UKPassats

I have the OE comfort set up in my 2.0 saloon; no wallowing, rides great and is very comfortable. I did consider a sports set up, but am pleased with this luxury ride. I have another car for sports fun and have tried different shocks on that, including Bilstein. The only non OE shocks I would now ch...

Update. I switched the HID back to bulb, brand new Osram Plus (90% more light). Still got a weird 'W' pattern just in front of the bumper and generally poor light spread. Adjusted both headlights a little higher and put it in for the MOT that is due today. Passed, however, advisory : 'Nearside (bulb...

For Karl, I follow the idea of plugging the vac pipe. What about pinching the pipe from manifold to EGR to reduce the feed during the 'winter' connection time?

The car, saloon, is always driven quite gently, it is a petrol! So it's thirsty. Just tried the nearside wheel again with the handbrake off, still feels pretty tight, no clicks or movement. Also tried bouncing the rear quarter to check the shock - all solid. It rides really smoothly and quietly on t...

What would be the symptoms of 1. rear wheel bearing 2. beam bush wear?

Older Hankook on the rear, two year old Pirelli P6 on the front. Actually the nearside front has slightly more wear on the inner edge too. I have just given the nearside rear wheel some shake and cant feel any movement, but did hear the spring groan.

I am preparing the car for an MOT, 110k miles, just bled four brakes. I noticed the rear nearside tyre has worn badly on the inner side. There is something noisy on the suspension, I am not sure what bit though. All the front suspension arms/links were renewed two years ago. I am wondering whether i...

Sorry for the confusion. Not D2 bulbs. The lamps ( B5.5 2004 ) were originally fitted with H7 bulbs, which had a locking system that requires two blades to latch to two hooks. The H7 bulbs were replaced for HID 35w a couple of years back, they worked fine. The new Astrum headlight, has a pair of spr...

The originals had H7 bulbs, which I converted to HID and they were fine. The replacement headlamp looks the same, except for the spring clip to hold the low beam bulb - the originals are bayonet. Is there some variation in the dip beam lamp itself?

HID dips fitted to the projector type lenses. I almost failed an MOT because the nearside light ' was shining very low'. MOT centre fiddled with the lamp and the plastic adjuster wheel broke off. I know they corrode and seize, but they broke it trying to help. They strapped the light so it was ok, b...

Does anyone have any knowledge on these motors and what may be wrong with mine? Anyone else had a motor fail?

Having failed the MOT; nearside headlight facing down. I replaced the headlight, refitting the old headlamp motor without any pre adjustment. The dashboard adjuster now only lifts the nearside headlight a fraction. I have purchased a pair of VW levelling motors off Ebay, but can't get them to work. ...

My 2.0 Passat does pretty much the figures Karl has listed. I drive it sanely, enjoying the 'comfort' suspension. I did have a knock sensor fault show up on Vagcom, it goes to a default safety mode, which was about 15 - 20% more thirsty. Check the air filter and new plugs helped too. The new Esso fu...

My 120k miles old started to make door opening difficult, from both inside and out, this guide was the answer. I used the Torx 15 and counted carefully, a heart stopping twelve turns before the lock barrel released. I had to pull on the door handle to allow the barrel to slide out. Pulled the cable ...

When I first collected my car, switching on the headlights put it into limp mode. I was too unfamiliar with the car to notice dash warnings, so have no idea if one came up. I drove the last hundred miles on sidelights! Into VW next morning, they found faulty brake light switch. It is difficult to ge...

Ah, that's the difference. Plastic ones cloud over, glass ones dont. I have HID lamps fitted now, so I will have to get a glass headlight. I understand the plastic lenses suffer with the heat, especially from HIDs.

Do these suffer from cloudy headlights? I have been told that the outside requires polishing to clear it. My eight year old has crystal clear lenses. Is it aftermarket ones that go cloudy?

Yes sir, everything is fine, you would have passed except for the N/S headlight facing the floor. Shall I repair it for you sir? And he gave me a little white gear wheel and advised he has had to tie wrap the light into position. First I heard about it, everything was fine last month when I last dro...

Check the earth is good. Intermittent connections cause bulbs to heat/cool then fail.

I spoke to Eurocanterbury today, main VW agent. Replacement key goes like this: purchase key parts, £100 +, includes cutting. Requires proof of ownership before order, up to six weeks, item comes in from Germany. Then about 1/2 hour workshop time to code the new key via diagnostic. If all goes well...

Is Mobil 1 turbo diesel oil; spec 502.00 / 505.00 which I have just bought, ok? What is PD grade?

My new TDI has only one key. It is a 2002. What is the best source for replacement? VW want about £160. I dont want to buy a £10 blank copy from ebay and try to programme it, no idea how to. I just want to have a ready, reasonably priced copy handed over.

Does anyone know if it will be harmful to use straight SAE75W rather than SAE75W90 in the manual gearbox?

Sounds like a small bird; regular chirping on occasions; this morning on over-run. It goes away, only there on occasions. I wonder if it is the alt belt, or is there a bearing beginning to moan? Viscous fan? Anyone have any ideas?

I am about to add to the stable with a turbo TDI. The oil is dirty, low and could do with a change. What is the popular choice? thanks.