Are VW TDI Engines as tough as Mercedes W123 Diesels? have any of you Diesel heads had one apart or looked at it? How beefy is the injection pump?

Somehow I dont think so. After all they have a rubber timing belt. Something tells me they have some aluminum in them. I haven't even looked at one yet, but I heard that they are good for 300K miles, which actually isnt much.

I remember on one W123 engine I had, I was messing around wirh a self designed mod to my Crankcase Ventilation system and the hose got kinked and I blew all my oil down to 1/2 a quart and one of my rods was bad after that. You could hear it knocking at idle even.
Well I thought the engine would die within a month, but it went on and on and on for 3 years, and I even drove the car on 800 mile trips.

Which is why I still have my W123 300D fully restored.

Something tells me the VW TDI engines aren't bad but they are way overpriced on the used car market and you would be hard pressed to find parts for one like us W123 owners where every yard is a potential goldmine!...

Two words: timing belt.

You could ask these guys:

http://forums.tdiclub.com/

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

You've messed with a Volvo diesel before. A distant cousin.......

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

aahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaa...

no. they are not as "tough" or robust as the 616 or the 617.

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'79 300SD
'82 Chevy Chevette diesel

I've got a '96 Passat TDI that I purchased new. It has 340K miles on it presently.

The timing belt is rubber and has a 60K mile rating. It is well known that it had better be changed within that interval. The later TDI's have a 100K rated belt.

I purchased the car for expected longevity of the engine, at least, and the fuel economy. The best mpg I got was 50. I figure I got my money's worth out of it right now.

By the way, I'm still on the original clutch and turbo.

Apples and oranges.

.

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[http://languageandgrammar.com/2008/01/14/youve-got-problems-not-issues/ ]

"A liberal is someone who feels they owe a great debt to their fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money."

Bait thread?

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

I had considered getting a Vdub for my daughter. She's in the learning stage, but I plan ahead. She has a strong preference for manual tranys, so my 300SD & CD are out. I think we'll go with a 240d though. I think it's a tougher car if she gets hit, and she doesn't mind the lower acceleration, especially if it also comes with dependability,endurance, and reasonable economy. The only real concern I have is starting any diesel here (western Canada)when it gets really cold.

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Thanx,
Alberta Luthier
1983 300CD ('Stinky')155k miles, 2.47 diff, EGR removed, AAZ injectors with 265 nozzles from Sean,and vogtland lowering springs.
1984 300SD ('Old Blue')150k Klicks from Japan originally, came with rear head rests, no sunroof and never had an EGR

I'm with you.
Like when did 300K become not really that much? "300K miles, which actually isnt much"

See I took the bait.

yawn

Here is a better one.
Are Mercedes V-8 gas motors as fast and tough as the old Chevy 327 and Boss 302?

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Currently driving a very clean 1985 300SD from the West Coast.

He's always had threads like this over the years. Can't comment on the bait angle, but can't rule it out either.....

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Your new around here, hes not a "bate thread" person

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

Are VW TDI diesels as good as Mercedes Benz W123 Diesels? No! Aluminum head and rubber timing belt. Good engines, but not as good as a 616 or 617

We like our Jetta TDI. JimmyL rode in it a few weeks ago. We have finally hit the 500 miles using 3/4 of a tank now.

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

99 W210 E300 Turbo Diesel, chipped, DPF/Converter Delete. Still needs EGR Delete, 232K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Gone and still missed...1982 w123 300D, 1991 w124 300D

O really liked their Jetta. I felt like I was in a cockpit. Smooth power and quick starting.
Having said that, I enjoyed his 300D more.......

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John