My 1.9tdi has just turned 105,000 and even though it did not use oil, make strange noises or smoke, as it had been on extended schedules I had the nagging fear that it was only a matter of time before the turbo went bang. When I had the oppurtunity to buy a brand new turbo at a very silly price I could not refuse.

Now I have had the turbo's swapped FECKIN SOD'S LAW - the turbo that came out had little or no float on it and the new one that went in now whistles coming on boost and sounds like turbo's used to. Before and after it pulls the same. I replaced all the relevant gaskets and nuts and everything is air tight. Is there anything I should be concerned about?

Its changes in the noise characteristics you should be worried about.

I have a new turbo in my PD140 and its whining like the old one did before it let go albeit somewhat quieter. It hasn't changed in 15,000 miles so I am not unduly concerned.

If your turbo whistle/whine starts to get louder then it may be the start of a problem but then turbochargers make different noises as they wear in.

Keep an eye on it but I wouldn't worry to be honest.

we've got a few identical octavia tdi's at work, all lead near identical lifes, been driven by the same pool of drivers and one of them whistles like hell and the others are quiet, over 100k on its original turbo but one of the quieter ones is on its second turbo, so make of that what you will