2.0 TDi 16v 140bhp engine - advice? Are they really that bad?

[wafers]

I remember reading somewhere on the net a while back that peeps didn't recommend the 2.0 VAG tdi engine, and preferred the earlier PD engine.
We've found a 2005 VAG car with the 2.0 TDi 16v 140bhp engine, and reading around the net a little, it seems that the 170 bhp cars are the worst offenders. Also somewhere mentioned the late 2003/early 2004 engines could suffer from porous heads. Also mention of fault V157 (new throttle body for <£200) somewhere else.
Another thread mentioned the engines weren't brilliant until 2009?
Anyone know what engine code a September 2005 2.0 TDi 16v 140 engine would be, so I can do some more digging?
Also, does anyone on here actually own one? Are they really that bad, or all of these worst case scenarios?

[FLENG2008]

the early 140s had the head problem your right
and my friend had a 170 and the turbo snapped in half, hence the load of parts i have surplus
throttle bodys are very common too
sticking vanes still exist too

but dont forget everything you read online is bad news really, no one will start threads in forums if there car hasent got a fault
some owners dont have any problems at all

[doggydoctor]

I have an audi a3 with the 2.0 TDI 140 and I am very happy with it. It runs very well and I haven't had any problems with it in the year and 10000 miles I have had it. Like any diesel it doesn't like short trips and it doesn't like supermarket diesel. Since I started filling up with shell, it has been running very well.

[Crasher]

The 2 litre 16v is a PD up until 2009 ish when it became common rail. They are no where near as bad as people would have you believe. It is a massively widely used engine and in the vast majority of cases it has been very good. Yes there have been some isolated issues (certain 140PS and 170PS injectors have been dealt with under recall) such as Passat oil pump failure but I see huge numbers of them in VAG group cars (and in Dodge and Mitsubishi) and they are fine.

[boustie]

they should have stuck to the 130 1.9 pd engine best so far in my opinion, the 2.0 tdi has far too many common faults but im sure many many people on here own one without a fault

[Crasher]

Personally I think the PD was a mistake full stop, they should have gone CR. I still think the best VW TDI 4 pot is the 110 VEP ASV, good strong engine that will do 250K without issue.

[Guest 2]

What about my BLS 1.9?

I'm hoping at least 200k out of it?

Or am I too optimistic?

[zollaf]

Personally I think the PD was a mistake full stop, they should have gone CR. I still think the best VW TDI 4 pot is the 110 VEP ASV, good strong engine that will do 250K without issue.

er, 1z, 305k without issue ? now on 310 with only a light overhall it didn't really need.

[Doctle Odd]

So my 1Z is a spotty youth with 203k?

[Crasher]

Hmm, maybe I should have said AFN (bugger all difference to a 1Z) but there is just something a little bit nicer about the later VEP unit with built in water pump and chain driven oil pump, not much in it anyway.