Used VW TDI Passat 1997 - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive... for sale in Nobleboro, ME

This is a 1997 VW TDI Passat sedan (turbodiesel, B4 model) with 453,704 miles on it, 5 speed. Now before you say that's high miles, this has been very well taken care of, with regular proper oil changes using the correct oil and larger filter. All the fluids are correct and all parts replaced were replaced with good ones, no cheap Chinese junk. I am selling it because I do not have the time to spend fixing it, and I am keeping my 1996 Passat TDI wagon (B4V). I cannot keep both cars since I do not have the time to work on both.

These are hobbyist cars, that with some basic maintenance will go a very long time and constantly return 50 mpg or better. My best is 56.1 mpg in this car and my average is around 48 mpg.

It is the rare non-sunroof version, and the clearcoat is peeling. It has some minor rust, but the floorboards were very recently replaced (welded in metal) and sealed to prevent further rusting.

It has a Franko6 (Frank Irving, premier engine builder in the US) refurbished head with stage 2 cam, ARP head studs, and South Bend Stage 3 (now 2E) clutch with plenty of life left. It has PP520 injectors and I swapped on a resealed AHU (1998 TDI ribbed) pump with 230K on it. It has the original turbo. The EGR cooler was removed since the EGR is turned off with the tune. I have Rocketchip and Malone tunes that can go with it. It has a windage tray (in the oil pan) installed when I put in the new oil and vacuum pumps. The interior of the engine looked fine while everything was replaced at 440K. I have plenty of pictures.

The exhaust is 2 1/4" straight through all the way back with no mufflers, but the 2.5" diesel cat keeps things quiet. The flex pipe was recently replaced with a stainless one, and all have flanges so they can be unbolted.

The motor mounts are in good shape and are the hydraulic ones. They were OEM and not Chinese.

The interior is now black leather instead of the original beige cloth, and the headliner is in fine shape. The drivers seat has some wear on it.

The cluster has some bleeding on the clock but this is minor and does not affect the operation.

The control arm bushings were replaced with Audi TT and they are in good shape, along with new anti-swaybar bushings. The rear axle beam bushings are also in good shape and were replaced a few years ago. The rear brake lines and valve were just replaced with new. It does need a rear caliper but I have one that can go with the car. The parking brake cables were replaced and work fine.

The wheels are 15" aluminum but the tires aren't in very good shape. I will toss in some some stock 14" steel wheels and hubcaps for it as well.

It has the stock suspension under it, although low mileage.

The computer is the FA version (1997) with Malone chips in it, I think they are Stage 3 (it puts our about twice the power of stock but with hit to fuel economy, so long as it's driven normally). The Rocketchip 2 Euro tune will go with the car.

It has a 1.25" trailer hitch on it but it has been welded once since it broke while I was in Canada. The Thule roof racks go with it. I have a 2" TDIDaveNH heavy duty hitch that can go with it for a little extra.

It has the 1995 headlight switch, so you have 3 options for lights, and the fog light switch. The fog lights do not work because the bulbs burned out. They never worked well anyway so I never fixed them. The headlights are stock with the 9005 bulbs in the high and low beam sockets. I installed the correct socket to allow this, and the low beams stay on with the high beams so you get more light but not enough to be annoying.

The AC does not work due to the condenser having a hole in it. I live in Maine and have never needed AC so I never bothered to fix it. The timing belt was recently done with a professional kit from Cascade German (formerly BoraParts) by myself, and I have done dozens of these over the years, with the proper Vag-Com computer tool.

Feel free to ask questions. I have a TON of pictures of pretty much everything done to the car. I am considered one of the 'go-to' mechanics in the northeast for this model (1996/1997) TDI, so I am very knowledgeable about this platform and engine.

And now the bad. I loaned the car to my father to get a bike rack while I was on-call and could not go myself, and it came back running rough. I tried swapping injectors since the balance is way out, but no change. It had oil in the intercooler but it was not due to the turbo (which is why the original is back on it). I do not know why it runs rough but I suspect a broken piston ring. It starts instantly and runs OK, but I would not dare drive it anywhere. As such, I am including another motor and complete swap (everything still attached to the subframe) with 235,360 miles on it that I drove around myself before pulling from the car. This means everything to include the engine, transmission, steering rack, axles, and all the wiring/injectors/parts on the engine. I even have spare doors, trunk, and many other parts that will go with it since I am cleaning out my inventory. I would NOT try to drive this anywhere with the engine being an unknown, and offer no warranty as such. I am also keeping the battery since it goes in my other VW.

Asking $1,000, no trades, no having your 'agent' pick it up and mailing me a cashiers check, and nothing other than cash. There are too many scammers out there. Call or text 20 seven - six oh 7 - twenty twentyfive. I also have no way to move it, so delivery is not possible, but it will drive onto a trailer or ramp truck, just make sure to leave room for the additional engine/transmission combination.