Ordering E350 Bluetec
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Newport Beach, CA
2001 S430 , 2006 cls 500
VIN number and PO for new E350 blutec
Dealer just confirmed that there is a VIN number, as well as a PO number, for the new car so it definitely has been built and is on its way to the US. The only potential 'glitch' is if California "restrictions" will hold it up. Hard to fathom that the car is being delivered to CA w/o State approval of the engine....which has already been here in the SUV.
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From: Vancouver, BC
2015 E250 BT 4M
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 21
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From: Newport Beach, CA
2001 S430 , 2006 cls 500
Delivery dates
Car should arrive while I am in Georgian Bay, North of Barrie, Ontario. May have to come back in September. Just tempted to take it on a "road trip" to see how it does.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2010
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BMW 335xi
I've talked to two dealerships in NC and both said that the 2011 E-class bluetec is only available with 17" tires. This is true even if the car is ordered with the AMG package. Anyone have a problem with this?
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From: Vancouver, BC
2015 E250 BT 4M
Fortunately for Canadian Bluetecs, the car will be equipped with either the 18" 5 spoke alloys as standard or the optional AMG 18" 5 twin spoke alloys. AMG sport package is standard, along with bi-zenons, folding rear seats, heated seats and metallic paint. The Canadian price has yet to be released.
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From: Toronto
MY17 E43 Matte Selenite/Macchiato Beige, MY16 GLE350d Tenorite/Crystal Grey, MY17 B250
The Canadian BlueTEC will be significantly sportier than its US counterpart... the mistakes made with the W211 BlueTEC (bad wheels, bodystyling, base equipment) will not be repeated. The same holds true for the rest of the BlueTECs (ML designo Edition, GL with 21" AMG wheels and fender flares, etc).
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,146
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From: Vancouver, BC
2015 E250 BT 4M
Too bad though that the E350 Bluetec will not have the same tuning at the upcoming S350 Bluetec with 241 HP that is headed to the US.
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From: Toronto
MY17 E43 Matte Selenite/Macchiato Beige, MY16 GLE350d Tenorite/Crystal Grey, MY17 B250
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Vancouver, BC
2015 E250 BT 4M
I would gladly pay an extra $1000 or so for such an upgrade. It would transform the E350 Bluetec into a real performer !
ECU upgrades or performance chips are very popular for MB diesels in Europe. Why doesn't MB go after this market instead of leaving it to the many tuners like Kleeman, Brabus, etc.
Last edited by DerekACS; Jul 23, 2010 at 11:17 AM.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 17
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From: Charlotte, NC
2007 E320 Bluetec; 1991 350SDL
I have the '07 E320 Bluetec and love this car. 34mpg easily (70 mph on the road), and I average 26.7 around town if I drive it reasonably, slightly less if I'm in a hurry. Incredible acceleration for a diesel, quiet, and I buy fuel once every two weeks at most. 42,000 miles - not a speck of trouble other than having the transmission software updated. 13,000 mile service intervals, so it goes in once a year, usually the time interval is up before the mileage interval.
Great ride, quiet, smooth, stable, handles well, drives well. Absolutely no complaints. I drove a W123 300D turbodiesel for 16 years, 344,000 miles on it when I sold it, and it's still going strong. With the loss of sulfur diesel fuel, I don't expect this one will last that long, but it's easily a 200,000 mile car if cared for properly.
No regrets; I'd buy this car again in a heartbeat. I'm very interested in the 2011 E350 Bluetec - I just wish MB USA would get them over here.
Great ride, quiet, smooth, stable, handles well, drives well. Absolutely no complaints. I drove a W123 300D turbodiesel for 16 years, 344,000 miles on it when I sold it, and it's still going strong. With the loss of sulfur diesel fuel, I don't expect this one will last that long, but it's easily a 200,000 mile car if cared for properly.
No regrets; I'd buy this car again in a heartbeat. I'm very interested in the 2011 E350 Bluetec - I just wish MB USA would get them over here.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Cary, NC
2024 AMG EQE SUV , 2021 E63S Wagon - gone, 2018 E63S Sedan - gone
Congratulations! I had ordered an E350 Bluetec the same day that you did in also in Cary. However, the AddBlue and the run-flats were a deal breaker for me, so I got the E550 that I ordered in parallel just in case. Make certain that you have a spare bottle of the AddBlue in your garage. The car will not start after 20 times with the urea additive tank empty.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 21
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From: Newport Beach, CA
2001 S430 , 2006 cls 500
First 2,500 mile performance report
Drove from NPB, CA to Winter Park, CO and back. Started trip with 450+ miles on the E350 Blutec so had to still break in the engine until 1,000 miles so could not use cruise control in the beginning. GET THIS: 2,531 miles on 76.6 gal. of Diesel for overall average of 33.04 mpg!! 600+ miles of this was mountain driving. Worst was 28.56 mpg and the best was 36.51 mpg.
