General information and common faults on 1.4TDI 75

Whyte3237

Member
Hello all,

This is my first post on A2OC. I’m new to the forum so I’ll get the introductions out the way first.
My names Zack, I’m 24 and I’m currently an apprentice at a company that restores, services and maintains pre and post war RR and Bentley’s. I currently own a 3 series BMW 08 reg but hopefully soon to change (hence the post).

Anyway, I’m starting this thread because I’m looking to sell my bmw and get a 1.4 TDI 75. I have a car lined up ready to rock and roll. The owner (a car salesman) uses the A2 as a run about round his yard. He refers to it as his “go to” car. It has 155k on the clock and it needs a clutch replacement. It has a few cosmetic scars, by that I mean scratches. No major problems externally and mechanically he says it’s running perfectly. It has been remapped which is all fine by me.

I’m only looking to purchase this car because of value for money and fuel efficiency. I rack up about 300-500 miles a week on average so I need a reliable runner to get me from A to B but also on a budget, hence the interest.

He has offered to do the clutch before selling to me which is fine, I’m making sure he replaces the SMFW while he’s there too.

I just have a few questions regarding the A2 in general:

1. When buying the vehicle what common faults should I be looking out for?
2. If I purchase it what jobs/checks shall I do straight away? For example should I do a thorough clean of the intake system due to high mileage?
3. If I was to DIY the clutch how many hours would it take?
4. How reliable can the A2 be? I’m really hoping to purchase a car I can take to 300k+. I know it’ll require the right looking after but is it achievable?
5. Finally, what sort of MPG can I realistic get from the A2? I do varied A and motorway road commutes.

Hope you can help me out and look forward to your replies!

Thanks!
 
Hello all,

This is my first post on A2OC. I’m new to the forum so I’ll get the introductions out the way first.
My names Zack, I’m 24 and I’m currently an apprentice at a company that restores, services and maintains pre and post war RR and Bentley’s. I currently own a 3 series BMW 08 reg but hopefully soon to change (hence the post).

Anyway, I’m starting this thread because I’m looking to sell my bmw and get a 1.4 TDI 75. I have a car lined up ready to rock and roll. The owner (a car salesman) uses the A2 as a run about round his yard. He refers to it as his “go to” car. It has 155k on the clock and it needs a clutch replacement. It has a few cosmetic scars, by that I mean scratches. No major problems externally and mechanically he says it’s running perfectly. It has been remapped which is all fine by me.

I’m only looking to purchase this car because of value for money and fuel efficiency. I rack up about 300-500 miles a week on average so I need a reliable runner to get me from A to B but also on a budget, hence the interest.

He has offered to do the clutch before selling to me which is fine, I’m making sure he replaces the SMFW while he’s there too.

I just have a few questions regarding the A2 in general:

1. When buying the vehicle what common faults should I be looking out for?
2. If I purchase it what jobs/checks shall I do straight away? For example should I do a thorough clean of the intake system due to high mileage?
3. If I was to DIY the clutch how many hours would it take?
4. How reliable can the A2 be? I’m really hoping to purchase a car I can take to 300k+. I know it’ll require the right looking after but is it achievable?
5. Finally, what sort of MPG can I realistic get from the A2? I do varied A and motorway road commutes.

Hope you can help me out and look forward to your replies!

Thanks!

Ans 1. Cccu is a commonish issue as is the exhaust flexi and water pump and can belt. Other than those it’s prity much like any other 10 plus year old car
Ans 2. Water pump and timing belt. Disconnect the EGR. Check thermostat and temp sensor
Ans 3. I did a clutch change on my first tdi easily in a weekend start to finish
Ans 4. My first on is on 288200 miles and other than the clutch and a starter motor and front discs and a front and back wheel bearing it is as Audi made it. I see no reason why it will not do the same miles again
Ans 5. I get 65+ mpg on A roads and motorway keeping the speed to no more than 70 mph. Best was 74 on nearly all A roads going to South Wales from lancs

All in all an excellent choice. I have had faster cars (Audi Quattro, 911, 944T, triumph Stag. The list goes on and on) but I can say the wee A2 as given me the most pleasure it is quick enough nice to drive and puts a big smile on my face when I fill up its 34 litre tank having done 400 miles and it cost me £31 ish and £30 road tax and £180 insurance
Cheers


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Good choice Whyte. I'm no techno geek so cant answer for the greesy bits, but I ran my last A2 as a company car for the last 3years (50k+ miles) and it never let me down. Other than voluntary maintanence (A2 cars overhauled the brakes and suspension for me), the only thing I need to change was the battery and a broken coil spring.
Mine us an original tdi75, 2002 and I took it from 60k to 110k miles, mostly on the motorway. At 75mph I was knocking on the door of 70mpg. Town driving was about 55mpg. I fitted 195 tyres and did notice a slight drop off in overall mpg.
Cruise control is a easy and cheap retro fit and helped enormously.
It also saved my and my families life in a head on 80mph combined impact speed crash.
Can't recommend them enough. Just get a good one that's been looked after. History over miles.
 
4. How reliable can the A2 be? I’m really hoping to purchase a car I can take to 300k+. I know it’ll require the right looking after but is it achievable?
Thanks!

I apologise to those that have heard me say this many times, but it is relevant to this question

In my immediate family (i.e. wife, children and grandchildren) I have 7 A2s all TDIs.

