2.0 BiTD 2014

[JOC]

Hi , I am new and about to look at a potential first California 2morrow , it's a 2014 2.0 BiTD ( 75k Miles - water pump and cambelt/tensioner done 12k ago ). Anything I need to be looking for? Anything I need to know ? Excited but stressed as it''s quite the investment.

 

[AlanC]

The BiTurbo is the 180ps engined SE T5.1 California and a 2014 registered vehicle should be fine.

I say that because another member of the forum recently bought a 2014 registered van that had the classic oil consumption issue normally attributed to the 2010/11 model year vehicles.
The difference between Model Year(MY) or build date, and registration date can be significant. The van may have been built in 2011 (the problem year) but sat in a dealer's yard until registered in 2014.

The best way to check is to look at the label on the Exhaust Gas Regulator (EGR) at the bottom of the front of the engine behind the radiator. There should be a suffix on the part number on the label. This can be 'A', 'B' or 'D'. 'C' was never issued. Likely to be an 'A' if the van is a 2014 MY one. This indicates an updated EGR is installed.

Also, ask what the oil consumption figures are like. In theory, the engine having covered just 75k miles in 8 years shouldn't consume any oil between services, but a small amount is acceptable. If you have any doubts, walk away. High oil consumption issues are expensive to rectify costing in the region of £8k if the engine needs to be replaced.

Good luck.

Alan

 

[JOC]

Hi Alan , thanks you for the advice - I will probably go have a look just so that I learn , will report back what I find. Thanks

 

[WelshGas]

Hi Alan , thanks you for the advice - I will probably go have a look just so that I learn , will report back what I find. Thanks

My 2014 180 is just cruising past 107,000 miles, on original EGR.
You are now aware there were problems with 2010/11 built engines. Ask about Oil Consumption and go into the purchase informed. In my opinion it is an excellent engine if built post 2012.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Also, ask what the oil consumption figures are like. In theory, the engine having covered just 75k miles in 8 years shouldn't consume any oil between services, but a small amount is acceptable. If you have any doubts, walk away. High oil consumption issues are expensive to rectify costing in the region of £8k if the engine needs to be replaced.

Surely the seller will just say 'all fine - no issues' when asked about oil consumption.

 

[WelshGas]

Surely the seller will just say 'all fine - no issues' when asked about oil consumption.

If you have it in writing . If they won't then walk away or offer £8000 less.

 

[2into1]

The difference between Model Year(MY) or build date, and registration date can be significant. The van may have been built in 2011 (the problem year) but sat in a dealer's yard until registered in 2014

I'm sorry but we've got to stop this 2010/11 thinking. There MAY have been extra problems with those years, but trying to imply the oil consumption / dead engine problem stopped then is totally misleading.

 

[WelshGas]

I'm sorry but we've got to stop this 2010/11 thinking. There MAY have been extra problems with those years, but trying to imply the oil consumption / dead engine problem stopped then is totally misleading.

Sorry, I will Disagree with your assessment and point to the fact and evidence I have posted on numerous occasions. VW have published a TPI relating the problems affecting CFCA engines manufactured during the 2010/11 manufacturing years, complete with VIN and Engine Numbers of the vehicles affected with a detailed testing regimen and repair methods.
No TPI has been published for CFCA engines produced from 2012 onwards.

SOME owners of vehicles with engines from 2012 onwards have experienced excessive oil consumption and point the finger at the EGR, but only a small number in reality and not something accepted by VW. If the cause was the EGR then every engine should be affected, but they are not. There is no evidence to prove whether the corrosion of the EGR is the cause or a symptom of damage caused by the oil used, oil contamination or something related to driving style. Even the former member VWguru admitted it wasn’t straightforward.

 

[Califorian]

The BiTurbo is the 180ps engined SE T5.1 California and a 2014 registered vehicle should be fine.

I say that because another member of the forum recently bought a 2014 registered van that had the classic oil consumption issue normally attributed to the 2010/11 model year vehicles.
The difference between Model Year(MY) or build date, and registration date can be significant. The van may have been built in 2011 (the problem year) but sat in a dealer's yard until registered in 2014.

