X5 US Diesel

[fln8tive]

Originally Posted by JCL

Personally, I hope BMW never brings a diesel to North America. I would much rather see them invest in further generations of DI technology, and possibly the petrol/steam hybrid (co-gen) technology they are working on.

Not to challenge your status as Carbonmeister, but IMO part of the value of broadly available, technically advanced diesel power is to get consumers' minds opened to the idea of change...not to mention the time needed to evolve the infrastructure. So many Americans (and we do consume something like 40% of the world's fossil fuel) are utterly parochial in their habits that to try to skip a technology generation from a marketing standpoint, may be too much of a risk for the various industries.

Everybody is screaming about the Sino-Cuban exploration deals and ANWAR, yet nobody is demanding stricter CAFE standards. Our energy policy is as focused and composed as Mayor Nagin the day after a hurricane.

P.S. Nothing, but nothing better than the sound of twin 3500 series marine Cats trucking along.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by accella4.4

P.S. Nothing, but nothing better than the sound of twin 3500 series marine Cats trucking along.

As long as they are 12, 16, or 20 cylinder versions. Never liked the 8 cylinders much. Even better, the 3600 series. Ran lots of witness tests on those, and the sound level is something else.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by dcashion

America is the largest known contributor for greenhouse gases and is doing little about it. (no offence it not the citizens fault) I can't see the logic in not importing modern diesels when you constantly see all them gas guzzling petrol "tanks" they drive around? Doesn't make sense!?!?!

I share your pain, but I don't see how changing from petrol to diesel will help. A diesel simply allows a person to get a bigger and heavier pickup or SUV, there is no motive to make it smaller and more efficient. We have lots of people here, as well as in the US, commuting too far to work in 1 ton pickups with diesels, 300+ hp, 800 NM torque, one person in the vehicle. I don't see the diesels changing these habits, they just add particulate emissions.

I think that until we and the US get serious about driving the price of fuel up, and other economic incentives, we are going to continue to see too much focus on large heavy vehicles, and high performance vehicles, that waste resources. I really like the E60 M5, for example, but I can't possibly justify owning a vehicle that wastes that much fuel. 10-13 mpg for a lightweight midsize four door car?

What is the possible logic for income tax rebates for vehicles over 6000 lbs GVW, when individuals are commuting in them? (not here in Canada, I continually read about that US example)

[powers1]

Originally Posted by JCL

I haven't driven an X5 3.0D, but I have been in BMW diesel saloons many times, including recent models.

I didn't rent the Disco, I leased it in the UK five years ago. I paid the leasing company a significant sum to take it back early when the UK government introduced employee benefits taxation based on company car emissions (2002?). It wasn't the VM diesel, that was in the series 1 Discovery. I had the series II, refreshed in 2001, the longer wheelbase model with the raised tail lights. To be fair to the BMW engine, it wasn't quite as bad as the rest of the truck, or the dealer.

I am not anti-diesel. The company I work for is an international dealership/distributor for the largest manufacturer of medium speed diesels in the world (who is also one of the largest manufacturers of high speed diesels). They are the yellow ones from Peoria. I have worked with high pressure direct injection systems on large diesels since the mid eighties (the automotive manufacturers took decades to catch up). Look up the 797 truck, high altitude version (with a 3500 hp V24) to see some real turbo technology.

Anyway, I am sure the 3.0d X5 is a great truck/car/SUV/SAV. It is the best combination of torque and fuel economy currently available in an X5. I would just rather have a DI petrol version, turbocharged, with similar power as the diesel, but quieter, cleaner, higher revving, no fuel smell, and no clatter on a cold morning. IMO, investing in that technology is a better payback for BMW than diesel, for passenger car applications. Diesels are the undisputed leaders in the Class 7/Class 8 on-highway truck, and off highway equipment, markets, for very good reasons. It is just that while those engines are great in tractors, I want something different in my personal car.

I suspect you know what I mean. Otherwise, you would be looking for a diesel M3 or F355, and I suspect those aren't on your wish list.

Cheers

Jeff

"Fire up the Td5 and its quietness and lack of diesel clatter is instantly noticeable. The engine revs very freely and feels comparatively effortless where as the Tdi always had you working harder to get the best out the engine. The smoothness of the engine is another aspect that is instantly noticed. Its easy to use the rev range of the new engine as well as it revs so easily."
This is what 4wdonline.com had to say about Bmw 2.5 td engine in the car you say you drove!Doesnt sound like the car you drove, does it?

