Yes there is a trade off on the straight six noise. I remember listening to my old 528i whilst waiting for the engine to spool up. I do think the diesel engine makes a nice sound under full thrash though.
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Yes it does make a nice sound for a diesel. I agree...not like too many diesels i drove, and i drove quite alot from all sorts of manufacturers. It sounds more like a scalled down muscle car. But imo the gas engine sounds way better and incomparable. 3.2 L6 CSL anyone?

 

Was it the updated engine - 231PS?
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No, it didn't have a chrome grill nor start buttom.

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Diesel power is great but I prefer petrol power.
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So did I. But after this...I do not know.

The only thing I found disturbing, was the sound from the cold engine (you can hear the engine then),
and the sound from the idling car; a BMW sounding like an old taxi.

But when acceleration the engine sound like a sixinline with power, not like an diesel.

German automags chose the 530d as the best buy of all E60's, they are propably right.

Diesel is here to stay, now they even have the small particle filters in them!