VW Passat B3

Volkswagen
VW Passat Sedan (1988–1993)
Passat B3 (31 / 35i)
Production period:	1988-1993
Class :	Middle class
Body versions :	Limousine , station wagon
Engines:	Petrol engines : 1.6–2.8 liters (53–128 kW) Diesel engines : 1.6–1.9 liters (50–59 kW)
Length:	4575 mm
Width:	1705 mm
Height:	1430-1500 mm
Wheelbase :	2625-2630 mm
Empty weight :	1130-1380 kg
Previous model	VW Passat B2
successor	VW Passat B4

The VW Passat B3 (type 312 = sedan, 315 = variant) is a mid-range model from Volkswagen . It was presented in 1988 as the successor to the VW Passat B2 . The new model had a transverse engine and therefore a larger interior. Two months after the notchback version, the estate version Variant was presented in June 1988.

The Passat B3 was produced in the VW plant in Emden and from December 1991 in the VW plant in Bratislava (today Volkswagen Slovakia ). The successor B4 , built from October 1993, shared the same platform and numerous components with the previous model; above all, the external appearance had been extensively revised.

Model history

General

The external appearance was anticipated in 1981 by the VW Auto 2000 study . For the benefit of better wind slippage ( Cw value ), the cooling air intake was reduced in size and relocated under the bumper; the air required for combustion was sucked in by the engine through the VW logo.

The Passat B3 was the first VW with a flush-glued front window and rear window . The smooth-surfaced body has a drag coefficient of around 0.29. The B3 was available in two body styles, notchback and variant ; the almost completely developed five-door hatchback variant was discarded. The B3 has had a partially galvanized body since the model was launched. In addition, the Passat B3 was the first VW with iron door handles.

• 

  Rear view GL

• 

  VW Passat Variant CL (1988-1993)

• 

  Interior with radio 'Gamma CD'

Furnishing

The Passat B3 was offered in three equipment lines: CL (basic equipment), GL (designed for comfort) and GT ("sporty" equipment). Special models (e.g. Arriva , Edition One , Comfort Edition , Trend etc.) are not included in the following lists.

Exterior

• Laminated glass windshield with green heat protection glass
• Bikes:
  • CL : Silver-colored steel wheel with hub cap
  • GL : steel wheel with black wheel disc and full-surface hub cap
  • GT : light alloy wheel
• Bumper:
  • CL : black
  • GL : partially painted in body color
  • GT : black, with a silver decorative line and side paneling
• Flashing diffuser front:
  • CL : yellow
  • GL and GT : white

Optional

• Metallic / pearl effect paint
• Alloy wheels in 14 or 15 inches
• Halogen fog lights with lens technology (GT: standard)
• As accessories: double headlights from Hella , also with lens technology (from 1992 optionally in black or white)

interior

Because of the transverse engine, a lush interior space was possible even by today's standards. The distance from the gas pedal to the rear seat backrests was two meters, which above all ensured excellent seating comfort for the rear passengers. Regardless of whether CL, GL or GT, almost every extra was available for the three basic equipment. Amongst other things:

• Central locking (GL, GT: standard)
• Air conditioning (manual) / Climatronic (automatic) / Thermotronic (automatically controlled heating without air conditioning)
• All-round electric windows with child protection for the rear windows.
• Tachometer, digital clock (GT: series)
• Instrument cluster with multifunction display and digital odometer
• electrical headlight range control (FRG: series from 1990)
• height-adjustable steering wheel
• Anti-theft alarm system
• Leather seats, with height-adjustable driver and passenger seats
• Seat heating
• Central armrest
• Children's rear seat bench for trunk (variant)
• Cruise control system (tempomat)
• Airbag (driver and passenger)
• Headlight cleaning system
• Steel or glass sunroof

safety

The Passat had a relatively extensive range of safety features for the time. The body structure and its crumple zones corresponded to the knowledge of passive vehicle safety at the time. It was over 200 kg heavier than the Passat B2. From 1988 it was optionally available with an anti-lock braking system , and from December 1992 with airbags and belt tensioners . The more powerful models were equipped with an electronic differential lock (ABS with EDS), which prevented the wheels from spinning up to approx. 40 km / h through active braking. The design of the foamed dashboard made it possible to reduce the limit load on the head in the crash test.

