Volkswagen Passat B6 - is the classic of the German car industry so reliable?

Volkswagen cars have always been considered the best compared to Opel and Ford. This is primarily due to the corrosion resistance of Volkswagen. The cars of this brand were the most versatile, despite the discreet, as a rule, appearance.


Volkswagen Passat is a legend in Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union. Our drivers began to get acquainted with the model from the second generation. The third and fourth have firmly won the glory of "indestructible".

Volkswagen Passat B5 spoiled the image of the model, so in the next generation, the designers tried to return to their roots. They succeeded and whether it was worth buying B6, for which they ask from 280 thousand to 1 million rubles - we will figure it out.

Body

Volkswagen Passat B6 was produced from 2005 to 2010. The body was declared by the manufacturer as galvanized and it is true. The paintwork of the car is quite strong and thick. It would seem that no corrosion of the model threatens, but there it was.


The Volkswagen Passat B6 rots great, and the fault lies entirely with the reagents that are abundantly sprinkled on roads in winter. If “bugs” are visible on the car body, this indicates operation in a big city, and the previous owners were unlikely to treat the car with anticorrosive.

If there is no desire to mess with bodywork and paint work, you need to look for a copy without rust. By the way, external examination is not everything. It is recommended to examine the condition of the bottom on the lift. It can also "please" through corrosion.

You need to carefully inspect the optics for damage - it is expensive. Door locks are a problem area in the Volkswagen Passat B6, so they need to be carefully checked.

Salon and electrical equipment

Inside, the German car pleases with build quality and luxury finishes. Not a premium class, of course, but it is immediately clear that the manufacturer tried to raise the prestige of its model. Since the fifth generation, such a trend has been outlined, and starting with the Volkswagen Passat B7, cars have become too expensive for their class.


The interior is spacious, there is enough space both in front and behind. All materials are wear-resistant, although some specimens have worn buttons on the steering wheel and power window unit. If the coating is peeling off, this indicates a huge mileage, or the previous owner's excessive enthusiasm for aggressive chemistry.

Sometimes there are instances with a salon from the Passat B7 model, fortunately, it is placed in the B6 with almost no alterations. Is it worth getting a makeover? Rather yes than no, because such tuning at least hints that the owner loved his car.

The most common interior equipment problems:

✅ Stove fan noise
✅ Clogged drain
✅ Malfunctions of dampers in the climate system

The electrics of the Volkswagen Passat B6 are reliable in German, even strange, given its quantity. But this is exactly until the moment when a low-skilled specialist gets in there. As a rule, wiring problems begin after the introduction of foreign alarms and "pumped" music systems.

It turns out that it is better to avoid cars with installed "non-native" equipment. In some cases, this leads to problems with the electrician, and there are a lot of them here.

Hodovka

Let's start with the braking system. There are no complaints about it, as long as everything works. The Passat B6 had a problem with ABS, which did not function correctly on a slippery road, but dealers corrected it in the early years of car ownership.


The second major downside is the parking brake. He is here with a motor drive, not distinguished by reliability. Therefore, if the handbrake does not work when buying, this is an occasion to bargain.



The suspensions of the Volkswagen Passat B6, unlike the previous generation of the model, have a high level of reliability. They are often compared to B3/B4. The front suspension, with careful operation, takes care of 300 thousand km, you only need to change consumables, such as struts, silent blocks and stabilizer bushings.

The rear suspension is more complex, the load on it is higher, and therefore it fails twice as fast. The resource here is an average of 150 km, of course, when serviced with original spare parts. Sagging or broken springs are recommended to be replaced with reinforced ones.

The steering of the Volkswagen Passat B6, as a rule, does not cause problems, despite the presence of an electric amplifier.

Gearboxes and rare all-wheel drive

Although manual transmissions have always been considered the most reliable, the car has a couple of specific problems. For example, a dual-mass flywheel, which is found on six-speed gearboxes, is not the most resourceful part.


The 5-speed manual transmission model MQ200-5F is a problematic unit. It is better not to take a car with him. Accordingly, thorough computer diagnostics are needed to understand which manual transmission is worth.

After 200 km of run, there may be some looseness of the lever when shifting gears, but this does not affect the operation of the unit.
The automatic transmissions of the Volkswagen Passat B6 are generally quite reliable, but they need to be diagnosed before buying. It is difficult to immediately determine how the unit was serviced and operated, and the failure of the "machine" is always painful for the owner's budget.

All automatic transmissions that can be found on the Volkswagen Passat B6 need timely oil changes and do not like a sporty driving style with slippage during a sharp start. If you operate the car carefully, then the “automatic” will last its 300 or more thousand km.

Four-wheel drive is a rarity for the Passat, but sometimes such options come across for sale. The system is reliable, there are no complaints about the angular gearboxes, but the Haldex coupling needs periodic maintenance.

Engines

There were many different engines installed on the Volkswagen Passat B6, they are mostly turbocharged. In principle, the engines are reliable, but if breakdowns begin, repairs for most units are expensive.


The owners' problem is that they are used to atmospheric engines, which allow operation with minor breakdowns, and they are structurally simpler. Due to the large number of engine versions, to repair the Volkswagen Passat B6 internal combustion engine, it is often necessary to disassemble half of the power unit.

If you want something as simple as before, then it is best to choose a car with a BSE / BSF engine. These are eight valves with a working volume of 1,6 liters. The engine resource is up to 500 thousand km even in urban conditions. But you should not expect any dynamics from BSE / BSF - this is a typical "vegetable" for those who appreciate reliability, efficiency and are not in a hurry anywhere.

If you want to move quickly, and fuel consumption is not important, then it makes sense to look for FSI engines with a displacement of 3,2 / 3,6 liters. Motors are simple and have a resource of 400 thousand km. Only to serve them because of the dense layout of the engine compartment is difficult and expensive.

For the most economical, there are diesel Volkswagen Passat B6. In Russia, they are on sale for about 30% of the total, which indicates the reliability of these engines.


Motors without any "childhood sores", but do not forget about the age of the cars - and this is at least 12 years for the most "fresh" copies. So a thorough diagnosis by minders is highly recommended before purchase.

Should I buy a Volkswagen Passat B6? Given the overall reliability of the model, the most important thing is to find a copy with a whole body and no visible technical problems. If you like the car, it is better to invest in a thorough diagnosis of all components and assemblies.

Despite the large amount of electronics, the Volkswagen Passat B6 is considered an "old school" model, with the reliability inherent in this category.