[zaphodsplanet]

I know this may seem like a totally insane question but has anyone ever looked into converting an ML320 into an ML270 CDI here in the states? Gas prices are making me want to puke these days and I sometimes wonder how hard a conversion of this kind might be. Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,
Z

 

[roadsession]

i would wait for a 320cdi...

 

[Alex L]

LPG could be a good option (Autogas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

discussed here as well http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w163-m-class/1266844-lpg-car-coversion-anyone-here.html

 

[asianml]

After spending the money to convert it, how long would it take to recoup the costs?

 

[zaphodsplanet]

LOL... very true.... would probably be cheaper to just buy a new ML320 CDI.....

Almost wish they would offer it (new ML) in a 4 or 5 banger..... sure it would be slow but would gladly deal with it for higher MPG.... hell... not much could be slower then the 2 W123's I've owned in the past.... When I can finally afford something newer and CDI.... I might try to see if I can do this crazy "Browns Gas" conversion I found online with my current ML320. Brown's Gas is unseparated Hydrogen and Oxygen. I'll wait to try this until this is a second car... in case I blow it up....LOL

 

[Alex L]

here in the uk conversion can be anywhere between £1500-1800. lpg costs 1/2 price of the petrol and the fuel consumption stays the same. taking an average cost of the petrol £0.90/litre and cosidering 21 mpg (combined) for the ML320 means its well worth installing the system when you drive at least 10K miles per year (right for the uk prices on gas).

here is the math.
1. 70l full tank costs here £63/ea
2. it is enough for around 388 miles
3. lets say you make 10K miles a year which will normally cost you 26 fillups (£1,640.00)
4. if you invest into lpg it will bring your cost down to £840 per year since the price of lpg is half price of the petrol.
5. meaning after 2 years of at least 10K miles each you will starting saving your money.

i myself made around 18K in the first year of owning an ML so if i installed it in the first place, it would start working for me already now.

 

[zaphodsplanet]

Maybe I'll look into that..... I'm driving somewhere between 25-30K miles a year right now..... I know our gas prices don't hold a candle to what you pay in the UK but it's just starting to add up at close to $3 (USD) a gallon. So I'm really starting to notice it when I fill up.

 

[A210 AMG]

Hello

sorry I'm from the UK so $3 dollars a gallon.... thats about £1.50 for us... (Our gallon is around £4.50 or $9

Heck I would have a ML55 in the states, always makes me smile when I'm over there and hire a Camero or similar (3.6l autos and its £25 to fill it)


Seriously though LPG would be the way to go if you do the sort of miles you do. Just make sure you keep it long enough to make it pay.


Cheers

 

[zaphodsplanet]

You must not drive nearly as much as we do....LOL.... OMG... $9 a gallon gas in the USA and there will be riots..... of course how many miles is it across the UK? I have to drive all day (quite literally)... just to get out of Texas.... yee haw...LOL Wait... you also drive a model that we can't get here in the US.... the A....

Cheers
Z

 

[DrX]

"Diesel engine" is definitely a factory-only specification. I'd suggest you import an ML270 CDI from Europe, swap over any mods you can't live without, then sell ML320.

Of course, a conversion is possible. It's just too complicated and therefore expensive to do.

 

[DelJ]

Here is what you should do:

Place a wooden block under the gas pedal so that the pedal only goes down a quarter or so of the full travel. This will simulate the smaller engine and reduce fuel consumption.

Seriously, the mpg will not get that much better with a smaller engine as the total vehicle weight will not change that much. After all, there was only a 1 mpg difference between the ML430 and the ML320.

DelJ

....Almost wish they would offer it (new ML) in a 4 or 5 banger..... sure it would be slow but would gladly deal with it for higher MPG....