[Junkyard]

Originally Posted by 535desire

Good point-some states are providing tax incentives to retailers to carry ever increasing biodiesel percentages, making it difficult to find approved fuel.

All BMW diesels sold in N America since 2009 are approved for use of up to 5% biodiesel.

Unfortunately in Illinois, the biodiesel portion may be up to 11%, which may make one reconsider a diesel BMW (or any diesel for that matter; I think that VW owners face the same problem).

Pork loving politicians trying to buy the farmer votes by adding pork (or soy beans) to your tank.

[535desire]

Originally Posted by Junkyard

Unfortunately in Illinois, the biodiesel portion may be up to 11%, which may make one reconsider a diesel BMW.

The difference is that IL doesn't mandate the biodiesel content. There is still straight diesel available there. Retail pumps are required to be labeled with their range of biodiesel content when it is above 5%.

Other states like Minnesota are discussing a mandate of B20 (20% biodiesel). That is going to be a problem.

[Junkyard]

Originally Posted by 535desire

The difference is that IL doesn't mandate the biodiesel content. There is still straight diesel available there. Retail pumps are required to be labeled with their range of biodiesel content when it is above 5%.

Other states like Minnesota are discussing a mandate of B20 (20% biodiesel). That is going to be a problem.

Yep. That's why I went with the 335i. I didn't want to take the chance. Probably why BMW does not sell too many diesels in the Midwest. Which is unfortunate because the torque and the fuel efficiency of these engines is amazing.

[NRG]

I knew me E70 is going to be my first and last diesel car... 2015 X5M here I come.

[watrob]

Originally Posted by Mako

there is no way those MPG numbers are accurate for US EPA testing. An Audi A3 using similar diesel with less power only gets 32 city and 40 highway. 40 City and 60+ highway is not possible, I am guessing there is a conversion problem here.

If it was true, I think the Prius would be in serious trouble as lots of "wealthy" people buy it just for its environmental image, they would probably much rather drive a BMW that gets 50 MPG on average!

Just a note, I understand you don't get the M50d engine in the US, but currently get better economy (city driving) out of my M50d than I did with my M-Sport 35d and I have the same option on this X5 and my M50d is slightly heavier. Its also the combination of the 8 speed gearbox as well!

[Fraggy]

It doesn't much matter to me either way, because I hopefully will never have to buy one. But I cannot believe how excited people in the US are about such a downgrade. You get a car that clicks and clanks and makes all the diesel noises we have come to love over the years, and it has an exhaust note that equals the sound of an elephant farting.

[535desire]

Originally Posted by Fraggy

It doesn't much matter to me either way, because I hopefully will never have to buy one. But I cannot believe how excited people in the US are about such a downgrade. You get a car that clicks and clanks and makes all the diesel noises we have come to love over the years, and it has an exhaust note that equals the sound of an elephant farting.

you don't know what you're talking about

Comparing 530d to 535i:
0 to 100kmh (sec): 6.0 vs 5.8 manual/5.9 auto
80-120kmh the 530d is a full second faster
535i uses >40% more fuel.

bmwuk site shows the 530d a few hundred $ cheaper.

[NRG]

Originally Posted by Fraggy

It doesn't much matter to me either way, because I hopefully will never have to buy one. But I cannot believe how excited people in the US are about such a downgrade. You get a car that clicks and clanks and makes all the diesel noises we have come to love over the years, and it has an exhaust note that equals the sound of an elephant farting.

+1

[uter]

An F31 with diesel could spawn a group of some very loyal drivers. Hypermiling in a touring sounds great to me.

[Fraggy]

Originally Posted by 535desire

you don't know what you're talking about

Comparing 530d to 535i:
0 to 100kmh (sec): 6.0 vs 5.8 manual/5.9 auto
80-120kmh the 530d is a full second faster
535i uses >40% more fuel.

bmwuk site shows the 530d a few hundred $ cheaper.

But it's not sophisticated. It's utilitarian.

[jackaleyess]

Not sure bout d 6cyl. But d 4 cyc isnt d famous N47 engine? So is it only the usa getting it or it will be an upgrade to current 320d?

[dmz]

Yeah, those numbers are for imperial gallon from the UK. An imperial gallon is approximately equal to 1.201 U.S. gallons. So, 50 mpg in the UK would be rated much lower in the US.

Originally Posted by Mako

there is no way those MPG numbers are accurate for US EPA testing. An Audi A3 using similar diesel with less power only gets 32 city and 40 highway. 40 City and 60+ highway is not possible, I am guessing there is a conversion problem here.

If it was true, I think the Prius would be in serious trouble as lots of "wealthy" people buy it just for its environmental image, they would probably much rather drive a BMW that gets 50 MPG on average!

[535desire]

Originally Posted by dmz

Yeah, those numbers are for imperial gallon from the UK. An imperial gallon is approximately equal to 1.201 U.S. gallons. So, 50 mpg in the UK would be rated much lower in the US.

