Mercedes-Benz is not putting into priority the development of direct water-injection system to its engine cylinders as of the moment. That is according to the interview of the company’s head of research and cars development Dr. Thomas Weber with Australia’s Motoring website.

Based on the report, BMW is gearing to unveil a version of its M4 this coming summer that uses water-injection. The system is designed to improve the cooling of the car’s cylinder and make its emissions cleaner.

On the part of Mercedes, Weber stated it has a little comparison with variable-compression ratios for engines. He added the investment-to-result ratio to put the technology into production is also a key concern. The exec said it just doesn’t work.

The source noted that while Mercedes did not dismiss outright the development of the system some time in the future, the problems it sees in the technology currently makes it hard to implement.

Weber explained the biggest problem is where the water comes from. He revealed that their own study found out the water-injection system can cool down cylinder temperatures but they do not see it as an efficient measure. The source did not elaborate further about the issues seen by Weber and his team, but it quoted the Daimler Board Member and head of Mercedes research as saying that the technology is not an optional way to reduce the temperature of Mercedes-Benz engine cylinders.

Weber’s counterpart in BMW Klauss Fröhlich strongly believes water-injection will work on their part though. He insisted that the system will deliver more power to the engine and enable it produce lower emissions.