New TDI Owner - risky buy? whaddya think?

[edisonwil]

Folks,
Just making my first post so I can read all the forums....

Just made a deal to purchase my first VW, an 06 Jetta GLS, 288,000KMs, DSG. Got it for $5,000 CDN.

Here's the kicker... The seller was selling for $7,500 but when I went for a test drive he informed me that the car started making this loud sound that morning. He said he just got the flywheel replaced on his dime and he is fed up with VW Canada. Never buying another again. He confessed that now since the car is making this sound, he can't sell it for his original asking so make him an offer.

I guessed that the parts would cost me around $1000 for a cam kit and a timing belt kit (he can't ever recall doing the timing belt and he is the original owner) So I offered him $5K and he said that's fair.

He has always serviced the car at the Dealer and maintained regular oil changes (I called the dealer with the VIN) The rest of the car is in excellent shape, no accidents or dents. Suspension, brakes, etc... are good, I pick it up tomorrow.

A bit about me. I have always worked on my own cars for the last 30 years with the last 20 being exclusively BMWs. There are few jobs I have not done. A camshaft with the right VW tools and timing belt replace should be a breeze with the DIYs I see on the forums and of course a Bentleys.

There is a local guy selling a PD motor for my car with 80K asking $1500. My question is, am I better off repairing or doing an engine swap? I am leaning toward the repair cause I will know the mechanic who did the work

[chittychittybangbang]

IMHO, if you just need a cam replacement and TB job, the articles here have way more detail than Bentley.

Don't swap the whole engine if all you need is a cam replacement, the other PD engine prob needs a cam as well. It's possible the cam could be OK and the DMF is bad.

If you do any big jobs that aren't covered in the articles, there's a writeup contest for new step by step pictorials and it would also help people out, see Writeup award gift certificate through sponsor KermaTDI for rules/guidelines.

[edisonwil]

Thanks for the advice. I am going to just do the cam and TB. I managed to get another $300 off the price of the car and am going to order the deluxe cam replacement kit from Bora Parts. I am looking to rent the tools so check your PM chitty.

As an aside, I got the service history on the vehicle from the dealer and the DMF was changed twice in 288K. The second time being 2 weeks ago. That's what took the PO over the edge. Crazy!