The best way to check is to look at the label on the Exhaust Gas Regulator (EGR) at the bottom of the front of the engine behind the radiator. There should be a suffix on the part number on the label. This can be 'A', 'B' or 'D'. 'C' was never issued. Likely to be an 'A' if the van is a 2014 MY one. This indicates an updated EGR is installed.

Also, ask what the oil consumption figures are like. In theory, the engine having covered just 75k miles in 8 years shouldn't consume any oil between services, but a small amount is acceptable. If you have any doubts, walk away. High oil consumption issues are expensive to rectify costing in the region of £8k if the engine needs to be replaced.

Good luck.

Alan

I'm not sure where your information comes from? My van is MY2015 , been in my possession since new and my EGR has a suffix of C.

 

[2into1]

There is no evidence to prove whether the corrosion of the EGR is the cause or a symptom of damage caused by the oil used, oil contamination or something related to driving style. Even the former member VWguru admitted it wasn’t straightforward.

For any potential buyers feeling relieved by Welshgases' rebute, remember in the same debate earlier, he denied smoking causes cancer.

 

[WelshGas]

For any potential buyers feeling relieved by Welshgases' rebute, remember in the same debate earlier, he denied smoking causes cancer.

Incorrect. I believe I said it was multifactorial. There are other factors involved, genetics, time, etc. Otherwise anyone who ever smoked a cigarette would developed cancer.

The fact that you do not have an evidence based argument to refute my comments/explanation just shows the paucity of your statement. And the fact that no one who believes your theory has taken VW to task in the courts or the media, either singly or as a group further weakens your already tenious theory.
S**t happens that's life. Doesn't mean that everyone is out to get you.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

Does anyone even know how much it costs to take an organisation the size of VW to court and be successful? VW can afford to throw millions in lawyers fees at something like this. Unless you have millions you don’t really want forget it. You’ve got between no chance and absolutely no chance.
No win no fee lawyers will only take cases the have a chance of winning and this isn’t one of them. The Dieselgate scandal is still rattling on but again absolutely nothing has happened after years of promises of compensation..
just accept if you’ve got a problem and you are out of warranty just dig deeply into your pockets.

 

[2into1]

Incorrect. I believe I said it was multifactorial. There are other factors involved, genetics, time, etc. Otherwise anyone who ever smoked a cigarette would developed cancer.

The fact that you do not have an evidence based argument to refute my comments/explanation just shows the paucity of your statement. And the fact that no one who believes your theory has taken VW to task in the courts or the media, either singly or as a group further weakens your already tenious theory.
S**t happens that's life. Doesn't mean that everyone is out to get you.

Anyone buying a 180 based on Welshgases' reassurance should remember he dances on a pin head to not accept 'smoking causes cancer' as a headline....... So should be careful when he uses the same technique to deny 'egr failure kills cfca engines'.

As always, potential buyers should familiarise themselves with the Facebook group and make up their own minds.

 

[WelshGas]

Does anyone even know how much it costs to take an organisation the size of VW to court and be successful? VW can afford to throw millions in lawyers fees at something like this. Unless you have millions you don’t really want forget it. You’ve got between no chance and absolutely no chance.
No win no fee lawyers will only take cases the have a chance of winning and this isn’t one of them. The Dieselgate scandal is still rattling on but again absolutely nothing has happened after years of promises of compensation..
just accept if you’ve got a problem and you are out of warranty just dig deeply into your pockets.

I agree. If you have a 60,000 + milage 10 Yr old vehicle and problems happen you're on your own with any manufacturer. That's life . When buying any vehicle, out of warranty, you are gambling you've got a good'un. All you can do is your homework and take an educated gamble.

 

[WelshGas]

Anyone buying a 180 based on Welshgases' reassurance should remember he dances on a pin head to not accept 'smoking causes cancer' as a headline....... So should be careful when he uses the same technique to deny 'egr failure kills cfca engines'.

As always, potential buyers should familiarise themselves with the Facebook group and make up their own minds.

Evidence?
Having worked for 40yrs in Cardiothoracic surgical specialties I believe I have a little more knowledge of the causes of lung cancer than you have.
Also the fact that there is a Facebook group is not evidence of cause and effect. Only the fact that there is a relatively small group of owners who won't accept that they gambled and lost and expect someone else to pick up the tab. There are probably other such groups for other vehicles with similar problems

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Of course any potential issues are easy to avoid when buying 2nd hand. Get a 140 instead and have it remapped if you want more power (+ increased mpg).

