No more Ml350 bluetec? Are they crazy??
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No more Ml350 bluetec? Are they crazy??
I am seriously disappointed that there is no more Ml350 bluetec for USA starting this fall and instead get a weak Ml250 bluetec. This SUV is very heavy and we get loads of things inside and do lots of driving in our 2013 Ml350 bluetec that the engine is great in terms of power and gas mileage. I don't see how I will go any weaker then this engine since the car does red-line sometimes with acceleration and I do not want a 4 banger pulling my big SUV.
I guess when the lease is up next fall, I will move on to the new Audi Q7 diesel or BMW X5 diesel with enough power and gas mileage. Mercedes is taking the wrong route to abandoning current customers with the Ml350 bluetec and giving them a smaller engine just to get slightly better gas mileage. Either way this engine doesn't cut it for the bigger ML and is fine for the GLK. The reviews have been poor for this engine in europe and many calling this engine weak or noisy and unrefined.
I think Mercedes will loose lot on this with the bad marketing and putting the ml400 between the ml350 and the Ml250 bluetec too. Too much overlap and poor planning. To those who have the Ml350 blutec, would you ever consider Ml250 bt?
I guess when the lease is up next fall, I will move on to the new Audi Q7 diesel or BMW X5 diesel with enough power and gas mileage. Mercedes is taking the wrong route to abandoning current customers with the Ml350 bluetec and giving them a smaller engine just to get slightly better gas mileage. Either way this engine doesn't cut it for the bigger ML and is fine for the GLK. The reviews have been poor for this engine in europe and many calling this engine weak or noisy and unrefined.
I think Mercedes will loose lot on this with the bad marketing and putting the ml400 between the ml350 and the Ml250 bluetec too. Too much overlap and poor planning. To those who have the Ml350 blutec, would you ever consider Ml250 bt?
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From: Germantown, MD/Rehoboth Beach, DE
2024 GLS450
Considering no one has driven a US-spec ML250 BlueTec yet, I think it is too early to pass judgment. I guess I'm an odd bird in that I detest a V6, so at least in my case I am excited to give one a go and hopefully decide to put one in my garage.
It has 369 ft/lb of torque, which while not the 455 ft/lb of the 350BT is more than many/most cars out there on the road. The final drive ratios haven't been published or anything yet to know if MB has done anything to help get it off the line easier. There's 500 lb of weight difference between a GLK and an ML, which is not that much in the grand scheme of things. The 2.1L is not unrefined in either the E250 or GLK250, so I'm not sure why it would be in the ML.
That said, if you want speed, you don't buy a diesel. The US is just catching up with the rest of the world in terms of downsizing to more appropriate sized engines; and it's a shame it didn't start 20 years ago.
It has 369 ft/lb of torque, which while not the 455 ft/lb of the 350BT is more than many/most cars out there on the road. The final drive ratios haven't been published or anything yet to know if MB has done anything to help get it off the line easier. There's 500 lb of weight difference between a GLK and an ML, which is not that much in the grand scheme of things. The 2.1L is not unrefined in either the E250 or GLK250, so I'm not sure why it would be in the ML.
That said, if you want speed, you don't buy a diesel. The US is just catching up with the rest of the world in terms of downsizing to more appropriate sized engines; and it's a shame it didn't start 20 years ago.
Last edited by MDMercedesGuy; Aug 17, 2014 at 09:11 PM.
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'14 ML BT
I bought the 350BT a month ago because I didn't want the 4 banger. Cost me a wasted month of lease payment on the outgoing car, but I didn't want to wait until month end and tighter inventory resulting in higher prices on the 350.
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From: Horseheads, NY
2014 ML350 BT, 2016 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon HR, 2012 GMC Sierra Denali HD Duramax
I bought a 350BT last month for the same reason. MB must have some market research suggesting there is an unserved market for value conscious, luxury brand customers looking primarily for fuel economy at the expense of performance. I'm not one of them, but MB must think they're out there. It's probably the same crowd that buys the Lexus hybrids.
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From: Germantown, MD/Rehoboth Beach, DE
2024 GLS450
Considering the fact that MB never gave up on the US market when it came to diesels, like everyone else did for a while, I'm confident they know what they are doing.
