buying a diesel VW or MB

[RedRam1]

BCFAST,



I'm about 20 yrs or so out of date regarding Vdub diesels, but when I was turning wrenches for a living in the early '80's, the rabbit diesels were very popular in our neck of the woods. They were decent cars, but they did blow head gaskets. Diesel passenger cars and trucks were a novelty back then. My cousin, who owned the shop where I worked, was a long-time Mercedes Diesel fan. Since he had an excellent rep from his Mercedes business, we ended up maintaining virtually all the rabbit diesels in our town. I will bet that I have replaced literally 50 or so head gaskets on those rigs. They typically would blow a head gasket every 40-60 thousand miles. If you didn't get the car hot, all you had to do was replace the gasket, and you were good to go another 40-60K, Get it hot & you may as well throw away the head. We worked on a few of the volvos with what appeared to be a 6 cyl version of the rabbit motor, they wouldn't go too far between gasket jobs either. Hopefully the modern VW's are beter.

 

[Shovelhead]

I'm an old VW wrencher too, and as I recall the compression was something like 600+ psi on the diesels.

Our biggest trouble was getting the customer to return at 1000 miles following a head gasket replacement for the retorque of the headbolts.

They also used "Stretch" bolts which were NOT designed to be reused.

How many mechanics replaced the bolts when replacing the gasket??????

All in all, I think V-Dubb has come a looooong way and is now building a fine car. Thank Goodness they did away with the Dasher/Audi Fox line, and the Type 3, and 4 VWs years ago.

Still wish they'd bring the OLD beetle back.

 

[redneckdr]

old beetle

hey shove, at least a couple of years ago, they were making new "old beetles" in mexico. you could buy a brand spanking new old style beetle--emgine same, and all, i think.....

 

[RedRam1]

Shovelhead,



Got to admit that we didn't always replace the head bolts. We were in a small town with the closest VW dealer ~100 miles away. We replaced the bolts on the first couple jobs until a guy, who was a good friend, blew a gasket on his dasher pickup. His owned a company that erected steel buildings (biggg ones), he traveled around all over the southeast visiting jobsites etc. He bought that dasher for the mpg. on account of how much driving he did. Anyway, he needed it in a hurry, so we just replaced the gasket, we were nervous about the bolts, but knew he wouldn't hold it against us if the gasket failed prematurely. His gasket, old bolts and all, lasted about the average time. He kept that Dasher for ~200k, I think it used 4 gaskets including the original. We stopped replaceing the bolts since, in our experience, it didn't buy any more time between gasket replacements.

The VW gaskets were available in different thickness' to account for mfg. tolerances. The differing thickness gaskets were identified by a certian number of notch cut-outs in one of the edges, you always put back a gasket with the same number of cutouts to ensure the compression ratio was correct, unless you milled the head. When we replaced the head, we always put the thickest gasket on to be safe, we probably lowered the compression on most of these cars, but they seemed to run OK.

 

[RedRam1]

Doc,



There's a guy in Marietta who imports the Mexican bugs, at least I guess that's where he gets them. I go by his place everyday on the way to work; he's got a couple of beetles on his lot, the sign on the window says "2001 model $11,995". I've never stopped in, but I wonder what the story is. I would be surprised if the Mexican bugs would meet all the U. S. EPA/DOT requirements.

 

[lschultz]

redneckdr check out these sites if you want info on VW TDI but then you might know about them.

1. http://www.tdiclub.com/

2. http://www.vwvortex.com/

3. http://www.newbeetle.org/

4. http://www.beettlebuzz.com/

 

[redneckdr]

new "old beetles"

i've seen them advertised before. i don't know about meeting current emissions, etc. shovelhead was saying he'd like to have a "new beetle". i really started this thread trying to figure out a way to legally bring into the US of A a new Passat diesel. the Jetta is nice, but a bit on the small side for my OWMBO's desire. i'm guessing that she will eventually opt for one, though. then, i'll be spending time on the TDI website, figuring out how to BOMB it.

 

[RedRam1]

Doc,



I'm not sure how much red tape is involved now-a-days regarding importing a euro-spec vehicle. A few years back (15 - 20 yrs), you were allowed to import one vehicle per person without having to do all the DOT/EPA mods. This was a once in a lifetime deal... an individual could only do this one time. I believe the intent was to allow armed forces guys stationed overseas to bring back cars purchased abroad, while preventing exotic/specialty car dealers from bringing in euro-spec cars at will.

I was living in Houston in that era, my buddy and I started messing with DeTomoaso Pantera's, and got to be friendly with a guy in Houston who imported european Ferraris and the like. He had to do extensive DOT and EPA mods to make the cars legal. He also coached his customers through the once in a lifetime improtation process. I would be very surprised if the rules have not changed by now, but it would be worth checking out.

