HI - Anyone have any information or links on the 1.9L VW diesel engine - Known problems and longevity - Thinking of purchase! Thanks

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Bill3888
1985 300D (Calif) 183K

Do a search. The TDI vs MB has been discussed here ad-nauseum. IMHO, this is an apples and oranges comparison. However the TDI, correctly maintained has proven itself capable of 250-300,000 miles. It has the expected electronic issues that all modern vehicles have or will have as they age. Also check out www.tdiclub.com 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

http://www.tdiclub.com/

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ASE Master Mechanic
asemastermechanic@juno.com

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
Vehicle build.
Fleet Durability
Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
2002 Honda Civic

https://www.boldegoist.com/

is it a TDI or an old IDI from a rabbit or gulf

I was looking into getting one, a few months back, but prices have increased on used ones, which are very hard to find... I'll have to wait a while when fuel prices go back down some, or when I have a higher paying job...

As for longevity, looks like they will do 300K miles, and the timing belts need to be done 80K miles, but there are 100K mile kits which have a larger idler roller.

Boy are those diesel belts thicker than the gas ones! I wouldn't mind changing one once and awhile...but my TDI would have to be fast...turbo fast. (and not new spending time in the shop and sucking my wallet empty)

My DD is an '01 golf (TDI)

My project in an '85 300D

I intend to return the 300D to service and sell the Golf. May be a while though. The golf gets me 44MPG with a roof rack and heavy foot. My Golf's a 4 door but is too small for my current families desires. They fit in there but to bring alot of "Stuff" it gets tight...My Golf drives and handles VERY impressively. Cheers. These are are very different automobiles. But the sounds at idle of each is musical...

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Rob M
Norwich, VT USA
1980 240D Euro delivery 4 speed manual silver/blue
~160K miles

I have a '98 Jetta Tdi that I bought brand new. I have 222k miles on it so far and it has been the best car I ever owned. I get over 50mpg on the highway. However, parts are insane expensive and I cant hardly work on it. Feels like it has 3x the power of my '79 300 D and gets far better mileage and much more comfortable.

But I drive the '79 and the wife drives the Jetta. Given the choice I would take the benz because parts are cheap and I can fix anything on it that goes wrong.

I guess I am just stuck in the 70's.

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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 bought my 2001 TDI new. Best car I've ever owned. Can be easily modified for more hp/torque.

My wife & I generally take the TDI on trips, and whichever of us is going to drive the greater miles during the course of the day takes the TDI.

We don't run my '82 240D in the winter, and I don't let anyone else drive it in the summer, so my wife either gets the TDI (in the summer) or the 4 wheel drive Ford (in the winter she only drives 4 wheel drives).

- Patrick

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1982 240D. 198k, Marine Blue/Blue, 4 Speed, Crank Windows, No Sunroof, No Rust, No Oil Leaks
2001 TDI. 197k, Lagoon Blue/Black, 5 speed, Chip, G60/VR6

PM old navy. Walt knows the TDI very well.

Cheers,

Bill

My 2000 Jetta has 221,000 on it. The issues I have had is that the front end is low to the ground and gets caught on the parking curbs. Other than that nothing major.

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2000 VW Jetta TDI with 213,000 miles and climbing
84 300D non turbo getting ready for wvo conversion

99 Jetta TDI with 240,000 km. Great car as far as mileage. In the summer, consistently returns 21-22 km/L on highway with no A/C, about 20 km/L (47 mpg) with AC on. Still gets about 16 km/L in the city with a heavy foot.

IMHO, it's nowhere near as comfortable as the Benz, and louder inside.

No real problems, except I cleaned out the intake, EGR and anti-shudder valve once, then used VAG-Com software to adjust EGR flow to hopefully decrease the buildup of gunk. It's worth having VAG-Com or having access to someone with it when doing work on the car such as timing belt change, etc. (You need it to set the timing correctly).

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1991 MB 300D 2.5 Turbo (207000km) (now gone)
1993 Audi 100 CS Quattro (300000km)
1999 VW Jetta TDI (290000km)
2002 Audi A6 3.0 Quattro (150000km)
2005 MB E320 CDI (34000km)

What I know about the issue:

One of my brothers has a 3-4 year old TDI and loves it, however, he had the dealer perform the first timing belt change (major $$$). My guess is that unless you purchase the software as he did, and change the timing belt (DYI) the cost of the belt and install will eat up any fuel savings you may realize.

Jim

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2005 C240 4matic wagon (daily driver)
87 190D - 225K (on loan)
85 190D - 312K (on loan)
2011 Subaru Legacy AWD (Wife's)

If you have the dealer do ANYTHING (brakes is a perfect example - several hundred for pads and rotors at the dealer vs. ~100 for pads and rotors in your driveway) it will eat up tenfold any fuel savings. The absolute LAST place I'd go is the dealer. I live ~3 miles from a dealer and would rather push my TDI to my established/respected TDI guru indy in Maine than take it to the dealer.

Personally fuel efficiency is about more than just the $/gallon at the pump.

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Rob M
Norwich, VT USA
1980 240D Euro delivery 4 speed manual silver/blue
~160K miles

Don't forget it takes special tools to service most items on the newer Volkswagens , but they seem to be very reasonably priced...