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Mercedes-Benz R-Class

693 messages,  Last post on Jan 19, 2008 at 9:07 AM

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What is this discussion about? Mercedes-Benz R-Class, Wagon


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#676 of 693
Re: ULSD availability / etc [elias] by wopel
Jan 04, 2007 (2:28 pm)
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Replying to: elias (Jan 04, 2007 8:00 am)

I made my trek yesterday. I tended to fill up when I could, (when the dogs were emptying their tanks) if a station had the ULSD. Due to fear of not finding the fuel, I filled up twice at 3/4 full! My last stop was in Brunswick, GA. I can tell you that at least half of the stations I stopped at did not have the ULSD sticker on their diesel pumps. If there were more than one station at an area, I checked them out. I had good luck with Shell. I got a good list from Travel Centers of America showing their stations with ULSD. I was told by BP that all of their company stores have ULSD but "jobber" stations probably don't. Exxon is hit and miss. I know things will change, as the ULSD will take over. The sticker is laughable about being illegal to use anything but ULSD in a 2007. I have driven diesels for many, many years, and was excited about getting a "big" car with good mileage. I just didn't plan on being ahead of the fuel to get the good mileage. I'll bet by the time I head back north, more stations will have the ULSD. I will blame the government for moving the "must have" date back, and back, and back. When I originally planned on this car the date was in the fall of 2006, but...
#677 of 693
Re: ULSD availability / etc [ by greasykid1
Jan 05, 2007 (1:25 pm)
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Replying to: wopel (Jan 04, 2007 2:28 pm)

Everything that I have seen in the media stated that Oct 1 was the deadline to have ULSD available;but I won't argue the point.
 
All this is one reason that I bought CDI which can use either type of diesel.
 
Reason that Bluetec cannot use old diesel is because it will not meet the new emmision regs and may also damage the Bluetec filtering system itself. Aside from all that it will probably work----at least for a while.
 
I use Shell.
#678 of 693
Re: ULSD availability / etc [wopel] by jamesfletcher2
Feb 22, 2007 (6:59 pm)
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Replying to: wopel (Jan 04, 2007 2:28 pm)

If my memory serves me right, at this point, the only area In the US where ULSD is almost exclusively required to be widely available for delivered to gas stations is in California (and the surrounding area - Nevada border, etc - here fuel is sourced from California refineries). Even in California many station will not yet have guaranteed ULSD because they have to have enough refills of there diesel tanks to bring the parts-per-million (PPM) of sulfur down to 15 PPM.
 
Generally, stations will only put out the ULSD emblems once they are certain their co-mingled fuel is at or close to 15 PPM. All refineries in the US are actually making all new ULSD at 8 PPM because they know the co-mingled fuel will pick-up old sulfur contaminants. ULSD is also being imported in addition to being refined in the USA since Canada started their conversion somewhat sooner and ULSD has been refined for Europe and elsewhere for sometime now.
 
The one observation you received from a station sounds about right in that they have to go through at least 3 refills of their tanks (if not 5 or more) before enough of the old 500 PPM fuel is flushed as it is co-mingled with the new 8 PPM fuel.
 
I believe that most high volume retailers are going to have to be producing the ULSD by January 2008 and it therefore will be available in most of the US the way it is in California right now. However, the US Energy Department and EPA actually are allowing that "up to 5 percent of the market could delay making the transition to ULSD until 2010".
 
The good news is that in population centers and on major roadways the availability should be quickly getting better as stations continue to get better. The misconception arises with the significant difference between what can legally be refined versus what is available in retail outlets. Where as about 90% or more of the diesel being currently refined and imported is ULSD, the gas station that sells very little diesel fuel could take a year or even more to adequately flush out their old diesel. This is why the process is so slow at some stations. I also believe that many small ownership stations will wait to put out their ULSD emblems until they are absolutely convinced they have had adequate time for the natural flushing.
 
