In that other thread on VW's cheating, renaissanceman linked to the following article:
Mercedes Plans to Phase Out Diesels, Replacing them with Hybrids - autoevolution

Here is the original source, I think:
Hybrids to slowly replace diesels at Mercedes

If their anonymous MB Product Planner is correct, this is rather sad news to me.


(vstech- sorry for the non-technical thread, but I hope you don't mind the rare exception)

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1968 220D, w115, /8, OM615, Automatic transmission.
My 1987 300TD wagon was sold and my 2003 W210 E320 wagon was totaled (sheds tear).

Well the diesels made today I imagine will have very little interest to us in the years to come. There's just too many things done for the sake of performance and emissions that make the car infinitely more complicated. What totally killed it for me is the elimination of a spare tire on all Mercedes diesel models to accommodate an ad blue urea tank for emissions. Also the cars will quit running if they believe the tank is empty.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

We own a GLK250 and although I do agree with you about increasing complexity, it is still by far the best performing and economical diesel I have driven. I imagine an E250 would be better yet.

It's not just diesels that have become overly complicated. An electric car with a small on-board generator to charge batteries seems like quite a good option. Power generation plants will still pollute, but at least not in densely populated areas.

BTW, The lack of spare is not such a big deal - But I did buy a compact spare and do take it with us on long road trips (along with cell phone )

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

Cleaning up diesel exhaust is getting more expensive every year while hybrid batteries, motors and controllers are getting cheaper. Many european cities are setting up zero emissions zones where you won't be allowed to enter with an internal combustion running. You'll need an EV or plug in hybrid. Paris and London are banning diesels outright.

Knowing all this, it would be stupid for MB (cough VW cough) to keep pretending diesel is a "clean" technology that can compete with electrification. It used to be that Euro market was dominated by diesels while hybrids and EVs were predominantly a US and Asian phenomenon. That's changing now and the TDI scandal will only serve to speed things along.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

I agree that electrics will win in the end. Soon they will be dominating 1/4-mile tracks since controlling traction at each wheel is the most important thing. Magnet and battery technology is still fairly primitive and there could be break-thru advances. Piston engines have made remarkable strides, but they are now clawing for that last 5% improvement. Another benefit of electrics is that they can recharge at night when power plants have surplus capacity, and thus help flatten the load, decreasing the need for gas turbine peak load plants.

I haven't gone electric since they don't pencil-in for me yet. If I lived in San Francisco with short drives and many hills, they would be perfect, plus they let you use the carpool lanes, which is why you see so many in the Bay Area.

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1984 & 1985 CA 300D's
1964 & 65 Mopar's - Valiant, Dart, Newport
1996 & 2002 Chrysler minivans

I would love an MB electric car once the technology reaches a point where it can compete one on one with traditional vehicles, its rapidly getting there....think of how far they've come in the last 5-10 years! In another 5ish years electric and hybrid will probably be so good it will be hard to argue with, especially from an ownership/economics perspective.

For now I am fixing up my 190d and plan to keep it on the road a good long while, as well as probably acquiring another diesel in the 1998 through 2007 range. Think of how many ancient carb-engine vehicles are still on the road, it will take ages for diesels and all other combustion engines to be phased to a minority.

MB also has their newer gas engines which are direct injection and turbo....they can achieve near diesel like performance in torque and power, while running quieter and cleaner with much simpler emissions systems.....one example is the M274 engine powering the upcoming Metris vans and existing c-class....its a pretty impressive powerplant.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Its sad hybrids, battery and fuel cell electric cars are the future. Diesel will still have niche applications but the traditional IC engine will be gone on passenger cars in a generation or two. That being said Mercedes diesels will likely be around for as long as I'm interested in them

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My Daily : 96 E-300 Diesel with 195,000 miles
Retired: 92 300D 2.5 T 345K miles and for sale
Retired: 95 E320 157K miles and currently parked with blown engine

Both retired cars are for sale as is my w124 shop inventory

Old news...

Old School Electric: Mercedes Developed W123 PHEV...in 1982 | TechnologyTell

But would be fun to see someone revise the w123 wagon with modern electronics...

Time will tell......but I'd consider any hybrid. However, like our MB diesels, I'd like to have the perspective of time on any model - to buy into one. Not just jump in at retail, without some running history in that model's performance 360*.

It would be kind of neat to have an old Mercedes converted to electric. And while diesel cars may be on their way out of production, I would think that diesel as a fuel will probably outlast gasoline.


Mercedes also experimented with these back in the late 80s and early 90s:
Mercedes shows off their early EV prototypes | Wcf news | Motor1.com

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