[HighlandPete]

To give a feel for why the smaller 318i or 320i petrol are the best (E90 3-series petrol) seller in the UK.

UK 2011 sales, reported in Diesel Car.

3-series: total sales 42,471 of which 32,895 were diesel
5-series: total sales 21,703 of which 20,665 were diesel
7-series: total sales 1,471 of which 1,379 were diesel
X3: total sales 5,100 of which 5,098 were diesel (just 2 were petrol)
X5: total sales 5,459 of which 5,363 were diesel

The bigger petrol engines are becoming rare motors in the UK. See how the luxury market in the 7-series is still dominated by the diesel engine.

We are virtually priced out of the petrol engines, on running costs, so only the smaller cars have a reasonable percentage of petrol motors, and small capacity engines at that.

HighlandPete