It's time to replace my 2000 W210 as it is falling apart.
I am contemplating switching from gasoline to diesel as I have been advised by some friends who have been driving diesel Benzes and swear by them.
However, I have been reading a lot about these BlueTec engines and there are a lot of horror stories around about leaking oil coolers, exploding Adblue containers, seized engines, etc.
I'd like to hear from actual BlueTec owners who have experience driving these engines to high mileage, as I keep my cars for about 10 years.

What is the maintenance cost of these engines compared to gasoline engines, are they reliable or trouble prone, what are the more common issues with them, can I maintain them at home (I am fairly good with wrenches but not expert), etc.
Diesel where I live is about 30% cheaper than gasoline so it would make a lot of sense to drive a diesel car.
However the $3-4000 repair bill to change a leaking oil-cooler seal is not something I wanna face at 80 -100- or 120,000K.

Replies would be appreciated.

 

Driving W210 you must be familiar with horror stories about leaky valve covers and pilot bushings on transmissions
I tough oil coolers were problems on 2008-2009 Bluetec, but I did not research much newer models.
New seals on my 2008 BT are just few dollars, whole cooler is about $200, so if you DIY, it is not a big deal.
If you don't DIY, than you are in mercy of those XDOS\DAS\Vediamo\SCN scammers, who will scam you out of your hard-earned money.
My 2008 model come with lot of cheap plastics, so several parts needed to be replaces becouse they simply deteriorate, but still 35mpg in diesel beats 25 mpg in gasoline even when fuel cost the same.
Add the resale difference for fair comparison.

 

Have you test driven a diesel? Really driven one? They feel and drive differently than gasoline powered models. Diesel vehicles are historically more reliable and longer lived than their gasoline equivalents.

 

I purchased my 2013 bluetec (fully optioned with Designo interior etc) 2 years ago when I was commuting 750 miles a week but left that job a few months later (best thing ever). My first diesel. My observations - I still like it a lot. The performance is more than enough and the MPG is simply amazing. Only time you know its a diesel is the different sound at low speed. Once your on your way you couldnt tell its not gas. Its also my first Mercedes. I do most general maintenance myself so have only had to go to the dealer mainly for warranty work. Dealer service costs are off the charts and even parts (oil and misc filters) are expensive outside of the dealer.

Concerns for long term ownership

Depreciation - Glad I didnt buy new, as the first few years are brutal. 3 yrs out, it doesnt look much different than most.

Maintenance cost - Since i do most things myself, this should be minimized but the Germans make even the simplest things very complicated.

Oil seals - I read the horror stories of the big repair bill if it happens. I believe the seal material was changed prior to 2013 due to the previous failure rates but its still a worry.

Clean Diesels - Since the tech is still new, long term issues are still a concern.

So having said all that, yea I still like the choice a lot. Going weeks without filling up is addictive. If I went back to Gas, I think I would be shocked. Most of my issues and concerns are due to MB and not gas vs diesel.

The only other thing you will find is 85% of all e350's are fairly basic in their options. Germans make most features optional and charge a ton for each - that is why most have minimal options - to keep them under a price point. If you want one highly optioned, you have to be patient and really look to find it. And to do that with a diesel, its really a needle in a haystack.

Best of luck!

 

Very true. Love my Diesel, the low end torque makes it the perfect daily sports sedan.

 

Thanks chimpjohnson, that's exactly the kind of reply I hoped for, personal experience of people who actually drive the car I am interested in buying, not models 8 - 10 years ago. What's the mileage on your car?

I did drive a 2010 E300 turbo diesel in Europe two years ago for almost two weeks, including an 8 day stint on the Autobahn where I got it up to 240km/h, 150miles/h. That's with 3 people, suitcases and air-condition on. So I was extremely impressed with that and how the car drove, the power, the acceleration, etc.

However before jumping on the diesel bandwagon I did some research and became concerned about the issues that seem to plaque some owners. If I have to pay $3,000-$4,000 repair cost a couple of years down the road, as I plan to keep the car for at least 10 years, then that would negate the fuel savings that driving a diesel car would bring. Not to mention the headaches that leaking injectors and the seized engine would cause.

 

It soon to hit 38k. Frankly I work out of the house now and dont put anywhere close to the miles I expected.

I guess with most any modern car, any out of warranty repair can completely change the direction of the cost equation. My wife drives a 7yr old Hyundai Genesis. It has 95k and outside of fluid/filter/tire and 1 battery, I havent had to spend a dime. Now the radar controlled cruise control module appears to be heading south - its a $3-4k part. The cruise control still works so if I had to replace it, so much for my low cost model.

Like anything, its largely personal preference which is highly based on what you get use to. Driving a diesel was new to me two years ago and today its normal. Getting hybrid type MPG in a large luxury car is tough to beat. Diesel in most places is cheaper than premium and its been years since Diesel was hard to find.

There are always owner horror stories, regardless the make/model. While most cars have their trouble areas, most of the stories are from the small minority that neglects even the basic recommended maintenance or drives them like rental cars. Most owners, including me, will never hold on to a diesel long enough to figure out of they can ever wear it out.

