Qualität Passat 3B und A4 als Gebrauchtwagen | Posts 16+

Hi there,
A4 models from the earlier years should only be purchased if the front axle has already been refurbished. Otherwise, you could end up spending a lot of money on repairs. This also applies with some limitations to the 3B model, which offers more space but has quite poor build quality in the years you prefer. It was probably only improved after the facelift. I can recommend the A6; it's built for longevity, but maintenance costs are significantly higher. The car tax is still reasonable (assuming it already has a catalytic converter), but insurance isn't really cheap. As for the timing belt replacement, it's almost as expensive as the 6-cylinder models (around €1100 at VW if you include the tensioner and idler pulleys, as well as the water pump, which is recommended given the current quality of spare parts). Otherwise, they are generally solid and quite economical to drive, if you aim for it. However, there are also some people in this forum who have had problems with them...

Best regards from Berlin.
Olli.

Thank you for your opinions on the topic.
It's better to ask questions about anything that is unclear here beforehand, rather than having a lot of trouble later .

@Olli
Is there not a recall campaign currently underway for the 3B and A4 models regarding the front axle? After all, the front axles are identical in both vehicles.
Do you also own an AEL? As for the insurance, well, it's somewhat similar to the cost of insuring a Passat or an A4 with a 150 hp V6 TDI engine. You just have to weigh whether it's worth it.
I am much more interested in the potential for repair issues, because that is unpredictable and often expensive. I can factor a more expensive insurance policy into my calculations .
AEL vehicles are all Euro2 compliant, at least the models from the year I prefer, which is 1996.
I've already searched for information about AEL in this forum. However, I think there's relatively little available on the subject. So it seems to be quite a robust system.

It is also important to me that I can drive the car for at least 4 years, or even 5. That's why I'm asking all these questions here .

Hello.

I can recommend the 3B as a used car. It is also fully galvanized, just like the A4.

The only problem is the front axle, just like with the A4.

The current recall only applies to the lower control arms and tie rods. If you're experiencing noise from the upper components, you're out of luck with this recall; it doesn't cover those parts. Also, they don't replace the lower components automatically; it's only done if they are already faulty.

Great recall campaign by Volkswagen!

It's impossible to say exactly how long the original axle will last without knowing specific details; I've heard of some failing after only 30,000 km, while mine lasted 155,000 km, and others seem to last forever.

Greetings![/b]

Hi there,
Regarding reliability, the A6/C4 is certainly not a bad choice. My car only had one unexpected issue: a broken wheel bearing on the front axle (at approximately 180,000 km). Of course, like many VW/Audi models, it also experienced the common problem of failing brake hoses in the front after 6 years. Otherwise, it has only been to the workshop for the timing belt replacement. Naturally, there are always minor issues that arise, such as a worn hose leading to the pressure sensor, which is unfortunately located right next to the EGR valve, but nothing serious. The wear items also seem to be of quite good quality; the exhaust system is still the original one (now at 260,000 km). I proactively replaced the shock absorbers after 200,000 km, as well as the battery before the last winter. Oh yes, the clutch was replaced at 230,000 km, but it wasn't really necessary yet; it was just a good opportunity to do it.

There is a common issue with the 5-cylinder engines, and it's called the vacuum pump. These things rattle similarly to defective hydraulic lifters; sometimes replacing just the drive tappet helps, but other times the only solution is to replace the entire pump for it to be quiet again. It doesn't affect the function, but it can be a bit annoying when you feel like there's a mischievous imp with a hammer in the engine bay .
Based on everything I've read about the V6 here, I think that the 5-series is likely the better choice, especially for used cars in the €10,000 range or less, offering comparable driving characteristics.

"In particular, the build quality seems significantly better than Volkswagen's; we now have the third 3B as a company car (used by single drivers only). It's certainly a good compromise in terms of cost-effectiveness, but I've never experienced so many small and large problems with new cars. Starting from rear window cranks that fall off, to a rattling front axle, the notorious mass airflow sensor problem, defective rear shock absorbers after 25,000 km, a completely failed instrument cluster, etc.). Even the 35i was better in some respects; somehow, these cars always remind me of the Omega A I drove before the A6."

Of course, it's possible that I've encountered an exceptional car, but I believe you should be able to drive an 8-year-old A6 for another 4 to 6 years without being overwhelmed by repair costs or the car becoming unreliable, provided it hasn't always been driven at its performance limits or modified with a chip by the previous owner.

Olli.

'In particular, the build quality seems significantly better than that of VW; we now have the third 3B as a company car (used by single drivers only); it's certainly a good compromise in terms of cost/benefit, but I've never experienced so many small and large problems with new cars. Starting from rear window cranks falling off, to a rattling front axle, the notorious MAF sensor problem, defective rear shock absorbers after 25,000 km, a completely failed instrument cluster, etc.). Even the 35i was better in some respects; somehow, these cars always remind me of the Omega A I drove before the A6.'


