OMG this sounds horrible. You can do an EGR and DPF delete, but you are right (in the UK) it is against the law to fiddle with emmision stuff, but people do it. Sometimes people hide the fact and sometimes not. This is all reversible and I feel needs to be with genuine parts and/or a very good specialist garage. Because ultimately I would need to know is the base engine good?
I have an older 180 Bi-TDI. When I got it the engine was sh##ed. I coaxed it on for a year whilst saving for a new VW crate engine and Turbo's. In the meantime I did a million oil changes, deleted the EGR (blocked and mapped out) and fitted a new DPF, then did the engine. I think key was finding an amazing specialist (Retro Resus). 12k in and its a blast. Find your specialist ready for when you start trying to sort this out.
I have an older 180 Bi-TDI. When I got it the engine was sh##ed. I coaxed it on for a year whilst saving for a new VW crate engine and Turbo's. In the meantime I did a million oil changes, deleted the EGR (blocked and mapped out) and fitted a new DPF, then did the engine. I think key was finding an amazing specialist (Retro Resus). 12k in and its a blast. Find your specialist ready for when you start trying to sort this out.

