Birmingham Clean Air Zone - forcing to look at new car(s)

Vx-Man-G

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2017
Messages
407
Reaction score
70
Your Mercedes
C-Class CDI
Hey guys,

Just wanted to get some ideas form you's.

We have currently a W204 C200 CDI/2010. Naturally this is not complaint with all the ULEZ cr4p flying around.

So, have started to explore the options of the W205, but apparently its got to be 2015 or newer, but I have seen some 2014 models which show up as compliant on the TFL ULEZ checker website.

So really, just trying to get an understanding from you good people about the options of upgrading, the CAZ in Birmingham compliance issues, and whether or not a 2014 model would be suitable, althought it states 2015+.

My fear is, the government originally said 3 years or younger, at that time 2015 was 3 years, im hoping they dont make it so it has to always be 3 years or younger, in whcih case further down the line even a 2014 wont suffice. Apparently something to do with Euro6 engines...

Thanks.
 

LostKiwi

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2006
Messages
31,328
Reaction score
21,575
Location
Midlands / Charente-Maritime
Your Mercedes
'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
Petrol is the answer....(or hybrid/electric)
 
  • Like
Reactions: DSK
OP
Vx-Man-G

Vx-Man-G

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2017
Messages
407
Reaction score
70
Your Mercedes
C-Class CDI
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #3
Yeh, thats what we have been exploring, but economy suffers on petrol and hybrids are a bit out of price range at the moment.
 

sl500amgsport

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2017
Messages
2,061
Reaction score
2,141
Location
Essex
Your Mercedes
SL500 2014
Buy petrol they will keep moving the goal posts as really they want to eradicate Diesel first followed by all internal combustion engines to meet their EU targets. If you want to keep your mode of transport long term push bike or horse, in 10 years this forum will be merged with Horse and Hound .





Mercedes SL500 R231
 
OP
Vx-Man-G

Vx-Man-G

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2017
Messages
407
Reaction score
70
Your Mercedes
C-Class CDI
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #5
LOL.
I do understand what your saying though. They need to offer some for of incentives to the world though, as they cannot just expect every one to be able to afford new cars. As you say, my fear is also the ongoing changes and the need for 3 years or younger.
 

LostKiwi

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2006
Messages
31,328
Reaction score
21,575
Location
Midlands / Charente-Maritime
Your Mercedes
'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
LOL.
I do understand what your saying though. They need to offer some for of incentives to the world though, as they cannot just expect every one to be able to afford new cars. As you say, my fear is also the ongoing changes and the need for 3 years or younger.
They don't expect everyone to buy new cars, they expect everyone to use public transport. That's the real endgame as it removes much of the need for road planning, space set aside for car parks, congestion etc and provides a healthy income for local government (at the expense of central government) in the form of licences for transport companies.
 

malcolm E53 AMG

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2005
Messages
6,993
Reaction score
4,596
If you are going diesel as far as emissions are concerned you must buy EU6 or you’re likely to get caned for pollution charges over the next 5+ years, I anticipate most of the larger cities will introduce emission zone charges. I’d seriously look at and try the petrol versions available I’ve already made the jump and the DI 3 litre I’m using gives 27-35 mpg so I imagine a 1.8/2.0 motor should give 33-40.

if you buy a petrol model now you should be able future proof the car for 10 years without tripping up on emissions
 

sl500amgsport

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2017
Messages
2,061
Reaction score
2,141
Location
Essex
Your Mercedes
SL500 2014
Don't get hung up on mpg, petrol is cheaper to buy so factor this in too.

The bureaucracy is crazy, I can drive my 4.7l V8 around the City of London f.o.c. with 2 fingers up to Khan, yet my 2012 2.2 diesel would have been charged, whilst local buses and taxes are still allowed huge plumes of smoke, barmy!


Mercedes SL500 R231
 

malcolm E53 AMG

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2005
Messages
6,993
Reaction score
4,596
The dash to diesel was always going to end in tears it was only good for commercial vehicles, farm and ships use. We all knew about particulate emissions from diesels being a problem but the double whammy has turned out to be Nitrogen oxide produced and the subsequent amounts poisoning our air.

An interesting thing I read in the paper this morning about aircraft contrails which I though were the effect of frozen molecules of water it seems that that is half true the ice forms on burnt fuel particles so you learn something every day
 

bob 6600

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2010
Messages
2,461
Reaction score
473
Your Mercedes
Audi S8 V10, S210 E320 CDI (R.I.P.)
Ignore the 3/4 year guide, look for Euro 6 compliant diesels or Euro 4 for petrols
 

LostKiwi

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2006
Messages
31,328
Reaction score
21,575
Location
Midlands / Charente-Maritime
Your Mercedes
'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
My Harley is petrol & not ULEZ compliant.
All my cars are petrol and all are Euro 3 or earlier yet both the 210 and 230 are Euro 4 compliant for NOx so able to be used in central London.
The Birmingham proposals my be different but if they use the same criteria....
 

Craiglxviii

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2015
Messages
17,781
Reaction score
7,426
Location
Cambs UK
Your Mercedes
970 Panamera Turbo; W221 S500L AMG Line, C215 CL500, W251 R350L AMG Line, plus several more now gone
ULEZs are mandating Euro4 for petrol or Euro6 for diesel. My 2015 W212 was Euro6d. It’s worth checking what compliance rating your car is via the VIN checker.
 

LostKiwi

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2006
Messages
31,328
Reaction score
21,575
Location
Midlands / Charente-Maritime
Your Mercedes
'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
ULEZs are mandating Euro4 for petrol or Euro6 for diesel. My 2015 W212 was Euro6d. It’s worth checking what compliance rating your car is via the VIN checker.
I used the TfL checker where you input the Reg number.
 

sonic

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2009
Messages
3,578
Reaction score
2,382
Location
Staffordshire
Your Mercedes
E350CDI, SLC250d, FJR 1300
The start on the Birmingham ULEZ has been put back 6 months, problems with databases.
We are 20 miles from Birmingham & occasionally go there by car.
My wife’s 2010 SLK200K Euro3 is compliant, my E350CDI Euro5 is not. But my wife’s road tax is £50 a year more than mine.
If I switched from Diesel to petrol, my fuel bill would go up about £500 P/A. So I am sticking with diesel.




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
OP
Vx-Man-G

Vx-Man-G

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2017
Messages
407
Reaction score
70
Your Mercedes
C-Class CDI
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #17
I have started to look into a decent Auto Petrol C-Class, and then converting it to LPG, that way it would be compliant and also economical.

I dont think LPG is going to be phased out....is it?
 

LostKiwi

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2006
Messages
31,328
Reaction score
21,575
Location
Midlands / Charente-Maritime
Your Mercedes
'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
LPG should be around a while longer I would think. It's more environmentally friendly than pretty much any other carbon based fuel.
 
OP
Vx-Man-G

Vx-Man-G

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2017
Messages
407
Reaction score
70
Your Mercedes
C-Class CDI
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #19
Will start exploring vehicle options. A conversion for a 4 cylinder car will cost around £750...
 

JBell

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2011
Messages
14,845
Reaction score
7,186
Location
Torquey
Your Mercedes
C350 CDi Estate (GAD Edition)

d:class automotive are specialists in automotive interiors and upholstery. From Mercedes and modern cars to custom and classics. Tel: 01483 722923 Email:info@dclass.co.ukWeb:www.dclass.co.uk
Top Bottom