car I've ever had. Drove it Sydney - Perth, and Cairns. There was no R36 when I got it. The R36 took that basic car up another level and when I found out that the model was end of production, I had to secure the last BB R36 sedan that VWA would ever have. If you can afford it I am certain you will love it.

[Nico76]

Thanks for all the info guys. From memory the service book definately says toother belt to be replaced on V6 models @ 90 000k intervals? Maybe this doesn't apply to R36 if it's chain??

Anyhoo, I've taken the plunge into the R36 pool & bought a Silver MY09 Wagon. It's being picked up from the BMW dealer in Melbourne tomorrrow so should have it in a few days. Giddy-up!

[revivor]

Thanks for all the info guys. From memory the service book definately says toother belt to be replaced on V6 models @ 90 000k intervals? Maybe this doesn't apply to R36 if it's chain??

Anyhoo, I've taken the plunge into the R36 pool & bought a Silver MY09 Wagon. It's being picked up from the BMW dealer in Melbourne tomorrrow so should have it in a few days. Giddy-up!

Congrats on the purchase! Welcome to be sleepers club