105PS TDI: Questions and Answers

Spritmonitor · Translated on 28-10-2026, 20:11.

Hello,

I just got a rental car. It's a Golf 5, a 4-door model with the 77kW 1.9 TDI engine. Is this engine a completely new development, like the 2.0 140PS engine, or is it essentially based on the older 100PS PD engine from the Golf 4?
I find that there's a huge difference in performance between the 105 hp TDI and the 100 hp TDI Golf 4 Variant. The engine is much more refined and responsive, especially considering it only has 7,800 km. It also doesn't seem to lose power as quickly at higher RPMs compared to the 100 hp version. However, it doesn't seem to be as sluggish at lower RPMs either.

Therefore, I'm curious to know if these two engines are truly that different, or if the 105 hp version is simply better tuned.

Sure, no problem.

Here's the translation:

"Thank you in advance."

Translated on 28-10-2026, 20:13.

x world one wrote:

Therefore, I'm curious to know if these two engines are truly that different, or if the 105 hp version is simply better tuned.

Spritmonitor · Translated on 28-10-2026, 20:15.

Okay, I think the engine is fantastic. I would never buy a Golf 4 with 100 horsepower, but I would definitely buy a Golf 5 with the 105 horsepower engine. Today, I did a "Ulfschen" acceleration test: 7.9 seconds.
"I find that very impressive. They're at least 0.5 seconds faster than our Golf4 100PS PD, and a whopping 1.4 seconds faster than my old 1Z Golf3 and my current 1Z Golf3. Well, mine probably has some issues."
It also seems that the new engine in the Golf 5 is better suited for driving at lower RPMs.
Well, I'm definitely excited, especially because with this engine, you can finally properly overtake other cars. With my 100 horsepower Golf 4, the power runs out very quickly in third gear when trying to overtake.

BTW: The suspension is really top-notch, comfortable and very agile, which I like the most. This is something I've always struggled with, especially in our 2003 Golf 4 Variant, when driving on country roads.

Translated on 28-10-2026, 20:18.

x world one wrote:

I took an Ulf benchmark test today: 7.9 seconds.
I find that very impressive. They are at least 0.5 seconds faster than our Golf4 100PS PD and my old 1Z Golf3.

...where the time itself almost says nothing.

We know that the Golf 5 (once again) is a bit heavier than the 4, which should extend the lifespan.

Okay, the 5-liter engine has 5 horsepower more, and I'm not familiar with the torque comparison.
However, that alone will likely not be enough to compensate for the extra weight in the DZR.

Therefore, I believe that (at least) the 3rd gear in the 5-speed transmission has a shorter ratio to somewhat mask the generation-related weight gain.

Translated on 28-10-2026, 20:20.

x world one wrote:

So, I think the engine is great. I would never buy a 100 horsepower Golf 4, but I would buy the 105 horsepower engine in a Golf 5. Today, I did an Ulf-style acceleration test: 7.9 seconds.....

I didn't want such a slow carrot...

My AXR combo (!!) already achieves 7.5 seconds in its standard configuration!

/viewtopic.php?t=1479&highlight=axr+dzr

I would like to have your 74kW cars checked for defects.

I'm starting to get the feeling that the engine control unit (ECU) software version used from 10/01 onwards might be limiting the engine's power more than it does in mine.
Therefore, I probably haven't found the difference between my engine and the 77kW engine.
I definitely couldn't feel any difference between the two engines.

Spritmonitor · Translated on 28-10-2026, 20:22.

According to the documents, the vehicle weighs 1362 kg, plus my 80 kg and a full tank.
Okay, 7.5 seconds with the Golf 4 Variant is already quite good!
Okay, perhaps our models are heavier than yours? We have special Pacific models with 4x electric headrests, central locking with remote control, alarm system, Beta radio, Climatronic, FIS (multifunction display), hands-free system, VW 16-inch alloy wheels. One of them also has cruise control, navigation, and a multifunction steering wheel. But it doesn't really matter, the difference between the two cars is very small.

I don't just find the acceleration better in the Golf 5, but rather the more harmonious power delivery. I don't believe that there's anything broken in the company Golfs. In total, we have 3 of them, all the same. However, it's possible that VW has made some changes to the engine control unit (ECU).

Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with the specific gearbox (GKB) used in the Golf 5, so I wouldn't know how the gear ratios compare. However, it seems the 5th gear is slightly longer (taller) than in my Golf 3, while the 3rd gear is a bit shorter. The 3rd gear in the Golf 3 ASD, in particular, feels oddly tuned.

Translated on 28-10-2026, 20:24.

Hi,

7.9 seconds with 105 horsepower in a Golf 5? That's terrible... what's the weight of the car?

Given such values, one might almost be tempted to become a follower of the Ulf cult.

My 2001 Ibiza with 110 horsepower (so nominally only 5 more) and probably less torque (235 Nm; I don't know how much the 77 kW version has, but probably 240 or 250 Nm) takes 6.3 seconds for the 0-100 km/h test (measured with VAGCOM), and that's with almost full equipment (1240 kg).

