eddiebob

Hello All,
We picked up the new E320 CDI last Friday. It is decked out and needless to say it is a beautiful car. I have wanted a diesel Mercedes since the mid 70s. It only took me 30 years to get it!!! I look forward to learning about the car and hopefully will be able to contribute to the forum. Cheers, Ed B

Tuffy72

Congrats I signed for my 07 Bluetec in Germany on the 14th it should be delivered sometime next month. Have fun

harkgar

There is this Bluetec vs CDi rivalry which is rather childish. You enjoy what you think is the best car and it is OK to disagree without getting all hot and bothered.

I still have not made up my mind yet which one to go for if either and would like to learn more about the Bluetec. All the CDi guys seem to like their cars a lot and say they are trouble free.

KosherBenz

Congrats on the CDI!

TPAbnz

You'll love it and wonder why you waited so long!

lkchris

Careful--they're sneaky fast!

mkaresh

I haven't read any reviews to suggest there's a significant difference in how the Bluetec drives. Main benefit is a cleaner exhaust. Either one pulls like a freight train while getting very good fuel economy, but handles more clumsily than the gas sedan.

My review here:

Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI review

KosherBenz

thats why I got a CLS rims & tires 245/275's, improved the handling 10x

lkchris

7-speed vs 5-speed transmission has to make a difference in "how the Bluetec drives."

mkaresh

Notice any shortcomings with the 5-speed in your car? With so much torque, I wouldn't expect a couple more ratios to be of much benefit. And the Benzes I've driven with the new seven-speed often shift roughly and indecisively, though I've been told this is because they are "learning."

Alan Smithee

Doubt it; as mkaresh pointed out, the diesels are all about torque. More ratios are great to get a high-revving motor into the powerband quickly and keep it there, but that's not where the power is with a diesel.

I had a C230 with 7-speed for a few days recently, and the transmission worked well...no jerkyness...but I'd get up to 70-75mph in 3rd or 4th...5th-7th were redundant; the difference between 6th and 7th being 200 RPM at freeway speeds on a car with a redline of 6,000+. I can't see how it would improve the drive on a diesel; my guess is that it is being used primarily to keep costs down by using the same transmission across the W211 lineup.

Alan Smithee

I agree. The transition from I6 to V6 in the diesel was transparent in Europe, and now here as well. Both have similar power, performance, and economy. The V6 is more modern and therefore cleaner and more efficient (it's really a 3.0 vs the 3.2 in the I6), and also likely less expensive to manufacture since the rest of the W211 lineup have modular 'V' motors as well.

laj_e55

congrats
i have been very happy with my 2006 CDI