[rgh0]

what model and year are you looking at ?

 

[rgh0]

The pre facelift cars ( up to 14) did not have Adblue so a little simpler in terms of emission controls.

The face lift cars after 2015 also had more prblems with water in the intake wetting the air filters due to different headlifght shape and also suffered from frequent failure of the led light tubes used for the day light running lights.

The ACC system in these cars is subject to windscreen camera failures in the hot Australian climate. Its fixable at reasonable cost if you do it yourself but VW will want a fortune if you give it to them.

The cars apear to not have other systematic issues and the V8 TDI appears to be a very robust engine and the air suspension system reliable and the Ainsin transmission also robust.

They can certainly be maintained by a home mechanic but you do need to get the Ross-Tech VCDS system for diagnosis. They are complex cars and need to be properly maintained so look closely at the service history. You need to build your own service schedule as VW claim things like the transmission fluid do not need service but that is not correct.

 

[rgh0]

Transmission fluid is recognised as requiring replacement every 60K kms in hot climates...

View attachment 259946


TonyB

But does your local VW dealer read this ???? It appears not as its not in the routine service plan for Australia as far as I am aware.

 

[rgh0]

its is that immense torque and over taking power that is the most outstanding feature. If i am passing a B double on a two lane country road you go from 90km/h sitting behind it to 150+km/h by the time you pull back in infront of it. The minimal time you spend on the wrong side when overtaking is worth the price alone

 

[rgh0]

There is what looks like a low mileage pre face lift 7P in Vic from a private seller currently thats worth looking at

 

[rgh0]

I discovered that the Australian T4 did not have add blue but stayed with the earlier engines without it. The rest of the world except Australia ( and UK ?) changed to adblue Euro 6 engines with the T4.

 

[rgh0]

All my research suggests you should get 250k kms to 300k kms at least before any major issues.

This assumes
1. Proper routine servicing using correct fluids to the VW specs and including diff and transmission fluid changes at sensible intervals and those intervals are shorter if regularly towing in high temperatures ( forget the VW filled for life BS)
2. Use of a fuel lubricant additive to protect the HPFP
3. Reasonable highway use to not crud up the DPF to quickly
4. Catch cans to minimise oil / soot build up in the intakes
5. Remove the drain valves in the intakes to prevent water getting into the airfilter ( and dont ford rivers that gets water above the bottom of the bumper)

Airbag failure appears rare even at high mileage and age in the earlier 7L cars

 

[rgh0]

Personally I would pay more for a car without a sunroof. My wife has one in her car and it is never used and just causes issues with leaks and drainage

 

[rgh0]

All VicRoads will do is check the RWC has been done and check the Vin number thats stamped into the body under the carpet below the drivers seat. At least thats what they did on mine when i brought it in from NSW prior to handing over the new plates