Engine range

Due to the transverse installation of the engines, they could not be longer than a four-cylinder, which is why a five-cylinder as in the previous model was not possible. Only after the development of a VR engine could a six-cylinder be installed.

The output of the series engines in the B3 ranged from 53 kW (72 PS) (1.6 with carburettor, until 1989) to the 128 kW (174 PS) VR6 (from 1991). Between 1988 and 1992 there was also the Passat G60 with an inline four-cylinder engine and G-charger . The diesel engines were swirl chamber engines with or without a turbocharger . Their output was between 50 and 59 kW (68 and 80 hp). In Austria the diesel engine was only available with a turbocharger and 80 hp.

• 

  VR6 with 128 kW (174 PS; engine code: AAA)

• 

  Four-cylinder with 66 kW (90 PS; engine code: RP)

drive

The Passat B3 with 85 kW engine (115 hp) was also available with all-wheel drive ( Syncro ) on request ; all other versions were front-wheel drive .

G60

The engine with scroll compressor (G-Lader) also built into the Golf II was also used in the Passat G60. The 118 kW (160 PS) engine accelerated it up to 215 km / h. The most striking feature of this model, apart from the red G60 lettering on the front and rear, was the 15-inch alloy wheels with four-hole screw covers. The Passat G60 was sold exclusively with four-wheel drive (Syncro).

Technical specifications

VW Passat B3	1.6			1.8
Construction period	02 / 1988-07 / 1989	02 / 1988-07 / 1990	02 / 1988-09 / 1993	08 / 1990-09 / 1993	02 / 1988-06 / 1990	07 / 1990-07 / 1991	08 / 1991-09 / 1993	02 / 1988-07 / 1990		07 / 1988-09 / 1993
Engine characteristics
Engine type	R4 petrol engine
Number of valves per cylinder	2									4th
Valve control	Toothed belt, overhead camshaft, bucket tappets									DOHC , timing belt
Mixture preparation	Carburetor	Mono-Jetronic	Carburetor	Mono-Motronic	Mono-Jetronic	Mono-Motronic		Digifant	K-Jetronic
Engine charging	-
cooling	Water cooling
Engine code	RF	1F	EZ, ABN	AAM	RP		SECTION	PF	PB	KR
Bore × stroke	81.0 x 77.4 mm			81.0 x 86.4 mm
Displacement	1595 cc			1781 cc
Compression ratio	9.0: 1						10.0: 1
Max. power	53 kW (72 PS) at 5200 rpm		55 kW (75 PS) at 5200 rpm	55 kW (75 PS) at 5000 rpm	66 kW (90 PS) at 5250 rpm	66 kW (90 PS) at 5400 rpm	66 kW (90 PS) at 5500 rpm	79 kW (107 PS) at 5400 rpm	82 kW (112 hp) at 5400 rpm	100 kW (136 hp) at 6300 rpm
Max. Torque	120 Nm at 2700 rpm	125 Nm at 2750 rpm	125 Nm at 2600 rpm	140 Nm at 2500 rpm	142 Nm at 3000 rpm	142 Nm at 2600 rpm	145 Nm at 2500 rpm	154 Nm at 3800 rpm	159 Nm at 4000 rpm	162 Nm at 4800 rpm
Power transmission
drive	Front wheel drive
Gearbox, as standard	4-speed manual transmission			5-speed manual transmission
Gearbox, optional	5-speed manual transmission			-	4- speed automatic transmission					-
landing gear
Front suspension	Suspension struts, wishbones, coil springs
Rear suspension	Twist beam axle, coil springs
Brakes	Front disc brakes, rear drum brakes, brake booster, aW ABS						Disc brakes front and rear, brake booster, aW ABS
steering	Rack and pinion steering with servo
body
body	Sheet steel, self-supporting
Front / rear track	1485/1425 mm
wheelbase	2625 mm (sedan) or 2630 mm (variant)
Dimensions	458 × 171 × 143 cm (Limousine) or 458 × 172 × 146 cm (Variant)
Readings
Top speed	161-169 km / h		165-171 km / h		170-177 km / h			184-190 km / h	188-192 km / h	199–206 km / h
Acceleration, 0-100 km / h	16.3-16.6 s		15.7-16.0 s	15.5-15.8 s	13.9-14.2 s		13.9-16.4 s	12.3-13.4 s	11.8-12.9 s	10.4-10.6 s

