Was the OM606 engine short-lived in Europe? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DieselAddict · #1 11-04-2005, 12:49 PM

I was in Europe in September for a few days and I was quite amazed when I saw a W210 CDI. I didn't even know such cars existed. Someone else on this board also posted the following link to Mercedes diesel history and on that page you can see Europe has had the CDI technology since 1997, with the first direct-injected model on sale in 1996! Since the OM606 engine made its debut in Europe in the 1994 model year, this means it survived for only 3 model years over there before being replaced by the CDI if I'm understanding this correctly. My question is why did MB import the OM606 engine into the USA until the 1999 model year if the CDI was already widely available in Europe and supposedly it's a better engine?
http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/dccom/0,,0-5-466459-1-468998-1-0-0-466468-0-0-135-7145-0-0-0-0-0-0-0,00.html

t walgamuth · #2 11-04-2005, 01:46 PM

quality?

tom w

F18 · #3 11-04-2005, 02:00 PM

Some of what you are asking was determined by the poor diesel fuel quality available here in the USA. The new CDI engine is designed to run on the low-sulfur cleaner burning Euro-diesel fuel. Until the USA has a comprehensive low sulfur program instituted in all states (maybe in 2007) most of these diesel car manufacturers in Europe and Asia are hesitent to send their new stuff over here. It is too much of a hassle to get their vehicles to meet the strict emmissions requirements in States like California, NY, Ma ect. while running them on crap/ sulfur and carbon emmiting USA diesel fuel...

This evolution in diesel fuel here in the States seems to moving along alot slower than the change from leaded gasoline to No-Lead during the 70's.
Alot of it has to do with the very low persentage of diesel passenger vehicles on the roads in the US. The changes in the 70's from Leaded to No-lead gas
was mandated by the Federal Government which hastened things along.
Up to this point the States have been allowed to deal with diesel fuel and its emmissions as they please. The Governments in the European countries don't
put up with that crap when it comes to air and water quality...they dictate everything including educating the consumer about diesel vehicles that are more efficient and alternate fuels that are safer for the environment
Wow...I've had a little to much caffene today.......

DieselAddict · #4 11-04-2005, 02:26 PM

I'm aware of the inferior diesel fuel in the US (too much sulfur, low cetane, etc.), but the states where CDI's are currently being sold don't have ULSD yet so this doesn't fully explain why the US didn't see the early CDI's of the late 90's. I wonder if it's because the OM606 had already been certified to meet US emission standards on US diesel fuel, but bringing in a new engine like the CDI would require Mercedes to get another, but this time tougher emission certification which would have been too much hassle at the time. I wonder how today's CDI's are doing on the high-sulfur diesel fuel that we have over here.

F18 · #5 11-04-2005, 03:02 PM

I am sure it is as you have indicated. MB does a cost/return of investment evaluation of introducing any new product into the US market given the tough emmission regs and low quality fuel available. X amount of units have to be sold so that locks them into running that current certified engine as long as possible until their profit goals are met in that market.

Once we have a comprehensive US diesel fuel program (consistant low sulfur quality) More car manufacturers will be willing to make the investment and market their diesel vehicles here and that pipeline of new technology won't be lagging behind Europe like it has. "It will level the playing field"