People said the same thing when the C250 replaced the C300. This is the way the world is going.
People said the same thing when the C250 replaced the C300. This is the way the world is going.
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'14 ML BT
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From: Germantown, MD/Rehoboth Beach, DE
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There wasn't any political motivation behind my statement.
We'll see how you feel about following the crowd when we're paying fuel prices equal to the rest of the world sans the Middle East.
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
I too believe it is a horrific mistake on a luxury vehicle this heavy, but isn't this the engine they put into the Sprinter van? I don't think the ML should sound or perform like a commercial cargo van, but if the ML 250 turns out to be a Dog, the way to go would be a ML 400..
Last edited by Barry45RPM; Aug 19, 2014 at 09:20 AM.
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From: Germantown, MD/Rehoboth Beach, DE
2024 GLS450
Same family, but the Sprinter gets the 161HP version with 265 ft/lb torque. The ML250 will get the 195HP version with 369 ft/lb torque, same as in the GLK250 and E250.
It's very quiet in the E, and when audible is more of a slightly nasal sounding rumble than anything else. I'd imagine it will be the same or quieter in the ML.
It's very quiet in the E, and when audible is more of a slightly nasal sounding rumble than anything else. I'd imagine it will be the same or quieter in the ML.
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'14 ML BT
I believe that you didn't do it intentionally, and it's why I only ascribed a "/politics" to my own comment.
Okay, that's political 
, it's all about taxes, US fuel taxes are lower than the RoW, the actual cost of fuel to refiners is within pennies worldwide.
With apologies to all for climbing on a political soapbox, if the US had any cogent national energy policy for the past 35 years, we wouldn't need to follow the weak policies created by the "rest of the world".
"Give me horsepower or give me d...." wait, should it be "give me torque, or give me death?
It d*** sure isn't "give me mileage or give me death".
, it's all about taxes, US fuel taxes are lower than the RoW, the actual cost of fuel to refiners is within pennies worldwide.With apologies to all for climbing on a political soapbox, if the US had any cogent national energy policy for the past 35 years, we wouldn't need to follow the weak policies created by the "rest of the world".
"Give me horsepower or give me d...." wait, should it be "give me torque, or give me death?
It d*** sure isn't "give me mileage or give me death".
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2013 ML550: Paladium Silver, Brown Satin Ash
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From: Atlanta, GA USA
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BMW doesn't seem to worry about EPA rules. I expect what's likely going to happen is that everyone who wants a Luxury SUV with decent diesel engine performance are going to forget about the 4-cylinder ML250 and go with the more powerful 6-cylinder X5 xDrive35d.
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From: Germantown, MD/Rehoboth Beach, DE
2024 GLS450
I stopped by my dealer tonight and worked up some numbers on an ML250, and also drove both a 2015 ML350 and their last remaining 2014 ML350BTC.
Both were quite nice to drive - I definitely preferred the Bluetec though. I can't stand how the V6 in the gas 350 sounds, and the torque made it a much more pleasant drive.
My dealer is supposed to get their first 250s in around 9/30. That just happens to be my birthday - I have a feeling I've figured what I'm getting myself for turning 32.
Both were quite nice to drive - I definitely preferred the Bluetec though. I can't stand how the V6 in the gas 350 sounds, and the torque made it a much more pleasant drive.
My dealer is supposed to get their first 250s in around 9/30. That just happens to be my birthday - I have a feeling I've figured what I'm getting myself for turning 32.
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'14 ML BT
There's plenty of time in life (statistically) for an MB SUV!
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From: Germantown, MD/Rehoboth Beach, DE
2024 GLS450
Haha, planning to buy a house and a boat in the next couple of years - I need some practicality in my life, plus I'm ready for a bit of a softer ride.
Last edited by MDMercedesGuy; Aug 20, 2014 at 10:00 AM.
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I am excited to see what the next generation Audi Q7 is suppose to look like next year. It will loose about 800 lbs and become lower and more wider. Yes I do agree that the Q7 TDI even with 20 inch rims are smooth and comfortable. We have 2 of them in our extended family. Enough power and a 600 plus cruising range.
