Now burning oil - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

MikeTangas · #1 04-06-2012, 10:12 PM

Well boys & girls,

I posted this in the diesel forum because it kind of started there last year but I guess, since it wasn't specifically MB related, no one commented.

Last year I had a line on a nice 1980 300TD, in good shape and reasonably priced. Unfortunately, the owner apparently didn't want to part with it. With the price of gas well over $4.00 here in California and my commuter Honda approaching 300K miles and starting to have issues I had to do something. The Honda was still giving me 24.5-25 MPG and costing me $550+ a month cash for fuel.

On March 17 I woke up and went to the VW dealer, left there a couple hours later with a 2012 Jetta SportWagen TDI. Had a whopping 18 miles on it when I left the dealership. I just am starting my 4th fill up since getting, have a touch over 1800 miles on it now and this mornings fill up showed an average 40.93 MPG. On Tuesday, on my commute to work the instant computer showed I got 50.2 MPG average for my 65 mile one way drive. Once this thing breaks in I think my average will settle in better than 45 MPG regularly. And, even though diesle runs about $0.15 more than RUG does here, I expect my monthly fuel costs to drop by about 40%.

It isn't a Benz by any means, but at least its German. The Jetta runs quiet, hauls butt and accelerates like no diesel I have every driven, to be honet it accelerates like a gasser when you mash the go pedal. When I get the chance to snap a picture I'll post it up to show it off.

I guess I'll have to wait till I reture to finally get me one of the Benz diesels to tinker on.

Skippy · #2 04-06-2012, 11:49 PM

Sweet ride. However, I think it might be time for you to consider living closer to work or finding a job closer to home.

E150GT · #3 04-06-2012, 11:57 PM

I want a modern diesel car.

thatguy · #4 04-07-2012, 12:20 AM

It's amazing how "undiesely" new diesel engines can be. Some of the new direct injected rigs don't even need a glow like our older Mercedes, just hop in at 25*f and crank it up like a gasser, all while getting 50mpg; very impressive. It's a shame the EPA has a lot of auto maker's nuts in a juicer, I'd sure love to get my hands on a new Hilux diesel with a manual trans and four full doors, or an Outback diesel, but I never see those coming to fruition. Makes me want to gut the cat in my 95 E300d just out of pure spite.

Glad you're enjoying your new rig, VW makes a nice little diesel that holds up to the test of time very well.

MikeTangas · #5 04-07-2012, 02:09 AM

The VW has glow plugs, but they glow plug light in the dash only glows for a couple seconds (longest was less than ten the other morning at 38*F). Basically, turn the key and go but i always wait a few seconds before turning the key. From what I've read the system heats the plugs fast, then cycles them on/off until the engine comes up to temp.

This one is equipped with the DSG (direct shift gearbox) tranny. Most call it an automatic. It has the manual shift option like the slushbox in the CLK320 plus a sport mode, which holds the shift off for 1K rpm, shifting at 3K rather than 2K. When slowing for a stop light you can feel it gear down like a manny tranny but the upshifts are almost imperceptable.

I do have one beef though. While VW has finally opted to put in cup holders (very un Benzlike) but, they aren't big enough to hold my coffee cup - a 16oz ceramic mug. They will hold a 24oz paper/styrofoam cup but not a real cup. I wonder if they only put them in for the North American market?

Skippy, this commute isn't that bad...my last commute was 3,000 miles home to work. Did that once a month for 3 years.

dynalow · #6 04-07-2012, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeTangas

Skippy, this commute isn't that bad...my last commute was 3,000 miles home to work. Did that once a month for 3 years.

Don't know your profession Mike, but is there any way you can put an office in your home and deduct "inter-office" travel??

Have Uncle Sam pick up 30-35% of that $550?

engatwork · #7 04-07-2012, 10:19 AM

Quote:

I'd sure love to get my hands on a new Hilux diesel with a manual trans and four full doors

x2

barry123400 · #8 04-07-2012, 05:50 PM

I really wish volkswagon had engineered for more fuel economy than more power. The diesel is quicker than their gas cars now and they were fast enough. Typical volkswagon logic for the times for the north american market.. Some of their european version diesel cars make north american tdi fuel milage look terrible. Some gas cars are starting to approach the tdi fuel milage wise.

rscurtis · #9 04-08-2012, 10:25 AM

That's true, but the other factor is that the cars have become over weight and over contented. A new Jetta weighs 1000# more than my '89 did. That's where your fuel economy went.

strelnik · #10 04-08-2012, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeTangas

The VW has glow plugs, but they glow plug light in the dash only glows for a couple seconds (longest was less than ten the other morning at 38*F). Basically, turn the key and go but i always wait a few seconds before turning the key. From what I've read the system heats the plugs fast, then cycles them on/off until the engine comes up to temp.

This one is equipped with the DSG (direct shift gearbox) tranny. Most call it an automatic. It has the manual shift option like the slushbox in the CLK320 plus a sport mode, which holds the shift off for 1K rpm, shifting at 3K rather than 2K. When slowing for a stop light you can feel it gear down like a manny tranny but the upshifts are almost imperceptable.

I do have one beef though. While VW has finally opted to put in cup holders (very un Benzlike) but, they aren't big enough to hold my coffee cup - a 16oz ceramic mug. They will hold a 24oz paper/styrofoam cup but not a real cup. I wonder if they only put them in for the North American market?

Skippy, this commute isn't that bad...my last commute was 3,000 miles home to work. Did that once a month for 3 years.

Believe it or not the 126 350SDL, which cost 55,000 in 1990, has no cup holders, so I keep a clean heavy shoe on the passenger seat and stick my cup in that.

Yeah, I know....

sixto · #11 04-08-2012, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thatguy

Makes me want to gut the cat in my 95 E300d just out of pure spite.

I don't think it has a cat to gut. Most you can do is disable EGR.

Mike, don't MBs have cup holders now? It was that or concede the market to Lexus.

Sixto
87 300D

Palangi · #12 04-08-2012, 06:44 PM

Sixto

My 2004 C Class has what passes for a cupholder.

Mike

Pictures. We need pictures.....

engatwork · #13 04-08-2012, 08:19 PM

Quote:

I don't think it has a cat to gut.

The 95 E300 does have a cat. No o2 sensors though.

MikeTangas · #14 04-08-2012, 08:46 PM

My '86 560SEL had no cup holders, like all of the 126's. Our '02 CLK320 has something that is purported to be a cup holder (can't speak to the models newer than '02 though), but the cubby in the center console works great. To the best of my knowledge, the VW of old, just like the Benz, had no cup holders for the same Tuetonic reasons.

I have to admit that I hate trying to balance my cup-o-Joe while shifting into a drive gear. I guess I'll have to cave and find a smaller diameter travel cup, something that'll fit the cup holder. My drive in to work is a 40 ounce drive (16 between the house and filling station, then a 24 ouncer from the filling station to work). During work I plow through a large Stanley, plus whatever stop and rob coffee I grab when the Stanley runs dry.

Now, on the way to work tonight I drive a little more agressively since I am up to 2K miles. Still pulled 45.5 MPG on my drive.

I'll get some pictures of the wagon soon Palangi. I'll have to do a before-n-after since I'm getting the windows tinted on Friday.

MikeTangas · #15 04-13-2012, 06:01 PM

Well, here are a couple shots of the Wagen from today. I snapped a couple before heading to the tint shop and a couple right after getting home. Seems like the rain cycle has been in perfect time with my days off since buying the car, in fact it was pouring the day I went to the dealer...just to look, and ended driving this home. Yep, that's the CLK hiding beind the V-Dub.