03 vw bug TDi 1.9 with 177k miles

[Nick1994]

What was the problems with it?

Some things were normal repairs, but over the 11 years we had it, it needed:

A/C pressure hose
Seat belt sensor
Engine coolant temp sensor
Control arm bushings
Strut mounts
Alternator
Starter
Thermostat
Lots of CV boots
Probably 7 windshields
Short lived batteries
Motor mounts
Engine fan
High pressure fuel pump (recall, then leaked)
Glow plugs (recall)
Door speakers (proprietary speakers that are $200+ each at the dealer).
Dual Mass Flywheel (2004 was the first year of the DSG, though it was a bad design for years afterwards). It then failed a month or so later and the dealer replaced it again, and it then started chattering again.
Electrical panel on top of the battery melted down.
Plugged EGR valve.
Windshield washer bottle leaked.

Things that were impending doom:
Mechatronics unit internal to transmission was failing.
Camshaft was starting to wear (common on BEW engines, 2004-2006).
A/C compressor was getting noisy.
HVAC blower motor was getting noisy,
Sunroof sometimes wouldn't close.
Interior door panels were awful, and other materials were getting gummy. This was a garaged car at work and at home.
Stereo volume knob sometimes didn't work.
Seats wouldn't fold forward sometimes.
Turbo actuator valve set a check engine light, luckily we cleared it and it didn't come back. If it did, that would have been an entire turbo replacement (one unit).

I sold it in 2015 and bought a 2000 Camry. Which I gave to my brother and he still drives it to this day. Its repair list consists of a fuel pump, brake booster, and an alternator at 257k miles. Oh and some suspension bits. Everything else is original.

 

[Thermo1223]

That's what I'm leaning towards. Usually those in my area are well above 300k. This one popped up with decent mileage.

300k isn't deal breaker if it's maintained. They are way overbuilt and at stock power levels could achieve 500k easy. 90HP out 1.9l isn't stressing anything.