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From: NJ
C240 2003, BMW X5d 2015
I am excited to see what the next generation Audi Q7 is suppose to look like next year. It will loose about 800 lbs and become lower and more wider. Yes I do agree that the Q7 TDI even with 20 inch rims are smooth and comfortable. We have 2 of them in our extended family. Enough power and a 600 plus cruising range.
new Audi Q7
new MB GLK (larger)
Refresh of the ML with new interior
More choices next year and we'll have better insight to the performance of the ML 250. If I had to make a choice now it would be the BMW X5 diesel.
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2013 ml bluetec 2013 ml63 2009 gl550
Rip 350 bluetec
I lease a 2013 ml bluetec. It is an awesome car. I am so disappointed to see that I won't be able replace it. The other four German brands offer three liter turbocharged diesels. I suspect that Mercedes thinks that with the 9 speed coming with the 2016 models they feel that the four cylinder will do the job.
The alternative will be the ml400, and they discuss the broad tongue curve starting at low RPMs. It's horsepower is in line with Audi's gas six.
I like the fact that it takes 10% less crude to produce a gallon of diesel than a gallon of gasoline.
I also enjoy torque. The 455 foot pounds is the other reason I bought this car. It is powerful and gets 25 mpg all day.
I get the reason for the 250. I am just asking as a buyer of a premium brand please continue to offer the 3 liter in the us.
All I can say to Mercedes marketing is that if the offered the ml 3 liter bluetec with the 9 speed in 2016, sign me up. I don't need to look elsewhere. If not the I will have to test drive the new Q7 TDI as well as the Cayenne TDI, before I make my decision.
The alternative will be the ml400, and they discuss the broad tongue curve starting at low RPMs. It's horsepower is in line with Audi's gas six.
I like the fact that it takes 10% less crude to produce a gallon of diesel than a gallon of gasoline.
I also enjoy torque. The 455 foot pounds is the other reason I bought this car. It is powerful and gets 25 mpg all day.
I get the reason for the 250. I am just asking as a buyer of a premium brand please continue to offer the 3 liter in the us.
All I can say to Mercedes marketing is that if the offered the ml 3 liter bluetec with the 9 speed in 2016, sign me up. I don't need to look elsewhere. If not the I will have to test drive the new Q7 TDI as well as the Cayenne TDI, before I make my decision.
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2008 ML 320 CDI
I bought a 350BT last month for the same reason. MB must have some market research suggesting there is an unserved market for value conscious, luxury brand customers looking primarily for fuel economy at the expense of performance. I'm not one of them, but MB must think they're out there. It's probably the same crowd that buys the Lexus hybrids.
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From: NJ
C240 2003, BMW X5d 2015
Wise Move. I was at the dealer yesterday. One member said, yes, there will be a ML 350 Bluetec. Other said, no there will not be. First man went back to the web site and said, it is not showing any diesels, this 9-4-2013. A check on the web site this A.M. shows the 350/400 gasoline. ML350 Bluetec marketed still in Au and Canada. The Mercedes manager said: why would they ship one across the country to Canada from Vance and not sell it in the USA. One might suggest that managerial staff is wondering was haben wir hier? Stupid move to totally ablate the V-6 diesel in the USA. The 4 cylinder is not about pure speed, but it is about sluggishness. The proposed 250 will be a DEAL BREAKER as is the Start Stop. Will have to go back to a 4Runner and save $15,000
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From: Alberta, Canada
ml350 bluetec
I just came back from Finland, Helsinki to be exact, where I met a fellow 350BT owner who stated he gets 61 miles to the gallon (US). He stated, yes the 350BT runs much leaner than North American BT's, but they don't meet European pollution guidelines, which is why the BT is going to 250BT.
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From: Horseheads, NY
2014 ML350 BT, 2016 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon HR, 2012 GMC Sierra Denali HD Duramax
I just came back from Finland, Helsinki to be exact, where I met a fellow 350BT owner who stated he gets 61 miles to the gallon (US). He stated, yes the 350BT runs much leaner than North American BT's, but they don't meet European pollution guidelines, which is why the BT is going to 250BT.
