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Saw a 520d today in Beverly Hills (Michigan!)

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Old 04-24-2009, 05:35 AM
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I was on my way to the office this AM on a single lane portion of 13 Mile Road, when in my rear view mirror I saw another E-60, however, something seemed a bid odd - the headlights were brighter than mine (mine has adaptive Xenons). The road widened to 2 lanes and the E-60 went into the right lane as we stopped for a light, she then turned north on to Evergreen Road.

I took a look at her as she took the right on red, and she was a 520d! In the US??? I then looked at the plate and noted that she was sporting a Michigan "M" (Manufacturers) plate.

I figure that she was imported and being evaluated by GM, Chrysler, Ford or Nissan (which has R&D facilities here as well besides the domestics).
Old 04-24-2009, 07:04 AM
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I wonder if any diesel car will ever catch on here in the states? I did drive a loaner X5 diesel....it was a beautiful, powerful machine. Love the torque....Not sure if I would ever buy one though. Thanks for sharing.
Old 04-24-2009, 07:16 AM
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Why does BMW have a presence in Michigan with test cars? Just to test cars or does BMW have a some sort of office there? Thats where all the American cars are...
Old 04-24-2009, 07:38 AM
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Originally Posted by EBMCS03' post='857541
~~saw a 520d~
I figure that she was imported and being evaluated by GM, Chrysler, Ford or Nissan (which has R&D facilities here as well besides the domestics).
Why does BMW have a presence in Michigan with test cars? Just to test cars or does BMW have a some sort of office there? Thats where all the American cars are...
[/quote]
He figures it was imported and being evaluated by GM, Chrysler, Ford or Nissan (which has R&D facilities there as well besides the domestics).
Old 04-24-2009, 07:45 AM
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More likely to be Bosch. They have had a bunch of BMW diesels in the US for a while. If I remember correctly some of the first reviews of the BMW diesels in the US auto mags were actually done using cars (330d and 335d) that Bosch had in the US for evaluation and demo purposes.
Old 04-24-2009, 08:02 AM
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Came all the way from the UK on one tank of Diesel I bet as well
Old 04-24-2009, 11:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Phantom Mark' post='857584' date='Apr 24 2009, 12:02 PM
Came all the way from the UK on one tank of Diesel I bet as well
Had to have come on a tank and a half from the mainland, as she was not RH drive.
Old 04-24-2009, 11:15 AM
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Originally Posted by swajames' post='857566' date='Apr 24 2009, 11:45 AM
More likely to be Bosch. They have had a bunch of BMW diesels in the US for a while. If I remember correctly some of the first reviews of the BMW diesels in the US auto mags were actually done using cars (330d and 335d) that Bosch had in the US for evaluation and demo purposes.
I presume that Bosch is possible, however, it's been my experience that only the auto manufacturers and not OEMs have the ability to sport Manufacturers plates here in MI.
Old 04-24-2009, 12:25 PM
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Originally Posted by DD_545i' post='857559' date='Apr 24 2009, 08:38 AM
He figures it was imported and being evaluated by GM, Chrysler, Ford or Nissan (which has R&D facilities there as well besides the domestics).

Ya, that was my other guess. A friend, member here, has a brother that works in MI for GM and they get to "check out" "borrow" cars from the evaluation lot, days at a time to drive around in.
Old 04-24-2009, 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by -Mike-' post='857537' date='Apr 24 2009, 11:04 AM
I wonder if any diesel car will ever catch on here in the states? I did drive a loaner X5 diesel....it was a beautiful, powerful machine. Love the torque....Not sure if I would ever buy one though. Thanks for sharing.
Well it certainly seems like the latest bmw diesel models, such as the 33d are not catching on in the US. Hard to believe a car that goes 0-60 in 5.3 seconds and gets way way over 30 mpg on the highway is not selling. I suppose the misperception of diesels as slow, dirty and noisy here in the US has not gone away.


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