Baloo588

I am seriously disappointed that there is no more Ml350 bluetec for USA starting this fall and instead get a weak Ml250 bluetec. This SUV is very heavy and we get loads of things inside and do lots of driving in our 2013 Ml350 bluetec that the engine is great in terms of power and gas mileage. I don't see how I will go any weaker then this engine since the car does red-line sometimes with acceleration and I do not want a 4 banger pulling my big SUV.

I guess when the lease is up next fall, I will move on to the new Audi Q7 diesel or BMW X5 diesel with enough power and gas mileage. Mercedes is taking the wrong route to abandoning current customers with the Ml350 bluetec and giving them a smaller engine just to get slightly better gas mileage. Either way this engine doesn't cut it for the bigger ML and is fine for the GLK. The reviews have been poor for this engine in europe and many calling this engine weak or noisy and unrefined.

I think Mercedes will loose lot on this with the bad marketing and putting the ml400 between the ml350 and the Ml250 bluetec too. Too much overlap and poor planning. To those who have the Ml350 blutec, would you ever consider Ml250 bt?

MDMercedesGuy

Considering no one has driven a US-spec ML250 BlueTec yet, I think it is too early to pass judgment. I guess I'm an odd bird in that I detest a V6, so at least in my case I am excited to give one a go and hopefully decide to put one in my garage.

It has 369 ft/lb of torque, which while not the 455 ft/lb of the 350BT is more than many/most cars out there on the road. The final drive ratios haven't been published or anything yet to know if MB has done anything to help get it off the line easier. There's 500 lb of weight difference between a GLK and an ML, which is not that much in the grand scheme of things. The 2.1L is not unrefined in either the E250 or GLK250, so I'm not sure why it would be in the ML.

That said, if you want speed, you don't buy a diesel. The US is just catching up with the rest of the world in terms of downsizing to more appropriate sized engines; and it's a shame it didn't start 20 years ago.

DFW01E55

I bought the 350BT a month ago because I didn't want the 4 banger. Cost me a wasted month of lease payment on the outgoing car, but I didn't want to wait until month end and tighter inventory resulting in higher prices on the 350.

EricM

I bought a 350BT last month for the same reason. MB must have some market research suggesting there is an unserved market for value conscious, luxury brand customers looking primarily for fuel economy at the expense of performance. I'm not one of them, but MB must think they're out there. It's probably the same crowd that buys the Lexus hybrids.

MDMercedesGuy

Considering the fact that MB never gave up on the US market when it came to diesels, like everyone else did for a while, I'm confident they know what they are doing.

People said the same thing when the C250 replaced the C300. This is the way the world is going.

DFW01E55

Following the crowd is a ticket to second place. I don't want to participate in that. I'm really happy that I bought a guzzler diesel, especially "the way the world is going". /politics

MDMercedesGuy

There wasn't any political motivation behind my statement.

We'll see how you feel about following the crowd when we're paying fuel prices equal to the rest of the world sans the Middle East.

Barry45RPM

I too believe it is a horrific mistake on a luxury vehicle this heavy, but isn't this the engine they put into the Sprinter van? I don't think the ML should sound or perform like a commercial cargo van, but if the ML 250 turns out to be a Dog, the way to go would be a ML 400..

MDMercedesGuy

Same family, but the Sprinter gets the 161HP version with 265 ft/lb torque. The ML250 will get the 195HP version with 369 ft/lb torque, same as in the GLK250 and E250.

It's very quiet in the E, and when audible is more of a slightly nasal sounding rumble than anything else. I'd imagine it will be the same or quieter in the ML.

DFW01E55

I believe that you didn't do it intentionally, and it's why I only ascribed a "/politics" to my own comment.

Okay, that's political , it's all about taxes, US fuel taxes are lower than the RoW, the actual cost of fuel to refiners is within pennies worldwide.

With apologies to all for climbing on a political soapbox, if the US had any cogent national energy policy for the past 35 years, we wouldn't need to follow the weak policies created by the "rest of the world".

"Give me horsepower or give me d...." wait, should it be "give me torque, or give me death?

It d*** sure isn't "give me mileage or give me death".

