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Old 09-13-2019, 01:17 PM   #1
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Join Date: May 2019
Location: Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
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Year: 2008
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Engine: CAT C7 300hp w/retarder
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MBE906 Mercedes Engine: Any Thoughts

I have located a 2005 Thomas safety liner 38’ with 78” headroom and A/C w/ three evaporator/head units, w/appx 180k miles. The only thing that puts me off about it is that it has the Mercedes MB906 engine. I just know very little about that engine. Anyone have any experience with this or relevant info, I’d like to hear it.

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Old 09-13-2019, 01:33 PM   #2
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I have not any personal experience but have been told that they super expensive to work on, though i could be wrong. maybe someone could educate me as well.
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Old 09-13-2019, 01:44 PM   #3
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I looked at a bus with a Mercedes engine. Before making a purchase decision I looked at service options. The nearest shop that I could find is 70 miles away. There is a shop 2 miles away that services Navistar and three Cummings shops within 5 miles.

Parts and service for Navistar and Cummins are more easily availabile across the country than Mercedes.

So........ I bought a Cummins.
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Old 09-13-2019, 01:49 PM   #4
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Join Date: May 2019
Location: Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
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Year: 2008
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner HDX
Engine: CAT C7 300hp w/retarder
Rated Cap: 46 + 1 36,200 lbs
As I understand it, Mercedes Benz bought freightliner back in the early 2000‘s and that there is also a relationship with Detroit Diesel. I’ve read that the Mercedes truck engines from this period are operated with Detroit Diesel control systems and that the stuff is all serviceable through freightliner or by anybody who has the tools to service those brands.
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Old 09-13-2019, 02:08 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wrenchtech View Post
I have located a 2005 Thomas safety liner 38’ with 78” headroom and A/C w/ three evaporator/head units, w/appx 180k miles. The only thing that puts me off about it is that it has the Mercedes MB906 engine. I just know very little about that engine. Anyone have any experience with this or relevant info, I’d like to hear it.
Ask member 'JoeBlack5' for his detailed experience with this engine, if he does not chime in here.

The MB906 is know to be a reliable engine. However, if you cannot/do not want to work on it yourself, dealer maintenance will be more expensive than with Cummins and Navistar. CAT can be as pricey as MB.

If the bus is a cherry that checks all your boxes, I would not let the MB906 discourage me.
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Old 09-13-2019, 02:29 PM   #6
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Join Date: May 2019
Location: Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Posts: 415
Year: 2008
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner HDX
Engine: CAT C7 300hp w/retarder
Rated Cap: 46 + 1 36,200 lbs
The $4500 asking price for this 2005 Thomas pusher with extra headroom and AC seems like a pretty good deal. I have seen plenty of these lately without AC and with a low roof asking around $10,000, and $14,000 with air conditioning.
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Old 09-13-2019, 03:51 PM   #7
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Year: 1999
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Engine: DT466/3060
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05, EGR nightmare potential, expensive engine to work on, I'll pass.
If the going rate for that year is $10-$14K, why is this one so cheap? Read the first sentence.
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Old 09-13-2019, 03:55 PM   #8
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from a friend of mine who runs a lot of Merc on his route busses.. he swears by them... sue they can be pricey to work on and if you arent mechanical yourself, shop labor may be higher..



HOWEVER


remember that just because it hasnt been till recently we saw Mercedes trucks in the USA... mercedes work trucks have bene all over europe for many years.. Merc has alot of experience in trucks and diesels both...



with more and more mercedes trucks in use in the states all the time.. id expect to see more and more shops to work on it.. **AND** freightliner who is everywhere.. works on mercedes and CAT engines..


like any and all diesel engines they are more expensive to work on than your Honda civic.. and even more expensive if you cant work on them yourself


-Christopher
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Old 09-13-2019, 04:28 PM   #9
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Join Date: May 2015
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Chassis: Amtran / International
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Mercedes engines are popular in Central America, good motors. Here in the USA, you better learn to fix them your self cause Mercedes mechanics are few and far apart.
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Old 12-11-2019, 12:58 PM   #10
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Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 68
Year: 2004
Coachwork: Freightliner
Chassis: S2
Engine: 6.4 MBE 906
I have one and its runs like a champ. I did have to take it to a diesel shop to have the ECM reflashed to remove the governed speed of 55mph. Only set me back 200$ But now I can open it up to the blazing fast speed of 65mph and then 80mph downhill lol

To be honest I was worried too...lots of terrible news that can be found on many busses more that other in some instances. At some point in the very near future all our diesels will be electronically controlled.
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🚌 2005 Freightliner 30', MBE 906 6.4L, AT 2500PTS
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Old 11-30-2022, 10:06 PM   #11
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Mbe906

Hello, I was a dyno operator for ddrw in Tooele Ut. back in 2005ish we started getting the 906's to reman. We were given strict orders to report and ship back to Germany any engines that failed Dyno, especially engines that dropped valves. Well we had 2 that I can remember that dropped valves, then after I left DDRW I went to work for a ski area that had snow cats with you guessed it 906's. I can remember 2 of those engines dropping valves as well. I would give them a pass
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Old 11-30-2022, 10:19 PM   #12
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This is an old thread...but since it's been revived I'll add my recent (actually current) experience in case anyone else is looking at a MBE engine. Yes, it's similar to a Detroit and the one in my driveway right now is in a Freightliner. But despite that, the local Freightliner dealer won't touch it and the non-Freightliner mobile mechanic who came out could read and translate any engine fault codes *except* the Mercedes ones. He could pull the codes, but without the specific (and he said, expensive) MB software he couldn't translate those codes and when he called (whomever he called) they wouldn't give him that info.

So, they seem to be well-regarded quality engines. But when you need service, it seems to be hard to find. Right now, the owner is looking at a tow to either Las Vegas or Phoenix.
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