Before the EA888 took over the Volkswagen Group, the EA113 2.0T was the engine that made the Mk5 Golf GTI, the Audi S3 and the A4 feel special. It's still loved — and still widely available cheap. The catch is a single, tiny, inexpensive part that can destroy the whole engine if nobody checks it. The EA888 Gen 3 that replaced it did away with that flaw entirely.
Quick answer: The EA888 Gen 3 (80/100, BUY) is the far safer used purchase. The EA113 (55/100, CAUTION) can be a great cheap performance engine — if you verify the HPFP cam follower, a €50–300 part whose failure takes the camshaft and fuel pump with it. Check it, or walk away.
The original: EA113 2.0T — 55/100 (CAUTION)
The EA113 (2005–2009, up to 265 hp) is a fast, tunable engine with one notorious weakness and two chronic ones:
| Problem | Severity | Repair cost |
|---|---|---|
| HPFP cam follower wear | Critical | €50–300 |
| Intake carbon buildup | Moderate | €300–700 |
| Oil consumption by design | Moderate | €0–500 |
The cam follower is the whole story. It's a cheap wear item sitting between the camshaft and the high-pressure fuel pump — when it wears through, the pump's piston grinds the cam lobe, and a €50 part becomes a four-figure engine rebuild. Owners who replace it every ~30,000 km are fine; those who don't know it exists are the ones with the horror stories. Add universal direct-injection carbon and by-design oil use, and you have an engine that rewards the informed and punishes the casual.
Found in: Audi A3 (2.0 TFSI), A4, TT; SEAT Leon, Altea, Toledo; Volkswagen Golf, Passat; Škoda Octavia.
The successor: EA888 Gen 3 — 80/100 (BUY)
The EA888 Gen 3 (2012–2020, up to 306 hp) redesigned the fuel system and removed the cam-follower hazard. What remains is ordinary, bounded maintenance:
| Problem | Severity | Repair cost |
|---|---|---|
| Water pump failure | Moderate | €400–900 |
| HPFP noise / wear at high mileage | Minor | €300–800 |
| Intake carbon buildup (much reduced) | Minor | €300–600 |
No critical faults. More power, better fuel economy, and the carbon problem tamed by the added port injection.
Found in: Audi A3/S3, A4, A5, A6, Q3, Q5, Q7, R8, TT (2012–2020).
Side by side
| EA113 2.0T | EA888 Gen 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Era | 2005–2009 | 2012–2020 |
| Power | up to 265 hp | up to 306 hp |
| Score | 55/100 | 80/100 |
| Verdict | CAUTION | BUY |
| Critical faults | 1 (cam follower) | 0 |
| Cheapest killer | €50 part → engine rebuild | — |
The verdict
The EA888 Gen 3 is the clear buy for anyone who just wants a dependable fast four. The EA113 isn't a bad engine — it's an unforgiving one. Its reliability depends almost entirely on whether previous owners knew about the cam follower.
At the dealer, for any EA113: ask when the HPFP cam follower was last replaced and get proof. No record? Budget to do it immediately, or pass. Do that, and a cheap Mk5 GTI or S3 can still be a brilliant buy.
Curious how the EA888 itself evolved — and why its own early years were worse than this? See EA888 Gen 1/2 vs Gen 3.
Scores are calculated from documented issues, repair costs, and failure patterns. Reviewed by the EngineScope editorial team. Methodology →