Are VW TDI Engines as tough as Mercedes W123 Diesels?
 

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/

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

aahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaa...

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

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.

.:)

Bait thread?

VW or Benz Hmmm
 

I had considered getting a Vdub for my daughter. She's in the learning stage, but I plan ahead:D. 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.

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

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?

It appears that high mileage engines in both cases are out there.

The real question deals with the quality of the rest of the car.

Would you still want to be driving it when it rolls over the 300K mark?

Jim

Since, in 2008 dollars, any M-B would be roughly double the price of any VW would you expect them to be equal in quality?

Very true, I would consider buying a newish VW for my kids though.

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