2007 Freightliner Columbia MBE 4000

Remember if the motor has 1.4 million miles..... so does the transmission, rears, drive shaft ect... I would not buy that truck

 

06? Freightliner? Mercedes? No dealership shop paperwork showing major repairs on engine, tranny and rears? 1.4 million? Export unit worth maybe 10k but prolly less but not a penny more.

I would pass the truck at any price myself. That engine is junk IMO...... tell hub to leave it there.

Good luck

 

Not sure how many posters have owned an MBE motor, but here is some direct ownership experience...
Overall, a decent small motor. Great on fuel, but low on power overall compared to todays motor's of 500+hp. Coupled to a 13 speed, they are OK to live with.
Parts are relatively cheap, and most parts are easy to change DIY.
It is all going to depend on what he is going to use it for in my experience.
I had mine for 8yrs, from brand new.

Martin

 

I had a 2006. It was reliable as hell, always started, even down to -34C over the weekend with only the Espar engine heater to warm it up. I got 7.5 mpg imp average over an entire year pulling 53' dry van. It really liked to run no more than 1500 rpm for fuel economy.
I did do an in-frame on mine at 900,000 km, but I did do two years of super B train hauling grain leading up to that point. I would not recommend it for heavy haul, but it was good for five axle work.

 

My experience with owning an 05' Freightliner with a Mercedes for the last 8 years is that it is almost bulletproof. Better on fuel and more reliable than any engine from that engine from that era.

BUT at 1.4 million, any truck is close to the end of its life unless a lot of money is invested.

 

MBE4000
Pro&comtra

Engine starts up well when it is cold outdoors
No gel problem
OHV design, easy to remove head and do inframe in yard
Reliable PLD injection, cheap nozzles, easy to fix injection system, no difficult ajustments
Easy to do valve lash (0.4mm in, 0.6mm out)
Very good timing system and geartraine (no bull gear problems)
Good lubrication system


what is bad?
DPF
EGR system
unusual for US truck electronics with two ECMs that control engine FR (VCI) + MR (PLD)
sometimes gaskets leak coolant
DEF (if used)
electronically governed torque at low engine speed (you have to shift more times)
rear gears (u have to drop tranny for any geartrain work)
many engine parts are made in Europe with some delay delivered to other markets

 

And Pablo....just about every bolt, every part, everything has to be sourced from Freightliner. A very proprietary engine with little competition for parts sales creating a captive market.

There are good ones, no doubt. I know guys that love them. But more often than not I've seen many with problems. Just total junk that can't move 5 feet without a parts truck behind them. And true enough, seen some Cat's the same way......

This is not just my opinion either, 2 Columbia's on the same lot with equal mileage and condition...one Mercedes and one Detroit, the Detroit will fetch 10k more everyday. They just have a bad rap here.......

JMO

 

really that's why I have series 60

 

Pablo, I have not experienced any low torque issues at low speeds. Maybe what you are describing is a different tune from a different market? It seems to me that most here were geared way too fast causing a perception of being gutless.
Mine pulls hard down to 1050 RPM

Parts are comparable in price to Series 60. Haven't checked aftermarket as I'm not interested. Turbo-brake is the only exception to this. Brake portion only.

Best to find a Non EGR version of any engine.