Should I or Shouldn't I ? - BiTdi EGR worry!!

[si_t6]

I'm about to put a deposit down on my most expensive vehicle yet - a 2016 4Motion 180 T32 T6... And I'm bricking it.

I've been doing so much research around the forum and net but can't find a definitive answer on the 180 BiTurbo issue with the EGR. Lots of information on the problem, but only a few suggestions as to if/when it was resolved by VW.

The best information I've got is actually from this forum... "Thankfully all T6s ship with the ‘D’ suffix oil cooler that is hopefully capable of not destroying itself through normal use"... However, I've seen on the vwcfca facebook group that the problem still applies to the T6. So ultimately I'm not sure what to believe.

My question is... Will I be safe with a T6 - I'm scared to death of spending this much on a van that could essentially end up costing another £10k?

I love the van, it's a good price, but this is really giving me sleepless nights.

 

[Tourershine]

I'm about to put a deposit down on my most expensive vehicle yet - a 2016 4Motion 180 T32 T6... And I'm bricking it.

I've been doing so much research around the forum and net but can't find a definitive answer on the 180 BiTurbo issue with the EGR. Lots of information on the problem, but only a few suggestions as to if/when it was resolved by VW.

The best information I've got is actually from this forum... "Thankfully all T6s ship with the ‘D’ suffix oil cooler that is hopefully capable of not destroying itself through normal use"... However, I've seen on the vwcfca facebook group that the problem still applies to the T6. So ultimately I'm not sure what to believe.

My question is... Will I be safe with a T6 - I'm scared to death of spending this much on a van that could essentially end up costing another £10k?

I love the van, it's a good price, but this is really giving me sleepless nights.

Dude, you could have that worry with any diesel you buy, but i'm not sure where the figure of £10k has come from?

I've run diesels for years and never had an issue with an EGR valve. I just make sure I use the best fuel, and give mine a good pasting a couple of times a week. Yeah, there has been some reported EGR issues in here, but I've not read anything that would indicate a huge amount of money.

I'm assuming if it's a 2016, that it either only has a short warranty, or none? but seriously, I personally wouldn't let a worry like this ruin the ownership of such a great vehicle.

Just wait till you start modding it, that's real sleepless nights

Welcome to the forum, and don't forget any pics once you take the plunge.

 

[Pauly]

I think the comment you quoted above is possibly mine and I have to say I’m now not sure if it’s true !

At the time my belief was that all T6s came with the D revision cooler (which we kinda think is safe but only because we have no evidence of it self destructing any engines yet) but I have since subsequently heard of at least one possibly two T6s that have been back for new engines under warranty for a fault that sounded exactly like this but never actually got/heard of the exact root cause or diagnosis of the reason the engine change was required
Was it the same fault, was it because of the cooler, was it a C or D revision cooler ?
I have checked several early T6s and only ever seen the D revision cooler fitted from factory so draw from that what you will ????

 

[Salty Spuds]

Fwiw, I run a 14 plate 180 DSG 4motion as my work van. It’s got close to 60k miles on it & has been faultless. I drive it sympathetically & mostly use Shell fuel. It’s been serviced twice in its life by the main agent.

 

[Kaydee963]

Hello. Can anyone help me please. I am new to the world of VW Transporters. I am thinking about buying a 2017 VW T6 Transporter T30 HighLine DSG Tdi BMT 2.0 BiTDi. It was registered in April 2017 and has 64,000 miles on the clock. It was serviced by a VW Van Centre 21k and then by a VW specialist at 34k and 49k. It has recently had another service incl the DSG at 64k (not sure by who)
The DVLA website suggests that VW issued a recall at some point and it doesn't look like this has been done, hard to tell?
I have tried speaking to the VW Van Centre and other VW dealers to try and get more history regarding the EGR but due to GDPR & data rules if I don't own the vehicle they are not prepared to speak to me or give me any information.

