Hello all,

 

I am old member of this forum - circa 2010 - 2012 when I had a MK1 vRS. Although I cannot for life of me remember my old username.....anyway!

 

I'm on the look out for an old MK1 Octavia and found one locally for £475 Elegence Model, 1.9 TDI with 169k on the clock.

 

Last evidence shows cambelt was done at 90k

Service history in book goes to 90k then 129k but has receipts for in between.

Car seems OK - runs good, although didn't get chance to drive

 

Am I mad for wanting to buy it or will it just need a good service/cambelt change - then hopefully good motoring.

 

Luke

Sounds like a good deal to me. Nicely run in at that mileage.

I bought mine with 188K miles and drove it for 13 fault free years taking it up to 325000 miles, I reluctantly scrapped it due to an electronic problem causing all but the drivers door to be deadlocked, had I owned VCDS I could have traced it and fixed it cheaply, it shows the reliability of it that I have never ever needed VCDS in all that time.

 

The previous owner had paid for several timing belt changes but they had never been done (main stealer of course) I did the first and only one at 225000 miles, belt only no tensioners or water pump.

 

You cant get more reliable IMO and the minimal oil consumption, maybe one top up if I went beyond the service interval, reduced to zero at 225K miles when it was finally run in.

2 minutes ago, J.R. said:

I bought mine with 188K miles and drove it for 13 fault free years taking it up to 325000 miles, I reluctantly scrapped it due to an electronic problem causing all but the drivers door to be deadlocked, had I owned VCDS I could have traced it and fixed it cheaply, it shows the reliability of it that I have never ever needed VCDS in all that time.

 

The previous owner had paid for several timing belt changes but they had never been done (main stealer of course) I did the first and only one at 225000 miles, belt only no tensioners or water pump.

 

You cant get more reliable IMO and the minimal oil consumption, maybe one top up if I went beyond the service interval, reduced to zero at 225K miles when it was finally run in.

 

Wow that is good doing, so they are OK to go 100k between changes then I guess.

 

What about turbo, clutch etc?

I would never encourage others to take the risks that i do or say that its OK to do so, your money your choice but at worse you have £300 quid to lose, mine brought in £110 from the scrapyard and a few components, airbags etc can be sold before scrapping for decent money.

 

Turbo had been replaced and would have been replaced several times again by the main stealers, I just learned how to avoid the overboost situations when the vanes got sticky, how to reboot the ECU while driving if it did go to limp mode and how to do enemas with Lidl oven cleaner.

Thanks JR.

 

It is a bit of risk, there is plenty of history with the car and only 2 owners in it's 17yr history. I think it is worth the risk possibly

My 2004 mk1 was a 1.9ALH. Bought in 2012 with 126k and traded with around 210k in 2016. 

 

Original turbo, original clutch (i never did it and no mention in the service history), had niggly mk1 issues (door lock deadlocked, CTS failing, boot trim fell off on occasion, rearwiper caused electrical havoc until i pulled the fuse..., normal stuff)

It got decent fuel, and regular servicing as needed, never missed a beat or let me down and did 50+ to the gallon..

Under rated work of genius vehicle...

Side note...

If by a miracle you can remember the email you originally registered with, pop ColinD a PM or even a mod, and they might be able to find you on the database and link to new account.

Though it may have been lost in the site migration of 2017/8...

2 hours ago, LukeyP said:

1.9 TDI with 169k on the clock.

 

My 1.9tdi estate was bought at 125k miles, run for 5+years to 175k and is still running fine with our daughter at 185k.

 

I had the timing belt/water pump replaced shortly after we bought it and late replaced one front spring and both front shocks plus an exhaust.  We also replaced one window mechanism but nothing else.

 

A really solid car.

 

Thanks all...

 

Think I am going to go for it - what kind of MPG can these old engines do?

17 minutes ago, LukeyP said:

what kind of MPG can these old engines do?

 

I was getting around 55mpg in general motoring including towing a 1 ton trailer; our son-in-law claims up to 65mpg on his "Wilds of Scotland" fishing excursions.

Edited 21 October, 20196 yr by StickyMicky

If you feel like it... on level ground

5th gear on tick over is about 28mph, and maxes out the trip avg at 99.9mpg

 

Thanks everyone for your help with this, I have the car sat on my drive now.

