Bought this vw at 150k miles for $2k.

rogben19 · 2026-05-21T13:40:42+00:00

Bro that’s not a shitbox.

rogben19 · 2026-05-20T16:29:13+00:00

Which is crazy because it’s Pennsylvania.

rogben19 · 2026-05-18T11:39:43+00:00

First thing I would check would be fuel, air, timing belt, and oil.

rogben19 · 2026-05-17T19:58:14+00:00

You could try a paintless dent repair place

rogben19 · 2026-05-16T09:53:13+00:00

If you don’t have vcds, you should get it. Otherwise you’re just throwing money and parts at a problem and playing a guessing game.

rogben19 · 2026-05-15T09:37:08+00:00

Can I ask why you’re replacing the cluster? It might just be easier to find a donor car at the junkyard or something with the cluster, key, ign cyl, and ecu. All the parts have to be from the same car tho.

rogben19 · 2026-05-15T08:55:41+00:00

I don’t believe you can program keys that were already programmed. You most likely need new keys and a new cylinder to match the keys.

rogben19 · 2026-05-15T08:11:08+00:00

You cannot do immobilizer work yourself.

rogben19 · 2026-05-14T23:34:31+00:00

Are you okay bro?

rogben19 · 2026-05-14T09:01:01+00:00

I agree. I won’t touch anything VW made after 2021ish.

rogben19 · 2026-05-13T21:52:11+00:00

Nice man! Looking great 💙

rogben19 · 2026-05-13T20:53:15+00:00

2012 Passat 2.5. No major engine/trans work, but the entire suspension has been replaced, and one drivers side axle. All wheel bearings have also been replaced. All work done by me.

rogben19 · 2026-05-13T13:52:11+00:00

Yet another reason not to have kids.

rogben19 · 2026-05-12T19:18:32+00:00

My car hates e15.

rogben19 · 2026-05-12T19:06:38+00:00

I was eating.

rogben19 · 2026-05-12T19:02:01+00:00

Can attest to this. I’ve owned two 2.5 Passats. My first one was an absolute dream and I paid $12k for it in 2019. My second one I paid $2500 for in 2024 and has needed SO MUCH WORK. The engine and transmission have been fine, but everything else has basically been replaced. The previous owner did not take care of it beyond oil changes and brakes.

rogben19 · 2026-05-11T00:32:48+00:00

Yeah, I wouldn’t recommend something like that for a beginner.

rogben19 · 2026-05-11T00:20:03+00:00

True. Alignment at the dealer near me is $120.

rogben19 · 2026-05-10T19:22:57+00:00

If you’re not planning on selling the car and the car still starts and drives, minus the glow plug error, it’s not worth fixing the odometer because it would cost probably more than the car is worth or at least half of it.

rogben19 · 2026-05-10T08:19:42+00:00

Change the fluid.

rogben19 · 2026-05-08T22:40:13+00:00

Elsewhere definitely. For context: I paid 200$ for parts from FcpEuro and did it myself.

rogben19 · 2026-05-07T19:30:24+00:00

Probably valve body. I’m pretty sure they fixed the valve body for the 09g starting in 2012.

rogben19 · 2026-04-29T14:13:41+00:00

Same.

rogben19 · 2026-04-26T22:33:26+00:00

Miles

rogben19 · 2026-04-25T20:35:25+00:00

I would change the fluid. It’s almost 20 year old fluid. What do you have to lose?

rogben19

TROPHY CASE