Yep, all of the older 5 potters are pretty durable but the 2.5TDIs are in a league of their own. Just change the oil and keep the cam belt in date and they just keep on going. Mine had injector nozzles about 275k, has had a couple of sets of glow plugs and it likes a thermostat every couple of years.... other than that - quite alot of suspension bits (it's 12 seasons of Woolbridge 12 Car rallies hasn't helped that - the Dorset lanes are rough!). Alternator, starter, clutch and even most of the exhaust are original. Does use a little oil now but will still go between changes without adding any. The turbo is just about done though - side play is massive although end float still not too bad. Rear brake calipers and sticky handbrakes mechs seem to be a feature. Probably shouldn't tempt fate, but to date it has never thrown a code.....
Went through the last MoT emissions at 0.7 first pull it only has to do 3. My sons '04 A4 1.9TDI took a pot of fuel cleaner, an air filter, a savage thrashing and then about 30 pulls to manage 0.6 - which it's plate says it must do..... that plate needs to go missing! You can probably guess which car has had the EGR disabled....
Some Pics
Routine abuse - wearing a Spitfire chassis like antlers...
More routine abuse - instant lowering courtesy of 350kgs of tractor weights
Annual bath - scrubs up ok-ish - if you stand back a bit
Interior quality is just amazing - guess the mileage......
And big sister. Early facelift 2.8 2WD with just over 104k. Non-sport (someone has added the wheels at some point).
Chosen to be wafty and (moderately) economical - and it is. It's not that slow either with nearly 200 bhp and just over 1500 kgs. I had a very cheap and sheddy 4.2 QS before, which was quite a weapon when working, but it went wrong faster than I could fix it and I got bored with that and feeding it's petrol habit.
The current one does have some issues, inevitably. These were the first of the "too clever" Audis, especially the face lift ones. Trying not to get too involved as it's not meant to be (another) project!
Nick
Went through the last MoT emissions at 0.7 first pull it only has to do 3. My sons '04 A4 1.9TDI took a pot of fuel cleaner, an air filter, a savage thrashing and then about 30 pulls to manage 0.6 - which it's plate says it must do..... that plate needs to go missing! You can probably guess which car has had the EGR disabled....
Some Pics
Routine abuse - wearing a Spitfire chassis like antlers...
More routine abuse - instant lowering courtesy of 350kgs of tractor weights
Annual bath - scrubs up ok-ish - if you stand back a bit
Interior quality is just amazing - guess the mileage......
And big sister. Early facelift 2.8 2WD with just over 104k. Non-sport (someone has added the wheels at some point).
Chosen to be wafty and (moderately) economical - and it is. It's not that slow either with nearly 200 bhp and just over 1500 kgs. I had a very cheap and sheddy 4.2 QS before, which was quite a weapon when working, but it went wrong faster than I could fix it and I got bored with that and feeding it's petrol habit.
The current one does have some issues, inevitably. These were the first of the "too clever" Audis, especially the face lift ones. Trying not to get too involved as it's not meant to be (another) project!
Nick
