glojo

To settle the debate on the smallest diesel engine available for the E-class in the United Kingdom I have copied the exact text from Mercedes-Benz.co.uk

On the road price from: £28,465
0-62.5 mph: 10.6/11.1 secs (man/auto)
Maximum speed: 129 mph
The diesel E 220 CDI gives a refined performance with excellent overall fuel consumption, over 40 mpg (40.9) combined, and 6-speed manual transmission as standard.
On the road price reflects the Road Fund License (Vehicle Excise Tax) and the £510.00 additional costs necessary to put your car on the road. Included are a standard UK delivery charge (£405 incl VAT), new vehicle registration fee (£38), number plates and a full tank of fuel. Prices correct as of 1st January 2004 and are subject to change without prior notice.

Do I agree with having the 220CDI in the E-class??

The most diplomatice answer I can give is that I travel in a LWB Mercedes-Benz Sprinter which has been beautifully converted into a 'type of ambulance'. It has the second most powerful diesel engine available and that is the 220CDI tuned to give 130bhp. The acceleration is more than ample and it will easily cruise at 70mph on all our motorway inclines.

Regards,
John Shorter

johna1

I absolutely stand corrected.

Here in New Zealand they only import a subset of the diesels because the market is smaller.

So we only get the c270, e320 and s320.

With our diesel pump price half the price of petrol, and the diesel model being cheaper than its petrol equivalent it is an easy choice.

I guess the E220 wouldn't be any worse than a 2.8 XJ6, and depending on your priorities may well be a very nice cruiser.

Is it true they have an S Class in Italy with the 1.6 engine out of the A Series for tax reasons?

glojo

It's interesting to see what vehicles Mercedes-Benz export to what countries. We have been informed that some European countries have the 200CDI installed into the E-class.

I sometimes browse the Internet and log onto different Mercedes-Benz websites. It is interesting to look at the different vehicles that are on offer in the different countries.

I suppose I would like to see the 400CDI and 4-Matic imported into the UK.

Mercedes-Benz UK lists the E55 AMG Estate as being available from late 2003. I don't think they realise that we are now in 2004.

I can't imagine the S class having any engine smaller than 2.80 (the UK is offered the S280, 350, 430, 500, 600 and S55 along with only the S320CDI no 400CDI )

I have had the priviledge of visiting your beautiful country and must confess to falling in love with it. Although I only went to New Plymouth and Picton.

Regards,
John
Torquay
England

johna1

I would like to see the 400CDI too. I am told that the issue is making it available in right hand drive.

You also get the C32 CDI AMG there I believe which must be an interesting model.

glojo

I suppose this is slightly off topic, but I hope it does not cause too much of an upset.

The UK engine options for the C class are as follows:

C180K C200CDI
C200K C220CDI
C240 C270CDI
C320

C32AMG Which I believe comes with a supercharged version of the Petrol 320cc engine. I stand to be corrected on this, but further information can be found at http://www.mercedesbenz.co.uk select cars, then showroom

It looks a possibilty that there might be problems with the right hand drive vehicle that prevents us from having the 4-Matic and perhaps the 400CDI

Bye for now,
John

RichardM

The E400CDi in Germany is the same price as the E500, its an expensive car and a lot more than the E320CDi.

http://www.mercedes-benz.de/mbd/pdf/E-210.pdf

I'm sure the reason the UK doesn't have that and the 4-matic cars is purely commercial, MB UK doesn't think there is a sufficient market.

glojo

Hi Richard
I take onboard what you say about the 4-Matic, but unfortunately I am not convinced that you are correct.

Great Britain is by no means the only country wher we drive on the 'correct' side. I tend to lean towards the mechanical problems of installation.

Snow and ice is obviously one use for a four wheel drive vehicle, but there is also the road holding\safety option, plus of course the towing of caravans and boats.

Regards,
John

RichardM

The CDi range isn't available with 4-Matic even in German, so even if 4-Matic was available in the UK you and I would still be stuck with RWD only! Could have done with the extra traction in that snow last week.

glojo

Hi Richard,
I understand that 4-Matic is not available with any type of CDI engine, but I think that is a seperate issue.

