PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - Are VW TDI Engines as tough as Mercedes W123 Diesels?

pawoSD · #26 03-19-2008, 12:11 AM

Here's a good question about the tdi's.....why are the timing belts such an issue? Are they hard on them or something?

Our caravan is supposed to have a 90k timing belt change interval on the 3.0 V6 mitsubishi under the hood, its coming up on 94k on the original....we're not changing it. ($700 at shop, or 3 years in the garage tearing everything apart to get to it) So....we'll see how long it lasts, when it snaps its off to the pickn'pull.

It does have a rapping sound in that vicinity that developed recently....so maybe death is near....my sister only drives about 60-70 miles a week at most, and the fastest she goes is 55....so it will probably cling to life for a while yet.

Same for my lovely's Rav4, it has a "70k" timing belt change interval....it was replaced at 70k...but now it has 143k....we'll see if it holds till we sell the car.