When is 40d coming to US?

[bimmer_buachaill]

I've been thinking more about this.

What I've picked up so far:
1. The US market is the only location with the old 6 speed diesel for 2011 (maybe Canada too?).
2. The 35d was delayed getting EPA/CARB inspection - I suspect BMW made some last minute changes to cause this, like getting a US emissions surprise on the 40d.
3. The 40d has better hp, torque and mileage (8 speed transmission).
4. bmw.com (the international site) doesn't even mention the X5 6 speed or 35d anymore. the 35d must be on the way out.

I suspect BMW ran into trouble getting the 40d ready for US 2011 launch so changed it out for the 35d for now. The question is - when will they switch to the 40d and make the 2011 35d a less desirable car in the US market. In model year 2012 (September 2011) or some time before then. Seems doable unless they don't want to deal with a mid model year change. Any historical precedent for stuff like this?

Conspiracy theorists apply here.

[Leeman]

The 35d has been delayed due to CARB because its the last to go through. BMW rushed through all the other motors first. They have all received their approvals in March/April (just before the diesel). Just appears that the diesel was last.

I ordered my 35d in February and it has always been a 35d (never was a 40d).

-- Lee

[Epacy]

Originally Posted by Leeman

The 35d has been delayed due to CARB because its the last to go through. BMW rushed through all the other motors first. They have all received their approvals in March/April (just before the diesel). Just appears that the diesel was last.

I ordered my 35d in February and it has always been a 35d (never was a 40d).

-- Lee

Your post doesn't address anything he mentioned.

[Leeman]

Originally Posted by Epacy

Your post doesn't address anything he mentioned.

Ok, I'll simplify my answer for you:

2. The 35d was delayed getting EPA/CARB inspection - I suspect BMW made some last minute changes to cause this, like getting a US emissions surprise on the 40d.

BMW was not late getting the diesel through CARB this year due to surprise trying to get the 40d into the US. The plan has appeared always for the US to get the 35d this year. My order (early order sheets for 2011) has always been the 35d - way back in February.

I do not buy this "conspiracy theory" that the reason we are all waiting for our 35d's was due to BMW failing to get the 40d approved. From what people have posted, BMW had the same problem last year (late approvals). In addition, the 4.4 and 3.0 liter motors were late getting approved as well. Its a little early in the calendar year to start producing new model year vehicles.

-- Lee

[bimmer_buachaill]

Thanks Lee. I think we can eliminate conspiracy supporting fact #2.

[arjuno]

Didn't Ard post that BMW was late submitting the paperwork for EPA/CARB this year for the diesels? All the other automakers have had their diesels approved already.

LeMansX5 posted somewhere that we won't be getting the 40d. It doesn't take Adblue like the 35d does. Isn't there some talk that we might see the 45d in the US down the line skipping the 40d outright?

[Leeman]

Originally Posted by arjuno

Didn't Ard post that BMW was late submitting the paperwork for EPA/CARB this year for the diesels? All the other automakers have had their diesels approved already.

LeMansX5 posted somewhere that we won't be getting the 40d. It doesn't take Adblue like the 35d does. Isn't there some talk that we might see the 45d in the US down the line skipping the 40d outright?

You can see the CARB aprrovals here:

On-Road New Vehicle & Engine Certification Program

The first column are cars/light trucks.

Other automakers have their diesels approved already for what model year ?
Not many car makers have released 2011 so far this year.

I've never heard that the 40d doesn't use Adblue ? Where did you see that (curious). Its too bad we don't get the 40d here yet.

-- Lee

[Penguin]

California does not like diesels. Or, more precisely, the people in the government pushing for zero emissions and electric vehicles do not like diesels.

From their perspective, the advantages of the diesel over gasoline simply delays their ultimate goal of electric vehicles, and therefor are an obstacle, rather than a help, to their long-term plans. Diesels, with their improved mileage and performance, provide an attractive alternative to gasoline as compared to the disadvantages of hybrids and electrics. In contrast, they love hybrids, as they see them as a nature step in the development and evolution to electric vehicles.

As a result, I suspect that CARB tends to be rather "picky" and slow with diesel approvals as they want to discourage their development.

As for the 40d, the possibility exists that for the U.S. BMW might skip the 40d version and go directly to the 45d in a couple of years, or even wait until the X5 redesign in 2013/14.

[ard]

Originally Posted by Penguin

California does not like diesels. Or, more precisely, the people in the government pushing for zero emissions and electric vehicles do not like diesels.
.......

As a result, I suspect that CARB tends to be rather "picky" and slow with diesel approvals as they want to discourage their development.

.

Well, I think you are giving bureaucrats way too much credit- they are just slow and incompetent, it isn't a "plan" to delay diesels. IMO

Indeed, wouldn't they delay approval of gas guzzling high displacement motors?

We have NO IDEA when BMW submitted the paperwork, and any speculation on how long one model or the other takes is simply conjecture. Surely a BMW employee blaming the state for the delay is perfect at deflecting blame and pinning it on everyone's whipping boy: governement.

If someone had FOIA requests for CARB submissions and we could track how long all of it takes, then maybe you could support a claim of inequitable review....

More likely BMW Regulatory got caught due to the funny timing of a 2011 coming in March and not October.

My 2 cents

Originally Posted by Epacy

Your post doesn't address anything he mentioned.

Uh, yes it did. Direct response to OPs #2 point...

A

[LeMansX5]

Originally Posted by arjuno

LeMansX5 posted somewhere that we won't be getting the 40d. It doesn't take Adblue like the 35d does. Isn't there some talk that we might see the 45d in the US down the line skipping the 40d outright?

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...coming-us.html