As I said,first drive an X5 3.0D,then make your comments!
I am surprised though that since you say you have driven recent Bmw diesels and you are still not impressed by the smoothness of a 330D,535D or 740D,or whatever one say you drove!I have driven all these and because they are AWD ,they are even smoother than the X5 Diesel!

"DI petrol version........better payback for Bmw than Diesel,for passenger application!"
You are obviously not aware of current Bmw sales figures for Diesel cars???
The years of investment Bmw made in the Diesel sector seems to have paidback bigtime!Lets hope that DI can follow suit!

If you say you are not anti-diesel ,why do you say that you wish that the X5 Diesel never comes to the US???Fortunately,your opinion is not shared by a lot of US members here!

I can understand why you like the I6 engine because it is probably one of the smoothest engines I drove when I had my 325i but on the X5 the I6 just doesnt have enough torque!Once you are used to 500NM(600Nm in my case!)@2000rpm,having just 290Nm@3500rpm as in the I6,it just isnt enough!

Huge torque is the main reason why us Dieselheads love their X5s.
Why would I be looking for Diesel M3 or F355.when I have the X5?All 3 give me different driving pleasures!Its really a personal issue!Years ago,I used to love driving high revving cars with little torque that only "came on cam" at 4-5000rpm(bit like the M3 and F355) and today,although I still take my other cars out,it is the X5 and its 1000-4500rpm torque that gives me more pleasure.

Always enjoy a good argument with you!I still remember the TUrbo and intercooler one!

Fernando

[powers1]

Originally Posted by Scottie

that's the thing when I phoned for a quote was getting some other ice stuff done. They quoted me something like £700 for the exhaust. I thought at the time jeez that's ££££ anyway when it came to paying the bill for the exhaust I was surprised to find it was much cheaper infact a lot cheaper may have been £300. not sure TBH. They may have made the price on other stuff they done for me

Glad you got a really great deal with the exhaust.They must have thought you deserved it since you got other stuff as well.

[formula280ss]

Why not more oil burners in the U.S? It is simple, the United Communist Republic of California. C.A.R.B has killed current diesel technology.
JCL, how would a switch to diesel not help? My 3/4 ton pick up just got 22.3 miles to the gallon on a 130 mile trip, the truck weighs about 6200 pounds. What type of mileage would an equal gas engine get? Also we can burn Bio diesel that helps cut down on the need for foreign oil.

[MADT]

Petrol 3.0 or 4.4 vs Diesel 3.0 in the X's, there is no comparison. The torque from the diesel is just sweeeet! and you use less fuel. Love it!

[powers1]

Originally Posted by JCL

I didn't rent the Disco, I leased it in the UK five years ago. I paid the leasing company a significant sum to take it back early when the UK government introduced employee benefits taxation based on company car emissions (2002?). It wasn't the VM diesel, that was in the series 1 Discovery. I had the series II, refreshed in 2001, the longer wheelbase model with the raised tail lights. To be fair to the BMW engine, it wasn't quite as bad as the rest of the truck, or the dealer.


Jeff

And the saga continues..................................
As I said yesterday,"I didnt know that the Disco ever had a Bmw engine!This was reserved for the RR 2.5 HSE."

Fact 1:The disco 2 was revamped in late 1998,not 2001 as you say!
Fact 2:It had LRs own 2.5 td engine,a 5-cylinder,NOT BMWs!
Have a look here:-
http://www.landroverclub.net/Club/HTML/Td5engine.htm

Not clever on your behalf!Taking a lease out on a car that you didnt even know what engine was in it!

[X5Sport]

And to further fuel the debate (no pun intended - well not much), International engine awards 2006:

International engine of the year -
1st BMW V10 (M5, M6)
2nd VW Group 1.4 litre petrol
3rd BMW 3-litre twin turbo (535D).

Best Performance Engine Award 2006.
1st BMW 5.0 V10 (can we have then next X5 with one please)
2nd Ferrari 4.3L V8
3rd Merc-AMG 6.0L twin turbo.

Best engine above 4L
1st - that'll be the BMW V10 again then.....
2nd - Ferrari....as above
3rd - Merc-AMG....as above

Best engine 2.5L to 3L
1st BMW twin turbo diesel
2nd BMW six cylinder petrol.

Most are petrol but in the more normal class (for most European cars) around 3.0 litres - it's the diesel.

Rick

[DINANM3]

i heard it will be A brand new 3.0 twin turbo 6 diesel, nothing to do with the old one and it will be able to pass all USA emmisons. It will have 272hp and 415lbs of torque. It should haul ass. and get gas mileage in the mid 30s. i would consider buying that. it will be faster than the current 4.4