Cheap project T5

[Sunny43.5]

A mate sent me this today.2005 Volkswagen Transporter LWB high roof Auto – Vehicles – Gold Coast, Queensland – Marketplace | Facebook

[aSimpleLife]

Just add 12k for a new engine

[Sunny43.5]

Yes my mate is looking at this van for a camper fit out but after listening to me going on about the issues we had with our older T5 for years he is having second thoughts , he was just here and contacted the seller . He told him the gears changes are good but the noise in the engine is at the top and goes away once its gets going . As this bloke only bought this recently I wondered whether he is misinterpreting the gear driven camshaft noise at idle as a bigger problem , he may not be familiar with VW diesels of this era .

[aSimpleLife]

IMO you would really really want to know your way around these motors and be able to fully repair them yourself before you ever considered buying a second hand one. Otherwise your bargain can be up to plus 12k in the blink of an eye.
I am only keeping mine now at 150k because it's one owner and I know it's been looked after. Even thought that's no guarantee, it reduces the risk. Along with being a single turbo manual (as advised here). I have just started following the other sound advice provided here and am doing my own engine oil and filter changes at 7,500km between services. I use a well regarded independent VW mechanic nowadays but he says it's not needed and just stick to the service schedule. But then I suppose he'll get the work if I need a rebuild anyway

[Sunny43.5]

I sort of wonder what makes these engines so expensive to fix , is it lack of local parts or is there someting in the way they are built . The good old days you could pick up either short motor or a complete recoed long motor for peanuts compared to todays prices .

[Kiels3927]

I sort of wonder what makes these engines so expensive to fix , is it lack of local parts or is there someting in the way they are built . The good old days you could pick up either short motor or a complete recoed long motor for peanuts compared to todays prices .

And beetle mudguards for $15 because they were what the pnel beaters trained their apprentices on.

[Sunny43.5]

I wonder if they have changed pistons from round ones to square ones ?

[Kiels3927]

I wonder if they have changed pistons from round ones to square ones ?

You're thinking of wankers.

[LogicprObe]

LOL!

And the VW dealer only offered me $500 on my 2012 model in great running order!
(admittedly, it's only a SWB model.........)

[Sunny43.5]

LOL!

And the VW dealer only offered me $500 on my 2012 model in great running order!
(admittedly, it's only a SWB model.........)

Well thats what I call being well and truly screwed and the dealers haven't got the decency to use lubricant while they are doing it !!

[LogicprObe]

Well thats what I call being well and truly screwed and the dealers haven't got the decency to use lubricant while they are doing it !!

Then he had the hide to quote me 'list price' on a new Crafter!
I laughed all the way out..............

[Kiels3927]

It's cool. I was offered 5K on my 2007/8 T5 Multivan on a white 2018 Multivan with a 2 litre DSG motor & steel wheels @ $53K.

Wish I could sort out my gearbox issue quickly while the deal is still on & make a judgment.

[LogicprObe]

Wouldn't the gearbox be their problem then?

[Transporter]

I sort of wonder what makes these engines so expensive to fix , is it lack of local parts or is there someting in the way they are built . The good old days you could pick up either short motor or a complete recoed long motor for peanuts compared to todays prices .

I guess any engine is expensive to rebuild today if done properly.