I thought I had read somewhere that the diesel fuels in the USA were not clean enough to use in the current BMW (or other manufacturers) engines as they contain too much Sulphur. All diesel in the UK is now Ultra-Low Sulphur or ULSD fuel and hence much cleaner burning. European engines are therefore not happy with other diesel fuels.

There are a number of other countries around the world where cleaner fuels are required before modern diesel engines can be used.

In Europe we are now in the Euro IV version with Euro V to come. My wife has the same engine (apart from bhp) as me in her 330CD Convertible, but it is not available in an Auto as it cannot meet the emissions requirements of EU4. Because it went on sale in 2005 as a new version of the E46 it had to meet EU4. My 2005 X5 was already available in its current version and only has to meet EU3 so an auto is avail.

This might be a reason for delays in introducing a diesel variant, but I may be wrong.

Personally I'd also like to see BMW diesels being able to use higher proportions of even cleaner burning bio-diesel, but at present they can't cope with mixes containing more than 5% of this added to ULSD.

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Me:
Current: 2011 E71 40D Vermilion Red/Beige Nappa

Wifey:
Current: 2012 R80 Countryman SDX Green/Cream