VW TDI EPA Recall (2.0L and 3.0L)

Xeno555 · Feb 23, 2017

Menace2u said:
Sorry if this has been covered but 950+ pages is a lot to go thru....

Does anyone know if there are any guidelines or restrictions or allowances for the condition of the vehicle if you opt for the buy-back. I have some cosmetic items including scratches and a cracked front grill from hitting a deer at low speed. I would repair if I decide to keep it but now questioning why do that unless VW can use this against me in the buy-back calc.

AndrewT

Should be no issue.

todcp · Feb 23, 2017

Menace2u said:
Sorry if this has been covered but 950+ pages is a lot to go thru....

Does anyone know if there are any guidelines or restrictions or allowances for the condition of the vehicle if you opt for the buy-back. I have some cosmetic items including scratches and a cracked front grill from hitting a deer at low speed. I would repair if I decide to keep it but now questioning why do that unless VW can use this against me in the buy-back calc.

AndrewT

When returning my 2013 Passat TDI damage did not matter. They took a picture of the tach to show the engine runs and that was it. Mine had some minor dents and scratches but more damage would have been ok.
Though due to some bad apple owner who tried to return cars stripped the 3.0 settlement had to specify this would to be allowed.

JettaGetUpandGo · Feb 23, 2017

"Intentional damage" is not allowed. Essentially they want to make sure people aren't stripping essential parts off the car prior to turning it in like some people did with the 2.0. The vehicle must be legal to operate on the road and contain all critical parts (lights radio, seats, etc.). If you read through the settlement, a lot more language has been added regarding the condition of the vehicle. Unless you take a sledgehammer to the front of the car or spray paint phallic objects onto the side of it, you should be ok.

Mythdoc · Feb 23, 2017

Question: I have been watching TDI prices go up on car listings nationwide and, in particular, watching third-party dealers with more than one TDI that they appear to be stockpiling. I know that there is language in the consent decree that prohibits a Volkswagen dealer from receiving settlement money, but is there any language in the decree prohibiting a third-party dealer from filing as an owner/former owner?

alfissimo · Feb 23, 2017

Yup, they are all in the 45-58K range, most with lower mileage but even 97K mile car is $28K (I saw maybe 1-2). The rest are stock piled for sure and they are trying to make a buck on the TDI. I am interested in the 3rd party deal too. I doubt any of them had the car before July 2015 and if so, I am curious if they can claim to be the owner when they are selling them and are a retailer for selling cars. I mean they would make a fortune and retire selling these all back or taking even the restitution payments. haha

Mythdoc · Feb 23, 2017

^^If they purchased after 1/31, they have to hold the vehicles until the registration period ends, then file for compensation. Again, IF they qualify. If they purchased before 1/31, they can file as a former owner.

I'd love to know the answer, but too busy to comb through the details, heh. I don't see how, legally, a third party can be excluded tho.

Sharkwaldo · Feb 23, 2017

Third parties are not excluded. Pretty sure that the Volkswagen dealers are only excluded because they received a pile of money in their settlement. Other dealers are free to speculate and I'm certain some are.

tms0425 · Feb 23, 2017

Mythdoc said:
Question: I have been watching TDI prices go up on car listings nationwide and, in particular, watching third-party dealers with more than one TDI that they appear to be stockpiling. I know that there is language in the consent decree that prohibits a Volkswagen dealer from receiving settlement money, but is there any language in the decree prohibiting a third-party dealer from filing as an owner/former owner?

Yes, there are "pseudo" dealers popping up on 2.0l, making a quick buck Volkswagen 2.0l Hoarders

My neighbor owns used car dealerships and has turned a few himself.

Mythdoc · Feb 23, 2017

Mythdoc said:
^^If they purchased after 1/31, they have to hold the vehicles until the registration period ends, then file for compensation. Again, IF they qualify. If they purchased before 1/31, they can file as a former owner.

I'd love to know the answer, but too busy to comb through the details, heh. I don't see how, legally, a third party can be excluded tho.

Let me correct myself. A party who bought after dieselgate broke and also sold after 1/31 but before applying for and receiving benefits has no part in the settlement. Just looked it up. So, a 3rd party dealer has to hold the car, or, jack up the price it sells for to profit off the settlement.

lml999 · Feb 23, 2017

Does anyone expect that VW will come out with an approved "Reduced Emissions Modification" for Gen 1 vehicles? They continue to mention this in the formal communications...

I would vastly prefer that over turning in my '10 and buying something new(er). It will end up costing me $10-$15K out of pocket to move into a late model TDi (most likely Cayenne)...

Thanks!

BenTDI · Feb 23, 2017

lml999 said:
Does anyone expect that VW will come out with an approved "Reduced Emissions Modification" for Gen 1 vehicles? They continue to mention this in the formal communications...

I would vastly prefer that over turning in my '10 and buying something new(er). It will end up costing me $10-$15K out of pocket to move into a late model TDi (most likely Cayenne)...

Thanks!

