Should You Buy A B5/B5.5 Passat

Should You Buy A B5/B5.5 Passat? This generation Passat is one of the more costly cars to maintain. I LOVE this generation Passat. I drive one every day. But there is a lot of things you need to consider BEFORE you buy one!

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[johne]

I recently reached 20 years of ownership with my 2001 Passat wagon, one of the last made before the B5.5 facelift. As Charles notes, the key is proper maintenance and knowledge of the car and repair and maintenance tricks. I did have fun telling my friend, a retired Snap On Tools engineer, about pulling the nose forward to access the timing belt. :)

We replaced the valve cover gasket a year ago, and the top end of this "sludge monster" engine was still clean, thanks to a steady diet of Mobil1 0W-40 and the oversized Mann 950/4 oil filter, which boosts the wimpy oil capacity by 1/2 qt. and keeps the oil 5 degrees cooler.

[Profchill]

Right on glad to see, more b5/5.5 supporters out there. I own a b5.5 Passat myself as a daily driver as well and I love it. I knew the previous owners of it and they took care of it well. I haven't really had any major problems with it at all. Great car oddly enough, this is my first Volkswagen had it for about 2 years now I think.

[johne]

The wagon version is the best-configured, best-sized car ever.

[crescentandstarglory]

I bought my first car, 98 1.8t SW for $900 in 2010. It had 196.000 miles. I didn't even know there were oil weights never mind how to change oil. Took it to a mechanic. Told me needs timing belt. Asked how much. $1200!!! I got to learn how to change timing belt and other components. Now I can rebuild that engine. Passat teaches you how to be a mechanic!

[TheToxicGunnr]

I happened to find a nicely maintained B 5.5 passat wagon 1.8t. Major maintenance had been done (water pump, clutch, timing belt, etc) and all records of all maintenance from mile 1 was included. Really happy with my first standard AND first Volkswagen.

[streetmetl]

1st I'd like to say great channel love the video's. I just purchased a 2004 Passat  1.8t and I went with the GL not all the dumb  extras with 88, 000 miles.  I'm a great mechanic but left the timing belt, idler, belt, water pump  ten.   $800  oem everything even the two drive belts. I researched about the aftermarket water pumps and glad I did. i also had the tranny flush $211 with filter and new pan. I replaced a few broken things like window regulator under $10 and all did all fluids such as brake fluid flush, steering fluid flush, coolant flush. replace all the filters air/cabin. Also new coils/plugs pcv valve. I change my oil every 3000 miles fully synthetic w/filter $45. Just learned a lot about VW's and specific oils and fluids. For around $1500 on top of the car purchase it's perfect. I Love this car and how fast she is.  Just keep up the maintenance such as cam tensioners, valve cover gasket, and a front ball joint check here and there and there, should get another $100, 000 miles riding in style. A lot cheaper then a new car and better then driving a Honda or Toyota. Keep up the great video's..

[chanceweldrick]

Just bought a 04 Passat about 2 weeks ago, it has 90, 000 miles and it’s 5 speed. Took it to a few shops before buying and it is probably the most solid car I have ever owned. No leaks of any kind, transmission and clutch are good and I’m replacing to timing belt this weekend. Very happy with the car I highly recommend one if you can get one in good shape.

[BMMi]

A B5 1.8T passat is my first car. Still driving it :)

[diamari]

I paid about 2700 cash for my 03 vw passat b5.5 2.7l, this is my first one and so far so good. I could've gotten it cheaper but i love this car now. Check when the timing belt and water pump has been changed, and keep the oil changed as frequent as necessary and your car should be fine... I'm there second owner and it's at about 197, 000 mi as of August 2018.

[soakedinoil]

Completely agree with your review. Had a 99 Passat with the V6 for my first car and it's what started my obsession with Volkswagen. I put a lot of money into the car but it was totally worth it. Great car for people who are into cars and don't mind spending money on repairs.

