Im thinking about getting a new deisel for myself. My 81 is getting kinda old. What years did they stop making deisel engines and when did they bring them back?

 

Well, they never stopped making them, but MB did stop importing them into the US in 88,89, 94.

It had to do with California emissions mandates. The latest diesel to come soon out will be a V-8 CDI that produces huge hp's and huge ft. lbs of torque. Sorry I don't have the specs. Currently there is a V-6 CDI.

 

The last Mercedes diesel vehicle sold in the U.S. was the 1999 E 300 turbodisel, which only 3,472 were sold; 26,637 E320s (sedans only) were sold in the same year. The diesel was priced at $42,400, compared to $46,200 for E 320.

Diesel vechicles were never big hits in the U.S. mainly because fuel-efficiency was never a concern, until now.
Diesels are popular in Europe and Asia because some countries have lower taxes on diesel which makes it cheaper compared to gasoline (petro).
But in states like California, where diesel usually sell for the price of premium gasoline (now its even higher) and many gas station don't have diesel available.
The U.S. government also doesn't apply huge tax rates on gas, which is the reason why prices are so high in European countries (Capitalism vs Socialism).

 

Thx for the help guyz. That really helps. But you all had different answers. So sorry to ask you all this, but what years would be available for sale in the US?

 

E320 CDI is the only diesel model in the U.S., excluding California, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont.

 

My info is correct up to 1994, after that I assumed diesel car production continued to date, but I guess the line was 1999 according to MioCLK. I'm not as current on the later diesel cars, I am more familiar with the 123, 124, and 126, model MB diesel cars from the late 70's and on up to 1995, the last production year for the 124.

Summery: No diesels imported to US in 88-89-94-2000 and limited from 2000 to present, to all states except Calif, Maine, Mass, New York, and Vermont........ Are you confused yet?

So look for an 86-87 300SDL, or, 87 300D, or, 90-91-92-93-95 300D or 300SD, but stay away from the 350 diesel engines used in the later SD's as they are bad engines. Any MB diesel from 1996 up, I have little to no knowledge about and you should ask someone else.

Hope I have been of some help........Good luck......BB

 

WOW, benzbob you are so helpful. Thank you so much!