 

[redneckdr]

importing a car

redram, got any idea who i would contact to get info on the once in a lifetime thing?? i did bring back a '66 MGB new in the summer of 1966. i had it made to USA specs, but they weren't bad then. the OWMBO would surely like to have a Passat diesel. i'd be satisfied with a BOMBed Jetta TDI, but she wants more room. i just don't know whom tocontact, now. Vdub did e-mail me back, to tell me that they don't have any "tourist delivery in Europe" going on now. no plans to start again, apparently. both Saab and Volvo have that option available. i think it's only the models they sell in the USA anyway, though.

 

[therabbittree]

the vw diesels are very good!. . the older ones did use head gaskets alot , but the newer cars have metal head gaskets and do not blow the head gasket unless you have insane cylinder pressure. . the new engines are direct injection with the combustion chamber in the piston like cummins etc the old ones had prechamber in the head where the glow plug sat and that was the combustion chamber i think that had a lot to do with the headgasket problems too ... the compression ratio on the old vws was 23. 5 to 1 the new ones are better like 19. 5 to 1. . still high in my option. the race tdis use lower comp like 17. 5 to 1... so your boost is gonna be alot lower then the cummins bombed. . with the chips for the tdi boost spikes to about 22-25 psi and settles at sustained 17-18psi... old td rabbits etc can boost to about 15-17psi with some mods... i have both cars... my fiance has a 2001 golf with the upsolute chip (best on market now!) and some mods no muffler etc its fast and has averaged 46 mpg since new last may highest was 64mpg and lowest 35. . but most tanks average at least 800 miles for 14 gallons diesel... go to freds tdi site www.tdiclub.com do a lot of reading, theres lots to know. i wouldn't trust most vw dealers to work on the tdi either, i do it all my self,,, most dealers have little experience with the diesels. . and they are alot tricker to do t belts on and set timing etc... get a bently manual, vent your crank case vent to the atomsphere like a cummins, stock it is routed to the intake hoses and oil vapor mixes with the egr and plugs your intake and intake ports and your intercooler with sludge. that sucks, so that is a must do mod, and cut out your muffler and put a staight pipe in its place. . this frees up exhaust, the turbo spools up faster, and you can hear more turbo whistle and it is not louder in the car or out. infact most people don't know our car has no muffler!... and get the upsolute chip goes from stock 90hp to 112hp and 150ftlbs to 200ftlbs just with a chip. . and mpg goes up if you drive normal ha... . i higher recommend these cars!!!..... we use delvac 1 change it every 5000 miles and no problems ... . do t belt at 40,000 miles and you will be fine!... later

deo

\x/ hillfolk!

ps a passat tdi would be awesome but vw of america has their head up there a$$es

 

[KLockliear]

You can always do injectors too. Our NB made 76hp stock, 94 with injectors.

 

[RedRam1]

Herb,



I'll bet anyone who deals in preowned exotic cars would know if the once in a lifetime importation deal is still in effect. Better still, I bet if we started a thread here on the TDR, someone would know.



My Houston buddy has been out of the car business for as long as I have, so I doubt if he would know anything. Let's give the TDR membership a crack at this one, if they can't help, I'll make some phone calls and see what I can find out.



Jim

 

[redneckdr]

Jetta TDI

rabbittree, i thought you must be the same one that i had read here on the TDR, then the other day i was lurking on the TDI site and saw one of your posts, and the \x/... ... . i decided i'd better wait til i was sure... ... i was very impressed with the Jetta... workmanship, quality, and VALUE. 22. 6K Sticker, for a Jetta wagon with the monsoon sound, moonroof, leather and heated seats, a/c, all power, yadda, yadda. and a neat diesel, that already scoots right out there. add the upsolute and with 200 lb/ft of torque, that rascal would make some of the muscle cars look bad... ... ..... love to pull up to a stoplight in it next to one of those noisy rice burners... ... ... can you make one of 'em make some smoke????

Jim, i'll see if ican start another thread on this to see if anyone responds about that.

klockliear, i doubt that the OWMBO would let me change the injectors. chip and air filter, and maybe the exhaust... .

 

[therabbittree]

smoke ?. . hahah yup you can get some smoke out of em. . hahah my fiances 2001 golf lays down some smoke when your get on it especailly if you load it up like starting in 2nd gear. . but the best is at night its real easy to see the smoke in the tailgaters headlights hehehe just slow down in 5th and step on it and they will back off... if you do injectors they come in a few sizes from european basically just stock vw parts though . . diesel dynamics supposedly extrude hones some too . . the 24 cummins and tdi vw have very similar injectors but the vws tdi is a 2 stage injector and the return lines are not metal but braided fabric covered rubber hose. . and the 3rd injector has a needle lift sensor built into it. . do the 24s have this??... later

Deo

\x/ hillfolk!