The E300 is back! Coming to the states in 2012??

[Hatterasguy]

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/16/mercedes-e300-bluetec-diesel-hybrid-could-make-it-to-the-u-s/

Except its no longer the E300D, its now the E300 Bluetec Hybrid!

45mpg is pretty freaken good for an E class! Where do I sign up I'll take one please.

"It combines a latest-generation 2.2-liter four-cylinder diesel good for 204 horsepower with an ultra-sophisticated 20-hp electric motor module. Effective combined torque, however, booms out at 428 pound-feet from way down low in the revs, while estimated miles per gallon in European city/highway combined cycle hits 57.4 mpg at its best. For the EPA cycle, knock that down to a more earthbound 45 mpg or so average in normal driving."

I bet it goes like a scalded dog with that much torque and the 7spd.

[62bhp]

Finally someone has made a diesel hybrid in a road car.

[sjh]

Very impressive car.

Now if it was built to last for a lifetime but those days are gone.

[Since66]

It may be badged as an E300 but it sounds like they've created a hybrid E220CDI, which does run like a scalded dog.

[vahe]

I have a 2011 E350 Bluetec, leased, it is very nice car, everything is automated head to toe, by comparison my E320 feels like a 240D next to the Bluetec.
But, heaven forbid if you have to do any service on this car pass the warranty period, just open the hood and you see what I mean.
Now add another layer of complication to the Bluetec and you will have the hybrid.
Leasing is not cheap, but buying one of these would be insane IMHO.

Vahe

[sjh]

Originally Posted by vahe

I have a 2011 E350 Bluetec, leased, it is very nice car, everything is automated head to toe, by comparison my E320 feels like a 240D next to the Bluetec.
But, heaven forbid if you have to do any service on this car pass the warranty period, just open the hood and you see what I mean.
Now add another layer of complication to the Bluetec and you will have the hybrid.
Leasing is not cheap, but buying one of these would be insane IMHO.

Vahe

Great comments.

The mileage limits of leasing always kills me. I put on greater than 20K a year.

[retmil46]

Normally, for any diesel the EPA would rate at 45 mpg, you could expect close to 50 mpg real world - EPA has ALWAYS underestimated diesel mpg.

But this being a hybrid? Hmmmm.......

Spot on about the added complication part. Why buy one of these new, when you could pick a used '05 CDI, with a beloved inline six, that'll do 40 mpg highway easy?

[Hatterasguy]

Why buy a 6 year old car? I want a new car. I like the W212 more than the W211 too, the W211 is to soft.

You guys are always afraid of anything new, 10 years ago you treated the E300D like a spaceship and the 603 wasn't far behind. Now they are all over the forum and everyone is working on them. Time and technology marches on, people built it so people can fix it.

[martureo]

I'd be really worried about that battery though. I know it's not the same car but I remember my dealer's parts guy telling me they had to replace the battery for the S class hybrid. It was under warranty but the battery alone cost $34k!

[techguy512]

Originally Posted by martureo

I'd be really worried about that battery though. I know it's not the same car but I remember my dealer's parts guy telling me they had to replace the battery for the S class hybrid. It was under warranty but the battery alone cost $34k!

Fear not. Within about 6 years there will be a really high quality aftermarket Chinese battery from Uro for only about $6k. Excellent 30day pro-rated warranty!

[Hatterasguy]

The battery's seem to do fine on all the other hybrids, don't see why they would have an abnormal failure rate on MB.

[engatwork]

It would be neat to have the turbo four cylinder diesel with a 6 speed manual transmission over here.

[Hatterasguy]

Problem is no one buys manuals in this country.

You can get a turbo 4 cylinder gas engine with the stick next year in the C class though. Its the C180 but they are calling it the 220 or something like that.

So, where is the diesel 4matic? At this point I don't really see an advantage of a new diesel (or hybrid diesel) over a new gasser e-class.

[Hatterasguy]

That's a good question I suspect we will be seeing it. MB seems to be pushing diesels hard.

Problem with 4matics is they tend to not do so hot on fuel, my friends C300 4matic rental only did like 26-27 on the highway. Of course that was on 87 octane and we beat it to death, I suspect on 93 it would crack 30.

The diesel hybrid appeals to me because its cool and gets 3x the mileage my truck gets. Filling a 33.5 gallon tank on a 15mpg truck gets old fast.