Top Gear 535d V 545i
02-24-2009, 09:42 AM
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Originally Posted by swajames' post='800396' date='Feb 24 2009, 07:29 PM
You responded to my post, where I was specifically talking about the advantage the 545 had from the start and into the first corner. It was indeed the quicker acceleration from a standing start that got the 545 into that position.
02-24-2009, 09:44 AM
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Originally Posted by Dr Dave' post='800279' date='Feb 24 2009, 06:30 PM
sorry, i ment V6.
diesel "clatter"?? check the video out, the diesel is quieter.
diesel "clatter"?? check the video out, the diesel is quieter.
BMW have never ever had V6-engines (they are six-in-line) and for a very good reason...
But I'm afraid, the future for the thinking people are 2.0 - 2.1 liter L4's with twin-turbos,
or even 1.8 liter and smaller ditos.
02-24-2009, 09:56 AM
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Originally Posted by Ricracing' post='800403' date='Feb 24 2009, 07:44 PM
BMW have never ever had V6-engines (they are six-in-line) and for a very good reason...
But I'm afraid, the future for the thinking people are 2.0 - 2.1 liter L4's with twin-turbos,
or even 1.8 liter and smaller ditos.
But I'm afraid, the future for the thinking people are 2.0 - 2.1 liter L4's with twin-turbos,
or even 1.8 liter and smaller ditos.
02-24-2009, 09:57 AM
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Downsizing 
02-24-2009, 11:32 AM
#35
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Originally Posted by swajames' post='800342' date='Feb 24 2009, 06:44 PM
I don't think so. That particular race was won off the line - the 545 was so much quicker off the line, and it was decisively ahead by the first corner.
+1: dieselmen should put in their head their 535d is **** compared to the V8.
I don't know why these people don't want to understand it.
02-24-2009, 11:58 AM
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I also agree that the comparison was quite fair. I mean at that time there was no turbo 3 liter gas engine. And to think Top Gear thought to compare it to a V8 (even NA) should only point out to some kudos for that diesel engine.
02-24-2009, 11:58 AM
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Originally Posted by AlexFW' post='800486' date='Feb 24 2009, 12:32 PM
+1: dieselmen should put in their head their 535d is **** compared to the V8.
I don't know why these people don't want to understand it.
I don't know why these people don't want to understand it.
Alex, we can always rely on you to add fuel to the diesel/gasoline fire... 
I do think the BMW diesel is a great engine. I just think many of the advantages it had over the 3 liter NA engines are evaporating now that the twin turbo gasoline engines are here. If I were still in Europe, I'd definitely have looked long and hard at the 535d. I actually suspect I may well have sacrificed the final few percent of additional performance from the V8 and gone with the diesel! Over in the US, we never had that choice, but now that we do, it's far from clear cut that the diesels offer discernible advantages over the gasoline engines and the economics don't make as much sense as they do given the cost of fuel in Europe. I don't necessarily buy the green argument either, but I do think the diesel engine is a great powerplant and BMW owners are lucky to have a choice from such a wide range of great engines.
02-24-2009, 11:59 AM
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Originally Posted by BetterMakeWay' post='800508' date='Feb 24 2009, 12:58 PM
I also agree that the comparison was quite fair. I mean at that time there was no turbo 3 liter gas engine. And to think Top Gear thought to compare it to a V8 (even NA) should only point out to some kudos for that diesel engine.
02-24-2009, 01:59 PM
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I think everyone has gone off on a tangent. This topic is about 535d VS 545i, which is faster, not which has more torque or how tuneable the engine is, or which has the best residuals.
The answer is 545i wins, end of
I have driven both, can't beat the sound of the V8
The answer is 545i wins, end of
I have driven both, can't beat the sound of the V8
02-24-2009, 02:10 PM
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My Ride: 535d
Adding my $0.02 a bit late in the thread,....
All that said but at the end guys, I can say that despite the 535d (which I own) being top in its class, I hate the diesel clatter and its embarassing. This would be my first diesel car and MY LAST. Its plain and simple. When I drive a BMW car, I need to be proud of it. Like when you park it far away in the car park just so you can look back when you walk away and keep looking at it as you walk up to it. Now having that clatter on the outside is terrible. perhaps thats where some engineering needs to go.
Compare that with the petrol versions, they have caught up to the diesel fuel economy... not close but near enough. Why then bother with the 535d. I bought it to try it and having spent a month in it, I know what sort of engined car I will buy next. The fuel consumption aint what its cracked up to be for a diesel. (21mpg in town). I am sure the 3.0i would be close if not the same.
I used to own a straight-6(E39) & V8 (E39) and without a doubt, I prefer the way those car engines were compared to the diesel I have now. At the real world fuel consumption I get in the 535d, I urge each and everyone who plans to buy the diesel car to do a quick calculation and see if its really a saving. Add the initial extra cost for the diesel too, otherwise that would be an unfair calculation. 
I get town 21mpg and motorway cruise set at 75mph is 38.2mpg. In UK diesel is roughly 12% more expensive than unleaded. Any savings?
Stick to BMW petrol cars is my honest opinion.
cheers
sorry, i ment V6.
diesel "clatter"?? check the video out, the diesel is quieter.
as you say if you ask 545 drivers , ask us 535d drivers and we will tell you a different story.
please dont confuse the 535 and the 530d as being one and the same, i have both, and there very different animals in there power delivery.
that "extra" turbo makes all the difference.
you say that diesels are "not a patch on gasolines" ?? tell that to the le mans 24 hour winners of the last 2 years....diesels i think
tell that to the green party...
tell that to the MPG brigade
i think its the other way around, and petrol engines are not a patch on diesels, for power (torque) economy, longevity, and "tuneability" they are the way forward, even porsche now have a diesel (im seriously thinking about buying one)
look at all the big powerfull engines out there...there all diesels/marine/plant/truck etc.
diesel "clatter"?? check the video out, the diesel is quieter.
as you say if you ask 545 drivers
, ask us 535d drivers and we will tell you a different story.please dont confuse the 535 and the 530d as being one and the same, i have both, and there very different animals in there power delivery.
that "extra" turbo makes all the difference.
you say that diesels are "not a patch on gasolines" ?? tell that to the le mans 24 hour winners of the last 2 years....diesels i think
tell that to the green party...
tell that to the MPG brigade
i think its the other way around, and petrol engines are not a patch on diesels, for power (torque) economy, longevity, and "tuneability" they are the way forward, even porsche now have a diesel (im seriously thinking about buying one)
look at all the big powerfull engines out there...there all diesels/marine/plant/truck etc.
Compare that with the petrol versions, they have caught up to the diesel fuel economy... not close but near enough. Why then bother with the 535d. I bought it to try it and having spent a month in it, I know what sort of engined car I will buy next. The fuel consumption aint what its cracked up to be for a diesel. (21mpg in town). I am sure the 3.0i would be close if not the same.
Originally Posted by AlexFW' post='800486' date='Feb 24 2009, 08:32 PM
+1: dieselmen should put in their head their 535d is **** compared to the V8.
I don't know why these people don't want to understand it.
I don't know why these people don't want to understand it.
I get town 21mpg and motorway cruise set at 75mph is 38.2mpg. In UK diesel is roughly 12% more expensive than unleaded. Any savings?
Stick to BMW petrol cars is my honest opinion.
cheers