Seat Leon FR Overview
The Seat Leon FR is a great car and delivers an impressive 170bhp from it’s 2.0TDi engine. This is the sportiest model currently on the market with lowered and stiffened suspension. As sporty as it is, it still manages to achieve an average of 55.4mpg and 670 miles on a full tank. However, it does have it’s flaws.
If you’re an owner, you’re probably aware of the common DPF fault within the exhaust system. The DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) is designed to trap harmful gasses ie particulate soot matter and then burn them off at high temperatures to stop them exiting the exhaust into the atmosphere.
Check out our article on What Is A DPF to learn more about the Diesel Particulate Filters.
DPF Problems
The vehicle is manufactured with a DPF and not suitable in it’s factory state for local town driving, it must be driven on a dual-carriage / motorway at least twice weekly (dependant on weekly mileage) for a consistent 20-30 minutes to enable the DPF to regenerate. However, a regeneration is not always successful and eventually will lead to a blocked DPF which will result in loss of power and the car going into LIMP Mode.
There are many factors involved which can lead to the DPF becoming blocked, below we list just a few of the most common issues:
- Wrong Grade Of Engine Oil Being Used On Services
- Turning Engine Off During Regeneration
- Failed Regenerations / Not Regeneration Often Enough
- Diesel Injector Faults
- Driving Style – not for town use.
- DPF / Engine / Warning Light On
- Glow Plug Light Flashing
- Limp Mode / Loss Of power
- Fault Codes: P242F, P2002, P0471, 18434 & 08194 etc..
- Poor Fuel Consumption
- Hard To Start & Slow Pick-Up In Speed
- Engine Starts & Cuts Out
- Engine Fails To Start
DPF Maintenance
Modern VAG diesels such as the FR should be regularly serviced with 5w-30 Long Life (Low-Ash) oil, it’s a little more expensive but will help to aid successful regenerations and help to maintain the DPF. If the vehicle is on a regeneration cycle, you must continue to drive at a constant speed of 30-40mph – keeping the revs at 2000rpm until the regeneration is completed. Failure to do so will block the filter up a lot quicker.
Replacement DPF’s
When the DPF is blocked beyond successful regeneration, a replacement filter is not cheap at all and can cost in excess of £1000+ (parts, labour & programming). If you are thinking of replacing the filter as a pose to removal, we always recommend using GENUINE filters only. Aftermarket filters (copy/pattern parts) although Type Approved will not deliver the same quality and you will find you will have a blocked DPF again sooner than expected, being out of pocket and back to square one.
Seat Leon FR DPF Removals
It is possible to remove the DPF successfully without any downsides and in actual fact there are many benefits to removing the DPF filter. Below is a list of just some of the common benefits of a DPF Removal:
- Increased Fuel Efficiency
- Increased Engine Performance
- More Power / Sharper Throttle Response
- Increased Life Expectancy Of Engine/Turbo
- No More Limp Mode / Loss Of Power
- No Engine / DPF Warning Lights / Fault Codes
- No More Regenerations
With having done over 2000 DPF Removals we are the UK’s leading and most experienced DPF Removal Specialists.
After having the DPF Removed, your vehicle will NOT lose power, you will not experience DPF related warning lights or any regeneration processes ever again! – We will reprogram the ECU to completely deactivate the DPF system as though it was never there and at the same time cancel out the regeneration processes.
Each DPF Removal we do is programmed manually with a Custom remap and a FREE smoke-correction service which guarantees the vehicle will not smoke as a direct result of the DPF being removed. This is a service only offered by Sinspeed.
Finally, you will experience an overall increase in performance, smoothing out any flat spots and safeguard the life of both your engine & turbocharger.
Will DPF Removal Cause Me To Fail An MOT?
From February 2014, the law is changing to include the visual inspection of the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) during your MOT inspection. Although our DPF Removals are very discreet and our smoke-correction ensures the vehicle won’t smoke come MOT time, we are offering our DPF Removal sessions as an “Off-Road Use Only” service.
A new DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) will range from £800.00 – £1500.00 (+Labour & VAT). We can remove the entire DPF for a fraction of this cost and you’ll never have to worry about it ever again.
For more information, please call us on 0203 815 9441.

Ajaz is a seasoned automotive electronics engineer with deep expertise in remanufacturing vehicle electronics. He has developed skills in all areas of the automotive field, from rebuilding hydraulic steering components, and mechanical gearboxes and reworking intricate vehicle electronics. Ajaz also acquired Bodyteq, a London-based vehicle bodyshop where he has developed extensive knowledge in automotive refinishing.
Alongside his automotive career, Ajaz has built a career in the IT industry, gaining accredited certification as an AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, Cloud Architect, and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) specialist.
I would like to remove the DPF from my 07 seat leon how much will it cost and i live in swindon .
Many thanks
Regards Simon
I have a seat leon fr which keeps going into limp mode. It has full service history etc & has just been serviced & had new glow plugs filters etc. today my car has gone in to limp mode which it was doing before i had it serviced. The curly yellow light is now flashing on the dash & i have no power.
Any ideas?
Hi,
I’m having trouble with my dpf on my Seat Leon FR TDI ’08’ it’s coming on every 4/6 wks. It’s now back in limp home mode and I would like a price on removal please?
I understand you have a place in Gloucester I could have it done.
Thanks in advance
Craig
Anywhere in scotland you cover with the dpf removal on the leon 170tdi fr,I’m in Fife.And how much would I expect to pay Thx in advance .
Hi there,
Having problems with my DPF on my Seat Leon Fr 06 plate, can you send me across more details and a rough price guide? I live in whitby YO22 *** , whats the closest place to me?
Hi i would like to now how much a dpf removel is i live in wales rhondda cyonn taff is there any near by thanks
Hi Jason
Recently moved closer to my place of work – now doing typically less than 2miles each way. Inevitably the dpf will begin to cause issues. I live in mid wales (SY16) can you price me dpf removal and remap with details of your nearest tuner?
cheers
Hi SInspeed, I have a dpf problem on my seat leon ecomotive 1.9 09 plate, do you remove dpf on this model and why are they even fitted if it will still pass an mot after removal, surely there is a visual inspection by the mot guys. I live 9 miles outside Edinburgh, cheers felly!!
Hi,
I have a Seat Leon 08 FR.
We are in Salisbury, Wiltshire how much is the cost of removal of he DPF.
Thanks
Hi,
I would like to ask about prices for DPF removal and DPF cleaning for my 2007 Seat Leon 2.0TDI FR (170Bhp) so I can choose the best option for me. I’m living in Bracknell, what’s the closest local dealer.
Regards