BTY, the MB R-Class and ML are not Bluetec diesels only the E-Class is currently. Since the R-Class and ML are classified as trucks for fuel economy ratings they do not have to employ the Bluetec engines for emission purposes until 2010.
#679 of 693
Re: R-Class Diesel Power [wopel] by jamesfletcher2
Feb 22, 2007 (7:12 pm)
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Replying to: wopel (Jan 04, 2007 2:28 pm)

wopel -
 
I know you must love the mileage of your new R-Class diesel but I am really curious about the adequacy of the power given its weight. Does the diesel engine really have the power to smartly move the R? And what about when it is really loaded with passengers and/or cargo?
 
I guess I am skeptical given the size of the R-Class.
 
J
#680 of 693
Re: R-Class Diesel Power [jamesfletcher2] by wopel
Feb 22, 2007 (7:32 pm)
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Replying to: jamesfletcher2 (Feb 22, 2007 7:12 pm)

I drove from MD to FL with the car completely packed and a very large cargo box on top. It had not problem with pick and/or speed. I wasn't too hard on it, however, since it was very new.
   I sweated it out with the ULSD fuel. Some stations had no idea what I was even asking for. I filled up at every possible chance, and usually didn't need too much, but the fear of not finding it was quite high!
   Now that the cargo top is off and the stuff out of the car I'm getting about 23.5 +/- mpg. Not bad for it's size. I still have no idea where the front of the car is!
    I'm getting to love the nav system.
    There's still a lot to get used to. I've been driving in the comfort mode and it ain't bad!
#681 of 693
Re: ULSD availability / etc [jamesfletcher2] by awjenni1
Feb 24, 2007 (7:11 am)
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Replying to: jamesfletcher2 (Feb 22, 2007 6:59 pm)

I am in the process of purchasing an R320. I have yet to find a dealer who is very knowledgeable about the facts of the CDI/Bluetec engines. I have asked several of them about the difference between the CDI as in the ML and R vs the Bluetec as in the E-class.
 
The only answer I have received so far, is that they are the SAME (although HP specs are different?). I've been told that the NAME "Bluetec" is only a marketing device which is applied to the E-class alone. In Europe it means the use of the urea additive. That urea additive (adblue?) will supposedly be used on future E-class models in the US to make them viable in all states.
 
So, I don't actually KNOW the difference between CDI and Bluetec but have been told repeatedly that they are the same.... FWIW.
#682 of 693
Re: ULSD availability / etc [awjenni1] by nomorebenz
Feb 25, 2007 (10:14 am)
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Replying to: awjenni1 (Feb 24, 2007 7:11 am)

MBUSA got smart and put a ULSD locator on their website.
 
http://www.mbusa.com/tracking/whatsnew/redirect.jsp?redirectUrl=/locator/jsp/ind- ex.jsp?locatorversion=ulsd
#683 of 693
Re: ULSD availability / etc [awjenni1] by nomorebenz
Feb 25, 2007 (10:29 am)
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Replying to: awjenni1 (Feb 24, 2007 7:11 am)

My understanding is that the "Bluetec" is a CDI with a turbocharger and extra exhaust components.
#684 of 693
Re: R-Class Diesel Power [jamesfletcher2] by ak_r320cdi
May 08, 2007 (5:54 pm)
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Replying to: jamesfletcher2 (Feb 22, 2007 7:12 pm)

I just bought an R320 CDI and I love the power. The torque in the car is almost 400 lb-ft. The thing could pull a house. And when you floor it, it takes off. What's even better is it's passing power on the highway. Don't let the horsepower difference fool you, the proof is in the torque.
#685 of 693
Re: R-Class Diesel Power [ak_r320cdi] by edpliutx
May 08, 2007 (6:27 pm)
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Replying to: ak_r320cdi (May 08, 2007 5:54 pm)

I am looking to buy a r320 cdi in the Balt Wash area (P2 w DVD). I've inched my way up to getting approx $6700 off sticker but the inventory for P2 320's seems to be getting low as the 2008's are phased in. Anyone out there seeing any good closeout deals on 320's or 350's?

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