German Car Zone

Hmmm... While I'm not aware of the offers marques like MB and BMW have established with respect to urea re-fills, I'm pretty sure the prices you mentioned are nigh-on impossible. If they turned out to be even remotely accurate, I'd be very surprised!

Pinning a particular cost to AdBlue is not easy, as every computer-controlled selective catalytic reduction system conditions the engine to operate in a different way. Also, I'm assuming most new Mercs have not only an SCR chamber upstream of the 2-way Catcon, but also a lean NOx trap (NOx reduction and storage being a more promising and way less complicated technology.. All that's left is for it to be perfected).

So, really, you're not using a whole lot of AdBlue in your Merc. If you don't have a lean NOx trap, even at very high engine loads, I doubt you'd be consuming more than 6-8 liters per 100 liters of diesel (sounds like a lot, I know). If you do, then the NOx trap will filter out a significant portion of the NOx anyway (I don't have any efficiency figures, but I'm guessing anywhere from 40-60%?) and so the amount of urea the exhaust sensors will inject into the exhaust gas upstream of the SCR is probably low.

I think AdBlue works best with larger applications, where a slight increase in cost won't matter a lot (like HGVs or huge diesel generators), so hopefully, it WILL be replaced soon by the sort of NOx storage and reduction systems as VW has debuted on both the Tiguan and the (Jetta SportWagen, I think?). Still, SCR is an awesome technology!

I'd say it most definitely is.. Ease of use is not a biggie in this department though, but it should be. (I know it is very prominent in HGVs, for example, which need more regular refills).

(Also, hello all! I've been a lurker here for a few months..)

Hello...and welcome....nice car in your "garage".


M

Well I've worked for MB for 10 years and priced the adblue right through our parts department. Did find out that a big part of the per bottle cost is the bottle, which is designed for the Mercedes and to twist onto the tank and prevent spilling. Our dealer is installing a 55 gallon pump. Don't know what price per gallon will be.

If you can pee 8 gallons at once then you are on to something.
I'm sure there will be info on how to trick the system. The adblue is like 70% water or so. So, it seems to me you could put pure water in the tank, and reset the cars computer and keep on motoring. It's just figuring out how to reset.

Daimler uploaded a video which shows how to use the refill bottle.

YouTube - Mercedes-Benz AdBlue Technology