Turbos for the Golf, Polo, Passat, Tiguan, Caddy and Amarok — 2.0, 1.6 & 1.9 TDI diesel VNT and 1.4 / 1.8 / 2.0 TSI (IS20 / IS38) petrol units, plus the Amarok 2.0 BiTDI twin-turbo. Compare free quotes from verified suppliers across South Africa.
TDI · TSI · VNT · Illustrative
Variable-nozzle VNT diesel turbos (2.0 / 1.6 / 1.9 TDI, plus the Amarok 2.0 BiTDI twin-turbo) and petrol turbos (1.4 / 1.8 / 2.0 TSI, incl. GTI IS20 and Golf R IS38). Suppliers cover the full Golf, Polo, Passat, Tiguan, Caddy and Amarok range.
VW uses more than one part number per engine — the 2.0 TDI is a GT1749V or BorgWarner unit, the 2.0 TSI splits IS20 (GTI) vs IS38 (R), the 1.6 TDI is 03L253016T, and the Amarok 2.0 runs a BiTDI twin-turbo. Tell us your VIN and we match the exact unit.
Compare tested used pull-offs, reconditioned/exchange units and new aftermarket — and on the TDI VNT turbos check the electronic actuator is included and calibrated, with warranty confirmed by each supplier.
VW Turbochargers
Indicative SA pricing by engine and turbo code. Send your VIN for an exact match and a free quote.
Diesel Popular Code: GT1749V / BorgWarner · confirm by VIN · 2.0 TDI (EA189 / EA288 / PD)
Petrol Popular Code: IHI (EA211) / KKK-BorgWarner + supercharger (EA111 twincharger) · confirm by VIN · 1.4 TSI (EA211 / EA111)
Petrol Code: K03 / IS20 · confirm by VIN · 1.8 TSI (EA888)
Petrol Popular Code: IS20 (GTI) / IS38 (R) · confirm by VIN · 2.0 TSI (EA888)
Diesel Code: Garrett GTC1244MVZ · 03L253016T · confirm by VIN · 1.6 TDI (CAYB / CAYC)
Diesel Popular Code: Garrett GT1749V or BorgWarner BV39 · confirm by VIN · 1.9 TDI (PD)
Diesel Code: Garrett GTD2060VZ · confirm by VIN · 3.0 V6 TDI
Diesel Popular Code: BorgWarner R2S (KP39 + KP35) · confirm by VIN · 2.0 BiTDI (CSHA / CFCA)
Product images are illustrative only — the exact turbo varies by supplier, condition and VIN.
Price guide
Indicative ranges by engine and turbo code. Actual quotes depend on condition and whether the unit is used, reconditioned/exchange or new aftermarket — and whether the actuator is included on the VNT units.
| Engine / Turbo | Price Range (ZAR) |
|---|---|
| Golf / Passat / Tiguan / Caddy 2.0 TDI — GT1749V VNT (EA189/EA288/PD) | R4,950 – R8,950 |
| Polo / Golf / Jetta / Caddy 1.4 TSI — IHI (EA211) / twincharger (EA111) | from ~R5,950 |
| Golf / Jetta / Passat 1.8 TSI — K03 / IS20 (EA888) | R6,950 – R8,950 |
| Golf GTI / Golf R / Tiguan R 2.0 TSI — IS20 / IS38 (EA888) | R7,950 – R9,950 |
| Polo / Golf / Caddy 1.6 TDI — Garrett GTC1244MVZ (03L253016T) | R7,950 – R8,950 |
| Golf 4/5 / Jetta / Caddy / Passat 1.9 TDI — GT1749V / BV39 VNT (PD) | from ~R4,950 |
| Amarok 2.0 BiTDI — BorgWarner R2S twin-turbo (CSHA/CFCA) | R6,950 – R11,500 |
| Amarok 3.0 V6 TDI — Garrett GTD2060VZ VNT | R11,000 – R13,500 |
These are estimates based on current SA market data — request a free quote for an exact price on your specific model and year.
