When will we see new diesel MBs?!!! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

slowmoe · #1 12-24-2002, 09:26 AM

I seem to be reading/hearing all the time now of how the US is expected to increase its adoption of new diesel technology.

Does anyone know if and when Mercedes will enter this market?

Why are we letting VW and Jeep have it all?

Rick Miley · #2 12-24-2002, 10:25 AM

There are a still a couple of hurdles yet to overcome before we see the CDI engines here. Some states, such as California and a few others, have different emissions regulations for Diesels which makes it unduly complicated to sell them here. But that seems to be changing as the leader of the California Air Resources Board has recently started back-pedalling on the Diesel issue.

Then there is the high sulphur content and the low cetane of our fuel. New fuel quality regulations are set to take effect in 2004 and 2006 which should get us closer to what the Europeans have. I believe there are also some provisions in the emisisons laws to permit easier test marketing of Diesel engines in 2003 or 2004. I suspect that's where the Jeep Liberty Diesel comes in. Who knows, maybe MB will bring them back at that time.

I'm kinda secretly hoping that it takes them longer because that makes my car more valuable in the meantime.

However, if you absolutely must have a CDI engine right now, you can get them here:
http://www.daimlerchrysler-vans.com/index.html

slowmoe · #3 12-25-2002, 12:17 AM

My point exactly, we have the Sprint vans here, including Calfornia. VW has their diesels. Fuel standards must be sufficient (sulfur and cetane and emissions) to support these products now ... where is MB?

omegabenz · #4 12-25-2002, 05:00 AM

I hope the G400 biturbo diesel comes to america before they discontinue the G wagen.

#5 12-25-2002, 03:58 PM

You only see the Sprinter van here due to them being exempt from the rules that are applied to cars. I would be not at all surprised to not find any of the emissions garb underneath. That equipement would be quickly ruined by our high sulfur content fuel.

Rick Miley · #6 12-26-2002, 10:40 AM

I agree with DieselPower. It is easier to certify the engines for for the vans than for passenger cars. Also, I think Daimler-Chrysler is using that platform to test CDI engines in our country without putting the already-somewhat-damaged reputation of Mercedes-Benz on the line.

BTW, even though VW is selling TDI engines here, that doesn't mean they don't have problems. My VW's intake, currently clogged with soot and significantly limiting power, is living proof.

Oh, and I too would love to see a G400 here. My uncle told me yesterday that he recently toured the ML factory in Alabama where he saw the 400 CDI in use. 0-60 in something like 6 seconds.

#7 12-26-2002, 12:06 PM

I haven't heard of any Jeep Liberty's for sale with a diesel engine. Are these test mules, or are they actually going to be for sale?

Rick Miley · #8 12-26-2002, 12:17 PM

They'll be for sale. Here's a link to a short article in the Detroit News:

http://www.detnews.com/2002/editorial/0211/27/a12-21175.htm

Lots more information is out there. Just go to your favorite search engine and enter "Jeep Liberty Diesel".

#9 12-26-2002, 12:41 PM

Aweome article. Many thanx.!!!

slowmoe · #10 12-26-2002, 01:31 PM

Rick,

You have had an interesting experience with your TDI. Are you sure that it is due to the sulfer content of US Diesel? The intake to my 124 is filled with black goop too, although it is not limiting power as far as I know.

Rick Miley · #11 12-26-2002, 01:37 PM

Intake clogging has been discussed quite a bit at Fred's TDI page. http://www.tdiclub.com The general consensus is that the problem is the quality of our fuel over here, as the Europeans do not have nearly the amount of problems that we do. I couldn't tell for you for certain at this moment that the sulphur is doing it, but when our fuel gets cleaned up in the next year or four, we should have our answer.