We’ve bought an early VW T5 2.5. Is it any good?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 ก.ย. 2023
- Volkswagens early T5 has turned 20 years old and we’ve gone an found a very early example of this classic Transporter.
Launched in 2003 the VW T5 was a complete redesign of the T4 it replaced.
New engines and a new chassis (which has survived right up to the latest T6.1 models.)
Originally offered in 2.5l 5 cylinder and 1.9l 4 cylinder turbo charged diesel engines.
We’ve found a local van up for sale with a 220,000 miles 2.5 5 cylinder engine. Is it any good? We think so, does it rattle, absolutely lol!
We’ll use it and document it’s time with us to give you a true account of what it needs to maintain and run.
Although not strictly a buyers guide I’ll give some pointers as to what to expect if you’re looking for something similar.
Hopefully some cheap motoring ahead!
Both my father and I have the early versions of the T5 and both have the 2.5tdi engine. His with 155 and mine 130 thousand. I agree with you that they are great engines, and the main problem with them is that people don’t use the correct oil, which leads to early camshaft wear. So if your looking to buy one, don’t be put off by the fool’s comments on the internet who have probably never owned one. Just make sure it’s been looked after properly. And yes, they are noisy.
Absolutely spot on 👍🏻
Hope you don’t mind me asking’
But what oil do you use’
I always add Wynns additive’ nice and thick ‘
Apart from that’ the Engine is lovely and quiet ,
Thanks 🙏
@@beastylad7418 I don’t mind at all. I use the specific 506.01 from Westway
It’s a 0w30
@@dcdtransporters
Thanks 🙏
I’ll keep an eye on your channel’
Good videos. 👍
Yes, we bought a 2005 174 about 13 years ago on 89k we turned it into a camper so not a daily.... By 100k we had to do the camshaft 😔🤮🤮..... I was, and still do use the correct oil...... Unfortunately imo the previous owners didn't 🤷🏻♂️
Correct oil is a must 0-30W 506.01 spec, Westway or millers only do it now though and its hard to off the shelf as its an old engine now.
Do not put the 5-30w C3 or similar oil in it, All motor factors say its the modern oil but are wrong, pre DPF 2.5 axd engines are low sap grade to protect the soft camshaft and gears.
I have one of these on a 2008 reg. On 174000miles, absolutely love it. Have driven it from new, still goes great.
Fantastic 😎
Great video and good points 👍
We also have a 2003, 2.5 Caravelle. Been a good old bus in fairness and pulls like a train.
Just hit 249k, so did a water pump change and correct oils.
Probably selling it towards the end of the year to get a 6.1 auto, but just know we're going to miss this one then 😁
Some great advice 👍 I’m looking on changing my T4 for a T5 sometime in the near future, gonna be looking at something early and basic with the budget I’ve got. It’s good to know what to look for.
Good luck in your search. There’s some good early vans about for sensible money. The more basic spec are even better, manual windows and mirrors certainly wouldn’t put me off, some times that is even a bonus as less to go wrong!
A tight flap is a must.....in my book!
That was great, thanks👍
Glad you found it useful 😀
Brilliant review, response and input from viewers 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Just picked up a 2003 2.5 with twin sliding doors and a factory sun roof… engine wise it pulls very well, starts instantly and sounds sweet. However it’s covered in oil on the top looks like sloppy oil changed but it has a split in the EGR pipe and is covered in black soot everywhere… I was considering removing the EGR, but I’m not entirely convinced that’s a good move. Any advice opinions are very welcome 🤗
I have a 2008 1.9TD on 242,000 still drives great!
Fantastic! That’s great to hear. Still lots of life in these old vans!
Very clean van that. 06 2.5 axd 6spd manual. 267k. Needs tlc but its good.
Much appreciated. Love to see condition behind arches and underneath etc. I'm after 2005 to 2009 kombi for taking grandkids out only. Good to have advice
I’ll try and get some video of that. It’s not too bad. We’re gonna take the wire brush to the underside and wax oil some bits but nothing serious to worry about so far.
