The Passat! (R.I.P.)

[thewizard16]

Washed the Passat today and decided to share a few updated pictures. Apologies for the sunset lighting, by the time I got done it was relatively late.



The replacement grille I ordered (without the damn license plate bracket) was damaged in shipping and they still haven't been able to get another one shipped to me. For the time being I'll represent the Razorbacks, but I'll get a new grille assembly in and installed soon (I hope).











Got the receiver from the Lexus moved over. I bought the module that keeps steering wheel control functions but have been unable to find the right antenna adapter to use the factory sharkfin antenna for my XM, so right now the magnetic antenna is hiding behind the sharkfin. That's a problem for another day though, taking apart that section of the interior is no fun.


I installed some stainless steel door sills and I'm pretty happy with them. The "Passat" and those bars are laser etched and all four door sills now look a little classier. I think having the black interior sets them off nicely.


I also ordered some stainless exhaust tips from VW and got those put on a couple weeks ago. The rest of the car has chrome trim so it seemed like a reasonable upgrade. They're pretty subtle but I like them.


As I previously complained, the factory wheels have issues with the finish peeling that makes them look splotchy. So, I plasti-dipped all four wheels with one of the aluminium/metallic dips, then softly glossed them, and they turned out acceptable. I don't love it, but for a temporary solution it will do. I'll probably replace the wheels eventually, it would cost almost as much to have them properly refinished as it would to buy new wheels.

[Raza]

Looks great.  Once again, I'm impressed by your radio install. 

You're still on temporary tags?

[thewizard16]

Looks great.  Once again, I'm impressed by your radio install. 

You're still on temporary tags?

Thanks!

Yeah, titles between states take a bit longer. Although this one is dragging on longer than the last Texas purchase did. I'm planning on checking with them on Friday where things stand if I haven't received the new title yet.

[TurboDan]

Wow, that Kenwood head unit install is seamless! And with SXM capability (even through the magnetic antenna) to boot. Looks awesome, man.

[thewizard16]

Finally got an undamaged grille (despite UPS's best efforts, judging by the condition the box was in) in and installed:



I had grown to where I liked the front Razorback plate pretty well, but I like this better. It looks cleaner without that front bracket. It does annoy me a little now though that there isn't the same chrome on the lower grille bars, but I haven't found a replacement lower grille with those bars so maybe that wasn't an option. Now just have to keep it registered in a state like Arkansas that doesn't require the front plate...

[CALL_911]

FWIW, I haven't had a front plate on my car since I got it and I live in a front-plate state. Haven't had a single problem.

[68_427]

FWIW, I haven't had a front plate on my car since I got it and I live in a front-plate state. Haven't had a single problem.

College towns it's easy to get away with.  I could remove mine too if I wanted.

[CALL_911]

College towns it's easy to get away with.  I could remove mine too if I wanted.

Same deal in LI

[Raza]

I'm not even a fan of rear plates. 

[MX793]

They like to set up road blocks around here to check and make sure people have up-to-date registrations and inspections and such.  I roll through at least one every summer.  There's always at least one person parked on the shoulder with an officer writing them a citation for something.  I don't chance it with the front plate.

[CALL_911]

They like to set up road blocks around here to check and make sure people have up-to-date registrations and inspections and such.  I roll through at least one every summer.  There's always at least one person parked on the shoulder with an officer writing them a citation for something.  I don't chance it with the front plate.

What the fuck?!

[MrH]

That doesn't sound remotely legal.

[MX793]

Some of them are part of "click it or ticket" seatbelt enforcement initiatives, but even with those they'll ticket you for out of date inspections if they see it.  Others they appeared to be specifically looking at inspection and registration stickers.  I seem to mostly hit these when I'm on my bike and sometimes, if it's a seatbelt check, they just wave me through but others I've had to stop while the officer walked around to check my registration sticker.

[Char]

Sport Sedan...that comment made me lol the most.

[AltinD]

Hmmm, a thread about the B6 Passat, and I have yet to comment .....

[thewizard16]

5 year update:

The Passat is dead. RIP.

I had a love-hate relationship with this car after the first year or so but it will be somewhat missed.

Things I won't miss:
-Unpredictable (yet predictably expensive) maintenance issues/sensor failures/turbo problems that they since re-designed but did not issue recalls for
-Electronic gremlins that liked to randomly open the sunroof, turn off lights for being "burnt out" (despite being stock LED), etc.
-Piss poor long term quality control (both side mirrors literally fell off due to a "known issue" with poor adhesive, the chrome around the shift boot bubbled and wanted to peel off, etc.)
-Mediocre air conditioning (do Germans not get hot?)

Things I will miss:
-Turbo pep. It was a fun engine even if it was too complicated and perhaps over-engineered
-Aggressive heated seats. On level 5 I'm pretty sure you could cook a thanksgiving turkey on those.


