http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=276481

I'm posting this here since the ML/G/GL forum doesn't really get too much attention around here....


Basically there seems to be some discussion at MBUSA about the possibility of selling a diesel version of the G-Class stateside. Personally I think its a fantastic idea. I think more people should chime in besides the usual dedicated G crowd in order to provide a more balanced representation for this survey.

SWB G350 CDI....come on, you know you want one

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

If I could find a nice G-wagon diesel at a decent price I'd drive one every day.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Probably one of the few new mercedes I would look at. If the US is getting them, they had better be coming to Canada too....

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All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to stand by and do nothing.

Too many people tip toe through life, never attempting or doing anything great, hoping to make it safely to death... Bob Proctor

'95 S320 LWB
'87 300SDL
'04 E500 wagon 4matic

That is an interesting thing.....If they do bring in the SWB models in diesel I wonder how the value of the (Usually) quite pricey grey market SWB models will fair....I would imagine that it would take some time for them to be effected. I did drive a SWB 300GD a few weeks ago and I rather liked it (All the current greys that I see for sale are gassers)

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

Is there a good business argument for such a model? How much to engineer the installation? How many more G-wagens would they sell? How long will the G, in any iteration, continue to be produced? It's a great idea, but I doubt the economics are there.

Yes and no.....In a way it's a no brainer.

• There are no engineering or R & D costs because the G350 CDIs already exist in Europe and are built in the same factory as the US bound G550s. The only costs would be associated with certifying the vehicle with the feds.(only the W463 variant can be imported btw)

• Military contracts ensure that the G is scheduled to be built for at least another 5 years (They think of killing it every year but like the workhorse that it is it continues to soldier on )

• Economically they will make a profit on every one that they sell....the only questions become price, options, and marketing.

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

I get really excited about the concept of a diesel G in the U.S., only to realize it would be just a smidgen out of my price range. But, like you said ... the effect on gray market Gs would be interesting to observe.

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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

Too bad we can't get a W461 truck and be more like $40,000. I'd love a fabric interior manual trans, diesel. A friend of mine worked for mercedes in Germany and he had the most recent G book, very cool. Not a standard dealer pamphlet, this was hard bound little book. Like 6 inches tall, 10 inches wide, full color, very cool.

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68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i

If they do it i'm wondering what the price will be as well.... In Germany the base price for a G350CDI seems to be around €70,000 which isn't too bad.



The W461 most likely will not be brought over as it would have to go through a much more expensive certification process (And I don't think it would pass certain safety requirements) But I completely understand you about the brochures. Has anyone else noticed the 5 page diet scraps of paper that dealers are toting as brochures these days? I have an original brochure for my 1991...fully colored as big as an poster and probably a good 30 pages long

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

Yeah, I have a little collection of brochures including 1986, 87 and 91 and they're beautiful. Heavy stock, great photographs and diagrams, tons of information. Some of the ones today have all the heft and substance of a pamphlet on rabies vaccines at the vet's office.

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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

Decent price for pawoSD = 2000 USD

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

When those brochures were made we would work on them for weeks on end, traveling all around the country or staying for weeks in the studio. Last year I worked on, If I remember correct on two car shoots, both no longer then three days. Most car manufactures would reuse the photo's they had from the previous year and strip in little changes like 2010 headlights, spoilers, etc.

This year it seems to pick up again. Worked in March for 18 days on a Cadillac job, but instead of one shot a day we were doing two or three shots a day; that means 16/18 hour days for 18 days straight.

Doubt you will see those 30 pages brochures anytime soon again.

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

Well, I can understand the downsizing of the brochures due to both the expenses and the times ... I'd have to imagine a lot more resources are put into developing Web features on new models. I'd imagine few people walk into the dealer wanting paper material when they can get an interactive wonderland on their laptop.
From a personal standpoint I lament it, because I really like having something you can hold, carry around and save for posterity. Same with newspapers.
Are you a photographer or designer?

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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

I worked as as a photo-assistant and digital-tech for a long time and now I'm mostly a lighting technician (Gaffer, Electrician). And yes there is the web; motion and still shoots are more and more combined these days; they call them hybrid shoots

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

It's a truck....