philfna

It monitors or "intercepts" fuel, pressure, etc. and as you say "tricks" the ECU to increase the turbo boost. I like it quite a bit, but it did take a bit to get it to "settle" in. After 500 miles I really noticed a nice increase in fuel economy. In terms of torque and responsiveness nice increases as well. I have mine on 4 I was wrong Boulder -- I thought it was on 5, but I started on 3 and moved to 4. I am happy where it is -- I imagine 6 and 7 increase a lot of power, but I am leary of doing damage to car even if MB dealer installed and warrantied it.

philfna

BTW saw Premium 2.21 today and diesel 2.35 loving the fuel economy now even more...

Boulder GT3

The delta has closed to about .30 between premium and diesel here.

I'm still surprised that I'm getting 500 miles per tank or so in mixed driving and it's 18 gallons to top it off. It's nice after getting 13MPG and about 200 miles per tank in the Rover this replaces.

philfna

Yeah I have my S550 benched I really want to drive it, but its MPG is horrid. The diesel is a lot of fun right now, and the MPG is tremendous. You happy with the stock setting on the KD-Box or are you going to move it up a notch?

Polar Bear

Too bad the W221 S320 CDI is not available in the US. I would own one if so.

Boulder GT3

I've got 300 miles with the Kleemann KD box installed. Regrettably, I have exhibited childish behavior and have used way too much throttle to get a reliable before and after MPG comparison. I did have one 40 miles stretch of road today and the car averaged 38.8MPG at 70. It seems to get about 2MPG better as mentioned above by C5DRVR.

Around town to 1500 RPMS it feels like it pulls maybe 5-10% stronger. Nothing huge, it just runs a little crisper. Phillfna described it as a cure for a mild cold and I think that is a pretty good description.

I was on about 200 miles of 2 lane roads today. The improvement in passing power is huge. Nice 60-90MPH roll on. I wouldn't be surprised if it would run dead even with my wife's SL550. Big improvement and I love turbo whoosh passing cars.

I'm not sure I buy the whole "learning" thing that MB pitches about ECU's. Who cares? The box is simple and a keeper.

philfna

2 MPG seems to be the average as a group in terms of improvement. ECU learning -- the jury is out on that for me as well.

MBNUT1

Ok so why is this box improving the mileage?

Boulder GT3

It richens the mixture some which makes more power and keeps you from being in the boost as much. The MPG improvement isn't huge and it only happens with a pretty steady throttle.

philfna

I wish there was a US diesel S-class I would buy it in a heart beat.

Boulder GT3

Not me. I think the S class deserves the most refined "velvet fist" powertrains available and that's what it has. The diesel it out of character with the S. I view the E as being much more practical so the practicality of the diesel fits better.

I drove an ML Bluetec and I think the motor fits well there. I do think the KD box for an ML would be a huge improvement. With the ML's extra pounds and larger hole in the wind the KD would be a nice add.

philfna

I agree with the S refinement, but I'd still love a diesel option. I'm a bean counter at heart. :-)

MBNUT1

I guess I don't see how richening the mixture improves the mileage. Seems counterintuitive. I could see if the box adjusted the timing to make more power in violation of an emmisions requirement that Mercedes was required to meet. Which is my point why wouldn't Mercedes tune the injection software to give the improved mileage?

Polar Bear

It's one of the wonders of the world!

Boulder GT3

It's similar to getting the Air to Fuel ratio just right in a gas motor. Or, setting gas engine ignition at optimum timing. Remember in the early emissions days when you could advance a distributor and pick up power and mileage? Motors can be tweaked for low end torque, max HP, cleaner and so on.


The reduced fuel does help emissions but the diesels I've run through strict emissions in Colorado still pass with ease. MB has them tuned for low emissions. This is a whole different topic.

The tweaks are common with over the road trucks much to the chagrin of the EPA.

harkgar

Is your Kleemann KD adjustable? If so it must be a new product.

harkgar

Serves the EPA right. They are already so intrusive in our everyday lives. What they dictated to motorists in the USA will filter down to Canada and the rest of the world. Starting in the 1980s they ordered the car makers to solder in all computer chips and now they ordered the Germans to do the urea injection thing (50 starts with low urea and after that you are toast).

Taken to the extremes the government will install speed detection devices in all new cars. Every time you hit 100 mph $100.00 will immediately be debited to your bank account by Uncle Sam. Imagine doing it 10 times on the highway and you are out of pocket $1,000.00. The deficit will be erased and a lot of Americans go bankrupt.

philfna

Yes it is adjustable, and it is a newer box. We are required to do emissions testing in certain counties here. It passed emissions test with box. They do the scan code and the ppm test here.

harkgar

We are for the time being lucky with only the visual testing. No black smoke you pass. If there is black smoke it has to last for under 15 seconds in any minute or so. In other words if you pick a testing station with either a friendly or myopic mechanic you pass. Every time.

And that is the way emission control should be everywhere.
If you love trees. Walk don't drive. Dig?

harkgar

Phil: sorry I did not respond to your PMs until today. I seldom check as nobody PMs me.

Polar Bear

I don't think that is a very good way to be. With technology comes better products. Why not have more power and cleaner air at the same time? Just because something is cleaner doesn't mean it's taking something away...

I don't think urea will be the future - I am personally not interested in the technology, but I am glad they are researching cleaner emissions and are able to meet stringent requirements even using urea injection. I think in a few years we will see that go away and will have more advanced exhaust and direct injection technology that will get more MPG and power at the same time reducing emissions.

philfna

I want clean tech and power...I know cake and eat it too.

nopcbs

I just bought an E320 CDI for the better mileage and torque, like a lot of people do. As for this "carbon foot print" stuff, go take a look at a book entitled "The Deniers: The World Renowned Scientists Who Stood Up Against Global Warming Hysteria, Political Persecution, and Fraud**And those who are too fearful to do so" by a Canadian anti-nuke advocate and environmentalist and you will see that the Obama/Gore/NYT-driven anti-CO2 hysteria is, at best, unfounded and unsubtantiated and, at worst, a horrible distortion of science.

Drive a high mpg car to save money and petroleum, but do not kid yourself, you are not saving the planet or preventing global warming (even if it exists).

Which makes more sense? Definitely Bigfoot.

gesundbenz

Really enjoyed reading about everybody's experience with the MB CDI. I'm still stuck in my time capsule with my '83 4 speed manual 240D. This is my first diesel benz and I'm honestly hooked. My next Benz will definitely be an '05 or '06 CDI!!