What happened:
Chicago had a record breaking cold snap last week. Temps into the -20s and such, and unfortunately I still had to work/commute in that mess. At some point the first cold day the car started idling rough. It has done this in the past when it gets below 20 degrees so I thought nothing of it but was very cautious to give it ample time to warm up before going anywhere. The second day it started idling rougher and sounding like a 4 wheeler at low RPMs no matter the speed. The third day the sound progressed to what I have termed "diesel tractor that smoked 4 packs a day for 40 years". It finally started throwing codes that day and indicated the camshaft position sensor was responding slowly. Okay, sure, it's basically Siberia here at that point, can't be too surprised if a 10 year old sensor fails. Had the sensor replaced... Then things really went to shit. The sound stayed horrible but the throttle response became very unpredictable and it started stalling randomly in stop and go conditions and additionally sometimes when the RPMs dipped below 2000. This was irritating and obviously needed to be addressed but when it started happening while at speed (engine cut off and I was coasting doing about 40 on Lake Shore Drive), it went straight to the dealership. After a few hours of "diagnosis" they revealed that at some point the timing chain had slipped a couple teeth which threw something off with the camshaft synchronization which then put strain on the timing belt and had thrown it off too (as well as damaged the actual belt). The engine was not totally nuked, but to fix the timing issues alone their quote was ~$3800. There were also some other issues they labeled "serious" that had developed, some in conjunction with that issue and others related to the suspension, that pushed the total recommended repair bill to $7200.   

...No. Nope. No thank you. The car was worth maybe $3k at this point so it's time to cut the losses and move on. We'll see if CarMax or an auto salvage place wants to buy the remains, but as of today I bid farewell to the German.

[Submariner]

Welcome back.

Sorry about the car.

[Submariner]

Any idea what you may replace it with?

[thewizard16]

Welcome back.

Sorry about the car.

Thanks! I think this was my longest absence to date. 

And thank you. I wanted to give it a Viking funeral but apparently there are laws against driving your car into Lake Michigan on a pontoon and lighting it on fire.

Any idea what you may replace it with?

Replacement already acquired... Thread coming shortly.

[Payman]

Dayum. 

[MrH]

The car lasted 10 years and exploded   Wow.

Welcome back.

[12,000 RPM]

You prob could have got the engine replaced for cheaper

But fuck it, when it's time it's time. Looking forward to seeing the replacement and welcome back

[Xer0]

Can confirm, Chicago was cccccccccold as fuck on Wednesday and Thursday.  I worked from home and hibernated both days thankfully.  The brave souls that left the house were the MVPs that week.

How much money where you able to get for the car?  The fact that it still kinda ran should have been somewhat helpful.

[thewizard16]

Dayum. 

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. 

The car lasted 10 years and exploded   Wow.

Welcome back.

Yep. As frustrating as the car was at times I can't complain. I got a good amount of time and miles out of it. And thanks!

You prob could have got the engine replaced for cheaper

But fuck it, when it's time it's time. Looking forward to seeing the replacement and welcome back

Exactly. But this was a definite "time to cut the losses" kind of situation. And thanks!

Can confirm, Chicago was cccccccccold as fuck on Wednesday and Thursday.  I worked from home and hibernated both days thankfully.  The brave souls that left the house were the MVPs that week.

How much money where you able to get for the car?  The fact that it still kinda ran should have been somewhat helpful.

I didn't realize you were in Chicago too! I moved here back in June so this has been my first winter up here... It was great until last week. Haven't actually sold the Passat yet, hoping to do that this afternoon after work.

[cawimmer430]

-Mediocre air conditioning (do Germans not get hot?)

If things are going the way they are Europe, or specifically Germany, will become a Third World agrarian society thanks to idiotic Leftist-Green assholes who want to ban the internal combustion engine and anything that produces CO2.

Future German cars, a horse with a fine quality leather saddle, will definitely lack an A/C.

[thewizard16]

If things are going the way they are Europe, or specifically Germany, will become a Third World agrarian society thanks to idiotic Leftist-Green assholes who want to ban the internal combustion engine and anything that produces CO2.

Future German cars, a horse with a fine quality leather saddle, will definitely lack an A/C.

Is there perhaps a way to attach a fan to the horse?

[cawimmer430]

Is there perhaps a way to attach a fan to the horse?

Just ride it fast. The wind will do the rest - hopefully!

[Soup DeVille]

If things are going the way they are Europe, or specifically Germany, will become a Third World agrarian society thanks to idiotic Leftist-Green assholes who want to ban the internal combustion engine and anything that produces CO2.

Future German cars, a horse with a fine quality leather saddle, will definitely lack an A/C.

Horse emissions are horrible; and do you have any idea the nasty chemicals used to tan leather?

[cawimmer430]

Horse emissions are horrible; and do you have any idea the nasty chemicals used to tan leather?

The German Green Party is mostly populated by a bunch of total morons who have never worked in the free market and who have never finished their studies. It's amazing that these total freaks are allowed to tell us how to live based on their ideology and stupidity.

I've begun distancing myself from some of my friends who vote for this piece of crap party because I can't understand how anyone can be so STUPID and give this party their vote. The Green Party has nothing to do with saving the environment. They are literally an extreme leftist ideological group that wants to reshape our advanced and relatively wealthy society into a stone age / agrarian culture -literally.

They hate cars, well they hate super clean gasoline and diesel cars. They love ultra dirty, environmentally-damaging electric cars. If they come to power they want to ban sports cars, ban SUVs and trucks, reduce speed limits in the city, highways and on roads and enact a general driving ban on the weekend. This was featured on their website for some time. Radical piece of shit eco-terrorists is what these idiots are. I despise them with all my heart and soul, and this is why I am beginning to hate my acquaintances who mindlessly vote for these morons. 

[CaminoRacer]

Wait, does it have a timing chain or belt? You mentioned both.