From the enquiries I have made there is a 'bulge' in the right-hand footwell of the 4-Matic. I am of the opinion that the actual 'bulge' is not the issue, but what the actual cause of that bulge is.

Since having my first CDI powered vehicle (until then I did not think that a diesel powered car would ever be something I would entertain). Now I cannot envisage owning anything other than this brilliant power train.

Thanks again for your informative response,
John

johna1

The car I was thinking of is the C30 CDI AMG, which is listed in a brochure I got when I was thinking about a C before I got the E!

It is described as 'a diesel powered sports car' and quotes 0-100 of 6.8, and power of 168Kw from a 5 cyl 3.0 diesel engine.

It is an AMG car and is definitely not available in NZ!

glojo

Hi John
That's definitely not a modern UK specification. We have a 5 cylinder in line 2.7ltr CDI engine which is available for the C-class or a 4 cylinder in line 2.2ltr CDI engine which is available for the C-class Sports Coupe.

The only 3 ltr diesel engine that is available in the UK is the six cylinder in line 3.2litre 6 cylinder in line engine, but this is only for either the E, or S class.

Sorry I cannot be more helpful.

Bye,
John

RichardM

There has been talk of bringing the C30 CDI AMG to the UK, and a few UK motoring magazines have tested it, but it will be in left hand drive only.

http://www.mercedes-benz.de/mbd/t44/...S_13BD,00.html
http://www.mercedes-benz.de/mbd/t44/...2C_6BD,00.html

glojo

It appears to be a very impressive vehicle.

0 - 62.5mph in 6.8sec and 150mph is not to bad for a diesel powered coupe

I think the problem in putting the 320CDI into a 'smaller' vehicle is quite simply down to the actual length of the engine. It is a straight six as opposed to a V6. The five cylinder engine is not quite as long.

Your suggestion about Mercedes-Benz thinking about importing it in LHD form is a strange one. There are a number of more popular variants of the marque which are only available in LHD, but Mercedes-Benz have no intention of adding them to our range of available vehicles.

It is still a nice car with a good performance though.

Regards,
John

johna1

I am totally sold on diesel engines now. I find myself looking at SL coupes and thinking 'nice car, shame you can't get it in diesel'. Apart from the great driving characteristics, I have always hated buying fuel. Last month I only had to fill the tank once! My previous car (Jag), needed filling every week.

glojo

I feel sorry for any country though that does not have low sulphur diesel. The manual states that the CDI engine will have to be serviced every 4600 miles. That will prove an expensive exercise over the lifetime of the car.

My previous 320CDI required servicing approximately every 22,000 miles.

Regards,
John

johna1

Yes, I'm a bit concerned about that.

We generally have high sulfer diesel in NZ, but locally (Christchurch), as a long term trial, BP is selling 'low sulfer' diesel. It is 500ppm which is 80% lower than usual in NZ. The aim is to get to 50ppm by 2006. I think 500ppm is still on the high side by European standards?

I have only used this fuel since I got the car. The dealer has made no mention of the extra service requirements despite what it says in the manual and I think my first service is due at 25Km. I am hoping that using the lower sulfer fuel will obviate the need for extra services, but we'll see.

glojo

I am told that the oil is actually monitored by the ASSYT, so there is no need for you to worry.

I am not an engineer but with my first CDI, I wanted to change the oil after the first thousand miles but the Service Department explained the workings of ASSYT and it is just a waste of money changing the oil before the service alert.

Good luck with your car,
John

michakaveli

Anyone have pictures of their E320 CDI's?

glojo

Externally they are absolutely identical to the petrol version with the exception that the 320 badge is on one side of the tailgate (or boot) and the CDI badge on the other.

Under the bonnet there is really nothing of interest to see because of the large 'plasticy' covers that hide the engine and its interesting ancillaries.

I will shortly be having a go at taking some pictures of mine and if there is anything that you are particularly interested in then please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards,
John