New 125 highline on the way, questions questons questions???

[martinp]

Howdy,
New to forum (OK have read it a bit over the years).
I am hoping to pick up my new black wagon next week.
Can some one give me an idea other than the usual journo's idea of......
Fuel use - city/country/mixed.
Does the dodgey injector issue affect these ones?
Best fuel to use?
Anything else?

I used to have a 2000 1.6 l Golf but sold it and bought a 307 HDI wagon (VW at that stage refused to import anything similar to it). It was a good car as I did 280,00kms in it and averaged 6.3 l/100km over its life.
I always used (mostly) BP diesel in it as it went a bit further and did not foam up as much as other types of fuel. Also BP is the only retailer who stated the cetane rating of their fuel as being 51 (shell states 49).
I would like a bit of feedback if anyone has had any good bad experiences etc.

I mainly do long highway drives and was looking to go up one size in car just for comfort and the Passat looks to be the winner this time round.
Will keep you posted on how my new wheels go once they roll out the door.

Martin.

[maxim]

hi martinp, I've done 1600k's, so far averaging 6.1 which is mainly driving back and forwards to work - a 15min drive each way that has 60 - 80k/h sections, 6 sets of lights. I don't use the stop start. I'm very happy with the economy in these conditions. I reckon on a trip I could knock off another half litre maybe? Mid to high 5's would be very impressive. It's still new too, so when it's run in, it might return even better.

I only use BP Ultimate Diesel, but I am also going to use Moreys No Smoke additive.

No one seems to know if the dodgy injectors are a problem -fingers crossed.

This is my first TDI and still getting used to it. It's the least powerful car I've owned for a long time, so still getting use to that too, and I miss the power spread of TSI, but the DSG does a great job getting the most out of the diesel. The diesel is very drivable though, so I'm happy (just a bit more power would be good ).

Problems I'm having is the Climate Control that I have to run on 25 or 26 or it gets too cold, plus the fan tends to run at 3 or 4 even when the cabin is cooled down. Only other thing I noticed is the thermo fans have only run on once after switching off and the engine wasn't hot having only gone a few k's. They also ran for too long IMO - about 4 minutes. Even after a long drive and then a spirited run home, they didn't stay on after switching off. So have to get these checked out soon.

It's great on a trip (the cruise control is uncannily good at maintaning your speed), but also so easy to drive and comfortable around town. Like all new VW's, all the little design features and conveniences make a real difference. It does get lots of looks (people will stop and stare) and I've had more than a few people coming up and commenting on it, so if that's a worry then maybe something else would be better

[ope126]

Howdy,
New to forum (OK have read it a bit over the years).
I am hoping to pick up my new black wagon next week.
Can some one give me an idea other than the usual journo's idea of......
Fuel use - city/country/mixed.
Does the dodgey injector issue affect these ones?
Best fuel to use?
Anything else?

I used to have a 2000 1.6 l Golf but sold it and bought a 307 HDI wagon (VW at that stage refused to import anything similar to it). It was a good car as I did 280,00kms in it and averaged 6.3 l/100km over its life.
I always used (mostly) BP diesel in it as it went a bit further and did not foam up as much as other types of fuel. Also BP is the only retailer who stated the cetane rating of their fuel as being 51 (shell states 49).
I would like a bit of feedback if anyone has had any good bad experiences etc.

I mainly do long highway drives and was looking to go up one size in car just for comfort and the Passat looks to be the winner this time round.
Will keep you posted on how my new wheels go once they roll out the door.

Martin.

Great car you are getting there...

To assist with a couple of the questions, not to say that you wont have issues with a CR engine, the injector issue is a know issue in PD engines for now.
BP fuel could be the way to go if you are already comfortable with it...
I myself use BP Ultimate Diesel and only go to the same servo and use the same bowser and always ask for a reciept.
I have a tick over 8000kms since new on mine and I am averaging a combined 6.3L/100km (as per MFD), not sure how accurate that is, but hey that is what it says. The lowest average consumption I have achieved is 3.9L/100km with 4 onboard and luggage heading down to Grafton last weekend.

