Used VW Turbochargers For Sale in South Africa
Typically R3 500 – R28 000
Prices
Indicative South African prices for used units. Final price depends on condition, mileage and availability — send your VIN and we’ll confirm.
| Part | Condition | Price range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| K03 turbo — 1.8T 20V (AGU, AEB, AMB) | Used, tested for shaft play | R3 500 - R8 000 | Golf 4 GTI, Passat B5, Beetle. Fit a new oil feed pipe at the same time. |
| K04-001 turbo — 1.8T 180 hp | Used or reconditioned | R5 000 - R11 000 | AUQ and AWP fitments. Needs a remap when swapped onto a K03 car. |
| GT1749V turbo — 1.9 TDI PD (ASZ, AWX) | Used, vanes checked | R4 500 - R9 500 | Seized VNT vanes are the usual failure, not the bearing housing. |
| BV39 turbo — 1.9 TDI (BLS, BXE) | Used, vanes checked | R4 000 - R9 000 | Golf 5, Jetta 5, Caddy, Touran, Polo 1.9 TDI. |
| BV43 turbo — 2.0 TDI PD (BKD, BMM) | Used | R5 000 - R11 000 | Vacuum actuator leaks are common and can be replaced separately. |
| BV43 turbo — 2.0 TDI common rail (CFFB, CBAB) | Used | R5 500 - R12 000 | Electronic actuator must be functional and calibrated after fitting. |
| KP35 turbo — 1.2 TSI (CBZ, CJZ) | Used | R3 500 - R8 500 | Polo 6R, Golf 6/7, Caddy. Check the timing chain while you are there. |
| KP39 turbo — 1.4 TSI (CAXA, CAVD, BMY) | Used | R4 500 - R10 000 | Twincharged codes also run a supercharger — diagnose both. |
| BV39 turbo — 1.6 TDI (CAYC) | Used or reconditioned | R4 500 - R9 500 | New and reconditioned units retail from about R6 000 in South Africa. |
| IS20 turbo — 2.0 TSI Golf 7 GTI | Used | R9 000 - R18 000 | Electronic wastegate actuator needs calibration after fitment. |
| IS38 turbo — 2.0 TSI Golf 7 R | Used | R14 000 - R28 000 | Also the most requested GTI upgrade. Remap is not optional. |
| Amarok 2.0 BiTDI turbo pair | Used, individually or as a set | R8 000 - R22 000 | Sequential system — check the changeover flap before condemning a turbo. |
| 3.0 V6 TDI turbo — Touareg / Amarok | Used | R10 000 - R22 000 | Sits in the engine V. Labour is a large part of the total job cost. |
| Turbo fitting kit — gaskets, studs, oil feed | New | R450 - R1 800 | A blocked oil feed pipe is the fastest way to kill a replacement turbo. |
A used VW turbocharger in South Africa costs between R3 500 and R28 000 depending on the engine it came off. The common ones sit at the bottom: a K03 from a 1.8T is R3 500 to R8 000, a GT1749V from a 1.9 TDI R4 500 to R9 500, and a BV43 from a 2.0 TDI R5 000 to R12 000. Performance units carry a premium, with an IS20 from a Golf 7 GTI at R9 000 to R18 000 and the much-wanted IS38 from a Golf R at R14 000 to R28 000. Before you buy, understand why the old one died. Most VW turbo failures are secondary: a coked oil feed pipe starves the bearing, worn piston rings force oil through the seals, and on diesels a clogged EGR or DPF fouls the variable vanes with soot. Fit a replacement without fixing that and the new unit follows the old one. When you inspect a used turbo, check for shaft play, spin the wheel for grinding, look for oil in either housing, and on a variable-geometry unit work the vane arm through its full travel by hand. Every turbo here is priced as a used unit, ships with its actuator, and needs a fresh oil feed pipe and an oil change at fitment.
