Spent 6hrs in a Mercedes E320 Bluetec today!

[futuresoptions]

Been a while since I drove in a Mercedes Diesel... All I can say is WOW! That is one torquee mother! It would put you back in the seat with no problem. On the highway it was just as quiet and reserved as it could be. This new diesel technology is amazing... I liked the 7spd tranny as well and didn't notice the shifting or downshifting unless we were in manual mode. I really wouldn't mind owing one some day.

[ShakinJoe]

I got a 2012 VW Passat TDi and while it is a four banger it too is a torque monster. Quality is not Merc-esq but still a great crusin car.

[widgeon13]

What kind of mileage does it get, not that i should be asking if I get a Mercedes? My wife has had SUV's for years, think it's time for a nice sedan w/ 4matic. Unfortunately, the bluetec is not available w/ 4matic. I drove an A5 TDI a couple of years ago in Germany and it pulled like a tractor, great torque and acceleration.

[Dottore]

The E320 Bluetech is a brilliant car IMO. One of the best cars out there at any price point.

Torquemonster, bulletproof, refined, great suspension. There's really nothing missing.

[willtel]

Is this engine available in the wagon?

[slow&rusty]

Originally Posted by Dottore

The E320 Bluetech is a brilliant car IMO. One of the best cars out there at any price point.

Torquemonster, bulletproof, refined, great suspension. There's really nothing missing.

Agreed.

[PorscheGAL]

Of all the cars my friends own this one is the most hated. It all comes down to adding the urea at 10K miles and then getting only 20 starts after the 10K mark if you don't. The dealership doesn't allow you to add it yourself and is not done during the routine maintenance. My friend asked the dealership can you see the urea levels and they said "no." He then challenges them by saying "with all this technology you cannot tell how much is in there" and the dealership said, "no."

One of the friends is an physician trying to get to the hospital to see a really sick patient and car wouldn't start because she was over the 20 start-ups. Needless to say that car is gone. She needed something more reliable. She bought the gas version.

A second friend sold the car for the same reason. His wife drove it and it left her stranded.

They both loved the other attributes of the car, but the urea management is a real flaw.

[oldE]

I consider the urea refill issue to be equivalent to the timing belt replacement on some cars. Typically at xxx,000 miles, you plan to replace the belt. If you don't you're on borrowed time.
Same thing with the Bluetech. Refill the Urea every 10,000 miles. If you don't, it will give you 20 chances to make it right. Screw the pooch on that and you're walking because the car does not meet emission standards.

That shouldn't be a difficult concept for most people, but apparently it can be.

Best
Les

[ShakinJoe]

Widgeon,

Not sure about the Merc but my VW gets between 40 and 48 MPG depending on how fast I have cruise set for. 65 MPH = 48 MPG and 85 MPH = 40 MPG. This is of course in FL with no hills but still pretty darn good.

[rick-l]

Originally Posted by oldE

I consider the urea refill issue to be equivalent to the timing belt replacement on some cars

That shouldn't be a difficult concept for most people, but apparently it can be.

This is the part that would piss me off.

Originally Posted by PorscheGAL

The dealership doesn't allow you to add it yourself

[futuresoptions]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

What kind of mileage does it get, not that i should be asking if I get a Mercedes? My wife has had SUV's for years, think it's time for a nice sedan w/ 4matic. Unfortunately, the bluetec is not available w/ 4matic. I drove an A5 TDI a couple of years ago in Germany and it pulled like a tractor, great torque and acceleration.

My buddy said that he was getting upwards of 42mpg on the highway but I believe this is a little higher than what it is listed at getting. This car seemed to have a really great build quality. No noise whatsoever at highway speeds. My buddy said that his version is a upgraded version of the Bluetec, but I am not sure of what that entails.

[1990C4S]

If you can't fill it yourself why do they sell it in the FLAPS stores?

[speeder]

I'm thinking maybe that one is not MB's fault, that maybe it was a condition of getting it certified? (a fail safe so that customers could not ditch the urea requirement). Maybe? Anyone know?

[ShakinJoe]

VW lets you do it on your own with a little tank in the trunk.

[pitargue]

If you require a new car, this post doesn't apply.

If the urea thing is a concern, check out the 2005/2006 MB CDI. Cast iron inline 6 vs the aluminum v6 (which you can't work on because it's so cramped in the engine bay), 5 speed vs the 7 speed.

The 2005/2006 has the weird SBC braking system w/ the expensive pump that seems to the weak point.

The Bluetec doesn't smell because of the Urea system. The CDI does. But it doesn't bother me as I'm in the car and can't smell it. Both have cats.

Choose your poison.

Full disclosure. I have a 2006 CDI which I absolutely love. I can go from the SF bay area to LA and back on one tank. (About 650 miles) Online MPG guage (also a fantasy meter) says I get about 36 MPG on the highway, 25 in the city. In town, I can go about 550 miles before I need to fill up. Kinda nice because after 10 tanks of diesel, I know I need to change the oil. Very quiet on the highway.

[willtel]

DIY refills don't seem difficult on a G Class, I can't imagine why it wouldn't be similar for the E. Maybe the car mentioned above was a lease and the dealer was trying to protect it's property.

[ZOO]

What's the urea worth?

[ShakinJoe]

Cheap at a truck stop. All rigs use it.

[ZOO]

Nothing about filling the urea tank looks particularly complicated. Rely on the dealer to do it? Then it likely is a pain in the ass. Do it yoursellf, and I can't see what the issue is.

[speeder]

Sounds like all you need to do is carry a bottle of urea in the trunk and when the little light comes on, fill it. No muss/no fuss.