I pulled the trigger on an 09 35d over the weekend. I have been wanting to try out a diesel for years and I am glad we finally have the opportunity. So far I am loving it. We took an hour long trip, mostly highway and averaged 26+ mpg per the computer. That was with my wife driving and not using cruise control. The torque is nice, but somehow doesn't feel like 425 lb.ft. to me. I keep comparing it to my 02 4.4i and I really can't tell which one "feels" faster by the seat of my pants. I think they feel about the same actually. As much as I liked my old e53, I have to say that the ride and interior of the e70 are huge upgrades. Maybe the fact that my e53 was a sport and my e70 is a non-sport with 18 inch wheels has a lot to do with the increased comfort. However, the multi-contour seats in the e70 have a lot to do with that as well. They feel like butter compared to my old e53 sport package seats. When I drove my e53, I found myself mashing the gas to hear the V8 sound, but so far in the diesel I have been much more interested in keeping the MPG's high. I actually feel driving the diesel will help me relax more behind the wheel.

Also, the diesel noise is slightly louder than a traditional BMW, but I sort of like the clatter on an SUV. To me, it is really only noticeable inside the cabin on startup and under acceleration.

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Profeshenal spellar