Iron block and iron head are the best, indeed.

Would you really trust an all-aluminum diesel with all the stresses going on at an 18.5:1 compression ratio to do the miles? Maybe an aluminum gasser, but a diesel? I wouldn't, but I might be too harsh about the CDI's. I have never owned one. I'm just basing a lot of my opinion on people I've talked to about these engines. My personal opinion is always quite neutral.

I'll tell you why,

There are a lot of people who seem to like the W211 E55. They say it is the best car in the world. Most of the people who make these comments have never sat in the cockpit of one of these cars and mashed the pedal themselves. Or experienced what creature comforts the W211 may provide. Experience is key for the most intellectually informative opinions on cars. But HONEST reviews; not gloating about how the car is the best car ever made in the history of automobiles, or how it can dust a Ferrari 360 spider, or whatever.

I know I am getting off topic, but my conclusion is this: the only way we will know for sure, if ANYTHING is reliable or not, we must experience it first hand. So until you drive a CDI, our opinions may be null to fact.

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)