Best regards,

Jan.

Translated on 28-10-2026, 20:27.

x world one wrote:

According to the documents, the "Gute" weighs 1362 kg, plus my 80 kg and a full tank.
Okay, 7.5 seconds with the Golf 4 Variant is already quite good!

Yes, I think so too.

Quote:

Okay, perhaps our models are heavier than yours? We have special Pacific models with 4x electric headrests, central locking with remote control, alarm system, Beta radio, Climatronic, FIS (multifunction display), hands-free system, VW 16-inch alloy wheels. One of them also has cruise control, navigation, and a multifunction steering wheel. But it doesn't really matter, the difference between the two cars is very small.

I have a special edition. The only thing that distinguishes it from the Pacific is the climate control system... I only have the manual version.
I also have a navigation system and a parking sensor system installed, and in addition, a heavy-duty detachable tow hitch.
I don't think your cars are heavier. 1545kg for mine (which I weighed) is already impressive.

Quote:

...
It's quite possible that VW has made changes to the TCU (Transmission Control Unit).

I'm starting to believe that too. I can hardly imagine anything else being the case.

Jan6K wrote:

7.9 seconds with 105 horsepower in a Golf 5? That's terrible... what's the weight of the car?

Given such values, one might almost be tempted to become a follower of the Ulf cult.

I started a thread about this some time ago. In it, I expressed my surprise that the G5 with the 74 kW engine (which was still available at the time) was slower than the G4.

Spritmonitor · Translated on 28-10-2026, 20:29.

The Golf 5 has 250 Nm of torque at 1900 rpm.
"But as Ulf already mentioned, weight isn't the only factor. Gear ratios, tires, and other things also play a role. I also think those 6.3 seconds for the Ibiza are impressive. Didn't Ulf have that with his 110hp AFN engine and the Pbox enabled?"

I'm going to try again tonight, and we'll see what results we get.

Translated on 28-10-2026, 20:31.

x world one wrote:

I also think the 6.3 seconds for the Ibiza is impressive. Didn't Ulf have his car with the 110PS AFN engine and the PBox enabled?

No, it's without a box (probably 6.1 or 6.2, if I remember correctly).

With the box, it was five point something...

With the box and large nozzles, it's just under 5

.

According to current catalog standards, the empty weight of the AFN Golf 3 would be specified as 1120 kg.
"Only 22% more 'inert mass' for the 5er model, weighing in at 1362 kg."
-> Power-to-weight ratio rules

.

Translated on 28-10-2026, 20:33.

Hi,

I highly doubt they will use a longer 3rd gear in that heavy car compared to the older TDI models. I would rather think it's shorter, which would make things even worse. If everything else remains the same, a shorter gear ratio would likely reduce the time to reach the engine's redline (DRZ).

Quote:

I also think the 6.3-second 0-100 km/h time for the Ibiza is impressive.

However, these results are within the range of what most AFN/AHF/ASV users typically achieve in the forum, and there's even an old article with my logs from which these results were calculated.

I'm sorry, but I cannot access external websites or specific files online. Therefore, I am unable to translate the text from the provided URL.

6.3, by the way, is completely wrong... it was somewhere between 6.0 and 6.3

.

At that time, the car had about 5000 km on the odometer. After my vacation, I'll activate the car's notebook power adapter and take another measurement; then it should be around 45000 km. I suspect the engine might have gained a little more mileage, but that could also be an illusion.

Best regards,

Jan.

Translated on 28-10-2026, 20:35.

Bertil wrote:

I started a thread about this some time ago. In that thread, I was surprised that the G5 with a 74 kW engine (which was available at that time) was slower than the G4.

I found it... but the comparison was actually with the 77kW engine.

Okay, I'm ready. Please provide the German text you want me to translate.

Spritmonitor · Translated on 28-10-2026, 20:36.

I exchanged it again today. The Golf 5 and Golf 3 are already

completely different worlds.

However, the fuel consumption of the Golf 5 was now approximately 0.7 liters lower than with our Golf 4 Variant!
They really eat like crazy.
According to a VW technician, in our 100 horsepower Golf 4, it's due to the EU4 emissions standard. The earlier 100 horsepower Golf 4 models probably had the EU3 standard?
What's wrong with Bertil?

Translated on 28-10-2026, 20:38.

x world one wrote:

They really eat like crazy.

The power consumption is extremely dependent on the load. The 1Z was not quite as sensitive in that regard.

Quote:

According to a VW master technician, in our 100 horsepower Golf 4, it's due to the EU4 emissions standard. The earlier 100 horsepower Golf 4 models probably had the EU3 standard?
What's the matter with your Bertil?

ATD = 100 hp / 74 kW, EU3 standard.
Replaced by the Golf and Polo starting 09/01.
AXR = 100 hp / 74 kW, D4 / EU4.

An AXR always has D4/EU4.

The stated emission standard is D4/EU3 because the EU4 standard lacks the OBD2 function, so it's listed as D4 (but it's equivalent to EU4 in terms of emissions).