MB Diesel Emissons Probe Uncovers Defeat Device

[tjts1]

Investigators have found what could be illegal software modifications on Mercedes-Benz diesels intended to help the vehicles pass emissions testing. An engine management function called Slipguard recognized whether the car was undergoing testing procedures while another, called Bit 15, halted emissions cleaning after roughly 16 miles of driving. Together, the two pieces of software may amount to what is known within the industry as a “defeat device.”

When paired the software apparently enabled the cars to produce NOx levels up to 10 times higher than what is legally permitted. Interestingly, Mercedes-Benz issued a voluntary recall upon roughly 3 million European cars last month to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by tweaking their electronic control units.

German media outlet Bild am Sonntag, has also cited confidential emails between Mercedes’ engineers that questioned whether the software functions were legal to use. Daimler has been under pressure in the diesel exhaust scandal for some time. Stuttgart prosecutors and the U.S. Department of Justice have both been investigating the issue since the spring of 2017.

Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche has repeatedly emphasized, since the outbreak of Volkswagen’s diesel sandal over two years ago, that vehicles from Mercedes-Benz had not and would not be manipulated.

U.S. Diesel Probe Uncovers Possible Defeat Device from Mercedes-Benz

[vstech]

Oh just great..

[torsionbar]

Oh yeah, these defeat devices are popping up everywhere these days. I found one the other day on a '77 240d. Pretty sure my uncle's '83 Rabbit diesel had one too. Stay vigilant fellow peachers.

[chsu74]

The Obama administration was more environmentally conscious. As much as I want similar benefit of a VW diesel settlement with my GL320, I am not sure there will be one with this current administration slashing EPA budget down into the ground.

[torsionbar]

Originally Posted by chsu74

The Obama administration was more environmentally conscious. As much as I want similar benefit of a VW diesel settlement with my GL320, I am not sure there will be one with this current administration slashing EPA budget down into the ground.

What was Obama's carbon footprint as he was drone-bombing seven sovereign nations at once? Good thing he gave hundreds of millions in tax payer dollars to his buddies at Solyndra and A123 battery, they sure saved the Earth, didn't they? Where is Al Gore when you need him, at least he figured out how to get rich quick, monetizing and selling his global warming.

[tjts1]

Originally Posted by chsu74

The Obama administration was more environmentally conscious. As much as I want similar benefit of a VW diesel settlement with my GL320, I am not sure there will be one with this current administration slashing EPA budget down into the ground.

Don't give up so fast. After all, Mercedes Benz is still a German company and we're all aware of the Orange Twat's love of "Murica first" BS. Maybe a diesel emissions tax deduction is coming your way in 2019.

Originally Posted by torsionbar

What was Obama's carbon footprint as he was drone-bombing seven sovereign nations at once? Good thing he gave hundreds of millions in tax payer dollars to his buddies at Solyndra and A123 battery, they sure saved the Earth, didn't they? Where is Al Gore when you need him, at least he figured out how to get rich quick, monetizing and selling his global warming.

I found the Trumptard LOL

[okyoureabeast]

Originally Posted by tjts1

I found the Trumptard LOL

[chsu74]

Originally Posted by tjts1

Don't give up so fast. After all, Mercedes Benz is still a German company and we're all aware of the Orange Twat's love of "Murica first" BS. Maybe a diesel emissions tax deduction is coming your way in 2019.

I would like that since I benefited from the VW claim. Don’t think I will be that lucky again though..

There are different factors at play with Mercedes. The Alabama Mercedes plant employs double number of workers compared to the VW plant in TN. Its a good bargaining chip for Mercedes.

We did not see much of anything levied on Fiat/Chrysler diesels other than a few months of stop sale. Not much happened to Bosch ECU programs in Ford trucks either.

[tjts1]

Originally Posted by chsu74

I would like that since I benefited from the VW claim. Don’t think I will be that lucky again though..

There are different factors at play with Mercedes. The Alabama Mercedes plant employs double number of workers compared to the VW plant in TN. Its a good bargaining chip for Mercedes.

We did not see much of anything levied on Fiat/Chrysler diesels other than a few months of stop sale. Not much happened to Bosch ECU programs in Ford trucks either.

The big difference between FCP and VW is FCA didn't comit obstruction of justice. Also their defeat device wasn't nearly as obvious, they still had plausible deniability. VW was a blatant cheat. From this article MB's cheat looks just as blatant. The best thing they can do now is to come clean ASAP. Lets see if they're smart enough to do that. As of right now there are ZERO MB diesel car sales in the US and this hush hush investigation is probably the reason.

[BillGrissom]

I am sure mine is a minority opinion, but I think terming it "cheating" is too harsh. "Creative" might be closer, though a bit cynical. These companies are engaged in the game called "capitalism" and we applaud the winners. They simply interpreted the rules as leniently as possible. One should blame the EPA for not writing more restrictive rules. The EPA is trying to apply an after-the-fact judgment via shaming. The U.S. Constitution protects from such ex post facto judgments, so I am surprised they settled so easily.

I think it would have been worse had these manufacturers manipulated lawmakers thru lobbying legislators, as has commonly been done. An example is that large trucks, like a Ford F-350, have much looser emissions requirements, even when bought for residential use by men who think wasting fuel can compensate for unfavorable biology. Congress wanted to avoid "impacting industry" when they set the laws. The quintessential family vehicle, the minivan, can pollute more than a sedan using the same engine because it is classed as a "truck".

[Mxfrank]

Originally Posted by BillGrissom

I am sure mine is a minority opinion, but I think terming it "cheating" is too harsh. "Creative" might be closer, though a bit cynical. These companies are engaged in the game called "capitalism" and we applaud the winners. They simply interpreted the rules as leniently as possible. One should blame the EPA for not writing more restrictive rules. The EPA is trying to apply an after-the-fact judgment via shaming. The U.S. Constitution protects from such ex post facto judgments, so I am surprised they settled so easily.

Nonsense. The rules are clear, but the testing processes are standardized and repeatable. So the manufacturers have learned how to program the control systems to pass a standard test and nothing more. It doesn't even pay lip service to the law, it just creates fake results. The EPA isn't rendering "ex post facto judgement", it's simply discovering the fraud a bit late. If the EPA still has a nickle of funding, then the next step would be to augment the standard testing procedure with randomized over the road trials. If Mercedes has actually done this, it's best bet would be to recall the cars and reprogram their emissions systems or buy them back. Because that's what's going to happen.

[mbolton1990]

Sad to witness the end of diesel cars in the USA.
Really a shame, so we're basically the only place in the world where you can't get any new Euro diesels? Time to pack it up guys, lol

http://www.nydailynews.com/amp/autos/news/mercedes-benz-to-stop-u-s-diesel-engine-production-report-article-1.3771565

[Father Of Giants]

Originally Posted by mbolton1990

Sad to witness the end of diesel cars in the USA.
Really a shame, so we're basically the only place in the world where you can't get any new Euro diesels? Time to pack it up guys, lol

Mercedes-Benz drops diesel engines in U.S. due to low demand - NY Daily News

Looks like it's time to keep my 300SDL permanently, I actually thought about selling it on Peach parts (I know how cruel).

Time to restore it and cherish these old cars, they're the last of they're breed.

[Bengoshi2000]

Originally Posted by tjts1

U.S. Diesel Probe Uncovers Possible Defeat Device from Mercedes-Benz

THIS is why we can't have nice things...

[vstech]

... or be like me and start a collection of them...