Wonderful...or Woeful?
- Thread starter Sasquatch
- Start date
2016 180PS Kombi 76K miles.
Corrective work to date on the vehicle as it was built;
1. Both front fog lights, water ingress, drilled, dried and re-sealed.
2. NS sliding window leaking, sealed up permanently.
3. 2x wheel speed sensors defective, renewed.
4. One MAF sensor fault, single instance, cleaned.
5. 180PS EGR, Tafmet solution, oil analysis very good.
All common issues.
If I hadn’t done #5 the van would have been toast.
In addition from oil analysis results the VW oil service schedule for BiTurbos is not good enough, oil service done at 7-8K miles.
Corrective work to date on the vehicle as it was built;
1. Both front fog lights, water ingress, drilled, dried and re-sealed.
2. NS sliding window leaking, sealed up permanently.
3. 2x wheel speed sensors defective, renewed.
4. One MAF sensor fault, single instance, cleaned.
5. 180PS EGR, Tafmet solution, oil analysis very good.
All common issues.
If I hadn’t done #5 the van would have been toast.
In addition from oil analysis results the VW oil service schedule for BiTurbos is not good enough, oil service done at 7-8K miles.
Did 3yrs and 40k in my T6 204, new EGR, DPF, turbos, catholic converter and a bunch of ad blue sensors and injector, over 10k spent fixing it and got rid of it just before it needed a new engine. Not the best experience but it was nice when it worked!
Now in a T6.1 150 which feels lovely to drive and hopefully will be more reliable
Now in a T6.1 150 which feels lovely to drive and hopefully will be more reliable
Are you a missionary?
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Was your van a Spanish Inquisition limited edition?
And a face like a slapped arse... aka the Transitporter.
Martin 123
Member
Reliable so far but it's less than 2 years old. So if it's reliability were comparable to a "North Korean condom" (which give or take minor leaks due to wear and tear are guaranteed 100% faultless) I would be very sad indeed.
baldonion
New Member
for me its been the usual things..... alternator clutch pulley, front engine mount, drop links, ball joints.... nothing too bad really, recently had an issue with drive shaft hangers but seems to have been a faulty part. i did have an egr issue but got it mapped out. . . so just general usual t6 stuff and wear and tear.
Been reluctant to post on this thread, tempting fate and all that but here goes…
2017 102 Startline with business pack, ex-EON panel van bought November 23 on 47000 miles (now 62k), converted (in a fashion) to a camper Feb 24
Used as a daily driver but with regular camping trips
Other than major issues with the conversion nothing major to report about the van itself assuming stuff like EGR replacement are counted as consumables
Serviced & MOT’d when purchased, serviced at a local independent VAG specialist & MOT’d (no advisories) Nov 24 & 25.
Work done so far…
Remap, speaker upgrade, Halo 9” screen, MFSW & doors deadened at Dav-tec
Aircon re-gas
Split EGR pipe replaced, fault returned soon after, EGR valve replaced at 55000 miles
Two front tyres replaced before last MOT
Cam belt & water pump replaced at my request during the last service
Crosses fingers
2017 102 Startline with business pack, ex-EON panel van bought November 23 on 47000 miles (now 62k), converted (in a fashion) to a camper Feb 24
Used as a daily driver but with regular camping trips
Other than major issues with the conversion nothing major to report about the van itself assuming stuff like EGR replacement are counted as consumables
Serviced & MOT’d when purchased, serviced at a local independent VAG specialist & MOT’d (no advisories) Nov 24 & 25.
Work done so far…
Remap, speaker upgrade, Halo 9” screen, MFSW & doors deadened at Dav-tec
Aircon re-gas
Split EGR pipe replaced, fault returned soon after, EGR valve replaced at 55000 miles
Two front tyres replaced before last MOT
Cam belt & water pump replaced at my request during the last service
Crosses fingers
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Got mine in 2020 at 44k - converted it as a “lockdown project” and at 75k it has always got me where I wanted to go… and back.
It has needed rear wheel speed sensors but that didn’t stop it!
Oh and the girls side door handle sticks sometimes so maybe I should change my vote to utterly woeful!
It has needed rear wheel speed sensors but that didn’t stop it!
Oh and the girls side door handle sticks sometimes so maybe I should change my vote to utterly woeful!
I bought my 2019 T6 2 years ago with 130k on the clock. Full VW history and 1 owner. I`ve done an additional 40k in it and apart from modifications and service items it`s had 2 drop links and a front engine mounting so I`d say very reliable. As for how much I`ve spent on it , too much 
when I bought it.
and now
when I bought it.
and now
T32 2017 lw 110 kW, converted into a camper. Bought in 2023 with 95k miles, now at 120k.
Workshop history before purchase:
Workshop history before purchase:
- Door lock replaced
- Lower EGR pipe
- Vacuum hose (caused power loss)
- Upper EGR pipe
- Oil pressure control valve — this could have been serious (low oil pressure under high load/revs), so keep an eye on the warning light!
- Error code P20EE 00
- Strange AdBlue messages from time to time, but they clear themselves.
Fairly reliable
So in the 2 years of owning my 2017 T6 102 Highline I've covered 12K miles and it started with 79K.
Prior to me it had the usual service items inc water pump and Cam belt.
Had a remap and a Terraclean
I’ve replaced engine mount, all 4 injectors and the oil regulating valve.
Serviced every 5K or 6 months as the wife’s car is a Range Rover and that gets the same!
So I’d say reliable
Prior to me it had the usual service items inc water pump and Cam belt.
Had a remap and a Terraclean
I’ve replaced engine mount, all 4 injectors and the oil regulating valve.
Serviced every 5K or 6 months as the wife’s car is a Range Rover and that gets the same!