GregGebhardt

It is simply due to the EPA rules and US regulations we are loosing the ML350BT. Glad I got mine before they were gone.

gplank

BMW doesn't seem to worry about EPA rules. I expect what's likely going to happen is that everyone who wants a Luxury SUV with decent diesel engine performance are going to forget about the 4-cylinder ML250 and go with the more powerful 6-cylinder X5 xDrive35d.

DUTCH

Or the Audi Q7 3.0 TDI which is far superior to the ML in ride and comfort.

fabbrisd1

Now this thread is getting kindof funny ! I needed a good chuckle tonight, thanks !

MDMercedesGuy

I stopped by my dealer tonight and worked up some numbers on an ML250, and also drove both a 2015 ML350 and their last remaining 2014 ML350BTC.

Both were quite nice to drive - I definitely preferred the Bluetec though. I can't stand how the V6 in the gas 350 sounds, and the torque made it a much more pleasant drive.

My dealer is supposed to get their first 250s in around 9/30. That just happens to be my birthday - I have a feeling I've figured what I'm getting myself for turning 32.

DFW01E55

Oh good grief, get yourself a 911 Turbo or the new Z06 while your reflexes are still up to handling it!
There's plenty of time in life (statistically) for an MB SUV!

MDMercedesGuy

Haha, planning to buy a house and a boat in the next couple of years - I need some practicality in my life, plus I'm ready for a bit of a softer ride.

Baloo588

I am excited to see what the next generation Audi Q7 is suppose to look like next year. It will loose about 800 lbs and become lower and more wider. Yes I do agree that the Q7 TDI even with 20 inch rims are smooth and comfortable. We have 2 of them in our extended family. Enough power and a 600 plus cruising range.

wjbender

I am waiting for 2016 because:
new Audi Q7
new MB GLK (larger)
Refresh of the ML with new interior

More choices next year and we'll have better insight to the performance of the ML 250. If I had to make a choice now it would be the BMW X5 diesel.

MannyS430

canada site lists
ML 350 bluetec
ML400
ML550
ML 63

basically they just dropped the older 3.5L V6

bubba1948

I lease a 2013 ml bluetec. It is an awesome car. I am so disappointed to see that I won't be able replace it. The other four German brands offer three liter turbocharged diesels. I suspect that Mercedes thinks that with the 9 speed coming with the 2016 models they feel that the four cylinder will do the job.
The alternative will be the ml400, and they discuss the broad tongue curve starting at low RPMs. It's horsepower is in line with Audi's gas six.

I like the fact that it takes 10% less crude to produce a gallon of diesel than a gallon of gasoline.

I also enjoy torque. The 455 foot pounds is the other reason I bought this car. It is powerful and gets 25 mpg all day.

I get the reason for the 250. I am just asking as a buyer of a premium brand please continue to offer the 3 liter in the us.

All I can say to Mercedes marketing is that if the offered the ml 3 liter bluetec with the 9 speed in 2016, sign me up. I don't need to look elsewhere. If not the I will have to test drive the new Q7 TDI as well as the Cayenne TDI, before I make my decision.

TallahasseeTom

Wise Move. I was at the dealer yesterday. One member said, yes, there will be a ML 350 Bluetec. Other said, no there will not be. First man went back to the web site and said, it is not showing any diesels, this 9-4-2013. A check on the web site this A.M. shows the 350/400 gasoline. ML350 Bluetec marketed still in Au and Canada. The Mercedes manager said: why would they ship one across the country to Canada from Vance and not sell it in the USA. One might suggest that managerial staff is wondering was haben wir hier? Stupid move to totally ablate the V-6 diesel in the USA. The 4 cylinder is not about pure speed, but it is about sluggishness. The proposed 250 will be a DEAL BREAKER as is the Start Stop. Will have to go back to a 4Runner and save $15,000

wjbender

I am about to place an order for the BMW X5D "3L Diesel"

Kaasmann

I just came back from Finland, Helsinki to be exact, where I met a fellow 350BT owner who stated he gets 61 miles to the gallon (US). He stated, yes the 350BT runs much leaner than North American BT's, but they don't meet European pollution guidelines, which is why the BT is going to 250BT.

EricM

...and what's his mileage on the return trip which must be uphill?