Condition & warranty
The same VW turbo comes three ways in South Africa. Here's how they compare on price, warranty and what you get — so you can tell suppliers which to quote.
Tested second-hand unit removed from a low-mileage donor vehicle.
Your old core is surrendered; the unit is stripped, rebuilt and balanced.
A brand-new unit — aftermarket or genuine OEM-grade.
Not sure which to pick? Send your VIN and ask suppliers to quote all three — you compare price and warranty side by side.
VW's TDI diesels run variable-nozzle (VNT) turbos — and the Amarok 2.0 runs a BiTDI twin-turbo; the TSI petrols run BorgWarner units, with the GTI's IS20 and the Golf R's IS38 not interchangeable. Find your engine family below, then send your VIN so suppliers quote the exact part.
Vanes & actuator adjust boost — soot makes them stick
The volume TDI turbos — a Garrett GT1749V / GTC1244MVZ or BorgWarner VNT whose vanes and actuator can gum up with soot. Shared across the VAG range (Audi / Seat / Skoda).
The 4-cylinder Amarok 2.0 BiTDI runs a sequential BorgWarner R2S twin-turbo (small high-pressure + larger low-pressure) — either can fail alone. The 3.0 V6 is a big electronic-VNT unit shared with the 2022+ Ford Ranger V6.
Single-turbo — except the 1.4 twincharger
The newer EA211 1.4 TSI is turbo-only (a small IHI single-turbo), but the older EA111 "twincharger" pairs a turbo with a belt-driven supercharger — so confirm which by VIN. Shared with the Audi A1 / A3 1.4 TFSI.
The GTI runs the BorgWarner IS20; the Golf R and Tiguan R run the larger IS38 (shared with the Audi S3) — not interchangeable. Earlier 1.8 TSI cars use a K03. Confirm K03 / IS20 / IS38 by VIN.
A bare CHRA "core" is only the centre cartridge — not a complete turbo with actuator and housings. It's cheaper, but check exactly what's included before you compare prices. On the TDI VNT turbos especially, confirm the electronic actuator is part of the deal.
Still not sure? and suppliers will confirm the exact turbo for you.
Find your model
Pick your model and we'll match the right turbo by engine and VIN. Tap any model to start a free quote.
On the TDI VNT turbos especially, most of these point to sticking vanes or a tired actuator rather than a dead turbo — so get it diagnosed before you replace the whole unit.
A turbo lives or dies on clean oil and heat management. A few habits go a long way on SA roads:
Most people searching for a VW turbo in South Africa drive a Golf, Polo, Tiguan or Amarok — and most of the demand sits on the diesel 2.0 TDI. The 2.0, 1.6 and 1.9 TDI all use a variable-nozzle turbo (VNT), where the vanes and actuator adjust boost across the rev range. When those vanes gum up with carbon and soot you get power loss, limp mode and a tell-tale whistle — the single most common reason owners end up here. On the petrol side, the TSI engines run BorgWarner turbos: the volume 1.4, 1.8 and 2.0 TSI, plus the performance IS20 on the GTI and IS38 on the Golf R.
The biggest trap is buying the wrong part number. VW fits more than one turbo per engine — the 2.0 TDI appears as a GT1749V or a BorgWarner unit depending on year and spec, the 1.6 TDI is commonly 03L253016T, and the 2.0 TSI splits into IS20 (GTI) and IS38 (Golf R) — which are not interchangeable. Because VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda share these engine families, the same unit often crosses over to an Audi. Confirm yours by VIN or engine number before you buy. If you are weighing up the whole engine rather than just the turbo, it is worth comparing a used VW engine or gearbox at the same time so you can plan the full job — see the related-parts links below.
VNT symptoms — power loss, limp mode, whistling, black smoke — are often the actuator or a stuck vane rather than a completely dead turbo, and worn injectors, a blocked DPF or EGR faults can mimic exactly the same signs. It pays to have the fault properly diagnosed before committing to a full unit, and to compare a used or reconditioned turbo against an actuator or clean-and-recon. If you would rather source parts locally, browse VW parts from stripped vehicles across South Africa. Engine Finder is a marketplace — submit one free quote request and verified VW turbo suppliers come back to you with prices, warranties and availability.
