What to look for on a 2.5 TD 110?

Hi all,

I am off to look at a 1987 110 tomorrow, fitted with (I believe the original) 2.5 TD engine. I must admit, I know very little about these other than they had a few reliability problems, being based on a N/A design originally.

What in particular should I look for? The car has covered 133,000 miles.

Cheers!

How many threads do you need to start regarding this? I think you got plenty of info on the others!

storm99 said:

How many threads do you need to start regarding this? I think you got plenty of info on the others!

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I'm disappointed - when I saw you had responded I was expecting a reply such as "an engine" or "a turbo." Disappointing.

And this is specifically about the engine - seems to be the 'weak' point of the vehicle, so want to know what to look for, and where better to ask?

Then i suggest you read your other thread which names the weak points as 'the turbo' and 'the engine'.

storm99 said:

Then i suggest you read your other thread which names the weak points as 'the turbo' and 'the engine'.

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That's more like it!

The turbo is a "bolt on" i think, not great and quite slow

they are prone to bore wear causing heavy breathing and excess oil in air filter pipes etc,turbo fairly good but can be checked by feling for more than normal spindle free play, if i was looking at td iwould remove oil filler cap to check for breathing,heads can crack between valves (common) signs are water uasge (weak coolant or rust coloured )the engines early or late are the same basicaly later teflon coated piston crown which helps but dosent stop alltogether piston crown spliting,poor staring if worn as low compression ,same crank and cam as 200

As the engines get older the cam followers wear down, The pistons usually crack causing excessive back pressure, Even in the best of health they are heavy breathers.
Saying that i had a TD engine with 3 cracked pistons worn main bearings(down to the copper) dont get me wrong the engine was as noisey as but it still ran for another 3K miles before i changed it. After a few years the pistons cracked on this engine as well(2 of them).
I replaced the 4 pistons, Main bearings etc and also did the cam followers as these seem to get worn down on the TD engine. Never cost me a lot of money and it was still a very healthy engine when i traded it in a few years ago.

If you dont have one save your money and buy a genuine factory fitted 200TDI version or a 300TDI these are much better engines and will last a lot longer. Personally i am not a fan of retrofits unless they have been done properly, (Steve parker does great hoses etc when they are converted )

Have decided to give this one a miss and wait for something more suitable! Thanks anyway

MikeV8SE said:

Have decided to give this one a miss and wait for something more suitable! Thanks anyway

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would seem me and yourself are after a 110.

may i ask where the 2.5td was you seen?

mikeadams1985 said:

would seem me and yourself are after a 110.

may i ask where the 2.5td was you seen?

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Was in Staffordshire but I didn't go to view in the end. There's a link to the advert in my other thread on here.