[dakotataylor]

bought an 04 (B5.5) passat wagon 1.8t with 210km on it in August and aside from oil changes (every 5k) I only just had to replace a brake caliper that locked up on me and will soon have to fix the plate on my rear strut, also a coolant temp sensor but that was an easy and cheap fix too. approaching 230 km now and everything feels pretty good still.

[cdnmanvanman]

Agree with Charles here, absolutely love this car 2003 B5.5 Wagon, but I wouldn't recommend to someone who doesn't know cars, go buy a Corolla instead. I know every inch of this car. It's easy to fix but you have to know when to have a professional mechanic perform the harder stuff that's required eg. timing belt, CV joints, etc.

[Linttaaww]

I have had passat B5.5 1.9 Tdi 4-motion 131Hp for over 1 year and there is now 456thousand km on cluster, I have driven about 40K km it have been optimized to 163Hp when there has been 200K on clock, Now I have bought FMIC and GTC1549VZ turbo on it and I will go to optimize it to 200HP.

engine and transmission is original only clutch have been replaced by me, altenator, start etc.. is original, no rust. I have changed oil and filter every 10000KM it's awesome car I recomend it.

[kostaskefalas]

03 b5.5 V6 manual with 320k on it and it can still give my buddies mk6 gti a run for its money.

[CC-mjzq]

spot on. nice car for the money. High maintenance, always something to fix. we have 2 of them, 2004 and made the same repairs on both.

[jzillalaw]

My favorite car as well I own a 2000 atw fwd, needless to say I’ve built it to a monster but still by far best dub I’ve owned. I do however have a upper hand due to fact I’ve been building Vw’s since I was 13. Started air cooled then mk1 mk2 etc. love the channel and information you put out there.

[wyattoneable]

I just got back from Germany and there are a lot of VW's on the road. Most all of them are TDI's with manual transmissions. I really like the styling of the car and the people I've asked are getting over 40 MPG. Despite the emissions scandal (something I could care less about) I'm thinking of buying a TDI. Any thoughts?

[Janet_Airlines]

I have a silver B5.5 wagon and i absolutely love it. I bought it used from a elderly couple who maintained the car at VW dealer it’s whole life. They owned it from 20 miles to 140, 000. I bought it from them and they just had the timing belt service done. I drive it like a grandpa, so hopefully it will last a little while. I owned a 84 Golf that went to 275, 000 miles, I’m praying my b5.5 will last that long.

[CarringtonHollister]

Current and proud owner of Danielle the 2002 Volkswagen Passat GLS

[somdood]

Dear humble mechanic, you weren't lieing at all. Second time Vw owner, Paid 4k for a 2003 metallic green GLS 1.8t, ive replaced the entire pcv system, egr valve and housing, half moon gasket, cam seals, turbo, n75 valve, diverter valve, spark plugs and coils, map sensor, both o2 sensors, intake pipe, exhaust, thermostat, thermostat housing water temp sensor, water pipe oring stereo, shocks and struts, brakes, tires control arms, glove box, climate control, arm rest, drivers side window and lock controls, trunk latch, headlight housing, the battery, almost all of the plastics under the hood are brand new or have less than 250 miles on them. after a year and a half of owning this im about 7k into restoring this thing if you count in the price of some tools i didnt have like triple box sockets, torx bits etc. as well as any labor costs for the cam seals and half moon gasket. i gotta say its finally running right and drives great but wow talk about a love hate relationship getting to this point... fix it break it repeat... so many times i thought about selling it for a mk4 gti but i was so far in it would have sucked to give up. assuming it doesn't break in the near future only thing left is a transmission flush and filter to get rid of the random reverse surge i get when its cold outside, and getting rid of interior creaks, sound proofing with dynamat and working on 2 deep scratches about appx 10 rock chips on the hood and a ding on the body... its so nice to look at sitting there tinted out, lowered all green black and chrome and handles like a high end go cart with absolutely zero body roll.