W8 engine and Volkswagen Passat B5 - how is the legendary Volkswagen Passat W8 doing today?

“The Passat in the TDI is the horror of every village” is what observers say derisively about the hugely popular Passat. The problem is that not only does VW have a good 1.9 TDI, it also has a W8 4.0 engine. Although it was produced for only 4 years, today it has become a true legend among automotive experts. What is worth knowing about it? Check!

W8 engine - volume 4 liters and power 275 hp.

For what purpose did Volkswagen develop and produce the good old Passat with the W8 engine? The reason is very simple - the transition to the next level. At that time, the main competitor of this model was the Audi A4, which had the same platform and engines. Interestingly, the Ingolstadt stable had sports versions of the S4 and RS4. They had a 2.7 T unit with a capacity of 265 and 380 hp. respectively. Both had 6 cylinders in a V arrangement, so Volkswagen went a little further.

Volkswagen Passat W8 - technical data

Now let's focus on what most attracts the imagination - the numbers. And these are impressive. The engine itself in the W system is nothing more than two V4s covered by two heads. The arrangement of the cylinders is very similar to the well-known VR. Cylinders 1 and 3 are located higher than cylinders 2 and 4. The situation is the same on the other side of the machine. The engine, designated BDN and BDP, offered 275 hp as standard. and a torque of 370 Nm. What is very important, the specific arrangement of the cylinders made it possible to reach the maximum torque at the level of 2750 rpm. This means performance is very similar to supercharged units.

Data sheet

The transmission installed on the Passat W8 is a 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic. The drive is well known from the VAG 4Motion group. The manufacturer claims 6,5 seconds to 100 km/h (manual) or 7,8 seconds to 250 km/h (automatic) and a top speed of XNUMX km/h. Of course, driving such a car requires a lot of fuel. While a quiet track is the result of 9,5 liters, city driving means an increase of almost 20 liters per 100 km. In the combined cycle, the unit is content with a fuel consumption of 12-14 liters. The fuel consumption for such an engine is not high, but the price at the time of the premiere was staggering – about PLN 170!

Volkswagen Passat B5 W8 - what you need to know about it?

The honest “B8” with the WXNUMX unit does not stand out at first glance - just another VW Passat station wagon. However, everything changes the moment you step on the gas pedal. A stock exhaust can really raise your adrenaline levels, not to mention tuned versions. Almost identical in design to the traditional version, has its pros and cons. One of the advantages is the availability of spare parts, which in many cases are identical to those used in conventional Passat. However, if you want to try a car that is also exceptional on the outside, the B5 W8 is not the best choice - it is distinguished only by the exhaust and the symbol on the grille.

W8 engine

Apart from the spare parts that fit this version of the body, the situation with the engine itself is completely different. This is a completely niche design and it is quite difficult to find accessories or repair the device. It's undeniable that the W8 4Motion can pull a solid punch in a new owner's pocket. Many repairs require engine disassembly, as practically nothing else will fit into the camera. An alternative would be the slightly more popular V8 or W12 engines, which are more readily available.

VW Passat W8 4.0 4Motion - is it worth buying now?

If you find a decent model, you should be prepared to spend PLN 15-20 thousand. It's a lot? It is difficult to answer unambiguously. Compared to the price of a new model, any aftermarket offer looks like a promotion. Remember, though, that you have a 20 year old car that could have gone through a lot. Of course, in the case of a unit of such high power, there is a chance that it was not “pelted” by young 1/4 mile adepts. However, you have to take into account the mileage of 300-400 thousand kilometers. The owners say that serviceable units should not have problems in everyday use, even with such a high mileage.

The W8 engine has both lovers and detractors. It certainly has its drawbacks, but some automotive experts believe that this iconic Volkswagen engine is unmatched to this day.