[metrathon]

The 32"8"d is actually the 320d for the rest of the world. Why did they chose to bring over this (weaker) version of the engine it's beyond me, but they say it's gonna do around 40 mpg on the freeway. Something doesn't make sense and here's why:

1. The EU fuel economy for this car is 3.9 l/100km on the freeway and 5.6 l/100km city. That translates roughly to 60 US mpg freeway and 42 US mpg city.

2. I already get 39 mpg freeway with my 328i. Getting 40 or even 45 with the diesel would not be enough to sway ppl to buy it over the 328i.

What do you guys think?

[tdizzle]

Originally Posted by metrathon

The 32"8"d is actually the 320d for the rest of the world. Why did they chose to bring over this (weaker) version of the engine it's beyond me, but they say it's gonna do around 40 mpg on the freeway. Something doesn't make sense and here's why:

1. The EU fuel economy for this car is 3.9 l/100km on the freeway and 5.6 l/100km city. That translates roughly to 60 US mpg freeway and 42 US mpg city.

2. I already get 39 mpg freeway with my 328i. Getting 40 or even 45 with the diesel would not be enough to sway ppl to buy it over the 328i.

What do you guys think?

I dont think many people are getting 38mpg in the 328, but if you are nice work. (Hwy speeds being in excess of 70mph, I could see a steady 60-65 on a flat road getting high 30's though)

As for your question, I'm with you, diesels don't seem to sell well in the US, but one never knows. With good marketing it's possible. That's better than many hybrids. So someone in the market for a hybrid for mpg reasons could cross shop a diesel and see they could get more mpg and more power. May be worthwhile for that segment if they can also convince them away from the stigma of 'dirty diesels'

Diesels sell well in the rest of the world because of the amazing mpg and torque to boot.

[metrathon]

Originally Posted by tdizzle

I dont think many people are getting 38mpg in the 328, but if you are nice work. (Hwy speeds being in excess of 70mph, I could see a steady 60-65 on a flat road getting high 30's though)

I am constantly getting 38 mpg on my weekly commute Carlsbad - Santa Monica and back. Ain't a fluke. I'm doing 65 - 78 mph in a busy traffic with a few stop and go moments.

At 70 mph on a straight stretch I'm seeing 43 mpg instant. At 78 mph goes down to 39 mpg. Still good.

[robbieracer]

Originally Posted by metrathon

2. I already get 39 mpg freeway with my 328i. Getting 40 or even 45 with the diesel would not be enough to sway ppl to buy it over the 328i.

Since you drive primarily highway and are getting 5 - 6 mpg better than the EPA highway rating, I'd image you'd get 50+ mpg with the 320d ("328").
Not sure where the pricing will fall, It'd be nice if the price was below the 328i. Even if the price is similar, I think a lot of people will choose the diesel version for fuel economy. For myself, (or should I say my wife) I think the added torque and mpg would be great!

[tdizzle]

Originally Posted by robbieracer

Since you drive primarily highway and are getting 5 - 6 mpg better than the EPA highway rating, I'd image you'd get 50+ mpg with the 320d ("328").
Not sure where the pricing will fall, It'd be nice if the price was below the 328i. Even if the price is similar, I think a lot of people will choose the diesel version for fuel economy. For myself, (or should I say my wife) I think the added torque and mpg would be great!

I tend to agree. If many people are buying the 328 for it's slight fuel economy advantage over the 335 then they should choose the diesel even more, assuming the price is right.

The diesel should net you a noticeably bigger mpg gain over the 328 than the 328 has over the 335

[BMWinGE]

Originally Posted by robbieracer

Since you drive primarily highway and are getting 5 - 6 mpg better than the EPA highway rating, I'd image you'd get 50+ mpg with the 320d ("328").
Not sure where the pricing will fall, It'd be nice if the price was below the 328i. Even if the price is similar, I think a lot of people will choose the diesel version for fuel economy. For myself, (or should I say my wife) I think the added torque and mpg would be great!

+1

[ducefantastic]

The E90 version of the 335d was about $2k more than the 335i RWD. However, with the incentives available at the time, both through Eco Credits and Federal Tax savings, the 335d came out cheaper overall with better fuel and torque.

It failed (at least in the northeast) because it was only a rear-wheel vehicle. If the deisel comes out with the similar $2k over AND with AWD I think it will do well. Especially if it totes 40+ highway on the window sticker.

[Jamesons Viggen]

If you are like me and bettering the EPA estimates on a 328, then why hold the diesel to the estimates without doing the same real world driving?

Its too early to say, what the car will actually do, but if you can better the EPA numbers in the gas version, no reason to think the same wont be true of the diesel.

