Common Rail 2.0 TDI

[A1Dan75]

I'm looking at bying an A4 at the moment, and could do with clarification on something:

How long has the 2.0 TDI (Specifically the 170bhp) had the current CR engine (engine code CBBB, I think)?

I've been reading up on the A4 and also the Passat, which I was also considering, and have read that the current Passat only got the CR engine in 2008, but can't find any info on how long its been in the A4.

Prior to this engine, did the A4 have the same engine as the Passat previously had (engine code BMR, I think)?

Haven't got a test drive sorted yet, but given what I've read about the superiority of the CR engine (feel free to comment on this too!), it'd be handy to know what to look for!

Thanks in advance!

[MFGF]

Hi,

The CR engines are fitted only to the A4 B8 models, which were introduced in 2008. B7 models have the older PD engines.

Regards,

MF.

[A1Dan75]

Thanks MF - that clears that up!

What is the consensus on the relative merits of teh CR v the DP? I've seen some posts on here from people who seem to prefer the DP?

[John140]

I think horsepower for horsepower, the PD engines always feel more gutsy to drive, but the CR engines seem a bit flat by comparison. However the external quietness of the CR engines is nice to have.

[MFGF]

Thanks MF - that clears that up!

What is the consensus on the relative merits of teh CR v the DP? I've seen some posts on here from people who seem to prefer the DP?

They do feel like completely different engines. The PD engines seem to have more low-down turbo lag, then LOADS of boost, then run out of puff very quickly at around 3500rpm (or at least my previous A6 TDI 140 did). This was very much an old-school diesel engine, and I had to adapt my driving style quite a lot to cope (my car before this was an A6 with the 1.8T petrol engine).

In comparison, the CR engines have less turbo lag, less thump-in-the-back boost, and a bigger rev range. The overall experience when switching from PD to CR is that the car doesn't necessarily feel as quick unless you adapt your driving style to suit. The engines are definitely quieter and smoother, and because the boost doesn't thump in like a PD it's definitely a smoother overall driving experience. To get ultimate performance from the CR engines, you need to hang onto the gears for a bit longer (more like a petrol turbo). I found initially I had to be very careful, as I was driving by feel sometimes rather than watching the speedo, and was going scarily faster than I'd thought.

Cheers!

MF.