The trouble with buying 2nd hand at the moment is that a 'problem' van could well have been offloaded to say WBAC to take advantage of minimal mechanical checks + increased prices. These vans then go straight to auction and most likely end up in a car dealers hands and are then sold on +3 month warranty. Hence I would only buy a 2nd hand van from a private owner who has had the van for a few years, then they can explain the full history etc.

 

[WelshGas]

Of course any potential issues are easy to avoid when buying 2nd hand. Get a 140 instead and have it remapped if you want more power (+ increased mpg).

The trouble with buying 2nd hand at the moment is that a 'problem' van could well have been offloaded to say WBAC to take advantage of minimal mechanical checks + increased prices. These vans then go straight to auction and most likely end up in a car dealers hands and are then sold on +3 month warranty. Hence I would only buy a 2nd hand van from a private owner who has had the van for a few years, then they can explain the full history etc.

Or be less than honest , unless they answe your queries in writing.

 

[AlanC]

I'm not sure where your information comes from? My van is MY2015 , been in my possession since new and my EGR has a suffix of C.

I stand corrected.

Alan

 

[clarinetbcn]

Sorry, I will Disagree with your assessment and point to the fact and evidence I have posted on numerous occasions. VW have published a TPI relating the problems affecting CFCA engines manufactured during the 2010/11 manufacturing years, complete with VIN and Engine Numbers of the vehicles affected with a detailed testing regimen and repair methods.
No TPI has been published for CFCA engines produced from 2012 onwards.

SOME owners of vehicles with engines from 2012 onwards have experienced excessive oil consumption and point the finger at the EGR, but only a small number in reality and not something accepted by VW. If the cause was the EGR then every engine should be affected, but they are not. There is no evidence to prove whether the corrosion of the EGR is the cause or a symptom of damage caused by the oil used, oil contamination or something related to driving style. Even the former member VWguru admitted it wasn’t straightforward.

In summary, buying a post 2012 180 is a crap shoot. Most aren't doomed with a corroding EGR cooler (exhaust gas recirculation cooler, which is the part which disintegrates) which sends aluminum oxide like sandpaper into the engine to grind the cylinder walls, but some are, and neither VW (at least publicly!) nor anyone else has been able to determine which ones under what circumstances will be affected. The affected engines have high aluminum oxide detectable in the engine oil, often long before the oil consumption skyrockets, and, when disassembled, visibly corroded EGR coolers. Unless you have a guarantee in writing that will cover this issue, look elsewhere. The 180 is the only one with an aluminum cooler.

 

[WelshGas]

Chicken and egg scenario. Is it the EGR starting the problem or something affecting the EGR.
Who knows?
If its the EGR why some and not others?

I don't know and neither do you, I suspect.

 

[clarinetbcn]

I don't know and neither do you, I suspect.

... neither VW (at least publicly!) nor anyone else has been able to determine which ones under what circumstances will be affected.

Improving reading comprehension will lower your outrage level and improve your quality of life, and just may help you avoid shouting "STAY OFF MY LAWN!!!" at passers-by.

 

[WelshGas]

Improving reading comprehension will lower your outrage level and improve your quality of life, and just may help you avoid shouting "STAY OFF MY LAWN!!!" at passers-by.

Getting personal again. A sign of losing the argument. Obviously bored today .

 

[PeteS]

I agree that there are many factors that mean that a 180 bhp engine can start using oil. If I had of read this forum or others regarding the oil consumption then I would have steered away from the 180 bhp engine.
The later ones seem to be better and there is a consensus that the ones after 2012 are a lot better. It is worth remembering if the engine is not using oil at the moment it could start using it at a later date. It would be hard to prove that the previous owner knew there was a problem.

 

[pjm-84]

Wouldnt agree with that. I belong to a Facebook group for this issue and I'm aware of quite a few post 2011/2012 vans having the issue, including some T6s

Even my 2015, with regular annual oil changes between 5 and 8k miles was consuming its EGR cooler. Now fixed by emulating the EGR

 

[pjm-84]

Compared with