SEAT Leon - 2007 Seat Leon 1.9 DTI DPF or not?

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Mon 29 Jan 2018 18:18
SEAT Leon - 2007 Seat Leon 1.9 DTI DPF or not? - Bdpoop

Hello

Forgive me for just jumping in as a newbie but I am going to look at a Leon 1.9 TDI on Wednesday having owned a Golf Mk4 1.9 TDI for the last ten years which is now nearly 20 years old and is like one of those clown cars where any minute now it will just fall to bits in a heap. Time is not on my side.

I know very little about cars but have been researching for a few weeks now and as Im now semi retired I only do 6000 miles a year and all the newer Diesel vehicles after 2009 have to have DPF I understand but a few pre 2009 had DPF also.

Its a Seat Leon 1.9 TDI Stylance 5dr at 88000 miles, its had the cam belt done I believe and the test history looks like its past every year with a full service history. £2400 with three months warranty. Anything I need to look out for on this car?

Ive read all the horror stories about low mileage Diesels and DPF but was under the impression that the 1.9 TDI in a 2007 Leon is pretty much the bullet proof engine thats in my Golf, is that correct? But the important question is how can I be sure it is DPF Free? The dealer doesnt know.

Im also open to suggestions for other models. I tried a 2010 Hyundai i10 today 1.2 petrol and it was ok. I just like the torquey desiels which I am used to.

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Mon 29 Jan 2018 18:35
SEAT Leon - 2007 Seat Leon 1.9 DTI DPF or not? - badbusdriver

I wouldn't swear to this, but i don't think the 1.9 had DPF as it was being phased out and replaced by the (troublesome) 1.6 around the time DPF's were becoming the norm.

As for alternatives, what is your budget, annual miles, type of driving etc?

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Mon 29 Jan 2018 19:17
SEAT Leon - 2007 Seat Leon 1.9 DTI DPF or not? - Steveieb
My Golf 1.6 Tdi. MK 6 had a Dpf icon on the instrument head up which lit up on start up and went out as soon as the engine started.
Is this a reliable check to use ? The golf was 2010.
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Mon 29 Jan 2018 20:36
SEAT Leon - 2007 Seat Leon 1.9 DTI DPF or not? - SLO76
I’m not 100% certain but I’m fairly sure the Leon never came with a DPF on the 1.9 diesels. It was an option and standard on some Golf’s and A3’s. Look for a light on the dash that looks a bit like an exhaust backbox with dots inside. If it has this then it’s sure to have one. Other than that you’ll just have to physically look for it or call your local Seat dealer with the reg and chassis no’s to find out for sure.

Fairly robust engines though it’ll be using the later commonrail injection system rather than the PD in your Golf which is more prone to issues and slower. Remember also they need a costly timing belt change every 4yrs which is rarely done shortly before selling so make sure it has been done recently or price the job in. I’ve seen dealers tell punters a car has had a belt change but looking at the book/receipts shows it was years ago.

These also suffer from the Mk V Golf’s ABS control module failure issue which is costly to rectify. Check the ABS warning light illuminates with the ignition then goes out when started. It’s common to see it blanked off.

While I get the appeal of a turbo diesel at this money and on your usage a good petrol engined car would be a far better bet. Your budget would stretch to a decent Mk II Ford Focus with the Mazda designed chain driven 1.8 or 2.0 petrols both of which have no real vices if looked after and are much nicer to drive than a Leon of this vintage. The 1.6 Yamaha designed motor is excellent also but knowing your need for speed it’ll probably be a bit underwhelming.
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Tue 30 Jan 2018 10:55
SEAT Leon - 2007 Seat Leon 1.9 DTI DPF or not? - Stackman II

We have a similar conundrum.

We need to replace my wife's car as she drove it in to a flood and killed it. (Don't ask)

We have been offered a 2006 Audi A3 with the 1.9 TDi engine.

The car has sone 98,000 miles with a FSH and recent belt change. It is immaculate and is being offered to us at the trade-in price of £1,600.

My wife's usage is mostly short trips in the week but we will be using it for longer runs at weekends and for holidays etc. I know the main journey profile would mitigate against a diesel but I understand that the 1.9 PD unit is fairly robust and has no DPF.

What is the worst that can happen with this engine ? Checking Autotrader similar cars go for around £3,000 or have interstellar mileages so it really is too good to turn down.

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Tue 30 Jan 2018 12:09
SEAT Leon - 2007 Seat Leon 1.9 DTI DPF or not? - SLO76
With an old diesel buy only if you can afford to write it off. Fuel pump fails or turbo goes pop, dual mass flywheel and a clutch etc etc all can put it beyond economic repair. It’s a total punt and fine for those who just want cheap transport but totally inadvisable for those who don’t have the funds to replace it if it dies. Anyone who borrows to buy an old diesel is looking over the edge of a cliff.

Edited by SLO76 on 30/01/2018 at 12:10

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Tue 30 Jan 2018 12:19
SEAT Leon - 2007 Seat Leon 1.9 DTI DPF or not? - Gibbo_Wirral

We have been offered a 2006 Audi A3 with the 1.9 TDi engine.

The car has sone 98,000 miles with a FSH and recent belt change. It is immaculate and is being offered to us at the trade-in price of £1,600.

Recent belt change, yet its been px/ed? Doesn't make financial sense of the previous owner to go to that trouble only to get rid a short time later unless he's been offered a baragin of a new(er) car, or there's something seriously wrong with this one.

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Tue 30 Jan 2018 23:38
SEAT Leon - 2007 Seat Leon 1.9 DTI DPF or not? - Avant

Indeed. If you do go for this one, make sure you see an invoice for the belt change. 'Recent' could mean anything.

After 40 years in Berkshire, we moved to Dorset in 2014. Quite 'recent', really.

Edited by Avant on 30/01/2018 at 23:39

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Wed 31 Jan 2018 10:12
SEAT Leon - 2007 Seat Leon 1.9 DTI DPF or not? - Stackman II

Welcome to Dorset, Avant.

We have decided to give the A3 a chance. My daughter's fiance is a salesman at a new car franchise and took the car back as a part exchange. The last owners had it for 6 years and were obsessive car cleaners it seems.

We are getting it at "bottom book" price so if we don't get on with it can sell it on for a profit.

Had it been a DPF model then we would have dismissed it immediately.

Looking at alternatives for our budget the whole package is head and shoulders above anything else we could buy. We know a petrol engine would have suited better but when you are buying at this end of the market beggars can't be choosers.

We will keep an eye out for fuel pump and dual mass flywheel problems.

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