Ride was super smooth. No issue with runflats although I had a kit in the car just in case. Temps ranged from 106 down to 35 ... no problem. MB has a real winner with this car!!
New Culprite Brown color was a real crowd pleaser.
Ride was super smooth. No issue with runflats although I had a kit in the car just in case. Temps ranged from 106 down to 35 ... no problem. MB has a real winner with this car!!
New Culprite Brown color was a real crowd pleaser.
Newbie
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4
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From: Redondo Beach, CA
E420
Congratulations! I had ordered an E350 Bluetec the same day that you did in also in Cary. However, the AddBlue and the run-flats were a deal breaker for me, so I got the E550 that I ordered in parallel just in case. Make certain that you have a spare bottle of the AddBlue in your garage. The car will not start after 20 times with the urea additive tank empty.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,550
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From: Cary, NC
2024 AMG EQE SUV , 2021 E63S Wagon - gone, 2018 E63S Sedan - gone
The MB container to fill the tank comes in a 1/2 Gallon Bottle / Part Number A0005830107 Current LIST: $9.00. The E-350 needs 6.5 gallons of the stuff according to the specs so you need 13 bottles @ $117 / 10K miles. Every 20K miles you must evacuate the tank to flush out crystals that may have formed. I believe that the labor charge is 1 hour to do that in addition.
Last edited by HBerman; Dec 10, 2018 at 10:55 PM.
Newbie
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4
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From: Redondo Beach, CA
E420
The MB container to fill the tank comes in a 1/2 Gallon Bottle / Part Number A0005830107 Current LIST: $9.00. The E-350 needs 6.5 gallons of the stuff according to the specs so you need 13 bottles @ $117 / 10K miles. Every 20K miles you must evacuate the tank to flush out crystals that may have formed. I believe that the labor charge is 1 hour to do that in addition.
MB is smoking crack if they think people will pay $180 every 10K mile service call in Urea alone.
They are stone cold morons.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gary Stephenson <gary.stephenson@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 2:23 PM
Subject: Re: Bluetec maintenance too expensive
To: autonation.com
OK - I like the environment, but not that much.
===========//===========
On Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 2:07 PM, <autonation.com> wrote:
Hey Gary,
Every 10,000 miles.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gary Stephenson <gary.stephenson@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 2:06 PM
Subject: Re: add blue
To: autonation.com
So its $180 of urea at every service? How often, mileage wise, is the car scheduled for service?
==================//==================
On Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 2:00 PM, <autonation.com> wrote:
Hello Gary,
You add the Urea at every service. Each time it takes about 10 bottles at approximately
$18 a bottle
Mercedes Benz of the South Bay
autonation.com
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gary Stephenson <gary.stephenson@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Sep 28, 2010 at 9:10 PM
Subject: Re: 10/8 test drive
To: autonation.com
Thanks for the answer on the run flats. These tires do not bother me - I think they are safer,
especially for blow outs at high speeds, and you could use that as a big selling point
- people are high on safety these days.
Still not 100% clear on the "Add Blue" urea. How is it added? How often? What is the cost?
Newbie
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Redondo Beach, CA
E420
Checkout this exchange with an MB dealer...
MB is smoking crack if they think people will pay $180 every 10K mile service call in Urea alone.
They are stone cold morons.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gary Stephenson <gary.stephenson@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 2:23 PM
Subject: Re: Bluetec maintenance too expensive
To: autonation.com
OK - I like the environment, but not that much.
===========//===========
On Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 2:07 PM, <autonation.com> wrote:
Hey Gary,
Every 10,000 miles.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gary Stephenson <gary.stephenson@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 2:06 PM
Subject: Re: add blue
To: autonation.com
So its $180 of urea at every service? How often, mileage wise, is the car scheduled for service?
==================//==================
On Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 2:00 PM, <autonation.com> wrote:
Hello Gary,
You add the Urea at every service. Each time it takes about 10 bottles at approximately
$18 a bottle
Mercedes Benz of the South Bay
autonation.com
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gary Stephenson <gary.stephenson@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Sep 28, 2010 at 9:10 PM
Subject: Re: 10/8 test drive
To: autonation.com
Thanks for the answer on the run flats. These tires do not bother me - I think they are safer,
especially for blow outs at high speeds, and you could use that as a big selling point
- people are high on safety these days.
Still not 100% clear on the "Add Blue" urea. How is it added? How often? What is the cost?
MB is smoking crack if they think people will pay $180 every 10K mile service call in Urea alone.
They are stone cold morons.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gary Stephenson <gary.stephenson@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 2:23 PM
Subject: Re: Bluetec maintenance too expensive
To: autonation.com
OK - I like the environment, but not that much.
===========//===========
On Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 2:07 PM, <autonation.com> wrote:
Hey Gary,
Every 10,000 miles.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gary Stephenson <gary.stephenson@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 2:06 PM
Subject: Re: add blue
To: autonation.com
So its $180 of urea at every service? How often, mileage wise, is the car scheduled for service?
