[andyamit]

what a gold mine for MB. here in the USA, Merc dealers have quoted me anywhere from $24 to $50 for a gallon of Adblue that sells in Europe for approximately the price of a gallon of fuel.
All the modern diesel engines (MB,VW,BMW) that use that system for 'scrubbing' the exhaust fumes, use the same diluted Urea that conforms to MB's standards (ISO 22241).
Go to a VW dealership and buy 2.5 gallons for $24 and fill the tank by yourselves, just the same as filling the windshield washer fluid, just doesn't smell too good!!
We might have paid top dollar for the expert workmanship and reliability that is a Mercedes but to promote this new green technology and then 'milk' us for no reason (except profit) is too much for me.
Can anybody else explain how MB can sell for $50/gal what VW is selling for $10.............they must think that we are all dummies.

 

[h2o_247]

andyamit,

if i am not mistaken, the container in which MB sells the AdBlue refills is of a special design, making refilling the adblue tank virtually contamination free. The variants sold by VW is sold in a regular container. You will need a CLEAN funnel to get the Adblue solution into the tank.

Cheers,
Felix.

P.S.: If there are cheaper and compatible parts, why not use them? right?

<- MB container

 

[TW10]

andyamit,

if i am not mistaken, the container in which MB sells the AdBlue refills is of a special design, making refilling the adblue tank virtually contamination free. The variants sold by VW is sold in a regular container. You will need a CLEAN funnel to get the Adblue solution into the tank.

Cheers,
Felix.

P.S.: If there are cheaper and compatible parts, why not use them? right?

<- MB container

So what your saying is that because MB marketing has put a marketing spin on their bottle your willing to spend 10X what the product really costs to make and sell under other brands and packaging? Only in America the land of the stupid and free spending.

Do some research there is only one - two at the most makers of the urea diesel emissions additive product. Which means that MB - VW - Audi - BMW are all sourcing the same product from the same suppliers only it gets put in different bottles and sold for different prices pending what the marketing BS has lead people to think its worth.

The MB product is the same stuff as all the others for a reason the system is exactly the same and the source of the product is exactly the same.

But hey if MB people are suckers and will pay $50 bucks a gallon for 3parts amonia and 1 part water why not sell it for that? Suckers

I've also heard through the grapevine that some major truck stops are selling it for even less than VW given there are large trucks starting to run the very same technology.
One thing is for sure its not magic or special magic potion and its not worth $10 a gallon even on an expensive non sale weekend.

Next time you need to buy it from your MB dealer talk them down - then refuse and tell them your going next door to the VW dealer. MB will get the message and start lowering the price.

 

[h2o_247]

TW10,

Thank you for your response to my post.

I hope i didn't give you the impression of me siding for MB overcharging. For some, it may well be not worth it. For others, who are less informed, they may well think that since it's a MB, expensive parts are expected.

In my opinion, the latter case, do not apply here on the forum. The reason is that people who post here are wanting to find information, and people are willing to share what they know.

Regarding the bottle, with my limited technical knowledge, I cannot doubt its design, and the way it is intended to be used; whether it be a marketing thing or not.

People on this forum, and on another MB owners' forums suggested that the solution can be bought from other brands' dealers. (ISO22241). In the MY2009 R-class owner's manual, and in the pages pertaining to the refilling the adblue tank, there isn't any statements made that the owner must refill tank using MB Adblue. (pg. 375-377, 405)

All in all, as soon as my (coming) R350BT needs the AdBlue tank to be refilled, I will make sure that everything is competable, or at least be reasonably made compatible (i.e. using clean funnel instead of the MB can), to get the best bang for my buck while preserving my warranty.

Again, if one finds compatible, or even better OEM parts for less, why not go for them? Plus, please share where he/she found them too!

Cheers

P.S.: Hope I didn't hi-jacked the thread. If i did, please remove my posts.

 

[Wyatt_Earp]

I wuld just add that anyone that can fill wiper fluid can do this themselves. Here is what you need to do:

1. Find a frieghtliner class 5 and 8 truck dealer
2. Purchase a case of the MB Adblue (yes, it's the same thing in the benz big blocks!)
3. Follow the requirements and save major $$. It sells by the litre for just under $1 per litre and the BT's use approx. 25 to 30L of the stuff so say $40 after tax every 3 months if you drive lots.

 

[h2o_247]

Wyatt_Earp,

Thank you for the info. I will give my local FL dealership a try.

Regards

 

[Wyatt_Earp]

No worries.

I find far too many people get caught up in the benz thing that they don't see the forest from the trees. Don't get me wrong I love my R320 but taking it to a dealer for everything just isn't something I am going to do. Granted mine isn't a BT but the same methodology applies.

 

[TW10]

I wuld just add that anyone that can fill wiper fluid can do this themselves. Here is what you need to do:

1. Find a frieghtliner class 5 and 8 truck dealer
2. Purchase a case of the MB Adblue (yes, it's the same thing in the benz big blocks!)
3. Follow the requirements and save major $$. It sells by the litre for just under $1 per litre and the BT's use approx. 25 to 30L of the stuff so say $40 after tax every 3 months if you drive lots.

