I bagged a Unicorn. Not a TDI... yet. - General - VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.

• I bagged a Unicorn. Not a TDI... yet. by Syncroincity on 10 Mar, 2011 17:15
• My new ride. Preliminary photos, it's not in my posession yet.
  2004 B5.5 Passat Variant 1.8T 4Motion 5-spd. One of 6 vehicles in Shadow Blue / Black Leather imported that year.
  Daily driver for now until the Syncro is back in action... doing homework for future TDI swap. It's essentially a B5 A4/A6 Quattro under the skin. Longitudinal 4-cyl.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• #1 by 8v-of-fury on 10 Mar, 2011 17:31
• Me thinks a BEW should swap in?? Too many engien codes lol
  
  
• #2 by Syncroincity on 11 Mar, 2011 16:54
• Quote from: 8v-of-fury on 10 Mar, 2011 17:31

  Me thinks a BEW should swap in?? Too many engien codes lol
  

  
  Yeah, I'm not even sure what gasser code 1.8T is in this one yet.
   I think it's the Audi version, 5 main bearings vs the transverse VW w/ 4.
  I didn't even know these existed in N. America until about 3 weeks ago... I started looking for one, and 4 popped up almost simultaneously, I took that as a sign, & I managed to grab this one before it sold.
  
  It'll be a while, but a TDI is definitely in this car's future. '04 +... PD150? We'll see what crops up for donors
• #3 by blackdogvan on 14 Mar, 2011 19:10
• Nice score!!!! Very nice. Whats the trip computer showing for the average mpg now?
• #4 by lord_verminaard on 15 Mar, 2011 06:44
• Nice ride.  The Passat wagons are really nice cars, especially in 4-motion trim.
  
  BTW the 1.8T's are the same across all vw/audi, engine-code per engine-code that is.  Audi never got a "special" one.
  
  Brendan
• #5 by Syncroincity on 17 Mar, 2011 17:46
• I haven't seen the trip meter yet, the owner claims about 31mpg on the highway. A lot better that my Subaru.
  
  I'm pretty sure this has an AWM in it from my reading. Pretty good motor if it's taken care of. Subject to coked oil particles clogging the oil pump intake screen if non-synthetic oil was used. (Oil "Sludge" VAG is involved in a lawsuit about this currently) Not a huge problem normally, but dropping the oil pan on this car is brutal, you basically have to suspend the motor on a crane and drop the front subframe.
  
  Gearing up for a timing belt job, with H20 pump, tensioners, etc. also maybe cam chain tensioners, I have to see how it sounds/runs.
  
  Suspension is pure Audi A4, multi-link, lots of bushings to go bad... not cheap, but super controlled ride when it's in good shape. Even the AWD is really a Quattro system.
  
• #6 by Powered by Spearco on 17 Mar, 2011 19:11
• Nice find. I've only seen one 1.8t 4motion wagon but it was the auto trans, so yours is special with the 5spd.
  The BHW TDI will bolt right in, but being a gasser trans, it might be strechy for gears.
  
  Lowering the subframe is prety easy. Just enough to get the pan out.
  Suspension links are prety easy to, just make sure you do all top and bottom.
  T-belt is easy too. Timing chain tensioner is a little more in volved. Just pull the intake cam and slide it in.
• #7 by lord_verminaard on 24 Mar, 2011 09:56
• And you will get familiar with Audi's "service position" for the T-belt.  Basically remove the front half of the car. 
  
  Looks intimidating at first but they actually designed it to be pretty painless.
  
  Brendan
• #8 by nathan_b on 27 Mar, 2011 00:28
• Quote from: lord_verminaard on 24 Mar, 2011 09:56

  And you will get familiar with Audi's "service position" for the T-belt.  Basically remove the front half of the car. 
  
  Looks intimidating at first but they actually designed it to be pretty painless.
  
  Brendan
  

  
  x2, love passats and a4/s4/a6 cars.
  
  Nothing like pulling up a chair to do the timing belt. lol.
• #9 by Syncroincity on 01 Apr, 2011 21:59
•   Yeh, seen a few videos on YT about the process.
  
  Now I need to find a tall TDI 5th gear for it.