As the A2 "expert" in our family, it is ME that has to fix them and come out to breakdowns etc.
BUT (and this is genuinely true) I have NEVER had any of the 7 breakdown (one had a flat tyre) and NONE of them have failed the MOT and that is over at least ten years now.

I am not saying that they are bulletproof, but they are in my experience ultra reliable (oh and one of them has covered 250,000 miles)

If you do an oil and filter change at least every year and look after them reasonably well, you will be fine.

Two of the 7 get very little maintenance and are not "looked after" in the way they should be, not even cleaned regularly, but again, no issues.

So ll I can say is that in my experience, if you want reliability you cannot do much better than a TDI A2.

I can honestly say that if someone said that I HAVE to drive around the world, the ONLY car I would use would be an A2 TDI.

Steve B
 
I apologise to those that have heard me say this many times, but it is relevant to this question

In my immediate family (i.e. wife, children and grandchildren) I have 7 A2s all TDIs.

As the A2 "expert" in our family, it is ME that has to fix them and come out to breakdowns etc.
BUT (and this is genuinely true) I have NEVER had any of the 7 breakdown (one had a flat tyre) and NONE of them have failed the MOT and that is over at least ten years now.

I am not saying that they are bulletproof, but they are in my experience ultra reliable (oh and one of them has covered 250,000 miles)

If you do an oil and filter change at least every year and look after them reasonably well, you will be fine.

Two of the 7 get very little maintenance and are not "looked after" in the way they should be, not even cleaned regularly, but again, no issues.

So ll I can say is that in my experience, if you want reliability you cannot do much better than a TDI A2.

I can honestly say that if someone said that I HAVE to drive around the world, the ONLY car I would use would be an A2 TDI.

Steve B

Totally concur with this - the TDi versions are really very bulletproof. They are coming up to a point in their lives now, with even the newest models being 12 years old, where the running gear is needing refreshment - shocks, wishbones etc, but as Steve says, change the oil and filter regularly (every 10k miles or year) and the rest will be as reliable as anything on the market right now. The biggest advantage over something like a Polo or Golf or A3 of a similar age, is that the A2 won't ever rust away due to its aluminium space frame.

Such parts as suspension and wishbones etc are now very cheap and plentiful and you don't need a specialist to replace them either. A2 TDi's are as good as it gets and only legislation will get most of them off the road.
 
I concur with all above.
When looking to buy I am sure you are familiar with all the usual things to look out for on a second hand car but there are a few specific quirks of the A2.
I will let others add to the list but to start.
1) Worth checking where the door hinges attach to the door skin, poor reinforcement of the check strap stresses the door edge and causes cracking, most cars have this but have not come across a door falling off. If severe good price negotiation point.
2) Water in the boot well beneath the tools, common failure of the rear air vent to body seal (can't be seen as behind bumper) often caused by a light rear end nudge. First symptom often is steaming up in the cabin, wet carpet or if you are really unlucky destruction of a Bose unit in the boot well
3) Poor starter motor action caused by poor earth connection behind N/S (rhd)headlight.

If others add to the list don't be put off as the fixes are all known on this site and fixes are often pence or zero cost!

Welcome to a great friendly and valuable community.

Geoff
 
Last edited:
Hey guys,

Got my A2 1.4 TDI 75. First impressions, very happy. Greta little runner and fantastic on fuel!

I’m going to do a clutch replacement, I just have a few queries before I start..

Has anyone got a link to best clutch kit deals and also while I’m in there shall I replace the SMF and any other parts such as spigot, slave and mast art cyclinders and anything else worth pointing out? If so has anyone got links to where I ca purchase them. I’ve looked everywhere for a clutch and SMF kit for my car and cannot find anywhere!!

Any help would be much appreciated!!

Thanks
Zack.
 
Hey guys,

Got my A2 1.4 TDI 75. First impressions, very happy. Greta little runner and fantastic on fuel!

I’m going to do a clutch replacement, I just have a few queries before I start..

Has anyone got a link to best clutch kit deals and also while I’m in there shall I replace the SMF and any other parts such as spigot, slave and mast art cyclinders and anything else worth pointing out? If so has anyone got links to where I ca purchase them. I’ve looked everywhere for a clutch and SMF kit for my car and cannot find anywhere!!

Any help would be much appreciated!!

Thanks
Zack.

Done this on my tdi about 18 months ago at 272k miles
You want an LUK clutch fit got mine from eBay Germany £105 inc del. your get the spinner, cover and bearing. You then need a top hat this is the part that the bearing slides on. You also want a new cross arm and the pivot bolt that it sits on plus the spring clip. These are main dealer only but only about £20 for the three
Nothing else needed doing on mine
I changed the gearbox oil at the same time



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Hi Zack,

As Paul said, go for the Luk kit and top hat. My cross arm and pivot bolt were fine at 170k so I left them. The flywheel should not need replacing. Being solid you haven't got the issues that you get with DMFs. Only a badly scored one would need replacing, which is very unlikely. The Luk clutch feels lovely - light and smooth. It is straightforward enough to do. I also changed my gearbox oil and the selector tower bearing.

Good luck with the car. I've had mine for 10 months/10k miles and am getting more attached to it every week! It hasn't missed a beat since buying it (*reaches for the nearest piece of wood*).

Paul
 
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