edd1e22

There has been quite a bit of speculation here about the possible unreliability of the V6 vs the I6. Has anyone here actually experienced FIRSTHAND any issues with their V6?

The motor is now four years old in the states and six years over in Europe so some issues should be coming up already.

I'm trying to make the decision between a 2007 E320 Bluetec vs the 2006 E320 CDI and have only found speculation about the issues of cast iron sleeves within the aluminum block.

dgiturbo

I have 86000 miles on my 2007 CDI. Will let you know. Stand by for a few years.
I think you will find that the differences will boil down to whether you prefer using Adblue or run flat tires.

edd1e22

07-09 w211 didn't have adblue/runflats

zemun1234

I used to drive 2005 E320 CDI and (2007 R320 + 2008 ML320) ...If you ask me, I prefer more I5 (don't forget I drive V6) ...It's much easier to maintenance and I trust more iron than aluminum

I sold my E320 CDI ONLY due to I couldn't drive any more in cold, a lot of snow climate ...

ImInPA

I think you answered your own quest. There is a LOT of speculation. The V6 diesels have been out long enought that if there was any symptomatic issues they would certainly be revealed by now. Buy the one that makes you smile, drive it like you stole it, and at 300K miles, let us know how you are doing.

edd1e22

Yeah I figured as much. There is so much speculation regarding the cast iron sleeves/aluminum combo but no one has actually had any issues. MBZ knows their stuff when it comes to diesel but everyone builds a lemon(M271).

Carsy

I have not had any issues with 30 year old petrol Peugeot wet sleaves . Still original. No leaks after 450,000 km. Cast liners , cast block & alloy head.

The secret is regular coolant changes ,regular oil services & driving within their capabilities.

240D 3.0T

There is no speculation about problems, the known fact is that its scrap metal IF it develops a problem.

dgiturbo

In this day and age with todays evolving technology, and time is more valuable, no one really is into rebuilding motors. "IF" my ML's diesel engine for some far fetched reason blows the motor, I will just head to a MB dealer and drive a new one home. I am "handy" and I used to be a VW/Audi tech a long time ago, but there is no way I will waste my time and money rebuilding, when there are brand new ones with newer technologies and new warranties waiting for me.
Iron block, aluminium block, who cares. Just drive the Benz and watch the miles roll by.
By the way, my goal on this ML is 500,000 miles.
414,000 more miles to go!!!!!

jctevere

Here is a quote from a newsletter I got on my OM603.97 engine:

"Another provocative issue deals with cylinder sleeves. Sleeves refer to the metal ‘tubes’ sometimes used to line the cylinder walls. Cylinder sleeves are most often used to provide a longer wearing lining made of a more wear-resistant material such as cast iron in an engine block that is cast from a lighter weight material such as aluminum where the friction of the moving piston would wear out the relatively soft aluminum.

What is tremendously interesting here is that when this 3.5 liter engine first went into production Mercedes determined that in the event the engine was ever to need rebuilding, the installation of cylinder sleeves “is not permissable.” (Source: 602/603 Service Manual). There is nothing necessarily troubling about this position; it simply most likely reflects an engineering analysis by Mercedes that installation of cylinder sleeves, which requires the boring out of the cylinder to a diameter sufficient to accept the outside diameter of the sleeve (here, from 89.0 mm to 92.5 mm) risked damage to coolant or lubrication passages, the wall between adjacent cylinders, or anyplace in the engine block immediately adjacent to the cylinder where insufficient material might be left.

However, after this engine was in production Mercedes did an ‘about face’ on this issue, advising in Technical Service Bulletin 01/32, issued in August 1994 on how to install cylinder sleeves in any 603 engine, including the 603.97x. “In the event of an engine rebuild, cylinder sleeves may be subsequently installed in these engines.”"

I dunno about you, but that doesn't sound like it becomes scrap metal...

