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 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

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

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?

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

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

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

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?

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

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.....

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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