Units we commonly carry
K03 Turbocharger — 1.8T 20V
Code: 06A 145 704
R3 500 - R8 000
- Type
- KKK / BorgWarner K03, wastegated
- Engine codes
- AGU, AEB, AMB, AWT, AWP
- Boost
- ≈0.7 bar standard
- Check
- Shaft play, oil in the compressor housing
Fits: Golf, Jetta, Passat, Beetle
K04-001 Turbocharger — 1.8T
Code: 06A 145 704S
R5 000 - R11 000
- Type
- BorgWarner K04-001, wastegated
- Engine codes
- AUQ, AWP, ARY (180 hp fitments)
- Boost
- ≈0.9 bar standard
- Popularity
- The standard upgrade on a K03 1.8T
Fits: Golf, Jetta, Beetle
GT1749V Turbocharger — 1.9 TDI PD
Code: 038 253 016
R4 500 - R9 500
- Type
- Garrett GT1749V, variable nozzle
- Engine codes
- ASZ, AWX, ARL, AJM, ATD
- Actuator
- Vacuum-operated VNT arm
- Common fault
- Seized vanes causing overboost or underboost
Fits: Golf, Jetta, Passat, Caddy, Touran
BV39 Turbocharger — 1.9 TDI BXE / BLS
Code: 03G 253 014
R4 000 - R9 000
- Type
- BorgWarner BV39, variable nozzle
- Engine codes
- BLS, BXE, BKC, BJB
- Output
- Suits the 77 kW PD fitments
- Common fault
- Carbon-fouled vanes from DPF regeneration cycles
Fits: Golf, Jetta, Caddy, Touran, Polo
BV43 Turbocharger — 2.0 TDI Common Rail
Code: 03L 253 056
R5 500 - R12 000
- Type
- BorgWarner BV43, electronically controlled
- Engine codes
- CFFB, CBAB, CLCA, CFHC
- Actuator
- Electronic — must be calibrated to the vehicle
- Common fault
- Actuator motor failure rather than the core
Fits: Golf, Jetta, Passat, Tiguan, Caddy
BV43 Turbocharger — 2.0 TDI PD (BKD)
Code: 03G 253 019
R5 000 - R11 000
- Type
- BorgWarner BV43, vacuum actuated
- Engine codes
- BKD, BMM, AZV, BKP
- Output
- Suits 103 kW PD fitments
- Common fault
- Sticking vanes and a leaking vacuum actuator
Fits: Golf, Jetta, Passat, Touran, Caddy
KP35 Turbocharger — 1.2 TSI
Code: 03F 145 701
R3 500 - R8 500
- Type
- BorgWarner KP35, wastegated
- Engine codes
- CBZA, CBZB, CJZA, CJZB
- Common fault
- Wastegate rattle and shaft play
- Symptom
- Whistle on boost, then loss of power
Fits: Polo, Golf, Caddy
KP39 Turbocharger — 1.4 TSI
Code: 03C 145 702
R4 500 - R10 000
- Type
- BorgWarner KP39, wastegated
- Engine codes
- CAXA, CAVD, BMY, BLG
- Twincharger note
- CAVD and BMY also run a belt-driven supercharger
- Common fault
- Wastegate flap wear causing a rattle at light load
Fits: Golf, Jetta, Polo, Caddy, Touran
BV39 Turbocharger — 1.6 TDI
Code: 03L 253 010
R4 500 - R9 500
- Type
- BorgWarner BV39, variable nozzle
- Engine codes
- CAYC, CAYB, CLNA
- Common fault
- Vane sticking from short-run soot build-up
- Supplied
- Turbo and actuator — gaskets and studs extra
Fits: Golf, Polo, Jetta, Caddy
IS20 Turbocharger — 2.0 TSI Golf GTI
Code: 06K 145 722
R9 000 - R18 000
- Type
- BorgWarner IS20, electronically wastegated
- Engine codes
- CHHB, CXDA, CZPA
- Fitment
- Golf 7 GTI, Tiguan 2.0 TSI, Passat, Arteon
- Actuator
- Electronic — calibration required after fitment
Fits: Golf, Tiguan, Passat, Arteon
IS38 Turbocharger — 2.0 TSI Golf R
Code: 06K 145 874
R14 000 - R28 000
- Type
- BorgWarner IS38, electronically wastegated
- Engine codes
- CJXC, CJXG, DNUE
- Fitment
- Golf 7 R, T-Roc R, Tiguan R-Line high output
- Demand
- Most-requested VW turbo upgrade in South Africa
Fits: Golf, T-Roc, Tiguan
BiTDI Turbocharger Set — Amarok 2.0
Code: 03L 145 702 / 03L 145 715
R8 000 - R22 000
- Type
- Sequential high-pressure and low-pressure pair
- Engine codes
- CDCA, CNFA, CFCA
- Supplied
- Priced individually or as a matched set
