New Diesels to come: high diesel fuel costs

[JCL]

Originally Posted by Fastbuck

The 3.0 twin turbo diesel engine has been in existance longer than the 3.0 twin turbo petrol engine. Neither does it exhibit the negative characteristics you describe. The diesel will far outlast the petrol engine.

The 3.0 tt diesel has been around longer, but it isn't legal in North America. Mercedes has said that when the new 2008 Bluetec comes to North America with the urea injection it will in fact be a new engine. BMW may just add the urea injection to the existing 3.0 model, but with the additional controls required it will be at least a newer generation. I wouldn't expect the crank/pistons/block to change. Maybe there will be no first year issues, there is a first time for everything.

I didn't describe the negative characteristics, Fredo did. I figure that since he has one he should know. My experience with modern diesels is with rental cars in Europe, and so hasn't included the 3.0 tt, but it has included other recent diesels up to the 530d.

Why would you expect the diesel to outlast the petrol engine? You don't think that peak cylinder pressures will have any effect? Diesels outlasted petrol engines when they were built on truck engine blocks, not when they are both designed for lighter weight automotive applications.