New Diesel Endurance Records by CDI
 

A Car and Driver article recently featured the new Mercedes 320 Turbo Diesel in the '05 E320 CDI. It has 221 hp and 376 lb/ft and common rail direct injection. They set 3 world and 22 international records. "... Armed with a diesel v-6 that thinks it's a gas v-8, Mercedes decided to set some high speed distance records. Most notable would have to be running 100,000 miles at an average speed of 139.699 mph. That acheivement means driving 24 hours a day for 30 days, which subsequently required 26 mechanics and engineers and three teams of six drivers, with each driver taking the wheel for intervals of about 2 hours and 10 minutes. In the course of the 100,000 mile runs, each team performed 322 pitstops,, 10 services (Changes of oil, and oil, air and fuel filters), and 25 tire-set swaps. ...The three E-class sedans ran into nary a problem and returned an impressive 17 mpg." C&D 7-05

Mpg
 

17MPG stinks if you ask me. I can't see why they don't get more than that - but I guess it was the high speed driving.

It averaged just under 140mph! :eek: 17mpg is amazing! A gas car would probably get single digits at those speeds.

This stunt really is classic MB. :cool:

150 MPH 617 engined car
 

Reminds me of the records Mercedes diesels broke in 1976 in the 617 powered C-111.

Wondering where to go next with the project, Mercedes struck upon idea of using diesel engines to set speed records and the engineers were sent back to their labs to sort it out. The engine suggested was the five-cylinder three-litre naturally aspirated diesel from the 240 D 3.0 and 300 D, an engine with plenty of potential for raising performance.
With a Garret turbocharger and an intercooler, the production engine’s output of 80 hp was boosted to a proud 190 hp to power the C 111-II. It was rolled out for a record attempt at the brand-new test track in Nardo on June 12, 1976. Four drivers, who took turns at two-and-a-half hour intervals, drove this car from one diesel record to the next over a time-span of 60 hours. In the end, a total of 16 new records had been established - those over 5,000 miles, 10,000 kilometers and 10,000 miles even were absolute world records, i.e. independent of the type of engine. Speed averaged around 150mph. The diesel had proved its ability to race.

From: MERCEDES C111
A tale of Wankel engines, turbocharged diesels, stunning looks and world records

http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=103&i=6730

You mean you are not impressed by 17MPG at an average speed in excess of 130MPH?

You are indeed a difficult man to please.

Have a great day,

Sounds about right for a 3.2 liter v6 cdi, our C220 Cdi when we were over there averaged about 22-23 mpg when traveling around 110-125mph....it was around 16-17ish when we did our stretch of 155mph :eek: That was all it had though, 155mph on flat ground, 6th gear. Not bad at all for a 4cyl!! :eek: We got 37+ mpg when driving in the city and at substantially lower speeds, very impressive.

Looks like Mercedes is starting to build them again like they used to!

Scott

Do you have a link to the article? I can't seem to find it on Car and Driver's website.

Thanks,

Scott

Are you on crack, meth, seriously are you huffing diesel fuel, eating paint?
edit: that's less mean right?
-Nate

I opened my dumb mouth before I really took time to think about what I was saying. My bust on that one. 17MPG is very impressive at those speeds. I guess I was thinking that was at normal highway speed. A stupid comment that I completely regret.

I drool on the light blue CDI ever trip I make to the dealer. I go out and stick my nose to the window and drool like a hound dog becasue I know the monthly payment is way out of my league. A local architect in my hometown who has always owned Mercedes as I see them under his carport just bought one. I had a nice talk with his wife at the Post Office. She said it was a great car and would be their last except for the crappy navigation system. She said her Garmin GPS map she used before this car was more accurate and gave street names and house numbers.

Well, at least we know it didn't have a chance to rust. :D

AHA! 10,000 miles between oil changes, that engine can't last for 400,000 miles :D :D :D

They did change it HOT, though...

Sorry I jumped all over your, it's been a long week. Post edited.
-Nate

Still, that particulate filter has to go... Remember the horrors of the 85-87 617/603 TrapOx/OxCat/DPF engines?

You want to be impressed.. the latest record was set just on the 26th of July with 59mpg and a drive of 1000+ miles at freeway speeds. I have the '05 model with the I-6 (which I prefer anyway), but the best I could get with A/C off and 55mph was 42mpg... so I don't know how they're doing that... V6 or not.

I think the c-111 was doing something like 169mph average? and it was averaging 17mpg.

I read that in my chiltons diesel book from the 80's. Pretty impressive if you ask me...considering it was the late 70's...a inline 5. And mercedes hadn't even got hot into the production of the turbo diesel for cars yet.

Course the C111 had a few more...areodynamic features :D

http://www.mercedes-classic.cz/c111/...c111pict02.jpg
http://www.prova.de/archiv/2004/00-a...11-250x160.jpg