Early Golf TDI models....next project car?

[Greg Roles]

Hey guys,

Just wondering if some of you in the know can let me know when VW released TDI's and in which models. I'm starting to think about the next project, plus it would be good to have a backup car in case I grenade something in the GT. Thinking of an early TDI as a restorer.

Did any early "golf sized" diesels come in RWD in the Merc, BMW range??

[sparkie]

Golf Tdi came out in October 1994 and lasted until 1997 as far as I can see, in 1998 4th Gen came out so they were definitely over by then. The Merc 190 came out in the mid-late 1980s, and the 300 was late 1980s/eary 1990s, but generally they came out with auto boxes. BMW 3 series is about the same size but I think the diesel engine did not come out until the Noughties. Other brands were Peugeot with the 306XTDT and the 405 (larger) SRDT during the mid 1990s which had mechanical injection systems and then the 306 update had the common rail injection engine from 200 onwards til the 307 came out. I have been driving diesels for 20 years, half that time in the UK, and in Oz the only manufacturer who has continually sold diesels is Peugeot until very recently, other manufacturers complained about the diesel and said their engines were not compatible with the high sulphur diesel as this fuel went out of the European market aeons ago. Both Golf and Pug diesels are really hard to get hold of, I just watched carsales and drive like a hawk and got lucky!

[gldgti]

cant add much to that - apart from:

best bet for rwd is a W123 merc - the 300D is a beaut 5cyl engine and tuners in europe have been known to get 500hp out of them on stock internals.

the odd brick (volvo) diesel might be floating around - the 6 cyl D24 engine is a 2cylinder extended version of the vw 1.6 TD engine circa 80's.

golf 3 tdi's are a little tricky to find but they do come around now and then. alternativley, get yourself a straight mk1 or mk2 and then buy a diesel engine from someone who has a few (like me) and go nuts. IDI 1.6's have topped 250hp

[jets]

The Merc 190 came out in the mid-late 1980s, and the 300 was late 1980s/eary 1990s, but generally they came out with auto boxes.

I have a friend with a late 80s 190 Merc, 2.5 x 5 cyl. Has auto that starts in 2nd unless you change manually or floor it. It seems to need a fair bit of pedal to make it move, but fine once on the move.
I owned a W123 2.4 x 4 cyl manual [1981] for a number of years, fairly gutless but good on a trip.
My friend with the 190 used to own a 2.2 manual around 1970, I can only guess how gutless that would have been.

[Greg Roles]

All very interesting, thanks lads.

Gutless aspect doesn't worry me at all, for I'd like to try the next level, that is compound charging. Something that can handle it, and get the power to the ground would be best, and obviously a smaller, lighter car would appeal over a limo. All just talk at this stage, need to recover from my current buying frenzy, but need to start looking for a bomb should one come up. I have a spare garage slot!

[yowie]

cant add much to that - apart from:

best bet for rwd is a W123 merc - the 300D is a beaut 5cyl engine and tuners in europe have been known to get 500hp out of them on stock internals.

the odd brick (volvo) diesel might be floating around - the 6 cyl D24 engine is a 2cylinder extended version of the vw 1.6 TD engine circa 80's.

golf 3 tdi's are a little tricky to find but they do come around now and then. alternativley, get yourself a straight mk1 or mk2 and then buy a diesel engine from someone who has a few (like me) and go nuts. IDI 1.6's have topped 250hp

Is it the case that while it is possible to buy to put a diesel into a Mk1 or Mk2, but not from available stock possible to put a diesel into a Mk3?