I'm perplexed...

I'd rather get a wagon. I've toured the M-class factory and they put CDI engines in those cars too. So, if it's the same engine and the body meets federal crash standards- I should be able to get a M320CDI.

Can I buy an Mclass on the european delivery program?


Michael

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Michael McGuire
83 300d
01 vw A4 TDI
66 Chevy Corsa
68 GMC V6 w/oD
86 300E

Why? Because 5 out of the 50 states are populated with morons who think diesels are evil. Heck, people in MA don't even want a wind farm that would give them FREE energy..... Not enough market for MB to warrant bringing in more. It appears that will change in the near future though. RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

agreeded!

IF they are going to put the 3.2 liter motor in the E-class sedan.. I should be able to buy it in any other model. Parts and training are here in the USA already.
With the baby, an M-class or E wagon would be really nice!

Michael

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Michael McGuire
83 300d
01 vw A4 TDI
66 Chevy Corsa
68 GMC V6 w/oD
86 300E

Reality check:

The last diesel powered S-Class was the 603 equipped '95 S350.

The last LWB S-Class diesel was the '91 350SDL.

The last diesel wagon was the '87 300TD.

It's been 14 years since we've heard of a new LWB diesel model. And 18 years since the last diesel wagon.

And I still haven't heard any plans about releasing an S-Class diesel. I don't like the recent MB's anyway, but I'm just saying....its been awhile.

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

european delivery of an m seems unlikely since the're made in alabama.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

The other thread regarding MB's diesel plans indicates they intend to deliver an M class diesel?

I think I finally understand euro delivery. You are still buying it through your local dealer. You would have to go grey market to get other diesels into the country. I believe there are exemptions on diesels that might make it relatively easy to grey market them in. I have not full researched this though. If you want more diesels support the presidents energy proposal and the tax credit for diesels!

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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

Something nobody has suggested..... numbers of 320 cdi diesel engines are finite and the American market for diesels is not the greatest.

It wont be the first time MB has witheld it's best products from the USA. Consider the shortage of 4 spd manual trannies going into American 114/115 and 116 Benz's of the 1970's.

Just my opinion, but MB ought to phase out gasoline engines entirely and specialize in diesel automobiles. At some countries they might be doing this already.

To understand this, you need to know that for every chassis engine combination that MB, or any other mfg brings to the US, they must go through the expensive process of having it EPA certified. From there it's pretty simple mathematics for them to determine if they can sell enough copies of a particular combination to pay for the certification and have profit remaining.

It appears to me that the diesels are coming to the US, but you will have to wait awhile. This is the late seventies all over again. After the oil embargo's of the seventies, MB started selling diesels like pancakes. I bought one in 1977. At one point in the early eighties, EIGHTY PERCENT of all MB's imported to the US were diesel powered. Once people got used to $1 per gallon gas, coupled with the bad reputation that the GM diesels of the eighties gave to ALL diesels, that changed.

Diesels are coming back in the US, and I predict with a vengeance.

Have a great day,

With Gas going up the way it is, we should see more oil burners. Especially if people want to continue driving SUV's. I do not see the gas prices going down in a hurry. One Mechanic I know here in Atlanta has now got into the car sales game. All he buys is VW Diesels and he says they are going like hot cakes.

I have to question why people would buy hybrid cars and not Diesels. Most big commuters do lots of highway miles. You would think the efficiency, longevity and reliability of a diesel would make more sense then buying a car with two engines and where most mechanics would not have a clue on what to do when the electric engine fails.

How long are those electic motors supposed to last and can they be rebuilt?

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With best regards

Al

If the Prius is any indication, the hybrids will be extremely reliable. Not sure on the motors themselves, but the battery packs that so many were worried about seem to be a non-issue. Last I read, Toyota was only stocking one pack as a spare nationwide, and hadn't replaced ANY yet other than ones damaged externally (accidents, etc.). Cost is also coming down - they're warranted for eight years, and based on current sales predictions and economies of scale, they're expected to be down to about $1000 by the end of warranty.

Hybrid designs work best in city driving where they can capture wasted energy from stop and go driving, where diesels work better in steady state operation. Down the road when the two systems can be integrated in a production vehicle, we'll see the best of both worlds.

The problem is not the motors, it's the batteries. The electric motors last virtually forever, but the batteries generally don't last even as long as your average modern gas engine, let alone a diesel. On my Honda Insight, the battery pack failed six months after we bought the car used with 60,XXX miles on it, largely because the P.O. drove it abusively (yes, even hybrids are vulnerable to dimwits). Fortunately Honda has an 80k warranty on the hybrid system and we got the battery pack replaced at no charge.

I agree with Larry that diesels are slated for a big comeback, as soon as ULSD is available nationwide. Gas prices aren't going down, and people are slowly waking up to the efficiency truths of diesels. The only problem now is our so-called "leaders" in Washington don't care about fuel efficiency. They care about making the oil companies richer. If they cared enough about the consumer and the planet to increase mpg standards, diesels would dominate the market.

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'81 300TD turbo <<sold 12/05 to another diesel nut

The only concern to the great diesel comeback is how reliable are the newest generation diesel engines going to be. With the greater need for emissions controls, diesels keep getting more and more complicated and I have to think that has to diminish their reliability. Although you could argue gassers and hybrids have to play by the same rules so maybe it is a nonissue. Guess time will tell.

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Keep everything as simple as possible-but no simpler--Albert Einstein