==================//==================
On Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 2:00 PM, <autonation.com> wrote:
Hello Gary,
You add the Urea at every service. Each time it takes about 10 bottles at approximately
$18 a bottle
Mercedes Benz of the South Bay
autonation.com
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gary Stephenson <gary.stephenson@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Sep 28, 2010 at 9:10 PM
Subject: Re: 10/8 test drive
To: autonation.com
Thanks for the answer on the run flats. These tires do not bother me - I think they are safer,
especially for blow outs at high speeds, and you could use that as a big selling point
- people are high on safety these days.
Still not 100% clear on the "Add Blue" urea. How is it added? How often? What is the cost?
BUT holding up their customers so they can make a few bucks on Urea is a technology killer. $180 in Urea every 10K miles is a non-starter. I told them to price Urea at $50 per 10K service or no deal. They told me "go pound sand." We will see who has the last laugh.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,550
Likes: 745
From: Cary, NC
2024 AMG EQE SUV , 2021 E63S Wagon - gone, 2018 E63S Sedan - gone
I will follow up - I love the idea of the E350 Bluetec because even tough the horsepower is less the torque, which is what you need for acceleration, is nearly 400 ft-lbs, same as the E550 that gets half the mileage with 15K more on the sticker. The gasoline E350 gets only 250 ft-lbs and is just not in the same league.
BUT holding up their customers so they can make a few bucks on Urea is a technology killer. $180 in Urea every 10K miles is a non-starter. I told them to price Urea at $50 per 10K service or no deal. They told me "go pound sand." We will see who has the last laugh.
BUT holding up their customers so they can make a few bucks on Urea is a technology killer. $180 in Urea every 10K miles is a non-starter. I told them to price Urea at $50 per 10K service or no deal. They told me "go pound sand." We will see who has the last laugh.
Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 168
Likes: 71
...
I wish that US emissions regs didn't necessitate the need for the Urea exhaust treatment....but the DEF
(diesel exhaust fluid, aka AdBlue) itself is not that expensive. Now the bottle with the star on it available at the dealer.............
Many of the the new trucks use DEF so it can be found in a lot of truck stops nationwide. Last summer when it was introduced at Travel Centers of America (TA) and Petro Stopping Centers (Petro), the price for a 2.5gal jug was $9.99, which comes out to $4 a gallon (anyone know current pricing?)
It would only cost $26 to fill the tank with unbranded urea. I'm not sure what's involved with flushing the tank,
maybe just connecting a hose and running some urea through the tank (whats required, anyone know?),
which if so you should be able to do that yourself. So there! Exhaust treatment service done for under $30!
But as AMGFREAK said, if you can afford the $52+k purchase price for the car the dealer service price should be no biggie.
Cars cost money to run & maintain whether gas or diesel, Honda or Mercedes. If I could afford the E350 BlueTec, the AdBlue price would certainly not be a deal breaker.
Last edited by MB_FanAddict; Sep 30, 2010 at 09:45 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,550
Likes: 745
From: Cary, NC
2024 AMG EQE SUV , 2021 E63S Wagon - gone, 2018 E63S Sedan - gone
The issue is not the expense of the AdBlue. It is the expense of maintaining another emmissions system. The urea injection system needs very pure urea solution to a specific ISO spec. You could obviously use unbranded DEF, but if the injection system clogs up, it will be you against MB for responsibility. I can only think of one winner in that case.
YMMV
YMMV
Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 168
Likes: 71
...
Generic DEF meets/is made to the same standard as the AdBlue fluid. As long as it has the API certification it's fine.
The AdBlue fluid aside, it will be interesting to see what the reliability of the system is/will be. If the system is able to go for 100k+ miles with just refills/flushes that would be great, but if it turn's into another disaster like the trap oxidizer MB installed on the US market '87 3L diesels to meet the emission regs in all 50 states then it won't be good at all.
This is not entirely MB's fault, emission regs are tightening up everywhere. I guess they could have installed a smaller engine in the car that would not have needed exhaust treatment for the time being (but would people then complain the cars were too slow?). I wish there was more focus on improving the fuel going into the cars then on what comes out but..........
I'm glad that they are making the E350 BlueTec Diesel available anyway. V8 torque and better economy/range then the V6 gas model. What more could you want?
The AdBlue fluid aside, it will be interesting to see what the reliability of the system is/will be. If the system is able to go for 100k+ miles with just refills/flushes that would be great, but if it turn's into another disaster like the trap oxidizer MB installed on the US market '87 3L diesels to meet the emission regs in all 50 states then it won't be good at all.
This is not entirely MB's fault, emission regs are tightening up everywhere. I guess they could have installed a smaller engine in the car that would not have needed exhaust treatment for the time being (but would people then complain the cars were too slow?). I wish there was more focus on improving the fuel going into the cars then on what comes out but..........
I'm glad that they are making the E350 BlueTec Diesel available anyway. V8 torque and better economy/range then the V6 gas model. What more could you want?
Last edited by MB_FanAddict; Oct 1, 2010 at 05:56 PM.
