300 Tdi Versus TD5 90!

Hi guys, newbie to the forum and after some advice. Current fleet is an '85 110 pick-up 200tdi P.O.S, and a '94 Hardtop 90 300tdi. I've been looking at replacing the 90 with a newer TD5 so to that end up test drove a 2006 90 TD5 CSW. Tbh i was slightly disappointed. My current 90 has 178k on the clock, the TD5 i drove was on 110k but the TD5 felt sloppy in comparison. Also the power delivery I found strange. My current 90 is rough in comparison but pulls strongly throughout the rev range and really picks up once boosting. Off-boost it still pulls well though in any gear. The TD5 seemed to lack any power unless there was some boost. It was pretty quick on boost but changing up a gear seemed to lose the momentum. All in all a fairly tiring drive to make good progress. Other than that the TD5 was great, bodily almost perfect but couldnt justify the 12.5k price tag over my 3K current beater. Also I noticed a strange noise when taking up the clutch, are the TD5's DMF's or similar, something didnt feel right.

Am i doing the right thing looking for a TD5 or should I stick with a 300tdi?

never tried a td5 love my 300tdi so i am biased

Your td5 driving description is spot on but you can have them chipped.

If that's the first Td5 you've driven, have a drive in another one as a comparison. My current Defender is the first Td5 I've owned but it pulls well through the rev range so maybe something's not quite right with the one you drove. And yes, Td5's have a DMF.

Td5!! Buy a nanocom and your golden

tottot said:

Your td5 driving description is spot on but you can have them chipped.

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Apparently this one had been remapped and EGR blanked, std IC and exhaust.

Possibly a poor map. I have a mate who has a remap (it was on when he bought it) and while it shifts, it doesn't seem to have the bottom end my standard tune has.

SteveT247 said:

Possibly a poor map. I have a mate who has a remap (it was on when he bought it) and while it shifts, it doesn't seem to have the bottom end my standard tune has.

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Was apparently done by someone recommended on various forums, not sure who exactly though. It does really shift when on boost but takes time to get there. By the time it starts to go my 300tdi would be down the road.

Sounds like somethings amiss, mine's got a lot more go than either of my previous Tdi's and that's a standard tune. Have a drive in another one to compare it if you can before stumping up any cash, £12500 is a fair wedge.

The first TD5 i drove was a few months ago, we hired a 110 based cherry picker. The engine was totally standard apart from the poor handling on the country roads up the north of Scotland, The engine was perky and very powerfull. Felt it had a lot more torque than my 98 300TDI which is in fine fettle. TBH i would consider buying one as long as i bought the diagnostics with it.

Personally i would prefer to have a standard map on it, You really dont know what ****e has been uploaded.

If you get one and feel it needs a new map then you will know if the remap is any good when you drive it.

The one your looking at might have a problem which the remap is helping to hide

SteveT247 said:

Possibly a poor map. I have a mate who has a remap (it was on when he bought it) and while it shifts, it doesn't seem to have the bottom end my standard tune has.

Click to expand...

e bay special 99.99P great deal

Thanks for the great response so far guys! I really do need to test drive a few more TD5's. Decided I don't one in such smart condition as it's supposed to be a workhorse, another tatty hardtop would fit the bill as long as it drove ok. WRT the dmf, what are the symptoms of one on its way out?

Regarding the DMF, my experience with DMFs was in the family Vectra. I noticed a rattle from the clutch on taking the revs off. ie rev up, no noise, revs down, rattle, rattle.
Replaced the DMF with a new Valeo DMF and Sacks clutch kit (€500) . 30km later, timing belt broke prematurly. During resultant engine change, the DMF on inspection had very loose springs, leaving plenty of "play" between the clutch bearing plate and the main flywheel housing.
While there are solid flywheel conversions knocking about, they must include a sprung clutch plate or else you get shudder and also transmission noise. ( with the DMF setup, the springs are in the flywheel and there are no springs in the clutch (friction) plate). Maybe someone else here knows if there are solid conversions available for the TD5.

There are solid conversions available but no. 1 its britpart. No.2 aparently it can cause more issues especially in the gearbox. Leave the DMF as is

I went from a 300 tdi to a td5 both standard. Loved them both but The td5 is in a different league.
I wouldn't want to go back to the 300 now

solid conversions are out there, but dont, I have a mate who changed his for a solid, and wishes he hadnt.

noise when taking up the clutch could be the spigot bush, usually only does it when cold

Got my eye on a couple of 110 HCPU's so will hopefully get another test drive in one over the next few days.

Test drove an HCPU, drove superbly so it's now mine! Will post some pics up when I get it home.