T4 owner looking for T6

[littlegarth44]

Hi all
I’ve owned the same 1.9 abl t4 for 27 years,
Been a brilliant very very reliable van, unfortunately rust is starting to get a hold, I would love to refurbish but I think it would be a lot of money and time.
What T6 Kombi would compare to the reliability I’ve had from T4?

Many thanks P

 

[DaveD]

Welcome to the Forum!
Forums are great resources but obviously lots of people only post when they have a problem, so it can appear from using this forum that T6's are problematic, the reality is that there are thousands of T6's running reliably up and down the country every day.
Personally I think that complexity is the enemy of reliability so I've got a Euro 5 (No Adblue) with a single turbo and 6 speed manual gearbox, I do my own servicing, more often than is required. They are a very reliable engine but only any use to me because I never need to go near a ULEZ camera, it wouldn't be any good to some people.
There are no certainties with anything and there's always an element of luck involved.

 

[Sasquatch]

The newest T6s are now 6 years old and most have been through several owners.

It largely depends on how an example has been treated as to its likely reliability going forward.

And certain models are more prone to serious problems than others.

So the answer is "possibly, dependent upon many factors."

 

[littlegarth44]

The newest T6s are now 6 years old and most have been through several owners.

It largely depends on how an example has been treated as to its likely reliability going forward.

And certain models are more prone to serious problems than others.

So the answer is "possibly, dependent upon many factors."

Thank you, what models are more prone to serious problems? Are the 6.1 the desired model?

 

[littlegarth44]

Welcome to the Forum!
Forums are great resources but obviously lots of people only post when they have a problem, so it can appear from using this forum that T6's are problematic, the reality is that there are thousands of T6's running reliably up and down the country every day.
Personally I think that complexity is the enemy of reliability so I've got a Euro 5 (No Adblue) with a single turbo and 6 speed manual gearbox, I do my own servicing, more often than is required. They are a very reliable engine but only any use to me because I never need to go near a ULEZ camera, it wouldn't be any good to some people.
There are no certainties with anything and there's always an element of luck involved.

I like the idea to be able to do own services, brakes etc, which I found all to be very easy. Is the model you have the t30 150 Tdi?
Thanks

 

[DaveD]

I like the idea to be able to do own services, brakes etc, which I found all to be very easy. Is the model you have the t30 150 Tdi?
Thanks

It's a T30, Euro 5 140Hp.
Easy to work on, but actually I think routine servicing is fairly straight forward on all T6's.

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

Thank you, what models are more prone to serious problems? Are the 6.1 the desired model?

The biturbos are more problematic. Think they’re the ones with around 195bhp.
If I was looking to buy again
I’d be looking for 150bhp 6 speed manual.
A lot of folk love the DSG boxes but they are more maintenance and once you’re on a motorway they are just the same to drive.
I prefer my manual box. But that’s personal preference.
The 6.1 are the newest T6’s so more desirable because of age.
And the facelifted front end is nice.
I wouldn’t be put off by a startline because most of the decent upgrades on the highline etc can be easily retro fitted apart from air con.
So if air con is a big thing for you make sure the van you buy has it.
The major problematic EGR valve appeared in T5’s and the just as problematic DPF appeared in EURO6 T6’s.
They both fail and cause a load of grief.
They can both however be mapped out of the ECU returning the diesel engine back to the same reliability of the trusty T4.

 

[whodat]

However, mapping them out might be an insurance issue and will likely be a legal problem if you are caught (unlikely but possible if, say, you were in an accident) playing with the emissions system.
T6.1 diesel vs T4 diesel,
You will never have a vehicle with a 'character'. If it changes at all from parameters, then you'll get a little orange light come up on the dash which means it'll costya.
Lovely drive. More like a car than a van.
Amazingly comfy driver's seat vs driver's seat that made me feel like a 150 year old.
Less fuel economy than a T4. (37mpg vs 45mpg on motorway run)
Don't get one if you are only doing short journeys as will clog up your emissions systems/DPF and a little orange light will come on and it will costya.
Even if you only do long journeys you will be delaying that orange little light coming on and, um, it will costya.
Can still easily get parts for T6 whereas some T4 parts availability were getting a little sketchy.
More fancy gadgets and software and other stuff to go wrong vs basic tractor that will keep going.
Pros - In T6.1 I can enter ULEZ zone and pick up family members from the airport.
Cons - In T6.1 I can enter ULEZ zone and pick up family members from the airport.
Age for age - I very much doubt any T6/T6.1 will be on the road in 27 years, and probably not that many in 17 years.
This goes for any 'new' vehicle though. Whatever you do - don't get a vehicle with a 'wet-belt' (ford) as there probably won't be that many of them on the road in 7 years!

