Mike5215

And the other BlueTec models.

The suit claims that under 50 degrees the system that mitigates emissions shuts off to preserve power and emits up to 65 X the permissible pollutants. I don't really care about the extra emissions but if it sticks it'll bury S350 resale values. Anyone else heard about this?

KNBS550

Are you saying that Mercedes 'cheated' with their Bluetec diesel engines? Here's the story from Bloomberg...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...es-suit-claims

At first glance I'd say there's something to look into, but thinking about it more, even with normal gas engines, NOx emissions are pretty high until the catalytic converter reaches light off temperature. So in reality gasoline engine cars in the first few minutes of operation are gross polluters. If I were Daimler, I would use that argument to ward off any potential misinterpretation of the Bluetec diesel's performance.

Mike5215

I'm not opining on the merits, just asking if anyone had heard of this. Here's the article I saw:

http://www.businesswire.com/news/hom...wsuit-Mercedes

mercedesbenzs55

News to me. Couldn't Mercedes just issue a recall?

Mike5215

I think it's more a lawyer shake down. It's not like the car is programmed to behave differently in tests, it just apparently has higher than stated emissions when cold. I'm not even sure the lead plaintiff has standing. The EPA may have standing, but I can't see the class getting certified in the first place.

BenzV12

When VW "Diesel Gate" burst thru the news , there was some speculation on other major brands including Mercedes-Benz according to car mags I read but what Mike posted seems beyond speculation
Long Live Gasoline Powdered pardon Powered Engines

JDowney

So, if I understand the context of this lawsuit.


The vehicle, only when very cold, exceeds any/all emission regulations, and was marketed wrong because it stated that MB BlueTec was the cleanest and most efficient diesel on earth..


SO, it only takes a few minutes (~ 5 minutes or so) for the vehicle to warm up; then everything is back to normal, and whatever marketing material is out there should be true again or as true as marketing material can be...


So is there a real problem here, or is it just Hurt Feelings about marketing and as Mike states a "Lawyer shake down"... Any thoughts or opinions?


Jeff

DubVBenz

frivolous lawsuit by money grubbing asshat with dollar signs in his eyes. The allegations in the lawsuit aren't even illegal and no agency (european or otherwise) has come to the conclusion that MB is doing the same thing as VW.

steveb9771

The law firm behind this has been sanctioned in the past for frivolous lawsuits.
"Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro will have to pay reasonable fees and expenses for “bad-faith advocacy” in its pursuit of three thalidomide birth-defect cases.

U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond imposed the sanction in a March 9 opinion (PDF), finding that Hagens Berman pursued the cases after the law firm knew they were baseless or time-barred, the Legal Intelligencer reports. The money will have to be paid to Grünenthal GmbH, which is seeking $177,000 in fees."

These firms attempt to file class action lawsuits which result in huge payouts and then take about a third of the payout as their fee. They hope for a $100 million settlement netting $20 million for themselves. It is time for new laws that to place reasonable limits of attorney fees and severe fines and possible disbarment for filing frivolous lawsuits.

tode

I would have thought that it's common knowledge that all engines pollute more when cold . . .