E320 CDI--whats the engine sound like?
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From: California
2014 C250 sport
E320 CDI--whats the engine sound like?
hey! I'm just curious lol...any one who has the new CDI..what does the engine sound like?Like a Mercedes gasoline V6 or totally different??thanks!!
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Scotland, UK
2019 Mercedes Benz S500L AMG Premium Plus
Re: E320 CDI--whats the engine sound like?
Originally posted by akbro93704
hey! I'm just curious lol...any one who has the new CDI..what does the engine sound like?Like a Mercedes gasoline V6 or totally different??thanks!!
hey! I'm just curious lol...any one who has the new CDI..what does the engine sound like?Like a Mercedes gasoline V6 or totally different??thanks!!
When at crusing speeds you simply cannot tell other than when you hit the throttle you end up in the back seat!!
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Texas
05 E320 CDI
When idling, the engine does have a distinctive diesel burble, but it's quiet, unlike truck diesels. I do not have to stop the engine in order to be heard when placing an order at the local fast food drive-thru, unlike F250 diesel owners, for instance. As another data point, if the air-conditioning and radiator fans are running on high, (such as when starting up on a hot day after the car has been sitting in the sun for 6 hours) the sounds of those fans drown out the sound of the diesel idling. Of course this probably says more about the loudness of the fans than it says about the quietness of the engine.
The engine does "growl" like a diesel under heavy acceleration. When crusing at highway speeds, the engine's sound fades into the background. It is not a significant source of noise compared to other "normal" background highway noises.
So, in answer to your original question, yes, the diesel engine does sound different compared to the gas E's, but that is not to say it's either worse or better, just different.
I think most people would not find the diesel's sound objectionable.
The engine does "growl" like a diesel under heavy acceleration. When crusing at highway speeds, the engine's sound fades into the background. It is not a significant source of noise compared to other "normal" background highway noises.
So, in answer to your original question, yes, the diesel engine does sound different compared to the gas E's, but that is not to say it's either worse or better, just different.
I think most people would not find the diesel's sound objectionable.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Michigan, USA
'05 E320 CDI, '07 VW Touareg V10 TDI, 2007 Porsche GT3
To the posts above, I'd add that I was unable to detect any diesel "clatter" at idle unless I was standing directly in front of the grille, and even then the sound was very muted.
Once underway, I couldn't detect any auditory evidence that I was driving a diesel. I felt the engine was smoother than the gas 3.2, not surprising as the CDI is an inline 6 which is inherently balanced, while the gas 3.2 is a V6.
Once underway, I couldn't detect any auditory evidence that I was driving a diesel. I felt the engine was smoother than the gas 3.2, not surprising as the CDI is an inline 6 which is inherently balanced, while the gas 3.2 is a V6.
