Is the TDI a 300k mile engine?

[izaakd]

I know people with late 90s New Beetles and people with early 90s Jettas.  It seems that the quality of VWs has become hit or miss in recent years.  I am curious, though, if beyond the cars themselves the TDI drivetrains are, like any worthwhile diesel, 300k motors.  I ask because I am starting a company that is going to build custom bio-diesel and grease cars.  Mercedes motors are, obviously, very expensive.  A TDI, however, is a lot less expensive and has been proven capable of moving around a 3200 lb (I think) Passat.  A lot of really cool old cars weigh less than 3200 lbs, so, it all boils down to whether or not the TDI is a viable candidate for such a transplant.  What are people's experience with the motor (and transmission) itself?

[745 turbogreasel]

If you throw it in the back of something powered by Cummins, absolutly!

[Ziptar]

I'll let you know...

2003 Jetta 1.9L TDI that just turned  187K. Even ran it on Straight Veg from ~86K to ~165K.

Between the miles I have put on it and the $9000 in collision work it got at 164K that will show up on Carfax when I sell or trade it, It's not worth selling or trading. I am just going to drive it until something major goes, maybe even to 300K.

[jtanguay]

i'd say that the electronics will give out long before the motor does... just my 2 cents

[lord_verminaard]

I'm pretty sure there are a few on TDIClub that have 500k or more miles now.  They are really like most VW engines, rock solid- but as mentioned before, the electronics give out before the engines do.  Now, eliminate the electronics.... hehehe.

Brendan
84 Scirocco 8v <-- Soon to be a M-TDI
01 Jeep TJ 4.0