'06 I6 CDI vs '07 V6 CDI-Which Is Better?
 

I'm considering buying either an '06 E320 CDI or an '07 E320 CDI. The '06 has the inline 6 and the '07 the new Bluetec V-6. I would certainly appreciate any comments regarding the differences in mileage/smoothness/reliability/experiences between these two engines. Also, does the '06 CDI have the 7 speed automatic transmission? I believe the '07 CDI comes with the 7 speed trans. THANKS for all your input!!!

Inline is always better.

X2 - that's what I have always found in diesels in general, but not familular with either of those . . .

The 06 has the 5spd 722.6 trans and SBC brake system. MB has warrantied SBC for 10 yrs from date put in service due to problems. Proven I6 CDI engine and trans.

The 07 should have the 7spd 722.9 trans and SBC was dropped. New V6 engine design; not AdBlue. Many internal components designed to be repalced in pairs. Dot 9 trans had some early issues (04?) but seems reliable now.

I've been looking mainly at 06's myself, although would take an 07 if the right deal came along. No exprience concerning the driving differences.

I've driven both. Both are very smooth, but the V6 is quieter. The I6 has quite a bit of diesel injection rattle at around 1500RPM - it is noisier than the old OM606, for example. The V6 is almost completely silent at all RPM and throttle settings - noone would ever guess it is diesel. Power and fuel economy are about the same.

No idea whether one is more reliable than the other. Haven't seen any discussion here of problems on either. Personally, I'd purchase whichever one I found in my favorite color, or had the lowest mileage, or whatever it is that turns your crank on a used car.

I bet they are both equally durable.....MB does know what they are doing......but I bet the inline engine is easier to work on.

Wasn't the V6 the first model to have the urea injection? Might be something to consider not having to worry about with the "06 and earlier models.

What I've read about the OM642 equipped 2007 E320 CDI is the engine, like many of the new Mercedes gas motors, is they are built in Modular pieces to save on manufacturing cost. If you damage the valve cover, you will need to replace the whole cylinder head because the valve cover is an integral part of the head assembly and have the cam bores machined to them. You damage the valve cover, your going to have to pay for a $4,000-plus head assembly.

The 2006 E320 CDI's OM648 has it's roots with the 603 and 606. My buddy has a 2005 and I like the car a lot. I've driven it a few times. Great power. My only grip is the exterior styling is kind of bland for me.

I wouldn't doubt the durability between the two, but if you were going to keep it for a long term vehicle, I would think you might want to consider the 2006 for the long term maintenance cost that would be more economical. But if it is the Bells and whistles that your after, then that is a different story.

07 def is not AdBlue (urea). I believe 2010 will be the first year in the E Class, but don't quote me. ML's and other models got it earlier. Pretty sure in the E you also will get run flat tires and no spare in 2010.

your thinking of the 07-present E320 BlueTec. The CDI has no urea injection;)

That is incorrect. 07 -09 in the US are positively NOT urea injected in the E Class. Others models yes, E's no.

yeah they are but only the E320 Bluetec!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"the E320 drops the CDI suffix in favor of Bluetec. Bluetec refers to AdBlue, the nice name Mercedes gives to the urea-based liquid additive that helps the Bluetec diesel achieve ultralow emissions."

I presume this means you will always have to buy run-flat replacement tires, which probably cost an arm and a leg, since you have no spare.

Then again, in ten years or so all tires will be run-flat and we'll laugh at the old farts who still carry a spare.

[QUOTE=TMAllison;2217999]The 06 has the SBC brake system. MB has warrantied SBC for 10 yrs from date put in service due to problems.

The 07 should have the 7spd 722.9 trans and SBC was dropped. QUOTE]

Is it practical to upgrade the 06 SBC brake system to the 07 design? What would be involved?

[QUOTE=Cr from Texas;2218459]Somehow i dont think swapping those trannies would be a straight forward job at all. There is a awful lot of electronics nowadays to these babies.:eek:

I don't figure they'd put the "BLUETEC" label on the trunk badge of truth if it didn't have urea injection. And so there's definitely E320 bluetecs in the states.

Since I'm not a fan of "so quiet you can't tell it's a diesel" and not a fan of urea injection and not a fan of any additional electronic complications, I'd go for the CDI instead of the newer model every time. But that's just me.

I tend to suspect older models are almost in every case more long-term "million miles" capable than the next replacement will be. Another point in favor of the older design to me but others have complete confidence in the new stuff.

i couldn't agree more, plus you can get a cdi with 50,000 miles or so dirt cheap:cool:

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ctd/1207483187.html

http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/ctd/1196728212.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/1208762734.html

[QUOTE=Cr from Texas;2218459]Read again, the question is about updating the brake system from the troublesome SBC to a non SBC system.

For like the 5th time, there are NO E320 Bluetec's in the USA with AdBlue (urea injection) up through the 09 model year. Zip, Nada, Nein.

That does not mean there aren't E320 Bluetecs WITHOUT AdBlue available.

There are GL, ML and R320 Bluetecs WITH AdBlue in the US that have been avail for a year or two. NO E's.

I would guess that getting rid of SBC would be a hardware and software nightmare.

I hate to say this but you sir are retarded. Go ask the dealer thats nearest to you ;) the late 07-08-09 E320 Blutec DOES have Adblue urea injection i know this because 1. i have a brain. and 2. my buddy has a 2008 E320 Bluetec and when the dealer services it under warranty they fill the car with urea!!!!!!!!!:eek: face it your wrong:P:o;)

I'm pretty sure all of us have a brain.

AdBlue hasn't been used in the 211 yet, at least in the US. The technology has been in development for a few years. I did a little research and it looks like MB will use the AdBlue system in the W212 when it's released here later this year.

