Topic: Used Vehicle Review: Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, 2007-2012

[Autos_Editor]

The GL-Class was a typical Mercedes SUV: comfortable and capable, with a side of iffy reliability.

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[theonlydt]

Surprisingly, the addition of urea injection in 2009 didn’t improve the diesel’s fuel economy;

Worried about that statement; what about urea injection made the author think that it would improve economy? It's there purely for the removal of NOx.

[tpl]

I suspect that all the other stuff that goes along with the urea injection would, if anything, make the economy a bit worse.

[sailor723]

Surprisingly, the addition of urea injection in 2009 didn’t improve the diesel’s fuel economy;

Worried about that statement; what about urea injection made the author think that it would improve economy? It's there purely for the removal of NOx.

I agree ...the new Bluetec's were all about cleaner, not better mileage AFAIK. Not sure why the reviewer would make that comment.

On the other hand I'm glad he used the term "synthetic leather" rather than "Artico leather". I've always thought MB's use of that term was rather disingenuous. I'm sure some people think "Artico" is some particular type or brand of real leather upholstery.

[johngenx]

What happened to MB-Tex?

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Surprisingly, the addition of urea injection in 2009 didn’t improve the diesel’s fuel economy;

Worried about that statement; what about urea injection made the author think that it would improve economy? It's there purely for the removal of NOx.

SCR setups are typically more fuel efficient for a given power output than increasing EGR. Overall operating costs may be a wash though once the injection fluid costs are factored in.

A good summary:
http://fleetowner.com/management/feature/scr_egr_0701

SCR advantages:
•Permits more optimized combustion
 •Can enable better fuel efficiency/power
 •No concerns about engine durability/oil degradation
 •End product is nitrogen, water and carbon dioxide
 •Urea not classified as hazardous to health
 
SCR trade-offs:
•System adds weight
 •Adequate urea supply infrastructure not yet in place
 •Purchasing urea is additional cost
 •System, including sensors and other compliance-related devices, must be maintained
 •Urea freezes at 12 deg. F., so may require heated storage
 •Most effective at constant speeds and high loads; least in stop/start
 •Urea (also in some fertilizers) is a water pollutant/harmful to fish
 
Cooled EGR advantages:
•Does not require additional onboard hardware
 •Does not require the use of an additional fluid
 •No loss of payload
 •No impact on service intervals
 •No driver intervention necessary for compliance
 
Cooled EGR trade-offs:
•Increases heat rejection, creating need for greater cooling capacity
 •Decreases power density, fuel efficiency
 •Potential engine durability and oil degradation issues
 •Less combustion efficiency produces increased particulate matter, hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide

[safristi]

  JUST PHISSH in the tank and re-cycle yer lite beer


 I just met a tank called Urea
 The most beautiful tank in the whirrled
I open the sluice gates
And all me mates too
and we never need fear gonorrhea...........

[tpl]

I would prefer a car sized diesel optimized for efficiency and made as clean as possible without urea or extra EGR and then put up with the added pollution.  Put another way...that is what the EPA regulations should require of small ( <5 litre) diesels in road vehicles.    If you can squeeze a few more mpg out of a diesel either with higher efficiency or being able to use a smaller engine, you would use less fuel and therefore produce less NOx and particulates.  Where do the pollution/km lines cross I wonder between EPA mandate and max efficiency engines.
I guess we'll never know.

[safristi]

....sorry......... I can't "squeeze" any more out..................... .

 " I don't see diesels i see dead urea containers".............with the large advances on 4 bangers,it is writ large they are the immediate (5 years at least) future..............OTTO people may differ......

[vols1]

Aritico (or MB Tex in the US) stands for artificial cow. Autos always quotes True Delta for reliability but their samplings are usually too small to be reliable themselves.

[johngenx]

What is the new MB-Tex like?  The Tex in my 1998 C230 was noticeably thinner and not of the same quality as previous cars we owned.  Franky, I was disappointed.  One of the best things about MB interiors was their ability to look new after 10, 15 or 20 years.

[Northernridge]

What is the new MB-Tex like?  The Tex in my 1998 C230 was noticeably thinner and not of the same quality as previous cars we owned.  Franky, I was disappointed.  One of the best things about MB interiors was their ability to look new after 10, 15 or 20 years.

If you can get past it not being leather, it wears amazing. I think the seats on my 09 E-Class will outlast the car. After 3-plus years there was no noticeable wear or fade at all on them...none. The material was thick, no way you'd describe it as thin...too thick if anything. Funniest of all I got many compliments from guests about the 'nice leather'. The whole interior held up well while I had the car...although I wasn't very hard on it. Only complaint was the ultra-cheap carpeted floor mats that came with the car.