Even during the series production of the V160, the German Federal Railroad DB was considering heating trains on non-electrified lines electrically instead of with steam, as was previously the case. In order not to have to divert power for the operation of the generator from the main diesel engine MTU MB 16 V 652 TB (1900 HP) taken over from the V160, it was decided to use the 12-cylinder engine MAN/MTU D 3650 HM 3 U with an output of 500 HP as a heating diesel engine, which had proven itself from the VT 624 series of railcars to be installed from 1968 as a series 217 V162. After the three prototypes had proven themselves, the DB ordered a further twelve 217 pre-series locomotives in 1968. Maximum speed was limited to 130 km/h in the early years, after improvement of brake system 140 km/h were permitted. Because the 218 was ready for series production with electric train heating and without a separate heating diesel engine, no further construction was made. DB AG retired the last 217 in 2011.

Make sure that index CV31 is set to 16 and index CV32 is set to 1 before changing a volume CV.