I've just fitted the infamous timing belt kit to a P reg 300Tdi disco at the
garage where I work part time . the key had sheared on the timing belt
pulley on the crank but amazingly it was still running - all be it very
badly and making a hell of a noise!! Thankfully the key way in the crank was
fine so a new key and the kit sorted it out.

Any way, I took it for a test drive before the owner picked it up to check
it was running ok and not suffering from bent valves or any other nasty
surprises. and was truly shocked to feel how well it accelerated! It was a 5
door model, 168k miles on the clock and had the electronic fuel pump control
but it would have left our 3 door model, 165k miles, for dead! It pulled
well from 1500RPM with a good surge from 1800RPM up. Our 300Tdi doesn't
really do anything until 2000RPM and even then couldn't be described as
"pulling well".

Is our engine just showing its age or do the engines with the elastic
trickery pumps make more power and torque? I've been meaning to stick a
boost gauge on ours for ages to see what the turbo is doing but just have
never got around to it. How does this sound in comparison to other peoples
experiences??

Thanks! Toby