VW Passat B3	2.0		G60	VR6	1.6 TD		1.9 D	1.9 TD
Construction period	10 / 1989-09 / 1993	07 / 1988-09 / 1993	09 / 1989-09 / 1993	04 / 1991-09 / 1993	08 / 1988-07 / 1989	08 / 1989-09 / 1993	05 / 1989-09 / 1993	04 / 1991-09 / 1993
Engine characteristics
Engine type	R4 petrol engine			VR6 petrol engine	R4 diesel engine
Number of valves per cylinder	2	4th	2
Valve control	OHC , timing belt	DOHC, timing belt	OHC, timing belt	2 × OHC, chain	OHC, timing belt
Mixture preparation	Digifant	KE-Jetronic	Digifant	Motronic	Swirl chamber injection
Engine charging	-		G-loader	-	Turbocharger ( Garrett ), intercooler		-	Turbocharger (Garrett)
cooling	Water cooling
Engine code	2E	9A	PG	AAA	RA	SB	1Y	AAZ
Bore × stroke	82.5 x 92.8 mm		81.0 x 86.4 mm	81.0 x 90.3 mm	76.5 x 86.4 mm		79.5 x 95.5 mm
Displacement	1984 cc		1781 cc	2792 cc	1588 cc		1896 cc
Compression ratio	10.0: 1	10.8: 1	8.0: 1	10.0: 1	23.0: 1			22.5: 1
Max. power	85 kW (115 PS) at 5400 rpm	100 kW (136 hp) at 5800 rpm	118 kW (160 PS) at 5600 rpm	128 kW (174 hp) at 5800 rpm	59 kW (80 PS) at 4500 rpm		50 kW (68 PS) at 4400 rpm	55 kW (75 PS) at 4400 rpm
Max. Torque	166 Nm at 3200 rpm	180 Nm at 4400 rpm	225 Nm at 3800 rpm	235 Nm at 4200 rpm	155 Nm at 2500-3000 rpm	152 Nm at 2300-2800 rpm	127 Nm at 2200-2600 rpm	140 Nm at 2200-2800 rpm
Power transmission
Drive, as standard	Front wheel drive		all wheel drive	Front wheel drive
Drive, optional	all wheel drive	-
Gearbox, as standard	5-speed manual transmission
Gearbox, optional	4- speed automatic transmission		-	4-speed automatic transmission	-
landing gear
Front suspension	Suspension struts, wishbones, coil springs
Rear suspension	Twist beam axle, coil springs
Brakes	Disc brakes front and rear, brake booster, aW ABS				Front disc brakes, rear drum brakes, brake booster, aW ABS
steering	Rack and pinion steering with servo
body
body	Sheet steel, self-supporting
Front / rear track	1485/1425 mm or 1485/1440 mm (Syncro)
wheelbase	2625 mm (sedan) or 2630 mm (variant)
Dimensions	458 × 171 × 143 cm (Limousine) or 458 × 172 × 146 cm (Variant)
Readings
Top speed	185-195 km / h	197-206 km / h	210-215 km / h	214–220 km / h	164-170 km / h		155-160 km / h	160-165 km / h
Acceleration, 0-100 km / h	11.3-12.9 s	10.2-11.0 s	9.6-9.8 s	8.2-8.3 s	16.0-16.2 s		19.0-19.4 s	17.7-18.0 s

1. ↑ ^{a b c d} Without catalyst
2. ↑ ^{a b} With the Syncro with right-hand drive: 82 kW (112 PS) or 162 Nm
3. ↑ When using Super Plus 98 RON fuel: 240 Nm

Others

The magazine auto motor und sport launched the derisive nickname “Coati” for the B3.

literature

• Dieter Korp : Now I'm helping myself (Volume 133): VW Passat. ISBN 3-613-01249-9 .
• Hans-Rüdiger Etzold : This is how it's done (Volume 61): VW Passat. ISBN 3-7688-0625-1 .

Web links

Commons : VW Passat B3  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Official VW profile for the Passat B3
• Detailed overview of the model history of the VW Passat
• Test report by AUTOBILD (09/2002)
• Test report by AUTOBILD (23/2005)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ auto, motor and sport: Passat Type 35i purchase advice
2. ↑ autoaid.de test report VW Passat