That seems to be more of an exception than the rule.
My two '3B' models (both Variant versions, both with AFN engines - the first one was bought in February 1998 with 130,000 km and sold with 200,000 km, and the second one was bought in June 1998 with 57,000 km and currently has 240,000 km) have mostly just experienced the typical problems common to Passats: mass airflow sensor (MAF), front axle issues, windshield wiper linkage, plus a few other minor things, but nothing major.

AFN is a great engine: fuel-efficient / performs very well / reliable.

I'll be buying another Passat Variant soon (probably a 3BG model with an AWX engine this time).

Hi there,
I didn't want to offend anyone .
I was actually referring to the cumulative effect of minor issues that I find extremely annoying once I invest a certain amount of money in a vehicle. And even something as simple as having to send an employee to the workshop because of a broken window (which we've had with two out of three cars so far)... Of course, everything is under warranty, but it's still unnecessary.
The spectacular failures can occur everywhere, and this is usually not related to the quality of manufacturing, but rather to frequent minor issues that people get annoyed about.
At least I do.
Be happy if your cars are better.

Best regards from Berlin.
Olli.

"Then it seems like the C4 is generally considered a well-rounded and recommendable car. The vacuum pump makes noises? I'm very familiar with that from my 1Z; every time I was stopped and had my foot on the brake, that thing would start to whine and rumble..."
The autobild.de report about the Passat 3B up to the year 2000 essentially states exactly what you also observed. That's why I expressed doubts earlier on whether the Passat is the right car. However, since I value a complete service history, every repair should be traceable for such a vehicle.
We'll see.

Hi,
I didn't want to offend anyone .


The forums are there for discussion, and sometimes there are different opinions .

Even the 35i was better; somehow these things always remind me of the Omega A that I drove before the A6.

Hopefully, this time in a positive way. You can criticize the 35i as much as you want, but these cars are reliable.

Best regards, WarLord.

Hi there,
Sure, only in the best sense , although it can't compete with the 32B in terms of robustness and durability. (The 32B, however, is no longer a modern car, at least that's what my wife convinced me of, so we also have a 35i in the family, but as a gasoline engine). I then gave the 32B to our apprentice; it will probably only be scrapped when there are no more spare parts available (or when the oil consumption is higher than the fuel consumption ).

Regards,
Olli.

Based on what people are saying, the 35i is more durable than the 3b. It wasn't until the successor to the 3b (is it called the 3bg?) starting in 2000 that the quality improved.
I haven't made a decision yet. Currently, the 3b is practically out of the running due to the problems with the front axle, and the A4 seems to have those same issues. We'll see what I ultimately decide on. The Audi would be very appealing to me, but it has a very high price for insurance and spare parts .

I will also take a look at a 1996 35i Variant AFN.

Thanks again for all the helpful tips!

@Olli
Did you have the opportunity to drive both the AAT and the AEL models? The AAT has a 2.5L engine with 116 horsepower and 265 Nm of torque.

@olli

Hmm, I don't see any negative aspects when comparing the two (35i vs. 32b). They both seem quite robust.

@x world one

Hmm, a 1996 Variant with an AFN engine? Forget about it; if you find one, you'll only be able to get it at an inflated price (because they are rare).

Regarding the durability of the 3B: I haven't read so much negativity about it before. It's true that the 35i seems more robust (at least visually), but it's not as bad as some people are making it out to be (in the 3B community, someone is driving one with 400,000 km and in excellent condition from the year 1997).

Best regards, WarLord.

Hi there,

@x world one
I have very little experience with AATs (Automatic Air Suspension Transmissions), I've only ever ridden in one. In principle, it's the same machine, but it was only available with a 6-speed gearbox for an extra charge, so the engine speed on the highway is likely to be somewhat higher.
Just for comparison: at 120 km/h in the 6th gear, the engine speed is just over 2200 RPM according to the tachometer, and it's not really audible .

Regards,
Olli.

@warlord

Hm, you probably have to decide that individually. Just try it out .
"35i models are truly rare with low mileage, but well-maintained 3B models are also uncommon."

@Olli
I was curious about the subjective impression of the performance difference. Because the torque difference is quite small. The 6th gear is nice, but I probably only drive on the highway once a year privately, and otherwise maybe just for fun, driving around 20 km at full throttle .
I probably drive on rural roads for about 70% of my total mileage.

Hi,
I once wanted to test drive a VW 35i. Back then, VW presented it as a "space miracle," but unfortunately, the interior feels like an oversized subcompact car. This is due to the high seating position, where the steering wheel always feels too far away and the pedals too close, as well as the excessively short seat cushions. Our company cars unfortunately didn't have adjustable steering wheels. As for reliability, it's questionable. With higher mileage, the suspension becomes spongy despite intact shock absorbers. Without air conditioning, the car is particularly unpleasant, especially the gasoline version; the windows let in a lot of sunlight, and even if it's already unbearable, the heating system adds to the discomfort by radiating heat from the floor. In the older models (were they also called 35i?), the entire body eventually becomes brittle, as we experienced and as was reported in an Auto Bild test.