[WULFFZA]

Originally Posted by metrathon

2. I already get 39 mpg freeway with my 328i. Getting 40 or even 45 with the diesel would not be enough to sway ppl to buy it over the 328i.

Are you calculating this tank to tank or relying on the OBC for US mpg? they frequently over read 1-2mpg.

[Turbo00]

I get an honest 36-37 on the highway with no traffic going 70-75. My daily commute, if I keep it in eco, I get about 32-33 (50 miles round trip, 50/50 split around town/highway).

With the old 335d, 6-spd auto, people were regularly exceeding 40mpg. I'd have to guess that the new 4-cyl will be pushing 50 without too much effort, so if the price premium isn't massive I can see it doing alright. The issue is diesel pricing varies from state to state and pump to pump. I think the last time I noticed it was around $4.29 near me, and premium (93) is right around $4.00.

[Hayir]

EU test cycle and US test cycle are quiet different. You always get less in US cycle. Even the freeway cycle includes a cold start and deceleartion and acceleration. The 39mpg you get is fixed speed for a long time which diminishes the effect of cold start.

[metrathon]

Originally Posted by WULFFZA

Are you calculating this tank to tank or relying on the OBC for US mpg? they frequently over read 1-2mpg.

OBC. But I'll start calculating at the pump.

[WULFFZA]

Originally Posted by metrathon

OBC. But I'll start calculating at the pump.

I just put an "app for that" on my phone, there are a few options out there, and it keeps your fuel logs on one place. Now to find something that I can load all maintenance data on..

[breton]

BMW NA has actually posted the preliminary 45mpg highway figure on their website:

http://www.bmwusa.com/standard/conte...VCVDetailId=30

[rconti]

Originally Posted by ducefantastic

It failed (at least in the northeast) because it was only a rear-wheel vehicle. If the deisel comes out with the similar $2k over AND with AWD I think it will do well. Especially if it totes 40+ highway on the window sticker.

Ya think? How did BMW manage to sell cars at all back before the X5, then? Has the market in the northeast really shifted so much, so quickly, that large numbers of people are disinclined to buy non-AWD cars?

[rjberry]

Based upon my own 320d, my current average mpg is about 43mpg (US gallons that is). That is quite a mixed level of town/motorway driving and mostly in Comfort mode. Motorway speeds have been in the region of 70 with a few occasional blasts over this

The latest OBC readout shows 46mpg (US) after about 120 miles and still shows a range of 560 miles till empty.

It's a good engine with plenty of fun mixed with a bit of frugality

[ducefantastic]

Originally Posted by rconti

Ya think? How did BMW manage to sell cars at all back before the X5, then? Has the market in the northeast really shifted so much, so quickly, that large numbers of people are disinclined to buy non-AWD cars?

In the performance market no. But for every day driver's absolutely. It's unfortunate but try selling someone a cell phone without a camera in it. Once people have had something, they don't want to go without it.

[tdizzle]

Originally Posted by rjberry

Based upon my own 320d, my current average mpg is about 43mpg (US gallons that is). That is quite a mixed level of town/motorway driving and mostly in Comfort mode. Motorway speeds have been in the region of 70 with a few occasional blasts over this

The latest OBC readout shows 46mpg (US) after about 120 miles and still shows a range of 560 miles till empty.

It's a good engine with plenty of fun mixed with a bit of frugality

[Bradbury]

Drove 45 miles yesterday with an average speed of 60 mph and got 53 us-mpg. Call it 50 mpg to account for error margin in the obc. This is with the 1-series which is a bit lighter than the F30, but there were three of us in the car and the extra passengers more than make up for the weight difference.

There's no doubt this engine is capable of good mileage.

[pkimM3r]

Originally Posted by Bradbury

Drove 45 miles yesterday with an average speed of 60 mph and got 53 us-mpg. Call it 50 mpg to account for error margin in the obc. This is with the 1-series which is a bit lighter than the F30, but there were three of us in the car and the extra passengers more than make up for the weight difference.

There's no doubt this engine is capable of good mileage.

The 1series is pretty heavy. Not light at all.

[Bradbury]

Yes, my car is only 65 kg (~140 lbs) lighter than the equivalent EU F30. My two passengers weighed in at about the double of this. I seem to recall reading that the F30 has less drag than the F20, so 50 mpg should really be obtainable with the 328d.

Btw, my drive was in Comfort, not in Eco Pro.

[rconti]

Originally Posted by ducefantastic

In the performance market no. But for every day driver's absolutely. It's unfortunate but try selling someone a cell phone without a camera in it. Once people have had something, they don't want to go without it.

I can see that. It just seems that AWD cars have been around for so long, this would have happened sooner. Oh well.