Thread: TDi 200 or TDi 300 pros and cons please!

Roadkill,
I have owned both vehicles & loved them both for their simplicity.
The 300, i personally think is a more refined engine. It pulls a little harder & isnt so noisy. Its a lot easier getting parts for too.
The 300 is still being built in Brasil now called the TGV HS2800, which just quietly leaves my TD5 for dead & no electronics, slight difference but basically the same.
The 300's need the timing belt replaced at every 80k km(book says 100, but better to be safe than sorry), whereas the 200 every 100k km & have not heard a lot of problems with the 200 snapping belts.
Both are 2.5 ltr 4 cyl < both also get great fuel economy too.
Both mine lasted well into the late 200k km mark with my 200 going to 289k km before i sold it, the 300 left me at 257k km.
I still see both of them on the road, one not as good as she used to be..sadly..but i enjoyed both of them, they took me to many places in Aus

300TDi is my prefered out of the two for the following:

Slightly more refined.
Slightly more power output.
Better laid out on the front for servicing.

HTH

M

200Tdi is my favourite because that's what I could afford at the time.

sort of right
the 300Tdi is still being built in Brazil but it's the HS2500
LR apparently still use it for some military application in sth Africa ?? where they don't want complicated electronic engines (someone will correct where they use it I'm sure)
the HS2800 TGV is actually a ford engine for the ranger (sth American F150 but uses the same block as the 300Tdi / HS2500)
LR demoed it and said it was to powerful ??? what the ?? and went with the Td5 instead in the D2
I've always imported the HS2800 cause anyone spending $10k on a new engine wants the best they can get (bang for buck) and the HS2500 was only $300 cheaper and still a 300Tdi (the TGV is 35% up on HP & torque)
the HS2500 is now $500 dearer than a TGV so why would anyone want one over a TGV ???

Jase

PS to answer your question
both well cared for are good for a long time, I yanked a 300tdi out my 130 to fit a TGV earlier in the year it (the 300) had done a head (not uncommon on either Tdi) but when the head was removed pistons ect were all perfect it had done 400,000kms (just I wanted a TGV and had the right contact )
I've never owned a 200 (only a few 300's) but my LR mechanic mate recons the 200's are a better engine, My answer would be to buy either, just make sure either is in good nic and buy based on condition (of engine and car) not type
J

Originally Posted by sniegy

Roadkill,
I have owned both vehicles & loved them both for their simplicity.
The 300, i personally think is a more refined engine. It pulls a little harder & isnt so noisy. Its a lot easier getting parts for too.
The 300 is still being built in Brasil now called the TGV HS2800, which just quietly leaves my TD5 for dead & no electronics, slight difference but basically the same.
The 300's need the timing belt replaced at every 80k km(book says 100, but better to be safe than sorry), whereas the 200 every 100k km & have not heard a lot of problems with the 200 snapping belts.
Both are 2.5 ltr 4 cyl < both also get great fuel economy too.
Both mine lasted well into the late 200k km mark with my 200 going to 289k km before i sold it, the 300 left me at 257k km.
I still see both of them on the road, one not as good as she used to be..sadly..but i enjoyed both of them, they took me to many places in Aus

My 300Tdi has just passed the 275000 mark and still goes very well. No sign of oil usage or being smokey. I have had the leaks - front oil seal on the cam went, manifold water gaskets, etc, but nothing major. Whenever a leak problem happened where a modified replacement sorts out the problem permanently I've had it installed and there's no more problem.

On the other side I've owned a Defender with a 300Tdi which was really badly treated by its former owner and it did have odd problems. Had to do the head gasket and shave the head to get it to stop leaking water. If you find one that's been overheated then you'll probably have problems.

If the motor comes with the rest of the vehicle then the significant difference will be the transmission.

The manual 200 was coupled to the LT77 box and the manual 300 to the R380 box. The latter being a stronger unit (or at least I am led to believe).

Well 285,000k's and touch wood still good, gotta love the 300TDI!
Don't use any oil runs smooth start's first go every go and go's and go's and go's.

This thread from earlier days is worth the read

The longevity of Tdi engines:

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/showthread.php't=27192