Got this off another MB forum:

Mercedes tries diesels again in USA


Dorothée Ostle
Automotive News Europe

Mercedes-Benz will reintroduce diesel engines into its US model lineup with the September launch of the new E class.

"We had 400,000 very happy American customers [for our diesels] in the late 1980s and early '90s," said Jürgen Hubbert, DaimlerChrysler board member for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, Maybach and Smart. "They want us to come back with a diesel. And we will do so."

A limited number of the E270 CDi will be offered in 45 of 50 American states as Mercedes-Benz gauges consumer reaction.

"We are prepared to react very flexibly," Hubbert said. "If customers want it, we can immediately offer a bigger choice and also the M class and the S class with great diesel engines."

Mercedes-Benz won't offer diesels in five states, he said. Emission regulations prevent diesel cars from being sold in California and four other states that have adopted clean-air standards.

The biggest difficulty will be overcoming an American perception of diesel engines as smelly, noisy and unreliable.

"The new common-rail diesel engines have nothing in common with what American drivers might associate with former diesels," Hubbert said. "They are powerful, sporty, agile, and offer an enormous amount of torque."

Even more torque and power will be offered on AMG diesel versions, currently under development at the Mercedes-Benz tuning specialist.

"Soon we'll have some race diesels by AMG," Hubbert said. But he would not say which models will get the special engines.

Worldwide, Mercedes-Benz expects to sell 43 percent of its cars with diesel engines this year. Better fuel economy and cheap diesel prices are the driving factors for diesels in most markets.

But in the USA, diesel and gasoline fuel prices are roughly the same and fuel economy is not a big issue for drivers, Hubbert said. Most existing diesel vehicles have a noticeable fuel odor. Fuel stations either don't sell diesel or do so in a separate area devoted to heavy trucks.

"We know all this doesn't help diesel's re-introduction," Hubbert said. "But we think the American market is ripe for another try."



Info sounds legit to me. They should really import the W203 C270 CDI (comes with the option of a 6-speed manual). That would be such a fun car to have .

But they won't be selling it in California and 4 other states. Damn!

YESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


You can bet that I'll be doing some digging around for more info. I'll need to see what the E cars price range is.

It would be AWESOME to have MB selling new diesels in the US again!

At the same time, I hope it won't drive up the demand for, and prices of, the older models, and the parts for them.


Mike

__________________
_____
1979 300 SD
350,000 miles
_____
1982 300D-gone---sold to a buddy
_____
1985 300TD
270,000 miles
_____
1994 E320
not my favorite, but the wife wanted it

www.myspace.com/mikemover
www.myspace.com/openskystudio
www.myspace.com/speedxband
www.myspace.com/openskyseparators
www.myspace.com/doubledrivemusic

That is awesome.

In Singapore, they use the E220 CDI (W210) with (I think) 5-speed manual transmissions as cabs. Those cars are by no means slow!!

They really move and does not sound like an OM617 at all..

I just can't imagine driving the E320 CDI (which apparently is just as fast as the gas E320...) or the S400 CDI (a diesel that goes to 60 in about 8 secs is pretty cool IMO

I hope one of those 4 other states isn't MA though...

__________________
2008 BMW 335i Coupe

[rant]

NO DIESELS IN CALIFORNIA??!?!?



This from the same group that still doesn't want to put a true crew-cab full-size pickup on the market (yes, I know they have a 4 door Ram now, but it's the same size as a current-day Quad Cab)...who's running their PR and Marketing departments?

Yeesh... 8&^(*&#@$ treehuggers ^%*$^!(

[/rant]

Be nice if they could offer at least one diesel model out here...

__________________
2001 VW Jetta TDI, 5 speed, daily driver
1991 Ford F-350, work in progress
1984 Ford F-250 4x4, 6.9l turbo diesel, 5 speed manual
Previous oilburners: 1980 IH Scout, 1984 E-350, 1985 M-B 300D, 1979 M-B 300SD, 1983 M-B 300D
Spark-free since 1999

What we need to do is this:

Entice all of the environazies into the "state" of california. Then allow those who wish to enjoy life in a free country to move out. Then build a wall not unlike that which seperated East and West Germany for decades. Let them secede from the union. Then cut off all avenues for goods, services, and most importantly power. Then they can live in the third world squalor that they want so much.

In response to Diesel Power,

AMEN. You are SO correct!


Mike

__________________
_____
1979 300 SD
350,000 miles
_____
1982 300D-gone---sold to a buddy
_____
1985 300TD
270,000 miles
_____
1994 E320
not my favorite, but the wife wanted it

www.myspace.com/mikemover
www.myspace.com/openskystudio
www.myspace.com/speedxband
www.myspace.com/openskyseparators
www.myspace.com/doubledrivemusic

This is good news if it is true. I will be ordering one at the first chance.

I am so Happy!!!!
I was getting disapointed by the lack of available 98'-99' 300E Diesels in my area. Now I can sit back wait till a nice 6sp comes along. Thanks MB!

ATLD

my '99 E300 turbodiesel hits 60 in the 8-9 second range...where have you guys been!?

It sure would be cool if these new CDI engines do make their way over. More diesel! more diesel knowledgeable mechanics required, etc. I'm excited.

__________________
2004 Ram 2500 Cummins HO
2000 Jetta TDI
1999 E300 (sold)

This clean air BS is puzzling... New Diesels are extremely clean, cleaner than many domestic gasoline engines--that's for sure.

Coming up soon, it will be possible to purchase a Chrysler minivan in the US with an MB diesel under the hood. This is what I was told a while back by a Chrysler representative when I worked for a Dodge dealer.

Wait, wait... We've got some incredible scenery and trout fishing here. I ain't leaving! But you can't leave me alone with all the enviros! There's got to be a better way. Election for Governor's coming up soon, maybe we'll get the Republican candidate and then we can get the new Diesels. You never know though, last Republican governor signed mandatory helmet law into effect.

__________________
Dave
1995 C280
1999 Triumph Daytona 955I - my speed fix.
1982 300TD - Gone, but not forgotten.

XN6guy

I was also told a while back/ and read in a auto-magazine that MB would start making the diesels for tje Dodge ram pickup. However at the Philly autoshow, I was told by a dodge rep that they still had a 7year contract with Cummins.

-a diesel minivan? Still, what's the fun of having a diesel if the mopar transmassion fails every 30k mi. Did they say MB was going to build the entire drivertrain? I might actually buy it is it was: cheap, MB diesel, and MB manual 6sp.

Just for thought.

ATLD

Although these new Diesels have more power, lower emmisions and lower fuel consumption, we won't be able to fix them ourself. Initial service will only be at MB dealers from $70 to $130 an hour. I try not to purchase a car that is beyond my capability to repair.

So guess I am relegated to the 300SDs and SDLs. I wonder if the CDi will be as reliable as the all iron 300SD?

But I am glad to see MB bringing back Diesels in the US. I thought the Diesels would never be back after the '88 hiatus but they came back then and it looks like they are coming back again now.

P E H