I don't get why you are so hard pressed against the new engines for not using cylinder liners.

cannonec

I have 08 E320 Bluetec, 42k mi, no issues or major complaints.
No adblue system.
I agree that is does not drive well in snow conditions, whether it's the E chassis or choice of tires (Kuhmo Ecsta LX platinum, have over 37k on them now -very usual for this tire class).
I ditched the orig Michelin's because they were loud, and really sucked in the rain - online reviews agreed with these observations.

tbal

09 ml320 bluetec... no issues what so ever, runs like a champ

DubVBenz

07 Bluetec with 42K on it. The only problems I've had are not related to the drivetrain. I also have a KD-Box and like to floor the car a few times every 45 miles (daily commute).

240D 3.0T

Wrong. The average worker's cost remains the same as it was decades ago. The difference is inflation, which is why the average worker earns significantly more than decades ago.

Except people who care about the environment and a vehicle's useful lifespan.

Thus perpetuating America's (well deserved) reputation as resource hogs.

You won't see it. The service rating for that engine is only half that. Go check the figures of commercial vehicles using it.

That would be accurate, IF we were talking about that engine.

dgiturbo

1) Sorry, workers cost is the same, but wages are higher due to inflation? Where do you come up with this stuff?
2) Which is why I drive a modern computerized Clean Diesel as opposed to that classic you drive?
3) Really?? Have you been to China recently?? I have. Don't confuse "resource hog" with affluence. I tend to keep what I buy unless technology improvements are worthwhile.
4) Why? I will just drive it myself and find out. Commercial vehicles usually aren't driven by the owners.

240D 3.0T

The US government's census.

Correct. Its far cleaner to the environment to maintain an old vehicle in good condition than buy a new one.

There is no difference between the two.

However, they are better maintained.

DubVBenz

Just saw that the bluetec motor is now being offered in the G-class with a curb weight around a ton more than an e320. Mercedes sure is putting an awful lot of stock in such a ****ty motor.

Zedd

Yes. They designed the engine to fit in as many models as possible.

FYI, The GL is not a G class, its a Subaru Tribeca ripoff.

DubVBenz

I know the difference between a GL and a G.

It's also in the G class. So it's in the following models now: C, E,S,CLS,ML,GL, G and Sprinter.

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/mercede...c-ar85698.html

That's a lot of trust for such a piece of crap motor. Let's be honest here, mercedes has put out one truly crappy diesel engine in the last 30 years, and that was the 6 cylinder they used in the 350SDL and S350 D in the late 80s and early 90s. They used that engine for a very brief period. Once the problems were obvious, it was gone. The V6 has been around since about 2003. It's only been in the states since 07, but I haven't read of any engine related problems on any forum. I'd say it's biggest problems are compactness (turbo in the V) which makes routine maintenance more tedious.

BTW, I used to have an 84 300SD for about 6 years, so I'm fairly familiar with their diesel offerings.

Hu99

Put down the crack pipe and seek professional help.

sunny_j

09 e320 no adblue, 26,8xxkm, kd box & i drive the car hard with no issues

lkchris

Hardly any issues reported with the V6 (OM642).

With the OM648 (inline 6) there are injector, glow plug, and EGR issues reported with some frequency on the forums.

Our 2006 got one new injector while still under warranty and the dealer billed MBUSA $750 for the part.

Inherent with the V6 is the 7-speed transmission, and it could bring more issues than the 5-speed attached to the OM648 and for sure the engine.

The "cylinder sleeve" thing is a red herring--none of the gasoline engines can be sleeved either. NOBODY NOBODY NOBODY buys cars these days expecting to run them forever and therefor nobody sells them. These are high performance Autobahn burners, not trucks.

Pierre Louis

Uh, and you have STRONG STRONG STRONG data to support your speculation. Would love to hear about it.

PL

Carsy

A 2005 W203 220CDI in Israel just passed 500,000 km with no mechanical problems. Just a computer fault.

pinebaron

Definitely a winner. 2007 Bluetec, 26,500 miles, KD-Box, I drive hard and zero problems.