Bench race

[SuperBuickGuy]

So, the Prius is gone, there's a TDI Jetta that's taken its place (that needs a bit of body work, so that'll show up eventually)...

And my wife still gets stuck in her 325xi, so that needs an upgrade...

hang on to your girdles

to a Land Rover

and it will be diesel.

The choices are:

MB W123 diesel
BMW 3.0 diesel
LR 3.0 tdi diesel

all with turbos and I will make it a manual transmission in a flavor TBD

and don't start with cummins... too heavy, I'm not redesigning the entire suspension to make it work

[milner351]

Better tires for the bmw sure sounds like a more sensible option?

[Barry Donovan]

Norwegian marine engine. No more worries.

[Barry Donovan]

this Norwegian marine engine, sporty exhaust and one more cylinder

[JOES66FURY]

Better tires for the bmw sure sounds like a more sensible option?

I was thinking the same thing...Like damn, my car doesnt ride like it used to, screw replacing the shocks, I am building a off road vehicle from scratch!

I know diesels can be spendy, thats about as far as I can go. But IF I WERE to be doing something like this I would look at engine longevity and cost of replacement parts/rebuild and compare the data.

[SuperBuickGuy]

she needs more room, beside better ground clearance.

I'm more interested in opinions or experiences people have had with the motors listed...

[NewEnglandRaceFan]

I know this wasn't one of the options, but why not get a vehicle that already fits the bill, instead of another project.. that you'll finish by spring.. There has to be an oilburning vehicle that fits that is a used car lot away

[SuperBuickGuy]

I know this wasn't one of the options, but why not get a vehicle that already fits the bill, instead of another project.. that you'll finish by spring.. There has to be an oilburning vehicle that fits that is a used car lot away

I could lay out the math for you - trust me on this, it doesn't exist on a car lot

[68scott385]

What, you can't buy used 4x4 diesel Tahoes?

[SuperBuickGuy]

What, you can't buy used 4x4 diesel Tahoes?

there is a total of one, diesel Suburban anywhere within 500 miles of me.... but, believe it or not, Suburbans are substantially larger than Land Rovers.... I know, hard to believe, but it's true.

why is this important? because what she wants is what she wants.

[Barry Donovan]

I cannot tell if I post anymore.. but the question you are asking has a simple answer.. find the most common one. Mercedes. In fact this thread is silliness.

[DanStokes]

SBG - The only one I have experience with is the Benz. BTW - the engine (if you're thinking of the 5 cylinder) is the OM617 - 123 is the body designation that they generally come in. The 4 cylinder as found in the 240D can be had with a turbo and is exactly the same as the OM617 but minus a cylinder. In an uncharacteristic fit of common sense for Benz, that engine is an OM616. Or were you thinking of a different Benz engine?

Here's the deal - they're tough as nails but WAY over engineered. If you get one that needs a rebuild you don't buy pistons, which evidently are made of solid gold. However, it's a wet sleeved engine and the liners are CHEAP! So new liners and a ring and bearing set and you're done.

They're pretty cheap at our PnP - about $350ish. Several firms make trans adaptors including Bentsen's. Jags That Run makes some adaptor stuff, too. I haven't bought from Bentsen's but they have a great rep. I bought my flex disc to U-joint adaptor from JTR and they were super.

If you decide to go that way I can tell you the various vendors I'm using and my experiences with them. Pretty much I've done OK as long as I avoid stuff in a Tri-Star box.

Dan

[Beagle]

B3.3T, inter-cool and turn the screw

[DanStokes]

Too heavy and too tall - and I LIKE and own a Cummins. Different tools for different jobs.

Dan

[SuperBuickGuy]

B3.3T, inter-cool and turn the screw

you failed at multiple guess, didn't you?