To meet Bin 5 standards, it has to use AdBlue. The 2009 does not use AdBlue is only Bin 8 compliant, according to MBUSA.

And from another page from a quick Google search:

Tis not I that is the village idiot........

Mercedes introduced AdBlue in the Fall of 2008. The SUV's R 320 BlueTEC, ML 320 BlueTEC and GL 320 BlueTEC are the first first diesel models with AdBlue injection.

The rest of the BlueTEC line up still had NAC+SCR were only 45 state legal.


Here is a piece on how BlueTEC works.

Which is better? Who knows.

But all things being equal as possible, I would be a buyer of an '06 CDI. Because of the I-6 configuration. I would wait for the lowest mileage southern or southwestern state '06 CDI that I could find.

opp's i f*cked up, wow i feel mega retarded:p anyway my votes on the real diesel(06 I6 CDi)

Thanks for all the input, everybody. I really didn't mean to start a major argument. I appreciate all the positive input. I will discuss all this with my MBZ mechanic. As always, THEY are the ones who see these cars on a frequent basis and know the good and bad.

Some of us can blame "senior moment" to this type of issue.
Anyway, I would have already bought an 06 CDI but I'm concerned about the braking system. From what I've read, these can be dangerous to do DIY work on.

Although a weak system, it is not so bad to work on. You need to put the system to sleep frist as the pump cycles on and off in anticipation of needing to be used. Close doors, leave alone for 20 minutes and do not open doors or insert key until brake service is completed.

Confirm procedure before using as I am stating that from memory and could be forgetting a step.......

Mom has a 07 Jeep grand cherokee with the Merc v6 3.0l diesl i must say it is phenominal at towing. I test drove the I6 vs the V6 diesesls side by side when the v6 first came out and the V6 is much faster or at least it feels that way. I vote I6 for simplicity but if you have the money i wouldn't hesitate for the V6. Remember VW, Audi, Jeep are all using versions of the V6 diesel engine now, parts shouldn't be too hard to come by in the distant future.

If I recall correctly from reading info outside this forum, the 2007 model was not urea injected, but 2008 and newer are, but I could be wrong. Does it really matter anyway?

I agree generally what's been said here about the comparison. I've driven a number of CDI's and an 09 Bluetec. Power wise they seemed about the same. I did like the idle sound of the Bluetec better though. No doubt it's still a diesel (to a knowledgeable ear), but it sounds a lot smoother than the older I6. I didn't have any problems with the 7-speed transmission either. If you don't pay attention, you really can't tell if you have 5 or 7 gears. But no doubt the I6 would be easier to work on. However the glow plugs are still known to break off in that engine. I don't know about the V6 if it still has those fragile glow plugs. Anybody know? And needless to say the Bluetec is much cleaner which means no exhaust smell whatsoever. The older CDI's and TDI's you can still smell them, though it's not too bad and it's a chemical smell rather than a "smoky" smell.

Not certain what part of this is misunderstood....No production W211 BlueTec made for the USA has been, nor ever will be, urea injected. Period.

W212's in 2010 will be the first E's that receive AdBlue in the US.

We understood you perfectly. We just question what you said. It appears you are wrong. Check out these two links which state the E-class urea injection started with the 2008 model, just like I said.

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_0806_mercedes_benz_e320_bluetec_first_test/index.html
http://www.egmcartech.com/2007/10/01/review-2007-mercedes-e320-bluetec-blue-is-the-new-green/

If you have some links that tell otherwise, I'd like to see them.

Here's a thought for the doubters......Go to the source.....Click on the engine link. Read it. Then read the asterisk (*) text below that states it is not 50 state emission legal. Why is that?

http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/#/vehiclesMenu/explorePerformance/?vc=E&vmf=E320BTC&yr=2009

Now do the same for the GL and note it is 50 state legal AND includes the statement that it uses AdBlue tech......

http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/#/vehiclesMenu/explorePerformance/?vc=GL&vmf=GL320BTC&yr=2009

You've found two older articles from a time that MB was "planning" to introduce AdBlue to the E class. I'm certain you can find many more which will be equally incorrect and that won't change the fact that the W211 in the USA will never be imported with a BlueTec engine utilizing AdBlue for teh obvious reason that it is out of production after 09.

*edit*
the astericked text on MBUSA's webpage apparently is not part of the page when linked, nor is it able to be copied and pasted. You'll have to go there and navigate to each page to view the differences in text.

I tried to get to the source, but Mozilla doesn't display the MBUSA site correctly. I can't view your links either. But I believe you now and it agrees with what I found on fueleconomy.gov. There I see the 2008 E-class Bluetec's emissions are rated as Bin 8. Yeah, that's not good enough for CA. Thanks, I learned something today.

This is an interesting marketing statement from the link on the MBUSA website.


Can they really say that? I'm seeing false advertising, unless someone proves me wrong.:rolleyes:


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http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1244512973





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If I were a Mercedes lawyer, I'd say that it was a misinterpretation of the statement. I'd say that I didn't mean I invented the diesel engine, I just invented "the diesel engine that we're talking about at the moment."

MB was also the first one to use a diesel in a passenger car, IIRC.

I disagree. Your "Mercedes lawyer," wouldn't have a prayer.

MB's statement is crystal clear. They either did, or didn't, invent the diesel engine.

They are wide-open for a lawsuit and it's associated judgement, if in fact they did not "invent the diesel engine."

Same category as Algore's personal claim to; "inventing the Internet." LMAO! -Which BTW, he did not "invent the Internet," if there is anyone left on Earth who still believes gore.......

Agreed.

How about this idea. We should all join in a class action lawsuit that if we prevail , they can pay us in free BlueTEC vehicles. :eek::D J.K.