Stinky

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by Penguin

If a BMW diesel was as good as a hybrid from a green perspective, do you think BMW would be developing a hybrid?...

Yes. Hybrids have a lot of mind share among consumers. They are assumed to be quiet and green. While diesels are assumed to be noisy and stinky. See, there is the link to the subject matter of this thread

Besides, hybrids are really good in dense urban settings where the engine can actually shut off in stop & go traffic, etc. And where I suspect most BMW owners live

Funf Dreisig

[XXX555]

Originally Posted by FunfDreisig

Yes. Hybrids have a lot of mind share among consumers. They are assumed to be quiet and green. While diesels are assumed to be noisy and stinky. See, there is the link to the subject matter of this thread

Besides, hybrids are really good in dense urban settings where the engine can actually shut off in stop & go traffic, etc. And where I suspect most BMW owners live

Funf Dreisig

I agree with what you have said. This BMW X5d really changes the SUV landscape. Sort of a "have your cake and eat it too". Previously, you had to choose between two priorities. Performance OR Economy.

Hybrids deliver the economy (mpg not necessarily value) but this BMW turbodiesel delivers both.

My wife just got a 2010 Lexus RX450h and I can't wait to compare apples to oranges....

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by XXX555

....My wife just got a 2010 Lexus RX450h and I can't wait to compare apples to oranges....

What a great opportunity to compare the strengths and weakness of these two top tier contenders in the clean diesel vs hybrid debate. This could be very interesting

Funf Dreisig

[SJCFlyer]

Originally Posted by XXX555

My wife just got a 2010 Lexus RX450h and I can't wait to compare apples to oranges....

My neighbor is a Lexus GM, his wife loved RX's and (I'm sure to meet various monthly quotas) she'd have a new one four times a year. But when she got the RX450h she about fell over at the increase in insurance costs - for her it was an eye opener. Then she didn't like the way it drove at all. That one only lasted a month, then "poof" she had a new RX.

Originally Posted by Diesel Guy

A small price to pay for clean exhaust and 27+ MPG.

Fingers crossed I'll get 27+, but already hitting 24+ on long freeway drives on an engine with less than 1,000k!. And when you mean clean engine, this one is surgically clean. Take a look at the picture below. This is my tail pipe (untouched/unwashed) after 1,000 miles! I wish my dishwasher cleaning dishes this well!

[XXX555]

My wife has an RX450h with about 16K miles and believe me that tailpipe sparkle won't last. Mileage averages 27/gal and never one problem! Faster than my 35d but more like a car than a truck.

[Diesel Guy]

When in doubt........blame the dog. Amazing how many situations this fits.

[bigx5er]

Mine just did this for the first time. We were sitting at a stop light and thought a car was on fire somewhere. It was raining, snowing, and miserable so that must have restricted the air moving around.

[dreamx5]

I had this 3 times so far with just 400 miles on odo.
Though all these miles are in extreme cold temps and snow, if that makes any difference.

[twssas]

Pulled in the garage a short while ago, and immediately smelled a "heavy burning". Of course, I went into a semi panic.......just took delivery of my 35d last week, and just hit 400 miles on the odometer.

Popped the hood, didn't really smell anything of significance in that area, went to the exhaust, tried smelling there, but it appeared to have dissipated into the garage.(remember, I am in a semi-panic) The entire garage smelled like something had been burning. Then I finally recalled reading a thread awhile back that mentioned a particulate filter, and burning of soot at high temperature. (it pays to read these threads!). So, opened both garage doors......let it air out........took the X5 for a quick trip to the store....no engine lights or anything abnormal.......got home.....looked up the particulate filter issue in the owners manual.......thought....uh huh! And, better yet, found this thread which pretty much validates what was going on. (soot burning....I hope)

I came close to calling the dealer, and having them come get it and check it out........but I am much calmer now after reading this thread. You guys do a great job is describing these issues.......

Luckily, the wife wasn't home at the time, or I would have been in a panic for real........as it is.......now I will warn her for future aromas in the garage.....

If anyone thinks I missed diagnosed this issue.....please let me know.......

Thanks again for all the posts......

[Sea Doom]

We've had two "burn offs" that we've been aware of - in two months of X5d ownership. In a not very well sealed two vehicle garage, the odor lasts - at most - 10 minutes. To this Italian-American nose, the odor is very similar to burning paper or cardboard. Easy to understand how the panic-button would be activiated if you didn't know wa' wazzup!