And you will find that MBZ continued with the 210.025 chassis containing the 606.962 diesel engine through at least MY 2001.

So that widely spread story about the 606.962 motor not fitting the body after MY 1999 was just that, a made of story and not true at all!

Wasn't MY 2003 the first year for the new CDI as well as the 211 chassis?

Nope. The CDI was available in the W210 in many places. North America has high-sulfer diesel fuel, and that is the main reason why we don't get the CDI, as well as potential low sales.

MB is bringing the diesel back in CDI form in the W211 E-Class to North American markets. Don't know why they don't try a C-Class diesel. VW sells 50% of their Golf and Jetta line in TDI form. There is a market for a nice compact diesel car.

In Canada, a base C230 or C240 sedan sells in the $40K range. Bring in a C270CDI with no COMAND, manual HVAC controls, etc. and price it at $38,000 and I'll be the first to buy one. With the Jetta TDI running about $32K well equipped, I can't imagine people thingking $6K would be too much of a permium for a Mercedes over a Volkswagon.

__________________
John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/4050/tophat6.gif

Sorry, but false.
The OM606 does not fit in the 2000+ w210. The deck is too high and the new hoods were too low. In everywhere but the
USA, they switched to the new 220, 270, and 320 CDI motors in
the w210. The reason we did not get diesels in 2000-2003
was, when re-tuned to run on US grade hi-sulfer fuel, the engine
could not pass strict emissions standards in most states.
The w211 chassis has allowed engineers to adapt different exhaust catalists and new technologys to compensate for hi-sulfer fuel. When the Clean-Air act goes into effect in 2006 and
we see the hi-grade euro diesel fuel, emissions certifications should be no sweat in all 50 states as the cars will be running as originally designed.
I had a 2000 E320 CDI for a rental car in Antigua last year.
Nice car and much smoother than the older E300's.
It could smoke the tires with out trying.
Dr.D

Appreciate the straight 'skinney' for a change!

To bad MBZ wouldn't send 'em here, as we've had that June 2006 Federally required fuel available now in CA for more than one year.

I actually prefer regular CARB fuel to the ARCO ECD-1 because it has more power (BTUs) and will produce slightly better fuel economy. Something that everyone will have to face up to shortly!

My 'old' style motor doesn't seem to care what it is in its tank, as it runs very well on anything and everything including B-20 (Biotane mixed with the ECD-1), but on that expensive mix, it doesn't get nearly the fuel economy that is produced when using good old straight CARB Unifuel.

Thanks for setting everyone straight.