No- the conversion is correct for US mpg (5.4L/100km city, 3.9L/100km highway and 4.5L/100km combined), but they are a result of using the European test cycle. The reason they won't be close to the EPA numbers is because the EPA test cycle forces high consumption.

The Euro test cycle numbers on the other hand are derived from a pretty frugal driving method.

[M5007]

It has to come in a manual transmission. It's only natural pairing.

[latebloomer]

Wagon, diesel and I am sold... Give us a manual option please.. When can we order?

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by discoboy1

about time! great news, I assume it will be the same for Canada, my wishlist 320d touring with M sportpackage!!!

No doubt. About time!

[ellekz]

Can't believe how excited people are in the states about the 4cyl-Diesels

I can assure you, the mileage is f#cking crazy on these things.

Just for the fun of it I once rode my car (320d E92) really really hard for a trip Berlin->Nuremberg and the pedal was _always_ on the floor (it's the Autobahn ). It was a 400km trip (~250miles) and I made it in 2 hours (lots of construction on the way). I resetted the mileage beforehand and ended up with a confirmed 8.6l/100km, which is over 27mpg US !! And believe me, I was NOT taking it slow at any point, always trying to hit the speed limiter (155mph) as soon as possible.

At first, this doesn't sound like that great of a number. But try to do 250miles in 2 hours with a gas engine and you end up at probably much less than 15mpg.

When I drive a little slower (~100mph) the mileage is about 34mpg. Cruising at ~75mph it's around 40-45mpg. And all of these are real life numbers and not some piece of paper made in a vacuum.

0-62 in ~7.5s stock but I have a software tune and 0-62 is ~6.9s. The torque is f*cking crazy though.


Drawbacks:

* DPF sucks if you're from the city

* Can't do anything with the exhaust (mostly because of the DPF)

* Revving engine sounds boring; standing at traffic lights though, I don't hear any engine noise because the engine turns itself off

* The turbo lag... back then I wished the 123d-engine was available in the E92 which has a small and a large turbo and THAT thing is amazing.

* No ~50/50 weight distribution anymore because the diesel engine is heavier, which leads to more understeer if you're on the race track

* No revs.. it's not a race car after all and you shouldn't confuse it for one


I know most of the real cool stuff about driving a BMW gets lost (weight distribution, high revs, awesome engine sound, ...) but still: if you want a really awesome daily driver with simply amazing mileage - this is it.

By the way: The diesel fuel here also costs ~1eur less per gallon, so you save twice. And diesel fuel here has ~7% biodiesel in it (I think someone said earlier the BMW diesel engine can't handle that bio-crap mixed into the fuel?)

Edit:
I also wanted to say something about BMW doesn't understand the US market. I don't think they're stupid. This has something to do with image. I think in the US the BMW-brand has much more prestige than it does here and that's because you get (mostly) only the amazing cars and engines. Becoming too mainstream is just that - going mainstream. Some people who want to buy an M6, probably don't want to get associated with an 114i or 116d. In a market like yours, you can't expect people to pay that much money for a car that "everyone" has. I think the US mainstream market is dominated too much by US and Asian cars. They can probably make more money focusing on the upper class than there.
Just guessing.

[DDS2015]

Great news! Hopefully we'll see this in all of their vehicles!

[roundle]

Originally Posted by late_boomer

Wagon, diesel and I am sold... Give us a manual option please.. When can we order?

Agree with the wagon part. However, when your diesel has a 100% flat torque curve, and 100% torque from 1300RPM, why bother shift yourself? In my opinion, diesel manuals are not rewarding.

If I get a diesel, it'll be an auto.

[Envyscorpio]

Great great news!

[carve29]

Originally Posted by roundle

Agree with the wagon part. However, when your diesel has a 100% flat torque curve, and 100% torque from 1300RPM, why bother shift yourself? In my opinion, diesel manuals are not rewarding.

If I get a diesel, it'll be an auto.

I used to drive a 335d and almost exclusively used the steptronic shifting. I never had it in full automatic. There is simply way too much torque to not be able to control what gear you are in. When you are in automatic and barely rolling or stopped (and the stupid transmission selects 2nd gear) and you need to punch it, there is an awkward lag followed by a thunderous leap.

My point is that when driving a diesel that relies on torque and runs at lower RPM's, you need control. The steptronic is suboptimal in my opinion. My new 335is has the DCT and it is amazing. Without this or a manual I would pass on a high torque diesel.

[krnnerdboy]

This news couldn't have come at a better time, as I'm driving cross country in costA rica in my small diesel montero, averaging 30mpg, with plenty of torque to pull my family around. I was just thinking how brilliant this would be in the states. All of my dailies would be diesels.

But I recently passed on the x5 diesel bc the the 35i motor was putting out similar economy. I avged 21 in combined, 24 highway, and 14 towing 6k lbs round trip on the grape vine. I'm guessing the new 6cyl diesel will blow the old one out of the water in terms of efficiency. Can't wait