Am I expecting too much from a diesel? When I pull away from a standing start, it seems to take ages to get going. Once it's moving it's great and doesn't stop accelerating, but pulling away from traffic lights can be embarrasing especially if I'm next to a Reliant Robin. It's been in for a service recently and the garage said they couldn't find any error codes. Also they said it was comparable to another C220 cdi that they had. Has anyone else experienced this and if so have you sorted/found the reason for it. Any comments greatly appreciated.
I've heard similar complaints about diesels before and it was something I was worried about. Thankfully I don't have any problems, although I know mine's the bigger engine, but its also a bigger car. The car is very responsive away from the lights. The only issue I have is the gear change sometimes, if approaching a round about slowing down and I then floor it to pull out, it seems to take a while to go into first (which can lead to a scary moment), but then once selected its off. Is that different to you get?
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IanT
Active Member
I wouldn't say there's a huge delay, but mine isn't instant off the mark. I'm pretty sure mine operates correctly though, not least because it has a nice brand spanking new gearbox fitted at the considerable expense of Mercedes-Benz under warranty. I drove the car on the old gearbox and noticed no difference whatsoever.
When mine's cold I find it needs to run for a few seconds to get the oil round the engine before it will pull away (my drive is VERY steep) but I put that down more to it needing some boost from the turbo to get the car up the slope.
If you lived nearer you could compare it with mine.
Ian.
When mine's cold I find it needs to run for a few seconds to get the oil round the engine before it will pull away (my drive is VERY steep) but I put that down more to it needing some boost from the turbo to get the car up the slope.
If you lived nearer you could compare it with mine.
Ian.
guydewdney
MB Enthusiast
my old W reg 202 220 cdi was the same - my biggest gripe... you have to pre-plan your pull-outs from junctions..
jimmy
MB Enthusiast
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Mine is pretty much the same, so was my C180 so I don't think it is a diesel thing. Must be something in the ECU because lots of people complain about it.
When pulling out at busy roundabouts you have to floor it but once I am going, I'm gone!
It helps to hold the car on the brakes, build the revs with your right foot and let it go like a greyhound out of a trap when you are ready. Obviously you cant do this all the time so no help really!!
When pulling out at busy roundabouts you have to floor it but once I am going, I'm gone!
It helps to hold the car on the brakes, build the revs with your right foot and let it go like a greyhound out of a trap when you are ready. Obviously you cant do this all the time so no help really!!
sym
MB Enthusiast
Same with my car too . . . . flooring it only results in about a 1 second delay though - and you then need to release the pedal pretty quickly before it catapults the car into warp speed, and allow normal service to resume !
Obviously a "feature" . . . . for some reason MB designed their cars to pull off very gently - unless gently "coaxed"
as described by jimmy above.
S.
Obviously a "feature" . . . . for some reason MB designed their cars to pull off very gently - unless gently "coaxed"
as described by jimmy above.S.
This is the trick! My Father borrowed my car and he said it was "slow". This is because the average person doesn't push the pedal more than about 1/4 of the way down! The first half of the pedal travel does very little on my car, this is for "smooth driving" whatever that isjimmy said:
. Try just flooring it and see if it's any better 
ChrissyBoy
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My E270CDI goes like stink from a standing start - and I used to drive a 330Ci. However, like RichardM I find it can take a while to sort itself out when using kickdown. I think this is probably a gearbox thing though.
Robbo
Active Member
No delays at all here, I have instant 'push you back in the seat' acceleration from standstill when the pedal is pushed upwards of 1/3 travel. Dont know whether thats just because its a bigger engine though. Never tried flooring it from standstill - must give it a go sometime!
pluggers
MB Enthusiast
Mine's a petrol and it seems to be slow on start offs as well,I think its down too engine power and coupled to a auto box thats specifically designed to give a smooth take off rarther than a kick in the pants race you from the lights kind of start that you would expect from a manual box.IMO 
silverarrow
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i think you will find a new airfilter and fuel filter will make the difference cheap fuel causes slight water build up on my audi i had a drain plug on the filter and this made a difference how many miles and when did you change the filters also the maf causes the slow response if you feel it is slower then the chances are it is but try filters then maff honest chaging filters is worth the time try it if no improvement then i would go for maf
Ian B Walker
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Having followed (at a distance 
) Brian WH's oil burner I can honestly say that he has bucket loads of acceleration. BTW Brian thanks for the info Pm'd me earlier.
) Brian WH's oil burner I can honestly say that he has bucket loads of acceleration. BTW Brian thanks for the info Pm'd me earlier.
marcos
MB Enthusiast
My E320 CDI goes like a rocket from a standing start as my new freind in his Civic R-Type will testify. Poor chap still can't get over the fact that an oil-burner beat him off the lights.
As Shude said you really need to plant your foot down to the floor and it should fly.
As Shude said you really need to plant your foot down to the floor and it should fly.
Dieselman
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Unfortunately the 220 is known to have a slight delay. This is down to two things, the torque converter winding up and the engine producing enough torque.
Torque on a diesel is down to fuelling and all new diesels are set to low fuel charecteristics to reduce emissions.
it is possible you either have an air leak which will retard the ignition, or a dodgy MAF which will underfuel at all engine speeds thus reducing torque.
Torque on a diesel is down to fuelling and all new diesels are set to low fuel charecteristics to reduce emissions.
it is possible you either have an air leak which will retard the ignition, or a dodgy MAF which will underfuel at all engine speeds thus reducing torque.
GrahamC230K
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I believe, similar to others above, that it's the design of the throttle on MB's. Both my C200 and C230K are the same, even in maual gearbox form. Quite simply the throttle response and sensitivity is very very dull, only by design I presume. Pedal to the floor does the trick, but it spoils the sportiness of the car IMO. BMW wins again.
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silverarrow
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as far as i know filter changed at 50 k or 4 yrs but audi say every 20 k i change mine every 30 k and do feel a difference in power and mpg 2 more when filter changed honest try it only £4 for part and 5 mins time NB YOU MAY NEED TO BLEED FUEL SYSTEM AIR LOCK IN PIPES A PROBLEM ON CDI ENGINES BUT FILL NEW FILTER WITH FUEL AND YOU SHOULD BE OK
Dieselman
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Check the accelerator cable adjustment, you may find it's slack so not responding to gentle inputs much.
Set the cable so it pulls the accelerator pot fully just before the pedal presses the kickdown switch. My car was set so that the kickdown was pressed before full throttle was reached on the pot.
You can check your own MAF, see:
http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=35102&postcount=35
Set the cable so it pulls the accelerator pot fully just before the pedal presses the kickdown switch. My car was set so that the kickdown was pressed before full throttle was reached on the pot.
You can check your own MAF, see:
http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=35102&postcount=35