I give a 0.00000009% chance that VW wastes their time on a modification. I think it will be buyback or nothing. There is just too much to do to what will be 7-10 year old vehicles, most of which are going to be given back by their owners.

alfissimo · Feb 23, 2017

lml999 said:
Does anyone expect that VW will come out with an approved "Reduced Emissions Modification" for Gen 1 vehicles? They continue to mention this in the formal communications...

I would vastly prefer that over turning in my '10 and buying something new(er). It will end up costing me $10-$15K out of pocket to move into a late model TDi (most likely Cayenne)...

Thanks!

I think so. Much less expense for them to fix than buyback. I would rather have than than do buyback. Spending $15K vs 30-40K per car seems like something I would look into as a company regardless of age. They need to think about keeping customers too, service, parts etc...

psd1 · Feb 23, 2017

Menace2u said:
Sorry if this has been covered but 950+ pages is a lot to go thru....

Does anyone know if there are any guidelines or restrictions or allowances for the condition of the vehicle if you opt for the buy-back. I have some cosmetic items including scratches and a cracked front grill from hitting a deer at low speed. I would repair if I decide to keep it but now questioning why do that unless VW can use this against me in the buy-back calc.

AndrewT

No problem, don't waste your money!

MmmBoost · Feb 23, 2017

alfissimo said:
I think so. Much less expense for them to fix than buyback. I would rather have than than do buyback. Spending $15K vs 30-40K per car seems like something I would look into as a company regardless of age. They need to think about keeping customers too, service, parts etc...

I'm hoping they do as well. Let's be realistic here.... VW is run by a bunch of accountants and they will go down whatever path costs them the least amount of money. That is, after all, how they got themselves into this mess in the first place.

alfissimo · Feb 23, 2017

MmmBoost said:
I'm hoping they do as well. Let's be realistic here.... VW is run by a bunch of accountants and they will go down whatever path costs them the least amount of money. That is, after all, how they got themselves into this mess in the first place.

Exactly! They will off a reduced emissions fix as long as those epa and carb dudes say cool. They are running numbers and I agree, they have accountants all over this. They do not want to spend anymore than they have to even though they have the cash. If they can save 2.5-3 Billion dollars by offering a reduced emissions on our 'old' cars, offer $10-15K per owner and a new warranty, they will do that! I am a firm believer that it will happen. If I am wrong, so be it. I am keeping the thing, 99% sure I am. The money does not entice me, I see things differently. Buyback = lost customer, some maybe forever because they feel betrayed but for most, they get to keep the car they love, get some money and a warranty, they will buy again. Loss of money not as high by VW and retention of customer, you know what they say, that's a win win.

MmmBoost · Feb 23, 2017

I would love to keep mine as well if there is a partial fix....I'll take the money and the fix. However, if there is no fix for gen1, the buyback is simply too attractive to pass up I think. I'm pretty mechanically inclined, so the maintenance doesn't bother me much, but the biggest worry I have on this engine is the HPFP exploding and costing 10K to repair. I don't have that kind of money laying around in my vehicle fund (I don't think most people do). Nor would I spend 10K fixing a vehicle worth 18-20. At least with a partial fix, there would most certainly be an extended warranty, and I could at least put the restitution money toward pre-emptively replacing the pump if necessary. I just wish these pumps would give some signs they're going to die, rather than spontaneous and catastrophic failure.

alfissimo · Feb 23, 2017

I think lubricity is crucial due to US diesel fuel. Every tank. Either B5-10 splash in the tank or additive like Titan Diecyl additive/ Optilube and others. They did extend the warranty though, 10 yrs/120K miles.

MTreg · Feb 23, 2017

alfissimo said:
I think lubricity is crucial due to US diesel fuel. Every tank. Either B5-10 splash in the tank or additive like Titan Diecyl additive/ Optilube and others. They did extend the warranty though, 10 yrs/120K miles.

good idea to never let vehicle sit for long with a low fuel level to prevent condensation diluting fuel. Usually fill up soon after down 1/2 tank unless on a long drive. I also use a splash of additive, hard to find B5-10 around here.

alxdgr8 · Feb 23, 2017

alfissimo said:
I think so. Much less expense for them to fix than buyback. I would rather have than than do buyback. Spending $15K vs 30-40K per car seems like something I would look into as a company regardless of age. They need to think about keeping customers too, service, parts etc...

If it's an easy fix, maybe, but if it requires a lot of engineering work then it doesn't take long for a few engineers at a couple hundred bucks an hour to eat up a lot of money. Plus the cost of paying dealers to install the fix (and parts cost). For only 20k cars it quickly doesn't make sense to develop a fix.

Sharkwaldo · Feb 23, 2017

The engineering development cost is likely dwarfed by the validation cost. Remember that they don't just need a fix, they need one that will hold up for 120k miles without doing damage to the engine or degrading in performance.

VW TDI EPA Recall (2.0L and 3.0L)

Xeno555

todcp

JettaGetUpandGo

Mythdoc

alfissimo

Mythdoc

Sharkwaldo

tms0425

Mythdoc

lml999

BenTDI

alfissimo

psd1

MmmBoost

alfissimo

MmmBoost

alfissimo

MTreg

alxdgr8

Sharkwaldo

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