As for maxim talking about the fans, I have had this issue too.
I had it on my 2.0T FSI Passat and it would only happen when hot, thus fans keep running.
What I have discovered is that with the TDI's the fans run if you have had them on for a short time, been driving fairly casual and the car might be doing a forced reg of the DPF. In fact I am very confident that you will find that being the issue, innfact it is not an issue it is just the car do its thing...

As for the Climatronic, it has two AUTO function (one low fan speed / one high fan speed), maybe yours is on the high fan speed.

Unlike others on this forum who seem to turn the Climatronic system on and off all the time.
Mine is always on AUTO (low) / 23 degrees and works a charm. The fan speed will go up when it is hot to cool the car, once at temp it will slow down to generally 2 bars on the fan speed.

I hope this little bit of info helps you...

[maxim]

As for maxim talking about the fans, I have had this issue too.
I had it on my 2.0T FSI Passat and it would only happen when hot, thus fans keep running.
What I have discovered is that with the TDI's the fans run if you have had them on for a short time, been driving fairly casual and the car might be doing a forced reg of the DPF. In fact I am very confident that you will find that being the issue, innfact it is not an issue it is just the car do its thing...

As for the Climatronic, it has two AUTO function (one low fan speed / one high fan speed), maybe yours is on the high fan speed.

Unlike others on this forum who seem to turn the Climatronic system on and off all the time.
Mine is always on AUTO (low) / 23 degrees and works a charm. The fan speed will go up when it is hot to cool the car, once at temp it will slow down to generally 2 bars on the fan speed. I hope this little bit of info helps you...

Thanks ope126, that info is good to hear about the thermo fans - and exactly what is happening to mine. As for the Climatronic, no I have it on low fans - otherwise they run full bore! So that sounds like I might have an issue.

Doesn't seem to be too many people around that have these yet, so good to hear from you and martinp so we can trade stories!

[Riker]

Perfect timing for this thread.....

Today I put a deposit on a 125 highline wagon with delivery due December. Luckily we were able to sneak into the dealers current orders list which has apparently already been sent to the factory in Germany. Very happy with that actually as it would have been a Feb delivery otherwise....

Looking forward to reading what new owners of the 125's are saying about their cars especially as it is our first Diesel....

[FSI 220]

Very happy with that actually as it would have been a Feb delivery otherwise....

Yup... When I switched to the sports pack the order book upload rejected my order due to incompatibility of Kiddie seats with the sports seats. Aaaand there hasn't been an upload since, so I lost my spot 'till feb...

The wait will just make me love it even more!

[snodrogs]

Ope126,

in the instance that your thermal fans ran on, did the car smell really, really hot as well? Mine did it for the first time last night after a leisurely drive home from the office (oil temp @ 92 Degrees and Coolant @ 90 when I got home - I checked!). I freaked and thought that perhaps a thermal switch had gone legs-up and locked the fans on or a relay had fused because everything appeared normal, but it smelt really hot. So I sat there and started to review the manual. After about 4 minutes both fans stopped and the car went its usual silent self... (after the usual "fart" when I turned it off of course). I wonder if this is part of the DPF regen procedure too, and the hot smell is due to the regen?

I re-checked the oil and coolant levels (and everything else I could) later when it had cooled down properly, and all is fine. It has 1600km on it.

The car was perfectly normal this morning and this afternoon as well...

Interested before I contact the dealer to see what they say (and potentially I look like a goose!)

Andrew

[kaanage]

That is almost certainly the DPF regen but mention it to your dealer anyway - they should have explained this during the delivery

[FSI 220]

Hope this works

http://www.volkspage.net/technik/ssp/ssp/SSP_336.pdf

Cheers

John

[maxim]

Interesting read, thanks. But I thought the B7's had a seperate cat and DPF? Not a combined unit.

