Dieselpowr

Ran about 50 miles the other day with an average of 78 MPH (reset it on the highway once I got going) with no major elevation changes or wind and got just under 42 MPG. The car has 90K miles on it, I purchased it a few months ago with 73K. I am averaging 35.5 MPG over the last 12K miles including city and highway.

Now that I have put just under 20K miles on it I love it. 0 problems so far and I don't expect any. I did my own tranny fluid change and my own oil changes. Brakes will be next.

Just wanted to drop a note and ask "What other car can you cruise at 80 MPH in safety and comfort and pull 42 MPG"????? Love the Benz, what a great car!!! Diesel rules!!!

Fastbuck

For sure. i really enjoyed my time with the CDi, a great all round vehicle until it snows.

Diesel Benz

Why would a diesel not work at snow? I guess you mean it should be 4-Matic? No problem there in Europe, you can even get an S-class W221 as a 4-Matic diesel (7G-tronic tranny).

Anyway, snow at our winter is not uncommon at all and the RWD diesel with proper winter tyres has been quite sufficient for me. I have once had a 4-Matic wagon, E-class (diesel) and I know the difference 4-Matic makes at winter but it does not mean one could not cope with a RWD car.

Fastbuck

Yes, I meant the W211 un general. You're not completely correct on the latter point. You can't get the 4-matic models in Right Hand Drive.

Diesel Benz

Sorry, didn't notice you are from Scotland, I assumed the default "US" on this forum.

I had a look at the MB UK site and did not find any 4-Matic for W221, W211 or W204. I thought 4-Matic should be OK for RHD cars when 7G-tronic was introduced as it does not need the same room as the older 5-speed tranny did. But I did not check other markets.

007_e350

Great to hear that CDI fetches upto 42 MPG ... however, here's a question (for US folks) ...

Diesel is approx $1 higher than gasoline (atleast in my state) .... I fill up my gasoline tank at $82 (20 gallons @ $4.10 per gallon) .... If it was a CDI, it would be $102 (20 gallons @ $5.1 per gallon)

My gasoline mpg = 25 giving 500 miles (20 gallons *25 mpg)
My Diesel mpg = 42 giving 840 miles (20 gallons * 42 mpg)

So in a month, say I drive 1000 miles, my over all cost of fuel:
Gasoline: 1000/500 = 2 tanks = $164
CDI: 1000/840 = 1.19 tanks = $121

Thats a difference of $43 a month .... or $43 per 1k miles .... thats the savings you're gonna get by spending $10k (atleast) to buy a CDI ... Is it worth it ?

MBNUT1

The mileage figures that you should really use to do this comparison are the overall mileage not just highway. That would tend to put the diesel in better light however it probably wouldn't undermine your basic point. I think the takeaway is that it makes a lot more sense to buy a diesel new vs gas than used.

Polar Bear

IMO the diesel is more fun to drive due to the torque - and the resell is much better - but if you are buying used they sure do cost more than the gas.

You can put 90k miles on a CDI and there is still a decent market for it - much better than the gas.

jditom

Right now diesel is 10 cents more then premium.
Last year diesel was $1 less than gas as it will be again when we start making enough of it. We use less energy to make diesel than gas.
CDI only cost $1500 more than a gasser E320.
I drive a CDI to use less fuel not to save money.
If I want to save on my gas bill I would get boring Prius

Polar Bear

Here in North Carolina the resell for a 2005 E320 vs a 2005 E320 CDI with the same miles is pretty substantial. And Diesel is actually a little cheaper here right now too.

TPAbnz

I suggest you check the MSRP difference between the E-Class gas and diesel versions . . . it is $1000, not the ten-fold exaggeration you posted.

BTW, what is your state with the $1 differential - your E350 requires premium?

And to answer your question: yes.

dtrentr

I read that the GL diesel is $1K less than the V8. Last week, diesel was a penny less than than regular unleaded here. Haven't seen that in a long time!

007_e350

This is what I gather from all the inputs:

- CDI holds the value better vs gasoline

- Great Low-end torque ... Top-Gear raced two 5-series (gas vs diesel) and guess what .... low end torque wont help ... the gas pulled away by half a mile or so ... And thats understandable, Diesel is not meant for quick responses (no spark plugs, common now) ....... In other words, low end torque would have helped when the cars being raced had 5 ppl and 3 suitcases in the trunk ... I agree Diesel would have pulled ahead of gasoline then ...... the reason why all trucks and heavy equipmet is diesel .. Torque is the word .... but to win races- you need pure horsepower

- Gas prices are argumental ... I've seen in NJ that Diesel is a buck more but in Atlanta its the other way around ... Price wise, KBB still quotes CDI 4 - 5 grand higher & if you browse MB dealer websites, its easily 10 grands (I can quote prices here from hoffman estates..)

