I have to say I find it really hard to justify purchasing a CDI today. The E350 can be had in an '06 for $10K less than a CDI, if not more. The fact that diesel is 30% more than premium gas negates any difference in fuel economy and the fact that the E350 comes in 4Matic whereas the CDI is pure RWD makes me lean in the direction of a E350 4Matic instead. I just saw an '06 with 45K miles, certified from the dealer for around $20K - it was hard to pass up but I resisted. I think better deals will still be coming as things get tougher.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

I think you're right but CDI prices are falling along with everything else. I've seen a number of them listed recently at mid-$20k (and not just ones with high miles). Seems like six months ago they were all near $40k!

They are falling, just not as fast or far as the gas versions. It's simple supply and demand. I'd guess M-B sold at least 10 gassers for every diesel since '05, probably more like 20-30. You can find E350 and E500 models on every dealer lot and on every classified posting area of the country but CDIs and bluetecs are still relatively scarce.

To pay any premium for the diesel model today is unjustifiable (I know this is an unpopular view on this board) but the economics of it just aren't there any more. The CDIs should be selling at parity with the gas models - gassers require no more maintenance than the diesels and last just as long with proper care as their diesel counterparts.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

The cost difference between a diesel and gas (increased MPG) is still significant. Mercedes sees the Diesel motor as its answer to the gas/hybrid powertrain. People pay a significant amount for a Hybrid powertrain (which will have a far longer payback than a diesel). The clean diesels are not about cost savings but rather producing a vehicle that has similar performance to a gas vehicle (unlike a hybrid) but still gets amazing MPG's.

There is no other vehicle on the market that can get mid 30's mpg, RWD, performance etc as the CDI's. Thats the market Mercedes is going after. Most people who buy these cars probably don't cross shop with the gassers.

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

My uncle gets about 22ish around tow, and a CDI would probably get about 30 doing the same stop and go. I'm saying that because my friends E300D will do high 20's, so a CDI is probably going to be a bit better. You only see mid 30's on the open road.

Diesel is about $2.69, I paid 1.99 for Shell V power 93 octane last week, this week I think its $1.89.

So to drive 1k miles at 22mpg you would burn 45.45 gallons at $1.89, so $85.90.

1k miles at 30mpg would be 33.33 gallons at $2.69 so $89.67.

So unless you have to have the diesel, or drive 30k-50k miles a year on the open road, get the gas Mercedes. The diesel will cost more to operate. Now if your buying used and can save $8k+ the gas car is the clear winner.

Mercedes also does not offer AWD on the diesel in this country, which is a huge mistake since most people up here buy these cars with AWD.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

According to the EPA its cheaper to run a diesel vehicle with regard to fuel costs.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/Feg/noframes/21991.shtml

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/Feg/noframes/25977.shtml

Plus resale is much higher than the gasser. Take a look at the w210 diesels vs W210 Gassers, same goes with the w124 diesels vs the w124 gassers. You will recoup the "diesel premium" sooner or later.

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

Well I don't know where they are getting those cheap fuel prices from! For quite awhile diesel has been as much as $1 more a gallon than gas, I don't see that changing anytime soon. But even according to the EPA your only saving about $200 a year on fuel. If you have to pay $8k more to get the CDI well you will never make that back.

If your buying it new and don't have to have AWD than the diesel is a good choice. Better resale and better mileage.

If your buying it used, with the massive price difference than the gas one is cheaper to run.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

If you read the notes it says based upon diesel fuel @ $1.66/Gal and gas at $1.92. Around here premium is about $2 and diesel is still close to $2.70. That's reality not EPA fantasy numbers and with those numbers is it about a wash. This table is closer to reality but still not correct:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/Feg/bymodel/2006_Mercedes-Benz_E-Class.shtml

It is based upon premium at $1.92 and diesel at $2.42 and shows about $170 difference between the CDI and the E350 4Matic. That goes to about zero if you add $.20 to the cost of diesel to reflect what it really is.

Also, the fact that you are starting out paying 20%-30% less for the gas model makes up for the faster depreciation - in other words the car's already depreciated faster and you are tying up less money in a gasser than a CDI.

I have learned that there are people on these boards which for whatever reason will never admit that a diesel car is impractical, but it is today. 25 years ago when gasoline engines required more maintenance and lasted half as long as a diesel and diesel fuel was cheaper than gas it made sense to drive a diesel car. Today none of those conditions exist. The maintenance is about the same, the engines last about as long and diesel is 30% more costly than gas, so why would anyone buy one and actually pay a premium for it, not to mention settle for RWD to boot. But, like I said, we will never convince those who can't have their minds changed.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

I get low 20s around town, without the AC. Basically 23 mpg.

Diesel engines are known to be rugged, delivering high mileage w/o overhauls. That's another reason why I drive 'em. It's the fuel economy aspect too.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

must be a german thing.vw doesn't have 4motion diesels over here either.

We have one in the family (mother) and it's a great car that get fantastic fuel mileage. I'm not sure if the extra money spent on diesel fuel is worth the extra MPG. It's close. My gas 1996 120K E320 gets 26 MPG on the highway.

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Retired NYPD
Retired USMC
Life is good.

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

Does the E350 require premium fuel?

Scott

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

IIRC the last mercedes that ran on regular fuel was built in the early to mid 1970's

Yes, it would.

I agree completely with Marty, I've been driving Diesels for most of the last two decades but I'm done - no real advantage anymore.

Its funny he mentions the 06 E350, I've been looking at these for the last two months and the deals are hard to pass up. 18-20K for a tremendous value for a car with those capabilities.

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98 Dodge-Cummins pickup (137K)
13 GLK250 (157k)
06 E320CDI (341K)
16 C300 (89K)
82 300GD Gelaendewagen (54K)