 

[Kind of Blue]

If I was buying a used T6 then the only engine that I would not buy due to concerns of reliability are the T6 204 CXEB engined vehicles all the others are fine including the T6 with CXEC 146kw / 199bhp which is also a good engine with no problems it went on to the T6.1

Some might say that any vehicle with the twin turbo but that is untrue also it has been pointed out that some CXEB engines have acquired high mileage but that is the engines in question and I wold personally avoid it. The CXEC is also twin Turbo but is fine!

 

[littlegarth44]

The biturbos are more problematic. Think they’re the ones with around 195bhp.
If I was looking to buy again
I’d be looking for 150bhp 6 speed manual.
A lot of folk love the DSG boxes but they are more maintenance and once you’re on a motorway they are just the same to drive.
I prefer my manual box. But that’s personal preference.
The 6.1 are the newest T6’s so more desirable because of age.
And the facelifted front end is nice.
I wouldn’t be put off by a startline because most of the decent upgrades on the highline etc can be easily retro fitted apart from air con.
So if air con is a big thing for you make sure the van you buy has it.
The major problematic EGR valve appeared in T5’s and the just as problematic DPF appeared in EURO6 T6’s.
They both fail and cause a load of grief.
They can both however be mapped out of the ECU returning the diesel engine back to the same reliability of the trusty T4.

Thankyou that’s very helpful

 

[Kind of Blue]

The problematic ones are only the 204bhp CXEB engine not any other twin turbo unit! Their has been a whole thread devoted to it.

 

[littlegarth44]

However, mapping them out might be an insurance issue and will likely be a legal problem if you are caught (unlikely but possible if, say, you were in an accident) playing with the emissions system.
T6.1 diesel vs T4 diesel,
You will never have a vehicle with a 'character'. If it changes at all from parameters, then you'll get a little orange light come up on the dash which means it'll costya.
Lovely drive. More like a car than a van.
Amazingly comfy driver's seat vs driver's seat that made me feel like a 150 year old.
Less fuel economy than a T4. (37mpg vs 45mpg on motorway run)
Don't get one if you are only doing short journeys as will clog up your emissions systems/DPF and a little orange light will come on and it will costya.
Even if you only do long journeys you will be delaying that orange little light coming on and, um, it will costya.
Can still easily get parts for T6 whereas some T4 parts availability were getting a little sketchy.
More fancy gadgets and software and other stuff to go wrong vs basic tractor that will keep going.
Pros - In T6.1 I can enter ULEZ zone and pick up family members from the airport.
Cons - In T6.1 I can enter ULEZ zone and pick up family members from the airport.
Age for age - I very much doubt any T6/T6.1 will be on the road in 27 years, and probably not that many in 17 years.
This goes for any 'new' vehicle though. Whatever you do - don't get a vehicle with a 'wet-belt' (ford) as there probably won't be that many of them on the road in 7 years!

Thank you

 

[Kind of Blue]

Thread '- 204ps Bi-Turbo CXEB T6 Engine & Turbo problems -'

17 Aug 2024

- 204ps Bi-Turbo CXEB T6 Engine & Turbo problems -

Looks like im the latest patient of the CEXB engine issues.

(possibly the 2016-2018 range as there is a mention that the CXEB Block etc was revised in 2019)

(the CXEC 199ps Bi-Turbo was released 2019> and revised )

in sort it looks like its either Turbo or Engine failure.

here is some background:

******************************************************************
204ps Bi-Turbo CXEB Engine & Turbo problems...

• Dellmassive
• cxeb engine
• Replies: 494
• Forum: Engine, Gearbox, Exhaust, Drivetrain

• 
•