Oil pump advice

Q: I have read in past copies of CM about oil pump failures in 2.0-litre VAG cars, eg the Passat 2.0 TDI. I have seen one that I much like, but would it be a risky purchase? It is a 2007 model. SP Skelton

A: You do not mention the mileage of the vehicle you have seen. There are plenty of examples still running happily with between 100,000 to 150,000 miles. The age range mostly affected by this problem is vehicles built between 2004 and 2006, although the fully modified engines weren’t introduced until 2008. If the vehicle you are looking at is a low-mileage example that has a full service history, it should serve you well, but the only way to be sure would be to drop the sump and physically check the condition of the pump drive.