So I’d say reliable
I got a 2023 T6.1 white Entry Level Kombi T32 DNAB 5 gears
from one year now, so it is time to make a little balance.
I got it used at 35K km from a megadealer and it is my main work tool and also my holiday car, hopefully more the latter in future if can retire in time to enjoy it.
I have done only 15K km on it (I still have another good diesel car).
I did not spare it tough, up and down icy Alps and across EU for work and scorching hot, rough roads in Southern Italy for vacation.
It has been TOTALLY RELIABLE so far, while I was given it in quite careless condition.
The poor beast was never given an oil or pads change before , had dirty smelly interiors and scratches, and was let to rust (yes, rust) outside parked on the lot for the good part of a year.
Of course I provided myself the good basic care as soon I realized that, but otherwise I let it almost factory. So far I was repaid with absolute reliability, as I would have expected from a young (and very expensive) workhorse.
I LOVE to drive it, it behaves on the road better than any commercial van that I had in my hands, even the V. that was my first choice on the hunt for it.
I must say I am scared about the stories I read here and the abysmal relationship and incompetence with the VW dealers doesn't help by sure. From what I read here it seems it needs way more regular maintenance (belts, seals, EGR, DPF, turbine, AdP%ß injector) than any commercial Diesel that I owned or driven so far. When I see the list of troubles that some enthusiasts here had (yes, @Dellmassive i am looking at you ;-) ) I am tempted to sell it until I can, but I have a feeling I would be doing something ... wrong.
It is like some of those girls, those all your friends tell you - yeeah, take caare she's beatiful but ... - and you can't let her go. Been there, done that...
December 2020 T6.1 CXHA 150 BHP DSG 48k
It's been the most reliable van I've owned, it's 5 years old and just replaced the battery, which is about normal for an AGM start / stop battery.
Apart from that, the parking sensors have thrown a wobbly a couple of times, but the fault went away, probably dirt on them. Also the SOS emergency system has occasionally done the well documented fail, but I don't care about it, so leave it be. Otherwise starts fine, drives fine and uses no oil between 10K changes.
My van before was an end of production 2009 T5 2.5. By 3 & 1/2 years, and 36k it had had a new radio head unit, new O/S driveshaft and stub, new top mount bearing, new power steering pump, broken wire to the MAP / MAT sensor, new DPF pressure sensor. In the next few years it had another DPF sensor, a N75 Moo valve, the MAT / MAP sensor wire broke again, other side top mount bearing, heater motor seized and resistor pack blew, electric windows failed due to water ingress in O/S door pillar wiring loom, ABS wiring rotted in N/S rear wheel arch, another new driveshaft and stub, warped exhaust manifold and broken studs.
Reading the internet, loads say that quality these days is appalling (for any products) - 'they don't make them like they used to' they say... Sorry, but my experience is completely different, as I don't look through rose tinted spectacles. Virtually every product I've owned has got better over the years - TV's are a good example - 60 years ago they were hideously unreliable, and every town had a TV repair man, who was very busy repairing most sets multiple times. More recently, when they they failed, you simply bought a new one. Now, most TV's taken to the dump still work, as they have been replaced with a far better one with loads more features. This means there's no market for second hand ones, because new ones are so cheap, loads more features, and extremely reliable.
It's been the most reliable van I've owned, it's 5 years old and just replaced the battery, which is about normal for an AGM start / stop battery.
Apart from that, the parking sensors have thrown a wobbly a couple of times, but the fault went away, probably dirt on them. Also the SOS emergency system has occasionally done the well documented fail, but I don't care about it, so leave it be. Otherwise starts fine, drives fine and uses no oil between 10K changes.
My van before was an end of production 2009 T5 2.5. By 3 & 1/2 years, and 36k it had had a new radio head unit, new O/S driveshaft and stub, new top mount bearing, new power steering pump, broken wire to the MAP / MAT sensor, new DPF pressure sensor. In the next few years it had another DPF sensor, a N75 Moo valve, the MAT / MAP sensor wire broke again, other side top mount bearing, heater motor seized and resistor pack blew, electric windows failed due to water ingress in O/S door pillar wiring loom, ABS wiring rotted in N/S rear wheel arch, another new driveshaft and stub, warped exhaust manifold and broken studs.
Reading the internet, loads say that quality these days is appalling (for any products) - 'they don't make them like they used to' they say... Sorry, but my experience is completely different, as I don't look through rose tinted spectacles. Virtually every product I've owned has got better over the years - TV's are a good example - 60 years ago they were hideously unreliable, and every town had a TV repair man, who was very busy repairing most sets multiple times. More recently, when they they failed, you simply bought a new one. Now, most TV's taken to the dump still work, as they have been replaced with a far better one with loads more features. This means there's no market for second hand ones, because new ones are so cheap, loads more features, and extremely reliable.
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Sitrep:
Of 144 respondents thus far, 127 report their vans as above or very above average for reliability.
15, about 10% report their vans are average.
Only 2, a total of 0.7 of one percent of respondents, show their 6 or 6.1 as below or very below average.
So far then the feedback is one of overwhelming reliability, complety at odds with the much touted image of dire unreliability voiced on various fora and Felchberk groups.
Thanks to all those who have responded, and please keep it coming.
Of 144 respondents thus far, 127 report their vans as above or very above average for reliability.
15, about 10% report their vans are average.
Only 2, a total of 0.7 of one percent of respondents, show their 6 or 6.1 as below or very below average.
So far then the feedback is one of overwhelming reliability, complety at odds with the much touted image of dire unreliability voiced on various fora and Felchberk groups.
Thanks to all those who have responded, and please keep it coming.
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