Been done to death, but in reality there isn't much between them. 300 is a tad more refined, but if you're converting a 19j then a 200 is a much more straightforward job.
 
200tdi is generally regarded the more reliable engine as the 300tdi can suffer from overheating, 300tdi is mre refined and slightly more powerful, both are good and a 300 with decent waterpump/rad is realistically just as reliable as the 200's
 
My 300 barely even moves out of 'c' on the temp gauge, and that's with the viscous fan removed :D
 
DreXeL said:
My 300 barely even moves out of 'c' on the temp gauge, and that's with the viscous fan removed :D
Click to expand...


Most don't but when they start to get warm they go very quickly and if they go hot they do damage every time pretty much, 200's are a bit better at controlling it, that is about the only diofference imo
 
:googleit: I believe there was a poll on this very same topic not so long ago.
My money is on the 200 though...
 
Looking round it appears the 200 is more reliable. Only land rover could re engineer an engine to be worse then its predecessor!

That said, my 300 has not left me by the side of the road (well apart from a clutch) and even towing a trailer on a hot day did not get hot.
 
only reason a 300 has over heating problems is because people dont refill the engine coolant properly hence the plug ontop of the thermostat housing so u can get all the air out of the system because the head sits slightly higher than the top of the rad
 
dirty tom said:
only reason a 300 has over heating problems is because people dont refill the engine coolant properly hence the plug ontop of the thermostat housing so u can get all the air out of the system because the head sits slightly higher than the top of the rad
Click to expand...
you might want to look at the rad
 
well my 300tdi in my ownership over 5 weeks has just covered 600 miles,pulls well,does not overheat,does not use oil but smokes badly on start up,but valve seals will be getting sorted if the pump timing does not cure it,looks a vry simple engine to work on,parts are cheap for it annorl,but i imagine the 200 tdi is just as good but a mate who runs one daily said its a bit noiser than mine
 
dirty tom said:
only reason a 300 has over heating problems is because people dont refill the engine coolant properly hence the plug ontop of the thermostat housing so u can get all the air out of the system because the head sits slightly higher than the top of the rad
Click to expand...


Not 100% correct, theres a few other reasons as well. the rads have a tendency to lose efficiency via internal corrosion and blockages, the waterpump can also start to lose flow quite quickly, they can airlock themselves over bumpy ground and as I said before they run a fine line with their overheating, they are really good and can take a bit of a punishing but when they hit that hot point they shot up in temperature very quickly and this is when the damage is done, the 200's tend to rise in temp a biot more slowley and have a higher threshold for damage. This isn't to say the 300's are bad engines, compared to the majority of engines available its a superior engine, the 3.5 V8 possibly holds the record for the best overheating landrover engine!
 
I think the 200 is better at starting. I almost think you could put one wheel on a brick, and start a good 200 by rolling the vehicle off the brick. Certainly the 300 with edc is a worse starter if the battery is a bit tired.
 
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