Calling anyone who owns a Tdi Octavia!

My sister is looking at buying a Seat Leon and has recently seen a Y reg PD130, but I've had no experience with diesels in the past so no idea what to look for.

It's done 111k which I guess is to be expected from a diesel but what kind of service intervals do they have and what should have been done (belt changes etc) or is likely to need doing?

I know they are generally reliable but a guy I used to work with had a Golf Anniversary Tdi and had something horrible happen to the pistons at 80,000 miles which cost over £1000 to repair :eek:

Most VAG diesels are noisy & smokey on cold starts,

they should soon warm up & become more civilised.

(Other diesels maybe quiter, but you'll get to like it & the turbo whistle)

Look for plenty of stamps in the book ....

The traditional service scheme was ...

10k, 30k, 50k, 70k, 90k, 110k, 130k light,

20k, 60k, 100k, 140k medium,

40k, 80k, 120k heavy.

Later cars (the owner should know), went to optional "variable / long life" servicing

Really only suits motorway mile munchers & uses dearest oil of all

20k'ish, 60k'ish light

40k'ish, 80k'ish long life

In all cases, personally I'd recommend, cam belt & water pump (at same time) every 60k or 4 years

just for peace of mind .... no two dealers seem to agree on these times /mileages

As for driving a TDI for the 1st time ...

sluggish until the turbo spins up (from 1500rpm)

then whooosh until about 3.5k (redline is 4.5k on most diesels)

change up at 2.5-3k & engine is nicely in the turbo band again.

Common but easy faults include MAF sensor failure (car becomes asthmatic),

once fixed, tyre smoking starts!!!

Try & get a ride in a similar car for comparison, if you have any doubts.

Hope that helps a little ... Darren

Thanks thats very helpful.

I've been in a couple of Furby vRS's which I think are the same engine so will see how it goes when we take it for a test drive.

She was looking at a Cupra yesterday night as well which I'm sure would be a lot of fun but the tax and insurance might put her off! :eek:

Normally very reliable ....one of the best vag engines for power/economy and fun .....just keep to the service schedule and it will be no problem

some PD130's can be set to variable servicing. My Octi PD130 was set to variable yet SWMBO's fabia vrs can't be set to variable. Its worth checking with a SEAT dealer (reg or chassis number will be needed) what service interval a car is or can be set to.

Got her a diesel Leon and picking it up this weekend, thanks for the help everybody.

Quick question - when I test drove it I found that the dash illumination is always on even though the headlights were off... is this meant to happen on the Seat Leon as it doesn't on my Octavia. :confused:

Glad you found the advice useful & hopefully she'll be very happy with the Leon.

I quite like the look of them, but I prefer the space & comfort of my Octy.

I'm sure she'll enjoy the PD130 whoooshing!

As for the dash illumination query, I used to have a Citreon that was on with ignition.

Hopefully the car will come with a handbook that should answer that definitively,

just check to make sure it goes out when the ignition is off, otherwise a potential flat battery.

I wouldn't rely on the handbook; I had several BXs with the permanent panel lights, and none of the HBs mentioned the fact.

I'm sure my mother-in-law's Leon has the lights on all the time, I think they may get brighter with the headlights on.

The Leon is a nice car and has a decent sized boot and plenty of kit.

I think it would really :irked: me off if the lights were on all the time in the Octy... although I suppose you can dim them with the dial on the dash but then would have to turn them up again at night time... oh well, I won't be driving the car anyway!

I thought the whole purpose of a panel light dimmer was so you could turn it right down?

My wife has a leon and the instruments light up all the time. Several times I have set off when it is getting dark and forgotten to turn the lights on because of this.

Also it doesn't matter whether you have the sidelights or headlights on it shows the same symbol on the instruments, bit annoying I find.

Also it doesn't matter whether you have the sidelights or headlights on it shows the same symbol on the instruments, bit annoying I find.

How come the only time I ever forgot about lights (or whether I was on sides or dip) I was driving a Ford Cortina, and the only indications of normal lights on it had were panel lights with sides and the main beam warning then? IMO "sidelights on" or "dipped heads on" "idiot lights" are well named; if you need them, you're an idiot!

This Leon also has a hydraulic bonnet opener. Now why didn't they fit those to the Skodas? cheapasses... Might have to see if I can retro-fit a Leon bonnet strut to the Octy.

This Leon also has a hydraulic bonnet opener. Now why didn't they fit those to the Skodas? cheapasses... Might have to see if I can retro-fit a Leon bonnet strut to the Octy.

Has been done before on here :-)

My 306 used to have those - much better than wondering where to lock the support arm when it is dark outside!