There were three main arguments in favour of a parting of the ways with the traditional prechamber engine: The new injection method cut fuel consumption by around 15 percent. True, the price of oil was still less than two dollars per barrel and would not exceed that mark until 1973.
But the tax burden on fuel climbed noticeably. From 1950 to 1960 the tax share of the price of a litre of diesel was just about four pfennigs (the equivalent of around two euro cents). As of April 1960 taxes rose almost sixfold to just under 23 pfennigs per litre (about twelve cents), increasing once again on New Year's 1964 by more than 50 percent to a good 35 pfennigs (equivalent to about 18 cents) per litre. So a 15 percent consumption reduction was music to the ears of hauliers and Bus entrepreneur.
Mercedes–Benz O 317 with OM 346, Year of construction 1966
Mercedes-Benz O 302 with OM 352, Year of construction 1966