 

https://thumbsnap.com/fdK7xZhK

 

Few little things I have noted;

 

Tracking is out, so will have to get that sorted.

Looks like pretty much new brakes all round within last 2 - 3 years

Pulls pretty well, although seems a bit loud when revving - like a rattly loud

Glow plug light flashes sometimes - dodgy brake light switch maybe

Everything works - even the elec sunroof.

 

Not bad for £450.

"Not Bad" - indeed !

 

It looks very good for 169k - not a blemish ?

 

Best of luck with it

 

Mines on 145k. Did 150 miles today - it says MPG for the trip was 65 odd

 

My clutch pedal disintegrated ( broke at weld seams ) last week. Apparently its a common issue with VAG cars.  ( so much for 'german engineering' )

Glow plug is the brake switch. Nearly put money on it... pretty sure mine went in or around that milage (maybe a bit higher but cant remember.

 

Rattle could be nothing more than an exhaust hanger..

 

Check the sun roof drains are all clear of debris, and the scuttle panel, wheel arch etc.. might as well be pre emptive on the basic stuff

 

On 20/10/2019 at 23:08, StickyMicky said:

 

My 1.9tdi estate was bought at 125k miles, run for 5+years to 175k and is still running fine with our daughter at 185k.

 

 

Run them on Marmite, they'll last forever.....................

4 minutes ago, Auric Goldfinger said:

 

Run them on Marmite, they'll last forever.....................

 

Firstly, marmite is too thick, it cloggs the fuel filter.

Secondly, marmite is disgusting.

 

10% Bovril in a corn-oil base is likely to run better as its less viscous.

It also smells slightly better... but not much...

^^^I've heard of Sh!t clogging the filter!

But you guys are next level! 😂

The ALH is the best diesel engine ever made, it will go forever if its been given a little bit of care over the years. The rest of the car might be scrap though 

55 mpg, all the time, ALH engine, 2003

bought mine 9 years ago with 124 on clock, sold it 3 months ago with 237 k on clock, then went straight through the mot with new owner, clutch change at 110k miles, clutch was still good when I sold it

went on 2 scottish hols this year, each hol clocked up just under 800 miles, car was brill !

recently bought an octy2 to replace it

Edited 30 October, 20196 yr by Sunnymane
spelling

On 25/10/2019 at 21:54, SuperbTWM said:

The ALH is the best diesel engine ever made, it will go forever if its been given a little bit of care over the years. The rest of the car might be scrap though 

This has been my problem, engines sound as a pound but the rest of the car falls off around it!  Leaks are my nemesis -_- 

 

Id bite anyones hand off with a 1.9tdi for 500, service history or not.  I bought one with an apparently fictional MOT and i suspect rarely serviced for 600 recently - runs fine!  I'm enjoying changing the oil and doing the running gear, knowing that if i can keep it dry it'll do 500k miles! 

Had a client meeting today in St Albans (180 miles from home). 

 

Naturally, I would normally look at taking the train but it would have been £220 return and cheaper for work to pay my mileage, so I thought I would put trust into the old shed for a 360 miles trip to St Albans and back in one day. I mean what could go wrong?

 

Absolutely nothing. Car behaved brilliantly.

 

1/2 tank of diesel used, numb bum in the last 10 minutes of journey but what a car - starting to really like it now.

 

Route down, nice 65 - 70 all the way

|https://thumbsnap.com/V811f3p7

 

Same speeds coming back but more traffic

|https://thumbsnap.com/cI5QwthY

 

Majorly impressed with that, I work out that I used roughly £35 worth of diesel for £160 return from work. 

On 20/10/2019 at 20:55, J.R. said:

I bought mine with 188K miles and drove it for 13 fault free years taking it up to 325000 miles, I reluctantly scrapped it due to an electronic problem causing all but the drivers door to be deadlocked, had I owned VCDS I could have traced it and fixed it cheaply, it shows the reliability of it that I have never ever needed VCDS in all that time.

 

The previous owner had paid for several timing belt changes but they had never been done (main stealer of course) I did the first and only one at 225000 miles, belt only no tensioners or water pump.

 

You cant get more reliable IMO and the minimal oil consumption, maybe one top up if I went beyond the service interval, reduced to zero at 225K miles when it was finally run in.

 

Just re-read this, how do you do know first one was at 225k?