- So the sluggish (~ delayed response), noisy, smoke-emitting & expensive Diesel though has many fans but I guess they were all looking for higher mpgs ... ..... the higher diesel prices have offsetted that to some extent thou, so now whats the edge that CDI has ...... there are reasons why sports package (245fr, 265 rear tires w/ 18" wheels) or 4matic is not avail in CDI ...... Common ppl, get a hybrid Altima!

Guess I've pissed off quite many ppl in here ... who cares!! ...

Go Gasoline!! The electric fast responses & whiplash acceleration!
I'll let you borrow my spark plugs if you're bored outta your CDI!!

Chip

The range is 600 miles which is incredible. That's going to come in really handy if there are ever gas shortages.

Untertürkheim

I have not seen the topgear episode, but in the case of modern diesels (keep in mind the CDI models are previous generation) they are just as quiet and often faster and more powerful than their gasoline counterparts. If you want a real comparison, look up the specs for the E280 gasoline, which then has a 3.0 liter engine, and that will give you an idea of how they compare to diesel.

If we look beyond our own borders over to Europe, we see that most MB/BMW and premium cars are diesel in the land of much higher speeds. Also, the AMG sport package is of course available on the diesel models there. The reason why the sport package is not sold in the US is that it costs MB more to equip cars with it, and the diesel E is already the lowest margin car they sell here.

Polar Bear

Sorry - you are wrong on this. I don't doubt the results of the Top Gear episode, but in regards to horsepower to win races, you are wrong (at least drag racing)

My friend just purchased a new 2008 E350. I raced him from about a 40mph roll in my 2005 CDI and won by a car length up to 80. We raced about three times and I pulled him every time.

Also, in my younger days, my friends and I had Buick Grand Nationals. Back in the late 80's these were some of the fastest cars on the road. It wasn't because of their massive 245hp (lol) - it was the 355 lbs ft of torque. And with some very simple mods these were well into the 400 range. And still low horsepower.

Check out the original GM testing videos from 1987 compared against the 1987 Corvette which was the second fastest car from 1987...

1987 GNX vs C4 Corvette
Edit - to be fair - that was NOT a Callaway in that video as it says - it was a stock 1987 Corvette. This video has been around for ages and the poster was misinformed.

HP was the same for both cars, but the torque was different.

If you are talking road racing and keeping the revs high, yes, HP does make a difference.

Polar Bear

Double edged sword for MB - lowest margin and they last twice as long!

jditom

When people start quoting TopGear the world is in real trouble.
I am surprised you don't think that a Range Rover is the most reliable rig ever built, Top Gear does!

Come to Oregon and you can drive my chiped CDI 430lbs of torque and you will want to sell your spark plug machine.

mescaline

Drive whatever makes you happy and thank God that Mercedes makes CDIs lol, i beat on my car constantly and mpg go up only a few gallons where in petrol engines i could easily cut mpg in half if i was heavy on gas pedal

Anyway, is there in DIY for transmission fluid change?

TPAbnz

OK, so you don't compare city to city prices. NJ to ATL?

GasBuddy.com lowest for your city Chicago: premium: 3.79 (lowest), diesel: 4.07. But where did you get this diesel $5+ from?

I guess in the end it depends on which group on what days the oil companies want to squeeze!

TPAbnz

You are correct, the diesel differential is a "loss leader."

Wolfgang

Did you see this 190D W121 "E-class" diesel on Mercedes-Benz TV? It was supposed to follow the field for observation, but in the end won the rallye all across Africa in 1959. Pretty amazing what diesels can do, even way back then.

http://mercedes-benz.tv/?lang=en&typ...nnel_2_661_url

lkchris

Yes, it's pretty interesting that when new the E320CDI cost premium was $1k.

Now, when they're 2-3 years old and on the used market, the cost premium is larger than that. It's not 10K, however. Not yet.

lkchris

This is bull.

Mercedes doesn't lose money on anything.

Mercedes gasoline engines are as sophisticated as anything you've ever seen, and consequently not much cheaper to build than the diesels.

In addition, MBUSA doesn't consider the USA market ready for a "sporting" diesel car, and consequently equipped the 320CDIs with "normal" suspensions, etc. Thank goodness.

jditom

Just love my diesels!
I have a 08 Sprinter RV with the Bluetec V6 and my 06 E320 CDI.
I do not even like driving a gas engine anymore.
I love that low end torque felling. Very addictive