This is helpful. Im lookijg at an 06 t5 2.5tdi with 213k miles on it. Its only £3800. Owner seems confident that its a good runner. Has colour coded bumpers with alloy wheels, air con too. What do you think? I think it seems too cheap. But it could be a solid van if looked after! Doesnt look like theres any body damage or rust in the pictures either.
Hi iv got one 2007 really good long as you service it it will take you any were
Great video. I have a 2.5 bnz model running great. Question i have after allot of rain !! the tray the battery sits on once it was removed there was around 2 inches of water sitting there, Can you tell me if you've ever experienced this and are there drain plugs to let water out. I think its coming in bottom of windscreen plastic cover and will look once it dries. Thanks Jeff
Hi. The water should drain from the screen down through some drain holes between the bulkhead and the inner wing. You’ll have to remove the wipers and the plastic tray to get to these. A lot of these drain holes are blocked with leaves, muck and other debris so that allows water to build up and push into other areas. The battery tray should have a couple of areas which allow water to drain too so check those too.
Make sure you deal with it though as it should not be that bad. Bear in mind that the ecu and fuse box are in that area so don’t let the water build up. 👍🏻
Mine had full history and the crankshaft snapped! Had a lot of work done and in the end threw in the towel and bought t5.1 with a 2.0 tdi 140 engine. They’re great but expensive to fix
Wow, snapping the camshaft I’ve heard of but snapping the crankshaft is something else! I bet that went with a bang!
They all have their flaws no matter what you buy. The T5.1 was a good jump forward in technology and refinement, however, we spent a few quid on chasing a fuel fault on ours on top of all the usual things that break……
Mine’s an ‘06 2.5 T32 4Motion mid-roof half panel. It’s only done 100,000 miles. It has the AXE engine but after remapping it puts out 220hp, 373lb/ft. The suspension was upgraded with the Seikel Desert Heavy Duty kit (30mm lift) and it sits on Range Rover wheels with 235/70R16 BF Goodrich All-Terrain TAs. It replaced various LR Defenders on my croft. Easier to load pallets, heated seats, no leaks, toasty heating and air con. Driven sensibly it returns 38-40mph but when my wife puts her foot down the van turns into a flying brick and returns 20mpg!! We’ve had it for years and are now mulling over turning it into a camper. We already camp in it but as we’re getting older an air mattress, a couple of sleeping bags zipped together, a cooler and a two burner camp stove no longer cut the mustard. I’ve been offered good money for it several times but it’s too useful and too much fun. 😁
Last year we replaced the gates couplings and injectors (pig of a job), the discs and brake lines, the exhaust (now stainless) and a lot more. Next up is the bodywork - it’s a working van on a croft so it’s covered in shite and even a bit of greenery (moss). The main concern is the bottom of the b-pillar on the driver’s side where rust has emerged. Other than that, rust on the tips of the fuel flap, the tip of one barn door and a spot on the bonnet. Wheel arches are surprisingly chip and rust free. I really need to replace or upgrade the headlamps as the plastic has aged badly. The fibreglass mid-roof is solid but it hasn’t aged well so something needs to be done about that.
Sounds like a great van.
Hopefully you might be able to keep it and find another to convert to a camper as it sounds just right as it is for you.
Headlights, well worth getting the repair kit for restoring plastic lights from your local car parts shop. We spent a couple of hours refurbishing ours and the difference is noticeable. A decent set of bulbs once this is done will transform them.
Make sure you’ve not got water getting into that B pillar as it will be a tricky place to repair. Normally it’s leaky windows or the factory roof bolts which can cause issues.
@@dcdtransportersThanks for the tips, appreciated. My wife and I both tramped the world in our younger days (before meeting) so when we started looking at the van as a potential camper we realised it could be the basis of a decent expedition vehicle. Watch this space!
the flaps are not easy by the left steering cars in the eu i did one relubecate te flapes but i need to remove the dash completely my own t5 2.5tdi 2005 stil havin the factory cup holders and they still work and i also repared the heaven in the van with new carpet and i put leather seats in from a passat 3cc and a steering wheel from a golf 7
Wow, an original cup holder that works is a very rare thing!!