 

Well, I usually keep my cars for about 1ö years and plan to do the same thing with the W212 BlueTec. The fuel saving would be close to $10,000 in that time period and that is not chump change.
I wonder how can a diesel engine, or any engine for that matter, seize up if there is enough oil in it? Because I have been reading on the Internet about BlueTecs doing exactly that.
Yet, the car I drove two years ago in Germany had 150k miles on the odometer and inside and out it was in perfect condition.
In any case I am looking for a good example and if i find it I will probably buy it.

 

The case of seized Bluetec on this forum has pictures showing that oil become of semi-solid sludge in the engine.
Long topic with lot of bad blood, but what I got from it, the servicing dealer did not put the required oil in it, using oil design for older diesels that they had in bulk.
My engine passed 170k miles and I observe the oil very carefully.
Last trip 560 miles while towing 1000 lb trailer, with king size mattress standing up. Setting CC at 70 mph trip average 21.5 mpg.
The 320 BT not only pulled the trailer effortlessly at 1800 rpm (7th gear) but would take all the freeway grades and even accelerate (when passing) without downshifting

 

Longer lived and more reliable is not much more than urban legend. The complexity of modern diesels negates much of their advantages. Diesel torque and FE is intoxicating, but the value is in question.

 

Newer diesel engines that take Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) that Mercedes has branded adBlue are just not where they need to be yet, be it Mercedes Benz or any of the other brands that offer diesel engines. We owned a 2013 ML350BT. My husband is a real estate agent and drives a LOT of miles (like 25,000/annually). Once it was out of warranty (maybe around 70,000 miles) the adBlue heater went out, which I've come to find out is a common occurrence. Very few failures while the warranty is still in effect. It was about $2,500 to replace the whole unit (you cannot simply have the heater replaced). I traded in the car instead. Got a 2015 ML350 (gas) and don't like it anywhere near as much as the diesel. It doesn't have the get-up-and-go that the diesel had. Also the seals around the turbo started leaking which is another common problem with the Bluetec engines.


If you're looking for reliability and plan to keep the car for a long time, I would recommend a 2006 E320CDI. This is the last year of the cast iron straight 6 diesel that MB offered in the United States. This is an engine that you can put 200-300,000 miles on. My MIL has one with 114,000 and hasn't has very few issues with it. None with the engine. I recently found one with 80,000 miles on it and purchased it for $11,000. We'll see what happens with it.

 

2006 E320 CDI is subject to "black death"
Cars like any machinery will not run forever without parts replacement.

 

I disagree. I have found all of my Mercedes-Benzes, aside from a 1998 ML320, to be exceptionally reliable. They are expensive to maintain, but that goes for gasoline or diesel.

 

From more than a dozen of MB I bought for my family the 1998 ML320 was the most reliable ever. We spend about $350 on broken part in 13 years.
See how personal experience can go in 2 different directions.

 

Thanks for all the replies.
As informative as they are I am really only interested in the current OM642 engine and the 2013-14 W212 as this is the vehicle I am actively looking to buy.
I am replacing a 17 year old W210 so I want to go as current as I can within my budget.

Two of my friends are driving cars with this engine but without BlueTec.
Both of them have only good things to say, both cars have reached over 180K miles without any major repair bill. Then again another friend is driving a W210 with 240K miles on the odometer without having needed expensive repairs, yet my car is a money pit and falling apart as I type this.
So I just wanted to get a wider prospective as to what I can expect from a W212 with a BlueTec engine.

As this would be my first ever diesel car I am a bit nervous about maintenance as it seems this engine is really particular as to what oil it likes, changing various filters right on schedule, etc.

I went to my local dealer today, here in Japan, and the service adviser told me that the oil cooler leak is not common and in his opinion the BlueTec is a good engine.

However this is Japan and no employee would ever say anything bad about his company or its products so I would take his opinion with a grain of salt and rather read experiences of actual current BlueTec owners here.

 

Ours was apparently one of the first 100 sold to the public, so that might have played a role. I've heard others sing the model's praises. Mercedes covered everything, and I mean everything, that went wrong with it. My mechanic loves them, but says they rust a lot.

 

My R350 BlueTEC has this engine and the only problem we've had is, as of yet, undiagnosed. The problem does not affect the driveability or performance of the vehicle.

 

the CDI inline 6 was the last of the worry free diesels.

 

My 2014 E250 Bluetec lease is about to be turned in for a gas GLC300 (thanks VW and the EPA). It has 24,000 mile which is not a lot. The only problem I had and I think I caused it was the driver door hinge went bad. Fixed under warranty. Other than that, nothing. On a used car suggest you buy extended warranty maybe 3rd party. Just make sure it covers anything DEF. Bought MB prepaid maintenance just to find out DEF refills are not covered but of course other consumables (oil,etc)are. MB had no good answer why!!

Most of my driving is stop/go city and my mpg is 29 at an average of 21 mph in very HOT FL. Depending on traffic/lights I get 24-30 mpg. On the highway 40+ is no problem. Once got 54.7 mpg on a trip in the mountains of NC. Think it was do in part to coasting on the down legs.