So, tell me all about B3 Passats...

[Del]

Since the departure of the Granada, I've made do with our modern Panda. But the retro itch is going to need scratching again soon, and I've always had a liking for B3s.
So, what do I need to know?
What are the good ones and what are the bad ones?
What are the comfy ones with the toys?
What are the bits that go wrong, and how expensive are they when they do?
What bits can I use from elsewhere?
What bits can I fix myself fairly easily and which bits are an absolute pig?

Have this as a thank-you:

[lufbramatt]

I've just sold one that I ran for 10 years... I'll write a proper reply later once I've put my boy to bed :-)

[Dez]

They're basically a mk3 golf with a slightly longer wheelbase and a better interior.

Mechanically they're pretty bombproof. Pretty much everything interchanges with mk2/mk3 golf platform so lots of tuning and lowering options and parts are cheap. 1.9td is arguably the best engine in them. Very tuneable, fairly frugal and still quite quick.

Rust less than golfs in my experience. Tailgates are most prone area, under the number plate surround and below glass. Door bottoms also. Rest is generally pretty good.

The bits that break are generally electrical items and interior plastics. Dash vents and switch surrounds are fragile, electric Windows and central locking pack up. Door handles are a pain in the , they break internally and can't be opened from outside. Replacements are now available though. Aside from that there's not much to worry about. I've run a few over the years and they've generally all been pretty reliable.

[Dez]

Oh, and 'L' = proper base spec. Manual everything , black plastic bumpers, not very nice seats, tend to be plainer colours.

"CL" is next step up, better interiors, usually electric Windows, painted bumpers.

"GL" is a fairly good spec, electric mirrors and Windows, fog lights, usually a sunroof (but not always on estates) full adjustable seats with better trim.

They also do a highline with leather and a/c and stuff but they're fairly rare and tend to only be 16v or vr6 so they'll be pricey.

[lufbramatt]

GL and GT were the top spec, they were about the same price new but had different seats, trim etc. Usually had all electric windows, electric mirrors, sunroof, rear discs etc. GLs had painted bumpers but were more of a "comfy" spec. GT mechanically the same but had thicker anti roll bars.

As Dez said L is povvo spec (although some did get power steering) keep fit windows and basic instruments.

Diesels are good but have heard of a few people having injector pump failures. 1.8 8v comes in single and multi point injection, the multi point one is the mk2 golf GTi engine, very reliable and quite frugal on fuel. The spi lump is torquey but runs out of puff at high rpm.

16v engines use lots of fuel for the performance, the 2.0 is better as it is torquier but it's strangled by the cams. Vr6 very very rare now.

I put an ABF 2.0 16v out of a mk4 Passat in mine and I loved it, 150bhp and 40mpg on a run.

Sills can rust, also tailgate and have seen a few people report rust in the seam in the scuttle, although mine was spotless there.

Dash parts are shared with the corrado and t4 van, suspension is a sidetrack version of the mk2 golf setup, as are brakes. Gearboxes shared with corrado and mk3 golf.

They weigh around 1100-1200kg so still fairly light by modern standards so not much slower than a golf. They respond really well to a slight hit with the lowering stick, you can fit the eibach rear anti roll bar for the mk2 golf for lift off oversteer funtimes...

[lufbramatt]

Oh and the states have a 75 litre fuel tank so it's possible to get 100 quids worth of fuel in one :-)

[Baby Cheeses]

I run one as a daily covering anything from 450 to 600 miles a week. I bought as a low millage desiel and its now passed the 200k mark with just normal servicing, saying that it did need a new front wheel bearing and hub this week.
Like said the interior plastics can be a weakness, heater controls are common failure, I have the cables disconnected from the knobs on mine so I just slide the cables in and out.
Rust wise they are pretty good unless you have the GT model with the plastic cill covers which are a rust trap.
Heater matrexs can go so make sure the heater works, not that hard to do, just fiddly
Clocks, chances are if the fuel and temp gauge etc are faulty it a dry joint on the circuit board
Running cost, well if are lucky enough to get a veg friendly diesel you wont get a cheaper estate car of that size to run, no mods needed if you run on veg. Petrol wise the 2ltr is a great all round engine
Prices are starting to rise, one for sale on VZI

[lufbramatt]

I sold mine quickly for £800 a few weeks ago, not bad considering it had 286000 miles on it!

I paid £300 for it back in 2006. So they are on the rise, but oh so slowly...

[fpk]

Great cars
I had a 1.6td estate, put coil overs on it and ran it from 188k miles to 245k miles just servicing and a cam belt. I always keep my eyes open for another estate

[Del]

Thank you all, lots of great info!
I did see yours Matt, and was um-ing and ah-ing about it, but um-d and ah-d too long!

[lufbramatt]

Good point about electric window mechs. The front window mechs can suffer from stripped teeth on the big quadrant gear. However you can use a B4 window mech, stronger as they are made from much thicker steel, just have to change the motor over for the B3 one. Same deal with the sunroofs.

Loads of B4 parts fit and are often that little bit better than the B3 equivalent. By the end my B3 was pretty much a B4 in a B3 shell. B3's seem to have had better rust proofing than B4's on the whole.

[slackerTHEpinstriper]

Just get one. You won't regret it!!

Just remember to put oil and water in 😏

[Jez]

Excellent cars! My Dad and I ran one for 20 years between us and both agree it's the best car we've ever had. That was a 1991 2.0 8v GL estate. It's still going now, with a TDI in it. As everybody else has said, economical, spacious, cheap to fix with Golf parts, and look great with lows.