When did common rail start getting fitted ??

[DSG4ME]

Personally I wouldn't touch another 2.0 PD, this engine was a child of the BHP race and it wasn't a good effort, at least the CR engine was designed ground up, and also with all the other bits around the engine in mind, you shouldn't have the DPF issues on a CR that you will on a PD, it will smoke less and oil consumption will be lower, you also avoid the injector issue, the cold misfire, the unruly acceleration characteristic, especially in a DSG model, i.e less turbo lag, the only downside is the only model to really have is the Sport and the trade off is the Highline which has cheapo leather and unsupportive seats, if VW had had their caps on that day the Highline would've had Sport seats, electronic climate dials and a more aggressive wheel package.

[Jabba]

Well I viewed 8 cars, and all but three were PD lumps so even cars as late as June 08 can have the PD unit.

Bottom line if the Engine number starts with a B then it is PD regardless of how the dealer describes it - I was pretty disappointed to find out how little most of the so called 'dealers' know about what they sell, one dealer was adamant that the engine was a CR 'I checked with VW' - until I showed him images of a PD and a CR.

The other tell tale is also the SE designation these are all PD I found no exceptions, I didn't view any sports models, a guarantee though is a picture of the engine, if the valleys in the silver part of the engine cover are diagonal then it is a CR, if vertical then it is PD.

I also saw some cars supposedly with full service histories and man the condition was appalling, I found leaks on two, and one had an underbonnet that looked more like the bottom of a quarry ... one looked like the mad hatter had held a tea party in there - gross.

Anyway I got a late July 2008 (08) 2.0 Highline CR DPF with 70k on the clock in absolutely mint condition - ex VW car so zero owners ... now to get the Sat nav installed ....

Thanks for the assist guys.

[Teflon]

Personally I wouldn't touch another 2.0 PD, this engine was a child of the BHP race and it wasn't a good effort, at least the CR engine was designed ground up, and also with all the other bits around the engine in mind, you shouldn't have the DPF issues on a CR that you will on a PD, it will smoke less and oil consumption will be lower, you also avoid the injector issue, the cold misfire, the unruly acceleration characteristic, especially in a DSG model, i.e less turbo lag, the only downside is the only model to really have is the Sport and the trade off is the Highline which has cheapo leather and unsupportive seats, if VW had had their caps on that day the Highline would've had Sport seats, electronic climate dials and a more aggressive wheel package.

Couldn't disagree more about Highline versus Sport. I could have ordered either but made the sensible choice.

I pretty much know what a supportive seat feels like, 'cos I've got the GTI for comparison and a dodgy back for making decisions with. Now't wrong with the Highline seats, I've done six hours in them without a problem. If "cheapo" leather means rugged and bomb-proof, I'll settle for that every time compared with the paper thin rubbish I've had on other cars. Also, the ride is much more to my taste than on a Sport and if anyone has ideas of sporty driving in a Passat along the twisty bits with any real aggression they need to get a reality check.

I've got electronic climate control on both cars (standard on the GTI). I ordered the Highline without it but got it for free when they screwed up. I wouldn't waste money on it next time. The Golf clicks and whirrs all the time and I'm waiting for the same thing on the Passat; dealer said it needed all new servo motors and VW said there's nothing wrong with it.

The Sport was lacking equipment and comparatively over-priced, just a bit of badge engineering. But I do agree about the wheels on the Highline - they are fairly unattractive, and a pig to clean.

Each to his own.