When is the V6 diesel coming out? According to Edmunds the '06 CDI still has the inline 6... 201 hp @ 4200 rpm, 369 ft-lbs. @ 1800 rpm. That's some serious diesel power! As to reliability, only time will tell, but I've read some reports of the engine going into protection mode for no good reason and the dealer not being able to fix it. I also remember there was one instance on this message board of someone having a lemon CDI and having it bought back by DC. But these seem to be isolated cases rather than the norm. Still, the CDI most likely isn't a home-mechanic-friendly car. My TDI on the other hand is still fairly intuitive to work on even though it has comparable technology, though with fewer electronics.

dieselmania, have you considered a '98 or '99 E300? They seem to be good, powerful cars, but you do need to watch out for those spring perches and fuel leaks.

__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

exactly.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

So far, (only about two months) I have been very pleased with my 1995 E300D.

Quoting from Wikipedia : "The W124 was a substantial, sporty mid-sized luxury vehicle platform, the last in a long line of "money-no-object" Mercedes saloons and was the result of extensive development." (emphasis added)

From the maintenance records, it appears that the A/C has already been repaired by the previous owner.

Compared to my 1982 240D manual transmission, it is a real powerhouse, and I could not imagine needing any more power. I am keeping the 240D though, because of its robust simplicity. It may last longer that either of my other two Mercedes.

George

1982 240D 200,000 miles
1995 E300D 138,000 miles
2000 ML320 66,000 miles

My Sister owns both an 05 E320 and an 06 E320cdi....from a standing start they feel about the same but from any rolling speed the cdi feels like it has more motor as you do not have to rev it like the gasser. I think they made the gasser a 3.5 in 06 to keep it a step ahead of the diesel.


I will kepp my 126 diesel over a cdi for everyday use.

__________________
82 300D....went to MB heaven
90 350 SDL....excercising con rods

2007 is when the "bluetech" with the V6 diesel is coming out afaik. Nice engine, updated front bumper and some trim for the 07 model year.

If you read any of the forums that have a lot of new car owners most seem to be happy. The new W221 seems to be very trouble free.

Besides its got a warranty whats the problem?

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

A customer just traded in their '06 with 1040 MILES. The elderly wife was imtimidated by the diesel pumps!! Take it home or sell it? Hmmmm...

__________________
Over 21 years I owned several:
w108
w110
w111
w115
w116
w123
w124
w126
w212

[QUOTE=andmoon]My Sister owns both an 05 E320 and an 06 E320cdi....from a standing start they feel about the same but from any rolling speed the cdi feels like it has more motor as you do not have to rev it like the gasser. [QUOTE]

The CDI pulls like a freight train on NOS going downhill when you step on it on the highway. I was "merging" onto I-85 and hit ~80 before I knew it...

PS: The A/C was on!!!!

__________________
Over 21 years I owned several:
w108
w110
w111
w115
w116
w123
w124
w126
w212

Nice. That car would look nice in your driveway, wouldn't it?

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

yes you can the fellows at greasecar converted one earlier this year/

http://www.greasecar.com/profile.cfm?profileID=81

The biggest thing that scares me on the 05-06's is the SBC braking system along with the numerous electronic glitches that the w211's are known to have.

__________________
2005 SL65
1999 E300
1995 E300
1994 SL320
1988 560SL
1987 300TD
1982 300D
1955 300SL

i frequent the greasecar forum, he owns his own wendy's and uses that oil to fuel his E320 CDI. He said he has been running on wvo trouble free so far.

__________________
Current:
05 E320 CDI
07 GL320 CDI
08 Sprinter
05 Dodge Cummins
01 Dodge Cummins

Previous
2004 E55 AMG
2002 C32 AMG (#2)
1995 E300
1978 300D
1987 300D
2002 C32 AMG(blown motor :[
1981 300SD
1983 300SD
1987 300SDL
2002 Jetta TDI
1996 S420
1995 S500
1993 190E 2.6
1992 190E 2.3
1985 190E 2.3 5-Speed

I drove a new 320CDI last year at the dealershio where I bought my E300. The salesman insisted that I try it. My wife was concerned because she did not think that I would get out of the car and I had this grin that went from ear to ear. I was very impressed with the take off power from a dead stop. If had one of those I would get in serious trouble because I would be out looking for gassers to out run. What a thing to explain in court.
My youngest had a friend over a few nights ago and when I took him home he was amazed at what my E300 could do when I told him that I was only a three liter engine.

I would be worried about warranty claims if you ran anything other then diesel. If something breaks and the dealer finds out, that nice factory warranty may go away.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

In my owners manual it says you can run the car of kerosene, and I believe you can run the Mercedes E320 CDI's on B20 which is factory approved.

__________________
2005 SL65
1999 E300
1995 E300
1994 SL320
1988 560SL
1987 300TD
1982 300D
1955 300SL

Surely not pure kerosene. In my manuals I believe it says up to 50% to lower the gel point. But there are additives nowadays for that purpose and that's a much easier solution that finding gallons of kerosene somewhere.

__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

Diesel #1 is kerosene

__________________
2005 SL65
1999 E300
1995 E300
1994 SL320
1988 560SL
1987 300TD
1982 300D
1955 300SL