VW Passat B5 facelift 1.8 5V, 150 PS, 5-speed manual (2000–2005)

Research for this car

• Generation guide VW Passat B5 (1996-2005): known problems and buying guide

  Check the automatic gearbox history, the timing belt and the tie-rod recall before you pay. Rust also matters.

Known issues for this car

Before you buy this car

From the generation guide

1. Timing belt: ask for proof that the belt and water pump were changed within 60,000 km. A bad result is no proof on a diesel. A failed belt can wreck the engine.
2. Front suspension: drive over bumps at low speed and listen for knocks. Look for creaks and squeaks from the front. A bad result is a knock or squeak.
3. Water: check the front footwell carpets for damp, and look at the drains under the windscreen and battery tray. A bad result is damp carpets or blocked drains.
4. Rust: check the wheel arches, sills, bonnet edge, headlight gaps and the tailgate on estates. A bad result is bubbling paint or soft metal.
5. Ignition coils: on an early 1.8T, check for rough idle and poor throttle response, and ask whether the coils were changed. A scanner shows misfires. A bad result is a misfire or no records.

Running costs

ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months

ADAC versions