cr1t1icalm4ss

Cant wait, it will be coming soon.

luxoriant

Does it still make sense to purchase a Diesel, with its need for a urea tank (that takes away the space for a spare and may dictate run flat tires, with all their attendant problems) now that MB is introducing new gas engines for MY 2011/2013 that result in 20+ percent MPG improvement, via engine efficiency plus start/stop technology?

DerekACS

This is a very good question.

At this point in time, I'm not sure the answer is obvious without an opportunity to test drive both the new Direct Injection V6 and the V6 Bluetec diesel. Keep in mind that the advertised 20+% better fuel economy for the DI V6 is based on a Euro test cycle, which tends to be more liberal than the much more conservative EPA test. Obviously with start/stop technology, more city driving would influence the average fuel economy.

Another question to consider is what long term effects will this start/stop technology have on engine, battery and starter life ? I can't imagine that it would be beneficial to the drive train and accessories.

My hunch is that the Bluetec diesel will still be more efficient, cost much less to maintain and operate and have a longer lifespan than the new start/stop DI V6.

As for your concerns about RFTs, they have improved over the past few years. For example, the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP tires that I have on my 335d are much better riding than the Bridgestone RE050As. Then there is a significant safety advantage offered by RFTs, especially in the case of a front tire having a high speed blowout. In such a situation, a driver with a car equipped with RFTs would be able to maintain control and pull off a highway at an appropriate location. On the other hand, a driver of a car with regular radial tires would likely not be able to maintain control.

But you are right, the fuel economy advantage offered by the V6 diesel over the current V6 gas engine will be reduced once the new DI engine is made available.

Whether that makes the diesel Bluetec redundant remains to be determined.

cr1t1icalm4ss

I heard...not confirmed..need to read up that its around 30mpg for the e-350 diesel. Someone can probably go to the german site and get the fuel numbers and convert to mpg to find out

DerekACS

Based on my previous 2008 E320 Bluetec, highway mileage will be at least 33-35 mpg and a range of approximately 600 miles (1000 kms) per tank.
You might want to check out the MB UK site and look at the E350 CDI Blue Efficiency - same diesel engine without the adBlue component.

Geeman

Hi,

I own a Jan 2010 E350 Cdi BE Sport - I drove from London to Aberdeen in 1 tank non stop (486 miles) @ speeds of 90-110 mph.

Worth it - definately - apart from the turbo lag, it's not a slow car at all - and after 24 years of petrol, this is my first diesel, I used to have a S500L, so this thing is cheap to run by comparison.

HTH

Gee

DerekACS

According to the MB UK site, the Euro cycle figures for the E350 CDI are as follows (imp.gals) : urban 31 mpg, hwy.50 mpg, combined 41 mpg.
Keep in mind that an imperial gallon has approx. 20% larger volume than a US gallon.

listerone

I've read that EPA mileage figures for diesels are off by a good bit.My 335 diesel,for example,is rated by the EPA at 36 MPG.I easily get 42 MPG on the Interstate at 65 MPH.FYI.

ipp

Mine is between 29-32 MPG. I think it's ok. A 250CDI (bi-turbo 2.1L 4-cyl) would probably get much better figures, and it's almost as quick as the 350CDI, the problem is that it comes with a 5-speed auto. Next year they will release a hybrid version of the 250CDI called E300 BlueHybrid and it will get around 56 MPG, that will be very interesting.

MB_FanAddict

Looks like MBUSA has been doing some updating to the website.

There's a place holder for the E350 Bluetec. No info yet (specs, pricing ect.), just a picture so far.

But the E-class mpg figures top out at 34mpg so, I'm guessing this will be the Bluetec's hwy rating.

See the attached pics.

DerekACS

The EPA rating for diesels are very conservative, so I would expect even better highway mileage than 34 mpg (US) or 41 imp.

Raymond Lee

2 years ago you predicted pretty close to accurate.

listerone

On a 400-500 mile stretch of I-95 I traveled on a recent road trip I got 37.5 mpg at a steady 70mph.Given that was on *winter* diesel and that,at 10K miles,my Bluetec isn't *close* to being "broken in" I'd say that that's damn good for a car of that size,comfort and sophistication.

And I got that figure from the old fashioned "fillup to fillup" method of calculation.The trip computer read something like 44mpg for the very same stretch.