Smart Benz owners!!! I haven't lost hope yet LOL. It's just a car only the price tag enables Benz to do cool things like put great diesel engines in passenger cars where just about every automaker in the US has chickened out on the idea

The engineering efforts are complex the final application of the technology is built and works in such a way that the basics like breaks and yes fluids are easily delt with by the lowest common denominator your common shop guy - not the specialist but the shop grunt. Which case a well informed owner can easily handle these items on their own with the right information. I'm a firm believer that MB would have a much - much higher satisfaction rating and reliability rating if it spent time with its customers teaching them about the complex vehicle they have purchased.

 

[Wyatt_Earp]

It's a double edged sword I'm afraid. You see they sell these great cars to 2 groups of people. People who appreciate great engineering but don't want anything to do with it and those who do and want it to stay out of the shop!

 

[2008R320]

Smart Benz owners!!! I haven't lost hope yet LOL. It's just a car only the price tag enables Benz to do cool things like put great diesel engines in passenger cars where just about every automaker in the US has chickened out on the idea

The engineering efforts are complex the final application of the technology is built and works in such a way that the basics like breaks and yes fluids are easily delt with by the lowest common denominator your common shop guy - not the specialist but the shop grunt. Which case a well informed owner can easily handle these items on their own with the right information. I'm a firm believer that MB would have a much - much higher satisfaction rating and reliability rating if it spent time with its customers teaching them about the complex vehicle they have purchased.

No offence, but VW makes diesels that does not need the additive and still 50 states legal, that is the right engineering. OK the power output is nothing compared with the V6, but still...
MB in Europe is rolling out 2.2L 4Cyl diesels that will replace the 3.0V6, I'm just afraid that here is US that would not be that attractive, not enough cylinders = not enough power

 

[TW10]

No offence, but VW makes diesels that does not need the additive and still 50 states legal, that is the right engineering. OK the power output is nothing compared with the V6, but still...
MB in Europe is rolling out 2.2L 4Cyl diesels that will replace the 3.0V6, I'm just afraid that here is US that would not be that attractive, not enough cylinders = not enough power

True - though there is a reason VW only offers that in the fwd jetta. The added weight of a larger vehicle and AWD system would tax the 2L TDI enough to where the simple exhaust scrubber system would not pass muster with the emissions people. The Tiguan TDI is not here yet because VW is trying to sort out how or if they can avoid the adblue factor. Unless they figure out how to shed some weight from the Tiguan and further clean up the emissions from the heavier loaded TDI engine I doubt they can sneak past the need for adblue.

Which case the larger MB cars by both weight and the application of say the ML and GL of hauling some pretty hefty loads won't work with the basic exhaust filters hence the need for the adblue.

 

[2008R320]

True - though there is a reason VW only offers that in the fwd jetta. The added weight of a larger vehicle and AWD system would tax the 2L TDI enough to where the simple exhaust scrubber system would not pass muster with the emissions people. The Tiguan TDI is not here yet because VW is trying to sort out how or if they can avoid the adblue factor. Unless they figure out how to shed some weight from the Tiguan and further clean up the emissions from the heavier loaded TDI engine I doubt they can sneak past the need for adblue.

Which case the larger MB cars by both weight and the application of say the ML and GL of hauling some pretty hefty loads won't work with the basic exhaust filters hence the need for the adblue.

Agreed, but it is going to fun the see the development in the next couple of years.

 

[WallyR350]

No worries.

I find far too many people get caught up in the benz thing that they don't see the forest from the trees. Don't get me wrong I love my R320 but taking it to a dealer for everything just isn't something I am going to do. Granted mine isn't a BT but the same methodology applies.

I agree.:thumbsup:

 

[andyamit]

I see that from Adblue and Bluetecs this has morphed into a VW discussion..???
To get back to the main subject......I just found at a Pilot truck stop Adblue under the name of DEF with exactly the same ISO # at $13.99 for 2.5 gallons.
So for DIY owners that seems the way to go.
Also I have been discussing the flushing of the Bluetec tank with MB, the manual states every 20K miles. It seems that they mean every 2 years or 20K miles - which ever comes first.

 

[TW10]

Andy I had heard Pilot truck stops were stocking the emissions urea additive. Nice find. Say have you poked around the tank to see if there is an easy drain out the bottom for a simple garden hose rinse in the driveway? Sort of guessing there is a drain plug otherwise the rinse might be a little more complicated and a simple tool might be needed for a good rinse?

 

[andyamit]

Andy I had heard Pilot truck stops were stocking the emissions urea additive. Nice find. Say have you poked around the tank to see if there is an easy drain out the bottom for a simple garden hose rinse in the driveway? Sort of guessing there is a drain plug otherwise the rinse might be a little more complicated and a simple tool might be needed for a good rinse?

Not yet, I have another 1.5 years to go before I need to solve that one. The manual states:
"If AdBlue® is pumped out of the tank, e.g.
during repair work, the same liquid must not
be used to refill the tank as its purity is no
longer guaranteed.
So, maybe there is no drain plug, why make it too easy for us !!??