My question is, should a buy a 4 yr old T6 with 64K on the clock without knowing more about the EGR or if any EGR work has been carried out on the vehicle? I have asked the garage selling it. They have no paperwork / receipts relating to the EGR. They have asked the previous owner (2nd owner) who bought the vehicle in May 2018 from the original owner and they didn't know anything about the EGR or any VW recall. If I am able to ask the garage selling the van to take a photo of the EGR number plate, will any of the info on the plate help me or do I need to try and find what EGR was originally fitted to the vehicle then it left the factory?
Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated. If possible I would like to avoid the horror stories you read about regarding the EGR problems and having to allow for buying a new engine etc.. Should I simply stay keep clear of all T5, T5.1 & T6 with BiTDI's unless I know the EGR histroy ?
I assume there isn't anything too much else I need to look out for with a T6? I am no expert but the EGR seems to be the biggest problem. Hope you can help. Thanks

 

[Skyliner33]

Hello. Can anyone help me please. I am new to the world of VW Transporters. I am thinking about buying a 2017 VW T6 Transporter T30 HighLine DSG Tdi BMT 2.0 BiTDi. It was registered in April 2017 and has 64,000 miles on the clock. It was serviced by a VW Van Centre 21k and then by a VW specialist at 34k and 49k. It has recently had another service incl the DSG at 64k (not sure by who)
The DVLA website suggests that VW issued a recall at some point and it doesn't look like this has been done, hard to tell?
I have tried speaking to the VW Van Centre and other VW dealers to try and get more history regarding the EGR but due to GDPR & data rules if I don't own the vehicle they are not prepared to speak to me or give me any information.

My question is, should a buy a 4 yr old T6 with 64K on the clock without knowing more about the EGR or if any EGR work has been carried out on the vehicle? I have asked the garage selling it. They have no paperwork / receipts relating to the EGR. They have asked the previous owner (2nd owner) who bought the vehicle in May 2018 from the original owner and they didn't know anything about the EGR or any VW recall. If I am able to ask the garage selling the van to take a photo of the EGR number plate, will any of the info on the plate help me or do I need to try and find what EGR was originally fitted to the vehicle then it left the factory?
Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated. If possible I would like to avoid the horror stories you read about regarding the EGR problems and having to allow for buying a new engine etc.. Should I simply stay keep clear of all T5, T5.1 & T6 with BiTDI's unless I know the EGR histroy ?
I assume there isn't anything too much else I need to look out for with a T6? I am no expert but the EGR seems to be the biggest problem. Hope you can help. Thanks

Hi, I believe most of the EGR problems were solved with Rev 4 of the EGR. A van that age should have had it on from new. But I dont know if thats 100% certain.
Even if it did I believe there are a small number of them had the oil burning issue. I bought a 2015 180 BiTurbo. I didnt know about this issue at the time, however it did have the Rev 4 and never used any oil in my 2 years of ownership (from 66 -> 88k miles).

Would I buy another, to be honest, Im not sure.

 

[DXX]

I also have a Euro 5, 180ps, 2016; they do seem to be very reliable as long as it has been built with the RevD EGR cooler.

There’s a tag on top of the EGR cooler (next to the oil filter) at the front of the engine.
My 180ps engine and transmission has had no issues, approx‘ 46K miles.
If I were buying a T6 now I personally wouldn’t touch a Euro 6, I‘d track down a Euro 5 with good history.

 

[huw169]

The problem with EGR failure is that when you see symptoms, then it’s too late. If it has Rev D it ‘should’ be ok. If it doesn’t, walk away.

Nothing wrong with euro 6 engine, just some of the people driving them. No point getting an older dirtier one if a newer cleaner one is available within budget.
DPF seems to be biggest complaint, but learn to listen to the van and you’ll be fine.

 

[Skyliner33]

There’s a tag on top of the EGR cooler (next to the oil filter) at the front of the engine.
My 180ps engine and transmission has had no issues, approx‘ 46K miles.
If I were buying a T6 now I personally wouldn’t touch a Euro 6, I‘d track down a Euro 5 with good history.

Not if you lived in an area that is introducing a congestion charge. Where I am it will be £10 a day to run a Euro 5 van :/

 

[Skyliner33]

The problem with EGR failure is that when you see symptoms, then it’s too late. If it has Rev D it ‘should’ be ok. If it doesn’t, walk away.

