B3 Passat estate.. actually a B4 ! pictures,,

[dieselnutjob]

I had one of these for years, but a TDI.

 

Common failures are that a roll pin falls out of the rear door handles, usually you can find the pin in the bottom of the door.  Eventually I modified mine with a screw across the end of the pin so that it couldn't fall out.

 

Also the wires crack between the B pillar and the rear doors leading to non working electric windows.  You have to pull back the rubber boot and solder a new piece of wire across the failure.

 

Mine one was terrible for the doors freezing shut in the winter but much better if I smeared the rubbers with silicon grease.

 

They are as tough as hell and quite comfy.

 

The brakes are too small if you drive fast with them heavily loaded though.

[Urko]

Were these all dark blue on steels? I've never seen one that wasn't.

Mine was black on steels (I had it after the B3 mentioned above). It was a VR6, surprised quite a few BMWs in it.

[Christine]

Ah ,in that case  then, the roll pin has fell out coz rear offside door only opened from inside !!