I like the CBEA engine, but I don't like all those sensors / captors (electrical stuff) that are much less reliable than the engine. I bout the car @ 100000 km / 2 years old. Two monts later I found oil in the expansion tank cooling system. I learn that the car had the same problem twice before, but was "fixed" by flushing the cooling system. VW changed the engine head for free and send it in Austria were was made, to see the problem (they brought in an expert from Toronto, ON and another one from Chattanooga, TN). Later: EGR problem, fixed also for free.
At 200000 km I decided to change the transmission fluid: I found metal (magnetic - silver, and nonmagnetic - cooper like) particles in the old fluid. After another 100000 km no particules at all in the fluid. Also, too many electromechanical parts failures, including HPFP! That make me think that the previous owner was an *******! Did not toke care at all about the car! And the cherry on the cake: working in the timing belt side, I noted that most likely the oil pan was removed and reinstalled: the creature who did the job used the cheapest white silicon (3 $ probably)to seal it !!! Could be possible that the previous owner did more km than indicated by odometer?
My father had an old MB 200D (1978, 123 class) and last like a champ for more than 500000km.
