I wouldn't call the stock VNT reliable or robust. Clogged vanes and boost issues are all over these boards. I can't remember ever having an issue with a MB wastegate turbo or for that matter the fully mechanical engines other than rubber seals or hoses wearing. CEL and Limp home mode issues are rampant with the TDI. Not saying it's a bad engine... just more problems possible than a bare bones simple mechanical engine.
Exactly. This wouldn't be a valuable message board if all owners posted 'Hey guys, things are working great!' on a daily basis. People only post when something goes wrong.I maintain loads of these cars, the vast majority of which have no issues of the type you are concerned with, and the owners never or rarely post here.
I might say misled instead of misinformed. Many of the CEL and limp mode issues are something else. Running with no lower cover will get at the actuator.Regarding the TDI's reliability, I may be misinformed... It's just that when I search I find lots of intake cleaning, stuck turbos, CEL or Limp issues reported............................
Other than saving the effort of adapting a wiring harness to a non-diesel vehicle that you've swapped a TDI into, I'm hard pressed to see any advantages to an MTDI.Its a matter of preference and there are pros and cons to each.
Here's a couple. They may not matter to you personally bit to others it does.Other than saving the effort of adapting a wiring harness to a non-diesel vehicle that you've swapped a TDI into, I'm hard pressed to see any advantages to an MTDI.
This is my reasoning. I have the car working now I believe... but TDI, reliable and robust or not... for a good running car we depend on:Here's a couple. They may not matter to you personally bit to others it does.
- no charge to adjust fuelling for any changes (turbo, injectors etc)
- less aging electronics to fail (no car becomes more reliable as it ages)
- something to tinker with (not what you want on a daily but great for a project car)
That said I wouldn't do a mTDI in a mk4 unless rats got in the engine bay and ate all the wires and sensors but I can't see myself ever swapping a eTDI into any other vehicle unless I needed the electronics for emissions or an automatic.
Seems to me this is still the root question you're trying to solve for... and any jurisdiction I know with electronic testing will plug into the OBD2 port, not see an ECU reporting "ready", and fail your car with its beautiful m-TDI pump regardless of how fewer electronic parts it has.Any clue if this would pass emissions for an ALH emissions standard car.
Even an IDI VW would rely on the ignition switch & relays to run. The MAF and MAP can both fail, the car will still run. Overall the ECUs are quite reliable.This is my reasoning. I have the car working now I believe... but TDI, reliable and robust or not... for a good running car we depend on:
-Relay(s)
-PCM
-MAF
-MAP
This is like saying all gas engines are alike because they have spark plugs. There really isn't anything significant in common between an IDI NA VW diesel from the 70s and a electronically controlled TDI in from '96 on.Its the same rotary pump design VW diesels used since the 70s, just got an electric throttle and electronic controls supervising.