[snodrogs]

That is almost certainly the DPF regen but mention it to your dealer anyway - they should have explained this during the delivery

Thanks Kaanage. Nothing mentioned during delivery, but no real surprises there in my personal opinion. I will definitely mention to them when I am next speaking with them. Cheers

[Greg Roles]

The new common rail TDI's *should* have solved the injector issue affecting the former PD125 cars in the MKV 2006-2009 era. The problem with the injectors seems to be oil eventually getting past the seals into the pizeo stack and shorting it out. Pizeo is new technology and they use this tiny crystal osscilation to control the injection, problem was in the former 125kw's the whole injector is inside the engine, bathing in oil. Common rail removes the injector to outside the engine itself, so it no longer has the oil contact. Biggest potential problem facing common rail is the high pressure fuel pump, and the fact the boys in the USA have been having a lot of problems with theirs. Seems to be concentrated in the USA though, so if i had a new 125 right now I wouldn't be too worried.

As for DPF's, they do indeed have separate Cats and DPF which is a much smarter idea than the first generation found on the PD MKV version. there is a cat right out of the turbo, then the DPF itself in the same spot as the former, then a subsequent big cat. Now if the DPF should clog down the line, you can just buy the DPF component without having to also pay for the expensive metals in the cat. A big improvement, but I do believe the problem now is some models also have a flap in the exhaust to aid regeneration, and this has been playing up on the yankie 125's - again may jusy be localised to them.

In all I think the new 125 will be a LOT better than the former version in terms of reliability, power delivery especially off boost, economy and DPF regeneration. common Rail was designed with a DPF in mind, the former PD was never designed to work with one.

Enjoy your new toy, just be sure to try and use BP or Caltex Fuels!

[martinp]

Hi there again.
I have now had the car for just on 2 weeks and all seems to be going well, am still getting used to it as there are so many little things to distract me.
Have averaged 5.2 then 5.4 l/100kms on the first two tanks, yes I have been driving a bit with just over 2100kms up.
I am happy with the fuel use as I have been running it in ehem somewhat rapidly at times HE HE HE
It does go well, much better than I had expected. Am yet to use the "S" mode instead of the "D" mode.
Happy to hear that the injector issues are a thing of the past, I have not noticed any rattles anywhere yet. But the rearview mirror does vibrate a bit when the volume is turned up to 11 (so much liking the VW sound system again compared to the Pug's buzzy sound).
I have washed it twice already, not sure how long that is going to last I hate washing cars. Need to get it waxed to within an inch of its life so it just stays clean with a bit of a hose off, but the bugs are starting to hatch now and they are exploding all over the front of the car.
It sort of sounds like I was lucky enough to just want a black one as the dealer had one in stock so I ordered it on the 26th and drove off on the 31st (which included alll the lease paperwork/finance/boss signing off etc - oh and selling the old Pug).
Well not much to report otherwise may have to go for a drive to Alice for the day to visit my cuz then drive back .
Marty.

[maxim]

I have washed it twice already, not sure how long that is going to last I hate washing cars. Need to get it waxed to within an inch of its life so it just stays clean with a bit of a hose off, but the bugs are starting to hatch now and they are exploding all over the front of the car.

Marty, Nanolex will be your best friend. Honestly this stuff is amazing. Mine (pearl black) even looks good when it's filthy - the gloss still shines through - and washing/drying is a 10 minute operation. Dirt and muck just doesn't seem to stick like it normally does (I use their shampoo too). This is the first time I've used this product and I'm very impressed with it.

[martinp]

Hmm Nanolex, it sort of sounds illegal or some sort of diet food are you sure you can put it on a car?
I may give it a go I like the 10 min wash and dry idea.
My car did the hot and stinky cooling fans running thing the other night just drove home from work (and sedately) after 75 km trip, I would have thought it should have done a burn (or whatever you call it) earlier in the trip home so it could finish it in time. But then again it may not be smart enough to know I am just about home so don't do a burn just yet.
Maybe they could plan that in the next model with GPS fitted so you could make other neighborhoods smelly rather than your own.....
Marty.
Still happy with car though.