Originally Posted by
isuzurover
Correct me if I am wrong, but AFAIK there are no mechanical injection versions of the 1.9TDI engine. The VP37 1.9TDI was introduced in 93/94 and used until 98 in various forms until the PD engines (pump-nozzle) replaced it. All VP37 engines had the Bosch VE injector pump (same as the 200/300 Tdi), however they also ALL had an ecu to control solenoid valve(s) in the pump. It is probably not too difficult to get a fully mechanical bosch VE pump built to the same spec though... But an added complexity, and may also mean that the fuel consumption isn't as good. It is probably simple to wire in the ECU though.
I drove a few of these engines when I was in Germany, both the VP and the later PD engines. They run very nicely, and are a great engine for a small car. But I wonder how they would go pulling a heavy LR - should be great on the highway, but not sure about low down torque/offroad.
At one time we had a 1.4TDI polo for a few weeks (PD engine - 70 odd KW). We could sit on the french autobahns at 130 all day (speed limit) and still only do about 4L /100 km.