What a powerunit - come on Merc - catch up.

[developer]

I've been bleating on for a while now about how I'd love a twin turbo 3.0L diesel for E Class - the low down shove from the twin turbo 4 pots is great.

How about this M550d from BMW (non UK spec) - and despite the 550 nomenclature, it's "only" a 3.0L, but with triple turbos - four wheel drive too.
Check out the figures.

Come on MB - get on the pace .

BMW 5 Series M550d xDrive driven full road test car review - BBC Top Gear - BBC Top Gear

 

[Deleted member 37751]

They'd have been ahead of the pack if they'd have listened to me and marketed an E420 V8 CDI 4matic estate in the UK...

That would be everything you'd ever need in a car, yet the nearest thing they do to it is the W164 ML 63.

 

[airportstar]

How hard would it be to drop the 420cdi lump into a w211 320cdi??

 

[Sp!ke]

do they do a version for petrol heads?

 

[developer]

do they do a version for petrol heads?

I'd love an E63 S211, particularly the twin turbo 5.5L, however that Beemer's an impressive bit of kit in it's own right.

 

[Satch]

Hmm lot of plumbing going on there......

 

[developer]

I'm sure reliability won't be a problem though - BMW diesel engines are top of the tree.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I'm sure reliability won't be a problem though - BMW diesel engines are top of the tree.

Are you saying that with a tongue in your cheek?

One of the German specialist indies that I deal with can work on two engines blindfolded; the VAG 2.0 TDI and the BMW straight six diesel such is their propensity for problems.

(And to be impartial, not forgetting Black Death on early Mercedes CDI's...)

 

[boxbrownie]

do they do a version for petrol heads?

Yes....its called the M550d

 

[wilsodg]

Even if MB do produce a nice gutsy diesel E212/3 (and surely they must eventually), the chances are that MB UK will choose not to sell it here.

I'm expecting to be in my current car for some time to come now, and having moaned about it in the early days am starting to cherish it more with the knowledge that I might not be able to get a match in the future.

 

[Doodle]

How hard would it be to drop the 420cdi lump into a w211 320cdi??

The E420cdi is available on the continent, but never sold over here so I'm guessing LHD only.

No idea whether that's down to packaging reasons (like the 500E used to be) or just because they didn't bother, citing no market demand.

 

[BlackC55]

Hmm lot of plumbing going on there......

That looks pleasant to work on.

Some poor git will have to.

BM diesels are not traditionally reliable at all.

 

[Satch]

That looks pleasant to work on.

Some poor git will have to.

BM diesels are not traditionally reliable at all.

Out of Warranty no barge pole is long enough.

On that theme, clear now that my next cars will be NA petrol: the technology required for EU5 diesels is already too fragile long term and EU6 is nuts.