VR5 engines

[silverbullet]

Anyone know much about them? On paper they look like a good package for a syncro: short and wide so departure angle isn't compromised, 2.3 litre with 170PS and ~210 Nm, really good torque spread, revs to 6500, smoother than an inline 4, better fuel economy than a V6, no timing belt (uses a chain driven from the flywheel end). Should be a few about by now for not much £££ and it looks like it still uses the inline 5/V6 bellhousing bolt pattern?
The only downside looks like the Dual Mass Flywheel

[toomanytoys]

Lovely off beat sound...

[ELVIS]

Wonder if its poss to do what 2.5 T4 chaps do, replace dual mass with 'traditional' flywheel from a similar model (they use 2.4NA and VR6 clutch IIRC ones)

[taigagreen]

Great engines! They drive really sweet.

[syncrodoug]

Nothing wrong with DMFs!

[Aidan]

only 1 for sale on ebay, just shy of 2 grand, in the states, not exactly common are they

[syncroandy]

They do seem to be extremely rare, google shows up little useful info about the engine, basic conversion info like bolts patterns. Best avoided I think.

[silverbullet]

It was just a food for thought exercise...the engine management is just about the latest generation Motronic I think, but Golf and Bora people seem to be tuning them ok. Turbos getting bolted on etc.
Should be able to pick up a reasonable mileage older Passat (different ancilliaries for in-line mounting) or unfashionable Bora with one in by now for ok money. Maybe something in the salvage line that's had a good whack up the backside?
Look up "VR5 self-study programme 195" for an overview.

[syncroandy]

I had a quick look at the PDF, quite interesting. I think to go into a T3 it would be a case of fitting everything from the donor engine into the van, mounts, sump etc. Passat would be preferred though I don't like the look of that big accessory jobbie. You may end up with spare accessories you don't need.

[syncropaddy]

Im told that a V5 is one very smooth unit .....

[ninja.turtle007]

Im told that a V5 is one very smooth unit .....

Just haggled a great deal for the MIL for a golf V5. Sounds lovely and goes well.

[toomanytoys]

only 1 for sale on ebay, just shy of 2 grand, in the states, not exactly common are they

4 V5's on autotrader under a grand...

seen lots of golf 4 motions...

[rogerg-wagon]

Have a friend who has had a 1998 Golf V5 for some time, will ask if there is a downside to these vehicles.

[SyncroSwede]

A friend was looking to replace his 1.8T Passat recently and wondered why the newer V5 Passats were so cheap. Their road tax band is crippling because of emissions, (obviously on 2001 or newer).