I have a 2006 2.5tdi lwb 130 auto with 197k. Ive owned it a couple of months and done 1000 miles in it so far with no issues. I’m doing a self built conversion in the back which is nearly finished. It’s an ex London fire service van (was used for fire inspectors to go around doing investigations after fires so wasnt a response vehicle although it did have blue lights). Because it was a fire service van it came with no history, but it appears to have been very well looked after mechanically from what i can see with my limited knowledge (i can do basic servicing, im not an expert but can turn my hand to most things). Drives like a much newer van (i have a 5.1 also for work with the common rail engine and it honestly drives better / tighter than that)
Would you mind letting me know what things would be good for me to look at / do servicing wise? I will service it in the summer but im not sure what else to look out for. Was the 2006 engine different to the 2003? Also im a bit worried about the gearbox as ive heard horror stories of the auto boxes, but mine feels really tight and currently works perfectly. No nasty noises or clunks etc, and smooth gear changes.
Any help greatly appreciated. I plan on doing many miles in it next summer!! Thanks.
Thanks in advance!
That sounds like a great van with an interesting past! I’d keep everything you take off it as like the old transporters the fire engine and ambulance derivatives are very desirable and many are restored back to their original form. Obviously we are a little way from T5 becoming super rare but that day will eventually come.
In the meantime regular oil changes and will keep it good. Refresh the gearbox oil too, yes they can go wrong but no more than any other auto box. Autos generally tend to have easier lives as they don’t get thrashed as much as a manual.
Check the driveshalfs for wear, easiest way is with one front wheel off the ground rotate it by hand to see how far it goes without engaging the ‘box
The 2006 engine is slightly different. You’re on the cusp of getting DPF so check if you have one and use the correct oil to suit your engine.
Enjoy it.
@@dcdtransporters thanks so much for the reply. That’s really helpful. I wouldn’t have thought to check the drive shafts but of course that makes sense. I’ve also subscribed so I can catch your future vids. Thanks again!
Clean van for the year. Resist the lift lol
Absolutely resisting the lift!!! 👍🏻
I have an 04 I got off an old kitchen fitter who retired. very very clean!! 1.9 on 107k but the dual mass flywheel was goosed.. cost a lot to sort but now I have a proper sorted van. Resist the lift!!
I need to redo my headliner but wondering how to remove it. Do you have a video on that?
We don’t but I’m sure you’ll find one on TH-cam. It’s pretty easy, just mind the plastics when it’s cold, they like to snap if you’re not careful.
How much did you pay for it?
Im not very familiar with these but i thought the 2.5 were frowned upon because of them going boom. Could ve wrong but just something I heard.
The major issue is around how the camshaft was designed.
Without going into real technical detail the camshaft is prone to wear which creates problems with the top of the engine.
With labour and components getting expensive any major spend fixing these issues can often outweigh the value of the van.
Shame as these 2.5 engines suit the van really well.
@@dcdtransporters what is the correct oil? Is 95k likely to have a bad camshaft, it has a FSH.
@@simonbarnes9600on the T5 2.5 you need to use oils to the specification 506.01 on early vans and 507.00 on later vans with DPF.
I would hope that the van with 95k would not be worn and live for many more happy miles, but… as always it depends on how it’s been driven and subsequently looked after. Many garages are not aware of the specific oil needed.
Mine is a 2.5 SE automatic 2008. Does that make it a later van, with DPF, or an earlier one? I am also trying to find the best spec oil.
Once you get to know these 2.5 engines they aren't bad to work on but knowing how to do the cams is a must ,the bottom of the engine seems problem free .I love mine
Do these engines use oil between services ?
Our last 2.5 didn’t use any oil at all. This one we haven’t had long enough to really tell….
Most engines will use a little depending how hard you drive them.
@dcdtransporters I agree , I've seen one for sale and the owner reckons it uses 2-4litres every 1000 miles
@@mattp2494wow that’s a complete oil change every 2000 miles!!