It depends on the engine and condition. The diesel turbos are the most-searched: a 1.9 TDI (PD) is one of the cheapest at around R4,950, and the 2.0 TDI runs roughly R4,950 – R8,950 depending on whether it is a used pull-off, a reconditioned/exchange unit or new aftermarket. The 1.6 TDI sits around R7,950 – R8,950. On the petrol side the 1.4 TSI is about R5,950, the 1.8 TSI R6,950 – R8,950, and the performance 2.0 TSI (GTI IS20 / Golf R IS38) roughly R7,950 – R9,950. The Amarok 2.0 BiTDI runs a twin-turbo setup and lands around R6,950 – R11,500 depending on which turbo you need, and the 3.0 V6 TDI Amarok turbo is the dearest at around R11,000 – R13,500. Submit one quote request and compare verified suppliers for your exact model.
The 2.0 TDI, 1.6 TDI and 1.9 TDI all use variable-nozzle (VNT) turbos, and the most common failure is the VNT vanes and actuator sticking with carbon and soot. That shows up as power loss, going into limp mode, a whistling or whining noise, or black smoke. Sometimes it is just the actuator or a clean-and-recon rather than a whole turbo, and worn injectors, a blocked DPF or EGR faults can mimic the same symptoms — so it is worth having it properly diagnosed before buying a full unit. On any VNT turbo, check whether the electronic actuator is included and calibrated when you compare quotes.
Both are BorgWarner turbos from the EA888 2.0 TSI family, but they are not the same. The Golf 7 / 7.5 GTI runs the smaller IS20; the more powerful Golf R (and Tiguan R) run the larger IS38 — which is also shared with the Audi S3. They are not interchangeable, and fitting the wrong one is the most common VW turbo mistake. Confirm IS20 vs IS38 by VIN and spec before you buy, and tell suppliers your exact model and power output when you request a quote.
Yes — most of them. VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda are all part of the VAG group and share engine families, so the 2.0 TDI (EA189/EA288), 1.6 TDI, 1.9 TDI, 1.4 TSI (EA211) and 1.8/2.0 TSI (EA888) turbos cross over between a VW and its Audi equivalent — for example the Golf R IS38 and Audi S3 IS38, or the VW and Audi 2.0 TDI GT1749V. That is good news for supply, but you must still confirm the exact part number by VIN, because the same engine family can carry several turbo variants across model years.
All three are common in SA. A used pull-off is the cheapest and fine if it has been tested and comes with some warranty. A reconditioned or exchange unit (you surrender your old core) is usually quote-only and carries a longer warranty. New aftermarket or OEM-grade units cost the most but are brand new. On the TDI VNT turbos especially, check whether the actuator is included and calibrated. Get the warranty terms in writing and confirm whether fitment at a qualified workshop is required.
Confirm it by VIN or engine number — VW uses more than one turbo part number per engine, and some engines run more than one turbo. The 2.0 TDI can be a Garrett GT1749V or a BorgWarner unit; the 1.6 TDI is commonly a Garrett GTC1244MVZ (03L253016T); the 2.0 TSI splits into IS20 (GTI) and IS38 (R); and the 1.8 TSI runs K03 or IS20. The 4-cylinder Amarok 2.0 is a BiTDI twin-turbo, so you also need to know whether it is the high-pressure or low-pressure turbo. Tell us your model, year and engine (and ideally your VIN) when you request a quote and verified suppliers across South Africa will confirm the exact unit before you commit.
Doing a bigger job than just the turbo? Compare quotes on these too.
Used & recon TDI and TSI engines for the Golf, Polo, Tiguan and Amarok from verified suppliers.
View engines →Manual & DSG automatic gearboxes for the Golf, Polo, Tiguan and Amarok range.
View gearboxes →Compare turbocharger prices across every make we cover in SA.
Browse turbos →Send us your VW model, year and engine — and your VIN if you have it. We'll get verified suppliers to quote you on used, reconditioned and new-aftermarket turbochargers.
