Performance numbers are out:

Fuel Economy 27 City 37 Highway

Accelleration 0-60 MPH 6.8 Seconds

 

source???

this old new from Car and Driver. Whats the source for these?

 

These are from a March 18th debut by MB in San Antonio.

 

is there a link? I want to see if my other issues can be answered from the article....

 

wow.
6.8 seconds is faster than a standard E320 right?

 

It's supposed to be .3 Seconds faster than the E320 Gas

 

.3 isn't that big a difference but i would imagine it would feel more powerful than a gas E-class in city driving with all the low-end torque a diesel has.

when does it come out?

 

I don't know when they will be at the dealers but I"m picking up my Euro Delivery CDI on May 24th. Normally they won't allow Euro Delivery before the cars are at the dealers so one might guess that they will be at the dealers by late May.

 

I believe that the E320 CDI's will be available this summer (July/August). While in the Miami airport last weekend I noticed that dealers in FL were taking deposits/orders for them.

They will be here soon....along with 369 lb/ft of torque. Can't wait!

 

I believe Chandler Mercedes in the Phoenix area have a CDI in the boat right now. They are expecting it next month. Of course they might not be telling me the correct Info.

 

Remember that with any new model, the cars are frequently held at the VPC until the offficial introduction date. They have to accumulate enough cars so that all dealers will have one or more cars on the introduction date.

 

If the gas is so cheap i dont see the point of getting a diesel car in the US..
Generally diesel cars are much louder and the car vibrates more..

 

It would be most unfair to 'generalise' about modern diesel engines. The 320CDI Is NOT loud, does NOT VIBRATE and out performs the 320 petrol.

The fuel costs are a different issue. I live in the UK and the 320CDI is first off cheaper to purchase than the 320 petrol. The 320CDI is FAR more economical to run, than the 320 petrol.

I am lead to believe the US CDI does not come with the same standard specifications as its petrol equivalent???
Is petrol cheaper than diesel?
What will be the expected service intervals of the CDI engine?
The poor quality of your diesel may well effect service intervals.

John

 

How is starting diesel engines in cold weather these days? We have an '85 300SD with 203,000+ miles and still running strong but needs to be plugged in if the temps fall under 20 degrees or else it won't start. We also have to put anti-gel during the cold winters. Just wondering if the new diesel engines still needs to be plugged in during cold winters.

It looks like diesel engines have come a long way. Diesel usually last longer than gas powered engines and now performance is close to equal. Our 300SD is a dog..."Literally" and it has a turbo. I think 0-60MPH is in 3 days.

 

"PERFORMANCE CLOSE TO EQUAL" Whattttt????? "Close to equal" You win, you've hooked me

I suppose the performance of the 320 petrol is fairly close on paper to that of its diesel equivalent, but in every day regular driving there is no contest. The diesel version will outperform its petrol equivalent by the proverbial country mile.

Unfortunately I cannot answer your question about cold weather and problems starting diesels. (I live in the South West of England and we do not have this type of problem) I am certain however that diesels have come a long way with their engine pre-heat technology. I remember many years ago my father lighting an oily rag and placing it underneath the engine of his lorry in an attempt to warm the engine and get it started. (we lived in the Midlands at the time).

Likewise I can also remember the fact that we owned a large Black American Ford Customline. During long hot spells, if we got stuck in long traffic jams the heat from the sun used to get the bonnet very hot and cause the petrol to evaporate before it reached the carburettor. I say this having seen your beautiful stable of black Mercedes-Benz and realise that your location has very hot summers. No doubt the metal still gets very hot, but the fuel gets to the correct location with evaporating. (bet the air conditioning works overtime)

I am certainly not suggesting you purchase a CDI powered Mercedes-Benz, but if you get the oppurtunity please test drive one, the 400CDI is allegedly a real flying machine. (If I lived in the US I certainly would not buy one unless it made sound economic sense)

In the UK, like America we have various formula's for motor racing. One such formula is for the VW Golf GTi. Last year a team made a guest entry with the latest Golf GTi diesel. I saw one televised race where the diesel came second.

Your cars look great,

Regards,
John

 

Here's a question for our European friends with CDI diesels. Below is the new Mercedes spec for oils to be used in the new diesels. What are you or your dealers using in your cars?

MB sheet 229.31 approved oils; LA "low ash" Oils
This is a new spec pioneered by Mercedes for diesel engines with EURO 4 soot particle filters, e.g. W211 E200 CDI, E220 CDI. The spec was introduced 7/2003. They are called LA "low ash" oils, low on sulfated ash, phosphorus and sulphur to limit particle filter pollution. Oils high in e.g. ZDDP additive can not qualify.

Aral Tronic 229.31 5W-30
Fuchs Titan GT 1 SAE 5W-30 (passenger cars, zinc free)
Fuchs Titan Cargo Maxx SAE 5W-30 (commercial vehicles, zinc free)
Mobil SHC Formula LA 5W-30

 

There was a good write-up on the E320 CDI in todays Washington Post by Warren Brown. 6.8s 0-60 time and an average of 40+ MPG on the road.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2004Mar19.html


For people that have not visited the Post's website before, you will have to log in, then on the main page scroll down and click on the "Cars" link then look for the writeup on the '05 E320 CDI.

 

Hmm, Mercedes only expect to market 3,000 CDI's per year in the US. I sure hope they build enough to go around without having to pay a premium to get one.

 

I was hoping that you might get a more technical response from someone, but it is more likely due to the fact that we have EXACTLY the same MB sheet which does quote a European Spec.

The dealer would advise that we use a major brand of oil suitable for turbo-charged diesels. I have a CDI engine in my Sprinter and after 14,000 miles I have had to add 0.3litres. They are excellent engines, and are not prone to frequent 'top ups'.

I am still frustrated to read that the US version has not got the same 'creature comforts' as its petrol equivalent

Good luck,
John

 

From The Car Connection review of the E320 CDI:

"If you don't believe what you cannot see or hear, then consider this: You won't find the first sooty smudge on a white handkerchief held over the tailpipe. Emissions meet EU requirements, which are as much as 58 percent more stringent than our own EPA's. You'll scarcely hear the CDI's 44-dB idle noise or its 72-dB full-throttle acceleration. By comparison, Mercedes' 3.2-liter gasoline V-6 idles at 42 dB and accelerates, full-throttle, at 76 dB. (An average conversation, by the way, registers 60 dB.) Best of all, the CDI sprints from zero to 60 in 6.8 seconds, which is 0.3 seconds faster than its gas V-6 sibling."

 

Acctually i posted not that time ago about an article in r/t, they've tested e320 CDI and it came up wiht 6.4 0-60.... DUnno how true is that but its' pretty amazing.

here's my post about it.
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...threadid=61032