Something isn’t right there, leaking or burning it somewhere
@dcdtransporters yes I agree , I mentioned that but he's convinced there's nowt wrong with it 🤣
Genuine question as I’m shopping around for a van, why would someone want an early T5?
Normally budget reasons. Obviously much cheaper than a later T5 or considerably cheaper than a T6. But that said like a lot of vehicles the early ones are becoming desirable as the first and original version and there is a growing trend towards the early vans and to keep them looking original.
@@dcdtransporters appreciate the swift response mate, valid points there🤝
Better get one from 2006-7 upwards bnz(130hp) bpc(180hp)
The early 2.5 TDI axd and axe are good but the later one id better altough still almost sharing same problems with the later ones camshaft,injection holes that wear.
The early ones had some problems with the plasma coating in the cylinders. Fixed on the later ones fitted with dpf or euro4 emission standards.
The exhaust manifold tend to crack and bend. Its been fixed on the later ones altough not completly gone still can happen. They tend to leak at the gasket between manifold and turbo and egr pipe gasket but not much crack the manifold.
I would get one thats euro 4 tbh.
If you can work on cars get one with bad camshaft you can get it cheap good camshaft,tappets,bolts ,gaskets and bearings around €800.
I bought mine 2008 T5 Lwb 5 seater 1 st owner with service history 321 000 km for € 2300 not a base model well equiped with bad camshaft
around 1500 in parts litle more expensive as i put in the pde brucke with thicker seals and injectors rings.
I really suggest the pde brucke.
I was lucky my injector holes werent worn they really were brand new.
Beware thats a big problem on them the injector holes wear you get diesel in oil result engine kaput. Symptoms: very difficult starting.
Advice when youre gonna see one: if it starts very difficult even with bad camshaft then then those injector holes are very very bad but can possibly also be just bad cam sensor but then the engine light will be on
If you can work on cars you can remove the head and put metal liners in them if you cant just walk away because thats gonna be very big bill.
Sorry for long text just my advice:)
I have no need for a van or a commercial vehicle of any kind. Yet, here I am…😐
Hello how much do you charge to fit and supply captains seat's thanks lee.
It really depends on what model you’ve got. Get in touch via email with some details and we can give you a more accurate price.
dcdtransporters@icloud.com
I opted for the 1.9 tdi 105 from new it achieves 650 miles to a tank ever time & 20y on it still gets 650 to a tank it’s been remapped & id put it against any 180 or 204 to 60 I know I should grow up 😂😂😂 I’ve driven to 204ps just to say
We’ve had a 204 with a DSG gearbox and they are quick. You’d certainly get better range than the 204 but not sure about the traffic light GP🚦 🏎️🚔😂
I generally tend to drive the vans a bit differently to a car so as long as they have reasonable power to accelerate onto a busy road that’ll do for me. Most vans with less than 140/150bhp really benefit from being mapped. Our T6.1 (110) was terrible before it was mapped but now is a really nice drive. Amazing the difference it made and how it was strangled from the factory!
The 130 bhp is 200 miles to a tank short of the 1.9 pd my boy was selling these at a vw dealer & the 2.5 is a nightmare when they go wrong I can only tell it like it is I know by talking to the vw fitters there were plenty of problems when they first come out Mass Flywheels they had a night shit working at vw to cope there was subframes lying all over the place saying that I had to replace the mass on mine at @45,000
@@dcdtransporters the pd engine is better than the common rail jobs & boy have they problems too 🙈
@@petersloan5779 again from experience and covering a lot of miles in a few 2.5’s I’d say that’s not quite true. I have regularly done 600 miles to a tank on a 2.5, uk and European driving. I’d take the extra torque everyday. So the consumption difference isn’t that great when considering it has an extra cylinder and much more power. The sixth gear allows the engine to rev lower when cruising at motorway speeds and optimises the torque.
No one here is saying 2.5 is the best thing since sliced bread and yes of course they have had issues, but for me they are the pick of the two choices. Both of these are now pretty old so starting to show their age.
This isn’t a breakdown on which engine is better etc it’s just a general what to look for as a whole when considering an early T5, my advice goes for both engines.