Nothing wrong with euro 6 engine, just some of the people driving them. No point getting an older dirtier one if a newer cleaner one is available within budget.
DPF seems to be biggest complaint, but learn to listen to the van and you’ll be fine.

Even if it has a Rev D there is no guarantee it had one from new. Then you might have a ticking bomb.

 

[DXX]

Not if you lived in an area that is introducing a congestion charge. Where I am it will be £10 a day to run a Euro 5 van :/

Good point, luckily I can choose not to, I’d rather be in a tent on waste ground than live in a city.

 

[Kaydee963]

Thanks very much for your feedback. I had thought about asking the garage selling it to send me a photo of the current EGR plate fitted. But as you say if it does happen to be a version "D" (I assume the latest version) that doesn't guarantee that the vehicle was originally fitted with this particular EGR. Does anyone know how to find out from VW what EGR was originally fitted when the vehicle left the factory????? I guess if it is the latest version of EGR has been fitted from new the risk is massively reduced BUT if at some point in the vehicles history it's been changed to the latest version, unless I can find out a date and/or mileage there is a risk that the damage might have already been done? The garage or previous owner are not likely to know or let on if the oil usage is higher than normal.......... VW dealers just won't provide me with any info on the vehicle unless I can prove I own it......GDPR rules & regs. :-(

 

[Jonah1972]

GDPR excuse is bull.
GDPR relates to personal identifiable data. A vehicle is not a person and any data related to it’s material history is not subject to GDPR.
If the dealer is not prepared to do a bit of leg work and confirm the material history and you are risk averse then walk away and find an alternative vehicle.

 

[Kaydee963]

Thanks Jonah1972. The seller is a car dealer who seems to have limited EGR knowledge. It's the VW dealers that aren't prepared to help me with some basic vehicle history. The car dealer has given me the VIN, Registration, MOT & Service History and does seem to want to help (obviously because he wants to sell it) but doesn't sound knowledgeable to speak to VW direct. (not that I am much better). I will try going back to the VW dealers to ask for this basic vehicle history. Maybe if I keep trying I might find a VW dealer willing to help. Does anyone happen to know a VW garage who seem to go out of their way to help?

 

[mmi]

Hmm... The EGR (cooler) issue before version "D=good" was only on engines (code CFCA) built before approx. mid-2015.

---

Actually I'd expect to see a totally different engine (code CXEB, also known as 204PS engine) in a 2017 van - the engine code is on configuration label (under dash). Or just post a picture of the engine.

 

[Kaydee963]

Thanks mmi
I will contact the seller and ask for a photo of the EGR plate and also the engine code from under label under the dash.

 

[DaveD]

Good point, luckily I can choose not to, I’d rather be in a tent on waste ground than live in a city.

Yes, me too, on the rare occasions that I go into a city I marvel at the fact that people want to live like that, but I'm glad they do!

 

[DXX]

Thanks very much for your feedback. I had thought about asking the garage selling it to send me a photo of the current EGR plate fitted. But as you say if it does happen to be a version "D" (I assume the latest version) that doesn't guarantee that the vehicle was originally fitted with this particular EGR. Does anyone know how to find out from VW what EGR was originally fitted when the vehicle left the factory????? I guess if it is the latest version of EGR has been fitted from new the risk is massively reduced BUT if at some point in the vehicles history it's been changed to the latest version, unless I can find out a date and/or mileage there is a risk that the damage might have already been done? The garage or previous owner are not likely to know or let on if the oil usage is higher than normal.......... VW dealers just won't provide me with any info on the vehicle unless I can prove I own it......GDPR rules & regs. :-(

Mine was registered in May 2016, built around Feb 2016 from what I see on component dates. It’s a Rev D EGR unit from build, CFCA unit (180ps)
As @mmi has pointed out it’s probably a 204ps, completely different animal. Check the engine code on the V5 doc’. Hopefully the dealer can read.

 

[Kaydee963]

mmi
I don't suppose the VIN or registration plate will provide me with anything useful

 

[Kaydee963]

Thanks mmi and DXX. I have just emailed the car dealer and asked for this info. Fingers crossed. It would be a shame if I can't buy it as it ticks almost all the boxes but equally based on what I have read I am not prepared to take a chance.