patrick_y

Supposedly, the E-Class Bluetec Diesel is now available for purchase in CA. Previously only available for a two year lease.

Although the MBUSA website does not reflect this, I have been assured by the local Mercedes-Benz dealership that they will sell the Bluetec Diesel to CA residents.

That's some good news.

pinebaron

Have you seen any on CA roads yet?

MB Fanatic

I was just told that they dont have them for purchase. Plus, they have urea injection.

MB Fanatic

Who is the dealer?

240D 3.0T

The whole thing is a marketing gimmick. They offer a hundred or two just to get excitement brewing and then let the free advertising roll in.

Don't believe them and don't plan on getting one even close to sticker price.

Untertürkheim

Which dealer said this? I was speaking with my (amazing) SA the other day about the Bluetec, and I was expressing my strong desire/intent to buy one, but he said nothing about them becoming available.

MB Fanatic

I just talked to both Laguna Niguel and Fletcher Jones folks a couple weeks back and not a single dealer (both fleet managers) didn't mention anything.

carpersn

i thought you cannot BUY them this year, but you can LEASE one at the same price as the lease on a 350...can't remember where i read that, maybe Automotive News.

MB Fanatic

Yeah, you can only lease. I was planning on leasing, then at the last minute before I signed papers, i bought one out of state. Too good of a deal to pass up.

harkgar

The hole is behind the rear passenger door.

Why on earth would anyone buy a car with urine injection?

harkgar

Their 2009 3 series diesels are golden rain enthusiasts too. Too bad.

I would have bought one if it is not encumbered with the crappy device.

240D 3.0T

Because tree-hugging bunny-kissing environazis think it makes the car "greener/cleaner" even though it is naturally cleaner than most every gasoline engine in existence.

They see a little black soot out the tailpipe or slightly elevated NOx and instantly think DIRTY ENGINE!!!!!!!!

MB Fanatic

There is nothing like **** in your exhaust stream. ****ing green hippy californians. They don't allow the Bluetec diesel, yet you can buy a ****ing Ford Diesel truck that belches more pollutants in the air than 20 Bluetec's.

Hyporcites.

Untertürkheim

Not to mention as many Hummers, Excursions (6 mpg, was it), Expeditions, Suburbans, etcetera, as you want.

And, of course, the World Green Car of the Year is not clean enough with 35+ mpg.

Another funny story, Arnie personally endorsed the MY2007 Bluetec as a milestone in improving the environment (it is on video online) and California's air. This was about one week before he changed legislation to essentially ban it.

I wonder how much the hybrid manufacturers pay their lobbyists?

Doody

unfortunately, that's probably the right question to ask.

:-(

doody

harkgar

Unterturkheim,

You are right. My wife's 2500 Suburban with the 6 liter pushrod gasoline engine does 10 mpg City 16 mpg Highway but it is great for driving from Toronto to Florida. With 5 people and their baggage we can do a round trip for well under $1,000.00. The common rail MB is comfortable for 4 but has limited space for baggage. In NA the highways are straight, wide and built for big vehicles and many of the big 4 by 4 diesel trucks are very practical for off road recreation. That is why "green" Toyota is building the newer, better and bigger Tundra with the 5.7 liter V-8.

Never mind the environmental activists. Enjoy these big guzzlers before they go out of production.

harkgar

We need to burn up all that dirty fossil fuel and reduce our carbon copy foot print. Drive fast. Drive V-8.

The poor chieftains need needs American money to keep their hareems and Rolls Royces too. Be considerate.

Untertürkheim

#1. Always have, always will!

#2. Perhaps the best comment of late!

Why not a GL CDI? That truck has quite a lot of space, more amenities, and a better drive dynamic, and cut the cost in half! Although, it is a bit smaller.

harkgar

It is like someone who has been living all his life in a 5,000 square feet home moving into a 2,000 square feet condominium. The space is adequate but who needs mere adequacy if one has a choice for abundance? The GL 320 CDi is an excellent vehicle but also much more expensive than a similarly equipped Suburban. My wife's truck is a 2500 series or "three quarter ton" which means it is built to do snow-plowing duty. It has leaf springs at the back and can tow 10,000 pounds. It has a 6 liter pushrod engine without the cylinder deactivation and the latest Hydramatic 6L90E transmission, the heaviest duty GM one apart from the out-sourced Allison one. Push the go pedal and the truck goes. Fast. Push the brake pedal and it stops with the huge brakes. Like a car.

The latest Cadilllac CTS-V super sedan uses the 6L90E transmission too with its 6.2 liter supercharged engine. To handle a measly 550 bhp and 550 pound foot of torque. These are estimated figures. The Corvette "Blue Devil" ZR-1 engine which is almost identical, produces 629 bhp.

What I am trying to say is that American hardware may not be as refined as European ones, they are extremely good in other ways. For instance, Rolls Royce and Bentley sourced their automatic transmissions from GM Hydramatic right up to the 1990s.

husk323

Rolls Royce did not have the capital to create a drivetrain from scratch, that is the main reason why they used that Pushrod Motor (which is still in production in Bentley's) for 40+ years. A lot of auto manufacturers source components from other auto manufacturers, for example Mercedes sources their A/C compressors from Denso (which is part of the Toyota Group). Its not uncommon for manufacturers, especially niche manufacturers, to purchase more reliable parts (which require extensive capital and R&D) in their vehicles. Rolls Royce sourced the hydramatic because of its reliability, versatility, and simplicity. You can bolt up that transmission to most any engine.

MB Fanatic

And Ferrari uses Delphi for some of its magneto-suspension parts. The point is that all manufacturers use one another. BMW uses Mistubishi turbo's in the 335/535.

harkgar

Yes.

Hydaramatic is obviously a great transmission maker. Jaguar in its pre-Ford days used the 3 speed Hydramatic too in its V-12 cars. No other gearboxes could take that much pound foot of torque in those days.

My local Rolls Royce guy told me that the 1980s cars are very ease to source transmission parts e.g. transmission filters as they are lots of Bentleys and RRs with the GM 4L60E.

Jensen also used the Dodge-Chrysler "Torque-Flight" in its V-8 Interceptor instead of any European ones.