jimbo1mcm

Does anyone know if MB is going to introduce this fantastic car in the United States this fall for delivery in 2006. Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel will be available.

BudC

The new rule requires refiners and importers to produce highway diesel meeting a 15 parts per million (ppm) maximum requirement, starting June 1, 2006; however, pipelines are expected to require refiners to provide diesel fuel with an even lower sulfur content, somewhat below 10 ppm, in order to compensate for contamination from higher sulfur products in the system, and to provide a tolerance for testing. Diesel meeting the new specification will be required at terminals by July 15, 2006, and at retail stations and wholesalers by September 1, 2006.

I suspect MBUSA will start with the V6 diesel in the M-Class and add other models with availability in 4Q2006. MBUSA may elect to sell the M-Class w/o the particulate filter in the same 45 states that permit the current E320 CDI.

I doubt MBUSA will be in a rush to import V8 diesels. People who buy E500's or S500's aren't all that interested in fuel economy.

cdiken

The BMW is a twin-turbo I6 with 272 HP and 420 lb-ft of torque.

MB may have no choice but to import the E420 CDI to maintain market share. By the way, the E420 CDI has 314 HP and 730 lb-ft of torque. That is a mountain of torque!

BTW, BudC and anyone who is listening, diesels are not just about fuel economy anymore. I would buy a diesel even if it got the same or even slightly worse MPG just for the awesome elasticity of the engine....the torque is meaty and accessible; in real-world driving conditions I feel that the diesel E320 is has better driveablility in terms of brisk, effortless acceleration with very little engine RPMs.

KB

BudC

I've owned and like diesels too but I doubt that the majority of American buyers feel as we do. There is some talk that the Bush administration might make it worth owning a diesel and that would certainly change people's minds.

I think BMW NA is going to wait to see what MBUSA does before bringing in a diesel. In any case, they are in the same boat in that they have to wait for low sulfur fuel.

BMW are turbocharging their six cylinder gasoline engine next year because they can't increase the size of it. It wouldn't fit in some of their cars. They can barely shoehorn it in now and any increase in bore size will cause a longer block.

jimbo1mcm

BudC, thanks for the info on the fuel. Call me crazy, but I just like the sound of the diesel! My stick shift original 83 has been restored. The original engine had 319,000 when I had a new MB rebuilt put in last year. This year my wife got a E320 cdi, which just purrs like a kitten, but can hold its own leaving a toll booth or passing. I have a 2002 S Class which is great. The ride is better than the new E Class my wife has, but I miss that nice diesel sound and feel. I was thinking that the E420 with the V8 diesel and the airmatic suspension would come very close to the ride feel of my S class, which is really fantastic.
I hope MB puts these in the supply chain for us. By the way, their May sales figures were down I think about 29% in the E class and down 6% for the year. They need something to pick it up. If they offer the Diesel V6 and V8, they might be surprised at the response.

BudC

The new rail injected diesels aren't as simple and bullet proof as our old ones. I knew that if I could get our 190D started, it would get us home. The days of simple mechanical injection pumps are long gone. I don't think the new diesels are any more reliable than the gasoline versions.

Where I'd really be interested in a V8 diesel would be in something like an M-Class. It would provide the power of the gas V8 with better economy.

Green E-300 DT

You're wrong about that torque my friend.

It is 730 nm, not foot pounds. 730 nm equals 538.42 ft/lb torque which is still at lot of torque,
especially when compared to the only 339 ft/lb torque of the comparable E-500 V8 gasser.

I agree one hundered percent with your statement about the torque of your E-320 CDI.
At 369 ft/lb, it must be a powerhouse when compared to the 309 ft/lb of my chipped E-300.
Mine went up from 243 to what the chipper said is 309. Who knows for sure, but it did raise the performance.
Mine will now do the eight mile in less than 10 seconds at 70 mph, and I have dusted many
cars on the freeway due to it having the torque right now without having to downshift.
It has lower gears than yours, (3.07s vs your 2.65s) so it is always
right in the peak torque curve even when in fifth gear overdrive.

cdiken

Seems like you would have to have quite a driveline to handle 730 LB-Ft, but I'll take the 500+, that's still more than a stock Duramax truck engine.

Green E-300 DT

I think the tranny that is being used will stand that much torque when set up properly by the factory for it.

That same transmission with factory modifications is used in the S65, SL65,
and CL65s which in stock form put out well over 700 ft/lb torque.
Seems to me I remember 738 ft/lb.

Read somewhere where a fellow had chip modified his SL600 and was getting well into the 800 ft/lb range.
Have no idea how long his transmission was lasting however.

Must be nice to be able to spend that kind of money!

BudC

Notice that the cars with lots of power (AMG) have the 5-speed transmission. Speaking of transmissions, the reason AMG have to supercharge to get more power is because the torque converters on Mercedes automatics will only handle up to 6,800 RPM. This prevents increasing power by increasing RPM (like BMW have done).

TPAbnz

Here it is installed in the E-Class.

You can read all about it at his site:

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005...rcedes_di.html

as well as the DC press release here:

http://wwwsg.daimlerchrysler.com/SD7...-text-0,00.htm

Green E-300 DT

I for one prefer my power to be at a more reasonable rpm level down
where I run most of the time, and not up in those higher rpms.

Anyone can make horsepower at higher rpms, but what about torque?

Give me 600 ft/lb of torque between 1600 and 3000 rpms and I'll be a happy camper forever!

There are all kinds of Jap. cars on the road today that can make high horsepower in the higher revs,
but cannot begin to stay with my old diesel unless they drop a couple of gears and 'wind it up.'
That's not usable power to me, and one doesn't get any fuel economy while doing that!