Mercedes Diesel Vs Petrol

[MercFanUk]

I've had a few non MB cars die forever on me, but both the 202's the only issue I had was the sensor in one of them. My other car's that did die, one was a 1.7D Astra, that just completely seized in the end (to be fair it was old and crappy anyway), and also a little fiat uno, that died a horrid death too

 

[Simba]

I have only once. My fuel pump died while I was driving along the M4.

Given that my car,a 190E is now 19 years old, I dont think thats too bad.


Not too many cars left on the road which were made by other car makers of this age,but quite a few old Mercedes still going strong.



Mike.

 

[markjay]

In 33 years of driving and 250k+ miles I have never broken down on the hard shoulder with any car... mine, company, rented, etc. Maybe I was just lucky.

Actually... I had a 1.8 Ford Escort Diesel engine die on me 10 years ago due to cambelt failure... but it was just as I was driving off and before actually hitting the road, so does not count

 

[grober]

I believe that the idea diesel engines are more reliable than petrol dates back to the old indirect injection normally aspirated diesel engine days. At that time many petrol engines broke down due primarily to ignition problems with the HT side being the main culprit. Since then the engine technologies have tended to converge. There was a time not long ago that indirect petrol injection coupled to solid state ignition in normally aspirated petrol engines gave them a slight edge in the longer term over the more highly stressed direct injection +turbo-charged+ DPF equipped diesels IMHO. However with petrol engine downsizing combined with direct injection and forced induction [ turbocharging (single or twin) or supercharging or even both ] to achieve better emission figures it seems likely failure rates in the longer term will be very similar, with any technology advances being negated by running both types of engine in a much higher state of tune than 10 years ago to get those illusive low emission/ fuel consumption figures.
Are both the latest petrol and diesel engines more reliable in the short term--yes BUT I question the ability of both types to maintain that reliability in the long term without expensive repairs at high mileages/5 years +

 

[R2D2]

Well at this point 30 diesels have voted and 20 of those cars have never broken down. 37 Petrols have voted and 25 have never broken down. 80% of us have yet to be let down by a Merc!! Those who have, especially those who have broken down several times, please can you tell us what happened.

 

[crockers]

Lucky this isn't a Renault thread.....it would be off the scale- well my vote would be.

 

[tim.100]

I believe that the idea diesel engines are more reliable than petrol dates back to the old indirect injection normally aspirated diesel engine days. At that time many petrol engines broke down due primarily to ignition problems with the HT side being the main culprit. Since then the engine technologies have tended to converge.

Yes, the Td5 engine in my Land Rover contains all the components I'm pleased not to have in the W202 rotary pump diesel: piezo injectors, two high pressure fuel pumps, ECU's galore, MAS, and Crank Position Sensor (CPS).

The MAS and CPS account for a lot of breakdowns in all marques. I do laugh when someone posts that all MB are rubbish because their Bosch MAF fails - then they buy a VW with the same sensor!

 

[R2D2]

Lucky this isn't a Renault thread.....it would be off the scale- well my vote would be.

My kids play spot the broken french car on long journeys. The only competition seems to be Zafiras?

 

[jeremytaylor]

We've had 7 Mercs - 5 diesel and 2 petrol.

None of them has ever let us down (must be the way I look after them ) although 1 failed EGR valve on a 270CDI made it rather smokey.

 

[R2D2]

I think this poll was azazing. By far and away the majority hear have never been let down by our Mercedes!!

 

[PXW]

Do I read this correctly - a few guys have had MAS breakdowns but didn't count them? Is their middle name Nelson?....

 

[Brian WH]

I voted No Diesel let-downs.

Considering that my first CLS car was Flooded, the Diesel Engine kept me going for another 40 miles.

If that had been a Petrol Engine I don't think it would have.

Flood Story Here

 

[coupe deville]

My old 124 has never let me down but I do have to sometimes put the gear selector into neutral before it will crank.
Starter inhibit switch but is does fire instantly either hot or cold

 

[R2D2]

Do I read this correctly - a few guys have had MAS breakdowns but didn't count them? Is their middle name Nelson?....

ah but the question was have you ever been let down. ie unable to get started or brooken down. My MAS failed on my last car but I could still drive to the dealer to bolt on a replacement!

 

[C43AMG]

My 220 S-Class had two problems. The air suspension dropped, not enough so i could not get it to Brooklands (New Pump) and the gear lever was getting sticky (A well known fault) managed to get it to Brooklands where it finally got stuck in Park (Whole new unit)

The C43 had to be low loaded to the garage Broken Earth Strap.

 

[R2D2]

The C43 had to be low loaded to the garage Broken Earth Strap.

I take it they didnt set fire to the car that time!

 

[coupe deville]

diesel winning

If you say 0 points for zero letdowns
1 point for 1 letdown
2 points for 2 letdowns
3 for 3
4 for more than 3
lowest points tally wins
at the moment
diesel winning 25 points
petrol 32 points
sounds about right

 

[Rayny]

Petrol - SAM unit failed, required to be trailered to the workshop. Car was 10 years old at the time.

 

[R2D2]

It sounds like MAS and SAM failures on Petrols aren't unusual.

 

[Brian WH]

If you say 0 points for zero letdowns
1 point for 1 letdown
2 points for 2 letdowns
3 for 3
4 for more than 3
lowest points tally wins
at the moment
diesel winning 25 points
petrol 32 points
sounds about right

You can play with the figures how you like BUT --

87% of our Mercedes are very reliable with less than 1 failure.:bannana: