While I've only JUST gotten my 603 wagon and sedan, I am TOTALLY amazed at the differences of the two motors. power is nice, but it's not the biggest change for me, it's the smooth idle, the total lack of any vibrations, even on my aldaectamyed sedan. all the aluminum is cool too! I'm in the process of totally covering all bases on both of my cars, getting everything that can fail replaced, and clean everything else, where on the 617 powered cars, I just did maintenance, and drove the things.
no fear of a set of bearings dumping into the chain on the 617, no fear of cooling system impedance blowing a gasket in the 617 head. no issues changing that set of glow plugs. just reach in and change them.
I DREAD going under the intake and attempting changing the plugs on my 603's... matter of fact, I think I will order a set of gaskets, and just pull the intake, and crossover tube and change all the plugs while I'm in there!
so I TOTALLY see where you are coming from on the 617 vs. the 603...
still. I'm stoked to have TWO 603 vehicles!

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!