We have a problem with a delayed (big style) response from a 6 month old E270Cdi Mercedes. Following vid clip (1.9Mb) shows it nicely:
Bog-all happens for the next second - it takes a full second for the revs to go from idle to 2000rpm; the car moves all of about 2 metres (chack signpost out the window). Then the car starts to move and finally 2 seconds after having pressed the throttle we get full boost and revs at torque converter stall speed, whereupon we have meaningful acceleration (camera moves backwards then forwards again).
That's a full second delay from nailing the throttle to anything happening and a 2 second delay between nailing the throttle and the car accelerating.
Either this car is broken (but it doesn't blink anything at you to say so, and I'd expect it to given the festive dashbaord warning lights and urgent sounding blings giving you a heart attack and letting you know the washer bottle is only half full); or Mercedes have been playing stupid games with the engine management system to clean up the emissions. (if they put a 'ramp up' curve on the throttle response, or introduce some more playdough between throttle and engine, then the diesel emissions won't be quite so bad?)
It takes a second for stuff to happen if you nail it. 'Ease' the throttle in traffic or on the open road, and it can take as long as three seconds. The temptation (instinct) is to apply even more throttle whilst waiting for things to happen, which means when they do the turbo goes wohooo autobox kicks down and you're away and having to back off again. Repeat for 3 hours and the gut feeling is not unlike seasickness....
Oddly cruise control seems to work without this delay, which makes me think the ECU responds to its own instructions but not the driver's.
It gets 25mpg around town and 38mpg at a constant 120km/h (70mph?); which is godawful for a diesel as slow as this one - the s-type Jag (3.0 petrol) it replaced also did 25mpg around town and 36mpg at constant 80mph, only it actually shifted some when so instructed.
The car is in SA, but is full RHD Euro spec (UK spec) with two exceptions - it doesn't carry a fire extinguisher because they're not mndatory, and there is no precious metals in the catalyst because emissions are not controlled here.
Is it broken, or have Mercedes been playing silly games? If silly games - can the engine management be remapped in any way such as to respond to the driver's instructions? Huge power hikes are not in order really - as at 6000ft and 35C ambient air temperature turbo engines have a habit of melting even at standard output. (newish Impreza turbos must be de-catted for example; else the ceramic in the cat melts when on-boost and goes through the tubocharger...)
Anybody got an E270Cdi, or better still experience of a remapped one, or know how to fix this one if it is actually broken?
And apologies in advance for such a poor choice in car - it ain't ours its dad's company motor out here in SA; and it was purchased on the basis its the biggest heaviest car (also with the most side airbags) dad could get on the company scheme. You'll understand why it was chosen on that basis the first time you drive in Johannesburg... Its the deisel instead of the petrol because the 2.4 normally aspirated petrol is limp at sea level and even more so when you knock 15% power/torque off due to altitude. The turbodiesel boosts such that manifold pressure is always the same whether at sea level or 6000ft, so doesn't suffer so much with the altitude. Logical, albeit boring!
Cheers