Switch is ok, run fan off add-in relay with correct gauge wire, no troubles..

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One more Radar Lover gone...
1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ
1994 E320 195K

Been there, done it...worked wonders on a '79 rabbit with the 1.6L

The Ross Tech software can set the door locks to not automaticaly lock, display and clear the check engine code. Show the pump's timing for adjustment.. And a host of other things..
This is a real plus... glow plugs burn out from time to time. ( I have replaced 3 thus far) The are on continuosly until the engine reaches a certain temp..
I still feel when it comes to a NEW car, the TDi is the best bang for the buck... An older used MB diesel is still the least expensive to own because there is no more depreciation left.
I also have 3 high mile MB diesels on hand too..
I would not want to have an engine code on a new MB diesel... No software other than code readers available..
My CD player hangs up sometimes when I put homemade CD's in it..

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79 240D my current toy
42 years a Diesel addict

240D sold
250SE sold
220D sold
280C sold
280S sold
300D (2) sold
300CD sold
300DT sold
300SD sold
380SL sold

I have a '98 Jetta Tdi that I bought brand new that now has over 206k on it. Best car I ever owned. But very expensive to fix and too much electronic stuff on it. Look at my link to the tdi club on a write up I did on the cost and experience of ownership over the last 6 years.

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=UBB42&Number=862016&Searchpage=1&Main=862016&Words=+Russell+Parr&topic=&Search=true#Post862016

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1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

"I don't want a used one in this case as I don't want to inherit someone elses headaches. Who would sell a good car that isn't that old?"

Things change people change. I plan on sorting out an '85 300D into a daily driver and then possibly selling my Golf TDI. The Golf is small. My five YO daughter doesn't like to sit in the back seat. The fuel economy is tremendous but I have a shortish commute. I can think of lots of reasons why someone would sell a perfectly good used car. IF I sell the golf it won't be before Summer '05...Rob M Concord, MA

PS I'm new here but it appears that Fred's is to TDI's what mercedesshop is to MB's

What a timely post. I have been toying with the idea of getting one and even went to the VW dealer the other night to look at some. It's the fuel mileage that really attracts me to these cars but DIY and maintenance costs are probably holding me back. I'm going back and forth between a nice 240D manual or a TDI. It will still be a few years though until I get another car probably. I have always said I will drive mine into the ground or get rid of it when too many things break. This year has been a bad, bad year for repairs on my car.

Scott

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

The TDI fuel mileage is very tempting, but from the experience I've had with my wife's current 99 Passat 1.8T (gas) and other past VW's, I dont think I'd buy another VW.

The Passat hasn't been in the shop for repairs an inordinate amount, however it has had regular problems...front control arms wear out regularly (Audi A4's have the same problem), pads and rotors wear out at about 25k mile intervals, the main engine control computer has been replaced 3 times, flimsy broken trim interior pieces are expensive to replace, dealer always finds MORE problems than what I bring it in for. And to top all this off, it costs MORE for regular service items than my 99 E300TD costs taking each to their respective dealerships!!
(things like oil, coolant, trans fluid, brakes, etc...Even the hourly labor rate is a buck or 2 higher at VW!)

I've had other VW's myself over the years- 81 Diesel Rabbit, 85 GTI, and while I have "warm memories" of the years I owned them- and they were "fun" cars...a glance through a file of old service records that I've kept all these years wakes me to the reality that those cars spent a HUGE amount of time in the shop! I had totally forgotten 80% of the problems I had!

I'd spend the extra bucks and buy a used MB if given the choice. The fuel mileage won't be as good, but I think in the long run you'll be glad you did.

J.G.

You know thats the one thing that has kept me from getting one.....the fear of exactly what you just described.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

I love my '03 TDI. Mileage is great and I haven't had any problems with anything except a radio knob (currently 41K). Very safe car and the base model comes loaded with everything except: alloys, sunroof, armrest. I saved the $1600 for the GLS and put my own wheels on
It was between a Corolla and Jetta TDI. I knew the Corolla would be more reliable, but it seemed very tinny. Cheaper cost but not after you add all the optional safety features that the Jetta comes standard with. Safety is a concern for me - one of my daughters friends was killed in a Neon that I had sold her family You would not beleive what that Neon looked like after the accident. Makes you think long and hard about small cars. That was a major factor in my decision.

Pros:
Fuel economy
Safety
Resale
Cold temp starting (when compared to an old Mercedes)
Cons:
Questionable reliability (I have not experienced that)
MAF's are known to fail over time
Expensive timing belt change @ 100K (many other vehicles have similar change intervals, just not as expensive)
Intakes can clog over time requiring clean up (Fred's TDI page has info regarding a couple of ways around this - timing change or an inline filter to trap all oil mist prior to intake)
Small back seat area

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'85 300D - 206K (sold)
'81 240D - 149K (sold)
'03 Jetta TDI - (sold)
'79 300D - (sold)

I am not an owner or have ever been an owner of a tdi, but have known several people who have. My most obvious observation is that a lot of people are very happy with them and that a great deal of the cars are very reliable, but i have found about a 3rd of the people I know with one experiencing problems with them early in the cars life. This speaks of the consistency of quality. The most major concern i have heard being expressed is that the after sale service one would expect for a new car is very poor and that the parts are extremely expensive. On the other hand they are very stylish, smooth riding, relativeley affordable and extremely efficient vehicles. Just my observations.