- Common fault
- Changeover flap seizing rather than turbo failure
Fits: Amarok
GT2260V Turbocharger — 3.0 V6 TDI
Code: 059 145 874
R10 000 - R22 000
- Type
- Garrett GT2260V, variable nozzle
- Engine codes
- CASA, CATA, CJKB, DDXC
- Fitment
- Touareg 3.0 V6 TDI, Amarok V6
- Access
- Sits in the V — labour-heavy to replace
Fits: Touareg, Amarok
Common questions
How much is a used VW turbocharger in South Africa?
Most VW turbos land between R3 500 and R12 000 used. A K03 off a 1.8T is R3 500 to R8 000, a 1.9 TDI GT1749V R4 500 to R9 500, and a 2.0 TDI BV43 R5 000 to R12 000. Performance units cost more: an IS20 from a Golf 7 GTI is R9 000 to R18 000 and an IS38 from a Golf R R14 000 to R28 000.
How do I test a used turbo before buying it?
Hold the compressor wheel and check for side-to-side shaft play — a small amount of axial movement is normal, but the wheel must never touch the housing. Spin it: it should turn freely with no grinding. Look for oil in the compressor and turbine housings, which points to failed seals. On a variable-geometry unit, move the vane arm by hand; it must travel its full stroke without sticking.
Why did my turbo fail in the first place?
Most VW turbo failures are secondary. A blocked or coked oil feed pipe starves the bearing, worn piston rings push oil through the system, and on diesels a clogged EGR or DPF fouls the variable vanes with soot. Fit a replacement turbo without fixing the cause and you will kill it too. Always renew the oil feed pipe and change the engine oil at the same time.
Do I need a remap after fitting a bigger turbo?
Yes, if you change the turbo size. Swapping a K03 for a K04, or an IS20 for an IS38, changes the airflow the standard map expects, and running one on stock software risks overboost cuts, lean conditions and detonation. A like-for-like replacement of the same part number needs no remap, though an electronic actuator does need calibrating.
What is the difference between VNT and fixed-geometry turbos?
A variable-nozzle turbo, used on almost every VW diesel, has moveable vanes that change the exhaust gas angle for boost at low revs and control at high revs. Fixed-geometry turbos, used on the petrol TSI and 1.8T engines, rely on a wastegate instead. VNT units fail differently: the vanes seize with soot long before the bearing wears out.
What comes with a used turbo?
You get the turbo with its actuator fitted. Gaskets, studs, the oil feed and return pipes and any heat shields are usually separate, and budget R450 to R1 800 for that kit. Some sellers also strip the actuator off for separate sale, so confirm in writing that the unit you are buying is complete before you pay.
What warranty applies to a used turbocharger?
Three to six months is typical, covering the core and bearing only. Warranty is almost always void if the oil feed pipe was not replaced, if the engine oil was not changed at fitment, or if an underlying fault such as a blocked DPF or worn rings caused the original failure and was left unaddressed.
Can you courier a turbocharger?
Yes, and it is one of the cheapest high-ticket parts to ship because of its size. Overnight to main centres and one to three working days to most other South African towns. Turbos travel boxed with the ports blanked so nothing enters the housings in transit.
Get a firm price today
Send us your VW model, year and VIN. We’ll confirm what we have and what it costs, delivered.