Automobile Forums  Where Car Enthusiasts Go to Discuss Cars Online

Have owned Mercedes-Benz diesel (2 of them). Would someone who cares about diesel vehicle provide some guidelines when making this decision?

1. Mercedes-Benz or VW:
2. Jetta or Passat:
3. Mercedes-Benz best year:
4. Equip for Bio-Diesel:

Vehicle must be pre-owned (MA does not permit the registration of new diesel vehicles).

Thanks!
Ray Randall  

If you would like and if you care there will be a slew of diesel vehicles coming to the US within a year . VW will have vehicles here in August - Sept. that will be 50 state compliant . M-Benz has an E class Blue Tec car for sale now that is supposed to be 50 state compliant .  

Hi there,
VW or Mercedes diesel the bought have overhere in Germany a good reputation.
I think the problem sits more in the US diesel fuel,
Can this sofisticated diesel engines handle the US diesel . (is what i heard from a frind that works for Mercedes)
Simuler probl. Mercedes has also on the Russian market.
I would go for VW,they seems to be not so sensetive.

Best rgds
Luc/ Germany  

I know you need pre-owned but Honda is coming out with a diesel Accord in 2009 model year, will not need refilling of the urea (essentially urine) tank, like VW and Mercedes. They will be 50-state compliant, as I understand it, so MA may allow them. With Honda's engine technology repuation, you may want to wait.  

torque06:
I know you need pre-owned but Honda is coming out with a diesel Accord in 2009 model year, will not need refilling of the urea (essentially urine) tank, like VW and Mercedes. They will be 50-state compliant, as I understand it, so MA may allow them. With Honda's engine technology repuation, you may want to wait.

Did not know of the Honda, and your suggestion to wait may prove wise.  I consider pre-owned to avoid the curb gap valuation drop (a new car is worth less as soon as I put my foot on the throttle).

Curious, what is the "urea tank" in a diesel?

Thanks for your suggestion.

Ray
Echievements  

I prefer Mercedes Benz  

VW will not be using urea in many of there diesel engine exhaust systems. It will not be needed , do your research folks !  

Hello everboydy
bellow is the reply to my email sent to BMW USA in NOV07

Thank you for contacting BMW of North America, LLC regarding the latest BMW models.  We appreciate your interest and enthusiasm for our vehicles.  

We are happy to say that BMW is currently preparing for the launch of diesel vehicles in the United States for 2008.  We suggest staying in touch with us through our website, www.bmwusa.com, for product updates and releases.

Additionally, you will find supplementary information on BMW’s diesel innovations at our press website http://www.press.bmwgroup.com/pressclub/us02.nsf.  The press release entitled BMW Group Prepares US Launch of Diesel Vehicles in 2008 should be of particular interest.  To find this exact press release, please cut and paste the title into the search function of the website.  

If you have any further comments or questions, please respond to this e-mail or contact the Customer Relations and Services Department at 1-800-831-1117, Monday through Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M., Eastern Standard Time.  Again, thank you for contacting BMW.

Sincerely,


Karie Picciano
Customer Relations and Services
Representative  

re "With Honda's engine technology repuation, you may want to wait." I'd stay clear of Honda diesels for a while.

Honda makes more gas engines than anyone in the world, and they're VERY good.
But as an engineer, I know that most improvements come from experience, not theory.
And diesel is more challenging than gas due to higher cylinder pressures, greater torque, etc.
VW makes more diesel engines for cars than anyone.
Daimler-Benz makes more large diesels (think trucks 2 classes larger than anything legal in the US, ships, powering cities, etc.) than anyone.

It will take the Japanese (or anyone) many years to catch up to a company building the technology for > 1/2 century (Benz) or 3 decades (VW).

Why do you think Toyota has bought millions of VW TDI engines for cars in Europe, and has bought Hino?
GM uses Isuzu for its trucks.
Dodge uses Cummins.
You just can't create a new diesel engine design from scratch and expect top efficiency and a million miles lifetime!
VW & Benz both offer that.  

As for VW or Benz, the e320d or Passat TDI (2004-2005) are your best picks, assuming that you have to carry adults over 5' tall in the back seat (the Jetta is legroom challenged in the back)

The '94-'95 E300D (last 2 years before the oval lights) are considered by many to be  the most reliable car ever built.
Benz went downhill when they got into an electronics gadgets race with the Japanese.

You can get them between $5000 and $15000 depending on mileage and condition.  Average mileage is pushing 200,000 and some are closer to 500,000 but there are (few) with < 100k on them.

AND STAY AWAY FROM THE S350D big mistake ...  only last 60k miles!  

Wow.

Please tell us why that S350D Mercedes diesel motor is so bad.

I thought that among diesel cars,every Mercedes still was the best in the world.

I really do want to know whats up with that car.  

1. VW
2. Passat
2. ...
 

Keeping the "pre-owned" aspect in mind, some thoughts:

1995 and '96 TDI Passat sedans and wagon: Nice size, a bit underpowered, rare and hard to find, tend to have piled up a lot of miles.

1999-2003 TDI Jetta sedan and wagon (2001-2003): Fantastic. Very reliable and decent power. 50+ MPG on the highway with the 5-speed.

2004-2006 TDI Jettas and 2005 TDI Passats had the "upgraded" "Pumpe Duese" injection, which seemed good at the time (10 extra hp for the Jetta, but less mpg), but is turning out to be less reliable over the long term and the technology has been dropped in favor of common-rail for the next wave of new TDIs coming to the U.S. Also, the last TDI Passats imported (2005 only) were all automatics, and are pretty rare.

Diesel vehicles made since around 1990 or so have all been equipped with biodiesel-compatible fuel lines, although the vehicle manufacturers don't advise using anything stronger than B20. I run 100% biodiesel in the summer months and my '03 Jetta wagon runs beautifully on it.

-Kurt

 

Still waiting on that information about the bad s350d motors?  

1 Mercedes
2 Best yr for mercedes 1983 - 1995 83-85 are 5 cyl with cast iron heads 86 - 95 are 6 cyl. with alum heads which can crack hen overheated. There is a fix for these though.