Just remembered, my '00 VW Beetle TDi:
I replaced my shocks prematurely at 80k miles with 4 Bilsteins.
Now I don't fore see having to replace them again.
4 Bilsteins where less expensive than an MB..

I do not see the parts as more expensive than MB. Make some comparisons in Fastlane.

A VW is a lighter less expensive car than an MB so I do not expect it to handle or ride as good as an MB. However I feel it will last almost as long as new MB's.

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79 240D my current toy
42 years a Diesel addict

240D sold
250SE sold
220D sold
280C sold
280S sold
300D (2) sold
300CD sold
300DT sold
300SD sold
380SL sold

TDIs are fun cars, are very tunable, fairly reliable, and inexpensive to operate. The VW dealerships usually leave a bit to be desired, but that can be avoided if you like to DIY.

The warranties that VW offers are usually crap. They'll try and worm their way out of warranty work when you take your car in for service. In addition, the wording of some warranties is so rediculous that they may as well not offer it. For example, the rust warranty only covers rust that goes all the way through a body panel. To qualify for rust warranty replacement, you must have done everything in your power to prevent the panel from rusting through... think Por 15 or other similar rust treatment.

If you get anything besides a V10 TDI, I'd recommend having it chipped. Chips provide 40% more engine torque than stock. You may have to upgrade the clutch if you buy a manual tranny because the stock clutches don't hold up to extra power (they used to, but the newer clutches aren't as strong). If you buy an auto tranny, you won't have this problem.

If you can afford a Touareg V10 TDI, buy one. You get a heck of a lot of vehicle for the price. I've driven one, and I can't say enough about it. I however, can't afford one.

Enjoy TDIclub.com, it's a good site with a lot of great people. Unfortunately, the membership base is so huge that there is a lot of BS to sift through before you find the really good reading material, but that's the way any large internet forum is.

With all of that being said, I missed my 190D when I had my Beetle. The new VWs don't compare to the Benzes or yore, but they're still fun to drive.

Its like the old saying goes: You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. The apples-n-oranges comparisons of MB's and TDI's is ludicrous at best. RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

Thanks for all the replies on the TDI. I've got lots of 2nd thoughts about the car. Just seeing them on the road being as small as they are makes me think twice. The thing is I need to get my wife a smaller car since she drives a Tahoe for her main transportation needs. We both realize this is ridiculous for a daily driver but the main reason we have the "tank" is so we can get in and out of our place during the bad snow and icy conditions we sometimes get every winter. I'm not totally sold on how the TDI would do in the bad winter situations since it's only a front driver. We had a Camry and it was terrible. My 300D is also terrible in any snow as well so I'm stuck driving the Tahoe on those bad days. We may just look into some kind of AWD like a Subaru since there aren't any diesels out there that are AWD except the Tuareg but I don't feel like shelling out that kind of money for any kind of car, especially a VW. I don't really like the Subaru's because I have a hard time getting in and out of one and I'm only 6'2 and they have almost no leg room for passengers in the back seat. We have too many cars to just keep the Tahoe around for only when we need it.
This is a dilemma that we'll have to work out some how.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

I have owned MB diesels now for 4 years (12 of them) and I just bought a 99.5 Jetta TDI about two months ago. Its quiet, fast and fun. It'll start at any temp.

What's important is to find a buddy or local TDI freak that has already mastered the learning curve for the DIY'er. My buddy bought a couple of them about a year ago and has the computer and the entire car figured out. I did the same for him with MB's. That is the only way to deal with stealerships....avoid them like the plague.

I swapped rotors the other day and had to slow down because the job was too easy and going too fast.

Drive one at night and all the dash guages light up like a xmas tree. That sold me after the dim MB's instrument clusters.

Spreadsheet the fuel out and most of us will own one free between 3-5 years.

Having said that, I'm keeping 4 of my MB's for daily drivers for my kids and wife. They don't like the TDI that much as I oversold them on my MB experiment.

In addition, because the cars are not that old, the forum (though helpful) does not have the experience base as our awesome forum here.

Don

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DAILY DRIVERS:
'84 300DT 298k (Aubrey's)
'99.5 Jetta TDI IV 251k (Julie's)
'97 Jetta TDI 127k (Amber's)
'97 Jetta TDI 186k (Matt's)
'96 Passat TDI 237k (Don's
'84 300D 211k Mint (Arne- Undergoing Greasecar Conversion)

SOLD:
'82 240D 229k (Matt's - Converted-300DT w/ 4 speed