1.6TDI BMT 105 - Slow and thirsty?

[TDiBoraSam]

Morning all!

I've been driving a Golf TDI 105 BMT for a few months now (I inherited it), and so far I have to say I've found it to be very slow, gutless and rather thirsty.

Is this normal for this car?!

Average mpg seems to be about 53, if driven carefully. Normal driving yields about 47-48, which I consider appalling for a supposed 'eco' car. I was previously driving a BMW 120d, which was a heck of a lot faster (obviously), but even when pushed hard would only drop to about 46mpg, whilst normal driving returned about 58-60mpg. I'm talking about the same return journeys to and from work each day, and my driving style is neither aggressive nor delicate, just 'normal'.

If ever there was a car crying out for a remap, it's my Golf, but I'm just not convinced the clutch would take it! It already suffers from pronounced clutch judder if I change up through the gears when the gear change indicator tells me to, particularly in 4th and 5th - I have to let the revs go higher before changing up. Also it appears that the gearing isn't set up very well. Often the revs are too low for, say, 3rd gear, but dropping to 2nd causes the car to lurch because the revs are then too high for that gear.

All in all, apart from cheaper tax and insurance, I have been pretty disappointed with the Golf compared to the BMW. It just isn't as driveable, and I dread having to stop and then get it going through the gears again, which is so laborious. I was hoping the Golf would be just a steady, easy to drive, economical car.

Does anyone else have a similar experience?

[J400uk]

That MPG sounds normal to me, and I've seen the clutch judder you describe before on these.

A couple of my friends have the 1.6 TDI and I've got the 2.0 TDI. They all do thereabouts the same MPG. It seems the bigger engine and 6th gear in mine means it isn't working as hard, so still returns the same economy.

[Gollings]

Doesn't sound right to me. I've got a 1.6 BMT that returns mid-high 60's if driven carefully. That's a brim to brim calculation as the trip computer underestimates by about 12%. In fact a recent tank full gave 71mpg but that was a lot of motorway driving. No clutch judder and it has 85k on the clock.

[Dai Roberts]

Does sound low to me I get 60-63mpg nearly all the time and long motorway drives improve it considerably. Obvious to say but if you put your foot down the MPG goes down, my friends say I drive like a granny.

Warmer weather improves MPG a bit for me. There are lots of possible reasons - serviced properly? tyre pressure, still have eco tyres? extra weight.
The gearing is a bit odd to start with but you get used to it and using the revs about 2k where the power is, changing up later is the only way to go.

Saying all that I do wish I had gone for the 2 litre version.

[TDiBoraSam]

Thanks for the replies!

Yes, it has good tyres. 2 x original Michelins and 2 x Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance, all at the correct pressures. Not carrying any extra weight. Fully serviced.

It seems that anything over 60mph, and the mpg starts dropping off considerably, and you can't tootle along a motorway at 55!

The most annoying things are that 1st gear is just flat/dead, and when the clutch bites (when going into any gear) the car judders/shunts. Same happens when in gear and I completely release the accelerator and then re-apply some power - as the torque goes to the clutch, there's a judder. It just doesn't feel like a smooth runner. Trying to crawl along in traffic in 1st gear is impossible because the car just wants to bunny hop, so I end up riding the clutch to keep a smooth motion going.

As an aside, I have enquired in several places about remapping the 1.6TDI. Invariably I get told that the engine is good for 140-145hp, but without any scientific proof to support the figures. However, I enquired with Oettinger Sportsystems in Germany, and they will only remap the 1.6 to 125hp. If anyone knows what they're talking about, it's these guys! So, be careful what you go for if tempted to remap!

[Alex5555]

Usually when I have such high mpg I drive for about one hour on motorway to clear exhaust system(particle filter?) even though never had engine management light on indicating blockage. But I see that you done it, not sure for how long though

[zollaf]

sam, have you tried just thrashing the nuts off it. you say you inherited it, so i presume an older person had it before, am i right, drove like miss daisy. poor thing might just be crying out for a very good italian tune up with some expensive diesel to clear its throat out before it will drive properly. might also sort te clutch out as well.

[TDiBoraSam]

Yes, it's had a couple of thrashings, but it's doesn't make any difference. It was driven in a careful, but 'normal' manner previously. Usually on 40-50 mile round trips 5 days a week.

I wasn't expecting it to be quick by any stretch of the imagination, but compared to the BMW 120D I had before, it's the economy and driveability that is really disappointing. The Golf is lighter, lowered powered and set up for economy, but yet comes nowhere near the mpg I was getting out of the BMW, which had 177bhp and pulled like a train! Is it just that the BMW has a far better engine?!

As for the clutch judder, well, this is one of the things putting me off having a remap. Nobody seems to know what torque the standard clutches are rated to anyway, and given that mine judders with standard power going through it, I can't see it taking any extra power!

[Buzzoff]

maybe sell the care dude and go for another beemer!!!
After all its a 1.6 diesel, you reall can't compare the two cars as they are two dotally different vehicles.

I think you gave me some advice the other day regarding a re map, so maybe take my advice and either live with it or maybe just move on to something that you will be happier with.

Regarding the mpg figures my 2.0L BKD 140 Mk5 Golf with 175K miles on the clock returns a real world 58-60mpg all day long. Some times the "Bluemotion" thing is not quite a good as you may think.

[J400uk]

Yeah selling it might not be a bad shout. The 1.6 TDI BMT is at least fairly desirable on the used market as lots of people buy them under the illusion of economy and low running costs