JeffNNJ

Living in the US there is no choice of a BMW diesel so I wonder about the differences. I know that they get much better gas mileage then gas but what else?? Are they more expensive or cheaper?? What models are there in the E60?? Do they sound different?? Does the power come on differently?? Are they fast?? Does the exhaust smell bad like it does on trucks?? Does the back of the car get dirtier from the exhaust?? I also remember hearing somewhere that if you run out of gas in a diesel, you are in big trouble.
Thanks

Jeff

JWBMW

They are slightly more expensive than the equivilent petrol ($1000)

There are the following models : 520d, 525d, 530d and the daddy of them all 535d

Power is not the issue it is engine torque which is significantly higher than the petrol equivilent. This gives huge advantage on mid range acceleration (compare 50 - 75 mph times) i.e 530i 6.6 sec and 530d 5.1 secs

The exhaust does not smell and the car does not get any dirtier these days

The torque figure are availible on the engine page of the E60 infomation folder.

Yes if you run out of gas you need to have the fuel system bled to remove all air but I get upto 600 mile on a tank of fuel so this never happens

JeffNNJ

So what are the disadvantages?? Why not offer them here??

JWBMW

Your emissions regulations and the cheap petrol allowing you to drive V8's (Torquey) without worrying. Fuel in the UK approaching ?5/gallon Would you pay $9 a gallon?

JeffNNJ

Here diesel fuel is pennies higher then Super Unleaded. If I could buy a car that got way better mileage it would easily be worth it. As for the pollution issue, I thought that diesels actually burned cleaner but I could be wrong.

JWBMW

I think Nitrogeon oxides and particulate are bad on diesels, carbon dioxides good. I get 33.8mpg out of my 525d and the claimed 6.5 sec 50 to 75 mph seems conservative (6.3 for 540i)

ImolaRedM

I'm guessing that we will see them soon. With Diesel in the summer months cheaper than regular unleaded and climbing fuel prices we should see more pressure to bring it to the US. The reduction in sulfer in our diesel will also help. In the past our diesel fuel had more sulfer than the EU. MB and VW also offer a diesel option. As more and more people get past the idea of 1975 era diesels they will be more open to the idea of a diesel BMW. That is IF BMWNA listens. After all they didn't think the M3 or M5 would have a market in the US (in the land of 55 mph!).

BangleBox_530d

US diesel is apparently too high in sulphur content to work well with the relatively high-tech european diesel engines.

I read something about MB bringing diesels to the US when low sulphur diesel was available.

The E60 diesels are fitted with particulate filters. So they are quite comparable to emissions from a petrol variant. I have a diesel as it's a company car. We're taxed on the CO2 output, and diesels are much lower CO2 than petrol.

BTW, my diesel has more torque than a M5

olli_535d

The keyword on the diesels is driveability. Effortless acceleration from little revs, due to the very high torque. Although being torquey and extremely fast nowadays, they will still not substitute a real petrolhead's desire of screaming high rev action.
Driveability gets relative compared to the V8's, as they are also smooth and effortless, but this is where consumption and emissions come into play.
I drive my 535d M-sport (soon to be breathed on) as it's supposed to be and it returns an average of about 33mpg UK (think about 27/28 US mpg) On longer steady trips (about 90mp/h average) I get about 37 UK or 31US mpg out of it. When I'm back in Germany there are only 2 options, I'm either round town or on the (no speed limit) motorway with a planted foot and I still get about 25UK or 21US out of it.

Co2 emissions on comparison are 540i 264g/km 550i 267g/km and 535d 211g/km
As said before particulates (soot) and nitrogenous oxide used to be a problem, but are not anymore, as since 1. Jan Euro IV emissions are law, forcing nearly all diesels to be equipped with a particulate filter, eliminating nearly completely, what was the problem.
Before someone takes it wrong, this is not another Diesel/Petrol war, but just info.

If the US gets their sulphur trouble in the diesel sorted, it might convince a few people, especially the cost factor, I'd guess.

aybeesea

535d beats M5 70-100 if pedal planted.

Emissions are a no-issue (ECU4)

Clean as a whistle (my twin chromes are nice and clean).

Weird in this country that diesel is more expensive than unleaded (the only country where this is the case I think but will be corrected).

ABC