I thought the fuel might be suspect but it's winter blend, it's been over freezing for over a week, the last time I put fuel in it I added anti-gel stuff cause it was really cold.

Strainer.. I dread messing with that.

I figured I would: try an alternate fuel source, pull the valve cover and check the timing marks, perhaps try to set IP timing. But I just can't imagine any of the timing could just get mess up out of the blue.

I hope there was not some sorta timing chain/tensioner failure. I only assume that with 1.5* of stretch that the chain was replaced at some point. I think the car has 303K on it now.

The only "strange" thing I did today was drive through a puddle in my ally and the broken exhaust sounded like it went under water. My TD sounded like a boat for the 1/2 a sec it took to get through the puddle.

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08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D