Am I analyzing this right? Diesel vs Petrol

[Richard in NC]

I just had a 335d loaner while my Z4 was in the shop. 2 1/2 days of driving, much in rush hour traffic, and I got 30 mpg. Therte were no downsides to driving it, quiet, torquey, and actually rather quick when punched (although the X5 weighs 1500 lbs more). The only downside for me, is I like low RPM torque PLUS high RPM power. Plus I prefer a throaty V8.

Also, finding diesel was a bit of a hassle, but more because I just didn't know who had diesel. Bottom line, 4 of 6 on my way to the dealer had diesel. Of course of the last 2, the one with diesel was on the opposite side of a busy divided road. And the fact you couldn't pay at the pump.

If fuel prices continue to rise, the diesel makes more and more sense.

[Thunder22]

You need to factor in the cost of the higher priced diesel vehicle vs the gasoline vehicle. Once that is factored in, I predict that the numbers will show that the gasoline vehicle is less expensive over time.

[pfbz]

Originally Posted by midwest x6

I know this has been discussed a lot, but does this seem clear that it was an economical plus to move from my tt v8 to Diesel?

1). Petrol Premium: $3.659/gal
2). Diesel: $3.899/gal
Difference = 7% premium for Diesel

3). TTV8 Mpg = 14 avg
4). Diesel Mpg = 21.8 avg
Difference = 56% better gas mileage for Diesel

Why would you compare to the V8? The diesel is outperformed by the 35i, let alone the 50i.

Fuel mileage numbers are all over the map, but EPA lists the combined mpg as follows:

• 50i = 16 mpg
• 35i = 19 mpg
• 35d = 22 mpg

The diesel offers 16% better mileage than the 35i, but at the expense of smell, noise, cost, and most of all performance...

At 12,000 miles a year using EPA combined and your quoted current fuel cost, you'd burn:

• 631 gallons of gas, about $2,300
• 545 gallons of diesel, about $2,126.

A whopping $175/yr savings!

Even the V8 only burns about $600 more than the diesel, probably not much of a factor for those who spend the extra $7,000 for the twin-turbo V8 50i...

[atlanta2011x5d]

First off, any EPA numbers are going to be more closely achieved in the real world by the diesel X5, not the gas ones, EPA numbers are pie-in-the-sky figures that are tough to match in most cases. But, the diesel does get close to its' 26 and 19, Hwy/City numbers under most conditions in my own experiences, if not even better.

Smell? Do you know anything about these engines at all? It would seem that you don't.

Noise? See previous comment.

Cost? Mine was actually cheaper than the comparible 6 cylinder gas equipped model. Nevermind the nice little tax credit of $1,800 for last year too. And I like the long term reliability of a diesel engine vs pretty much any turbo gas engine.

Performance? Hmm, maybe for magazine racers, but for butt dyno and actual roll-on acceleration, give me the high torque diesel over the gas.

Your prices might be true right now, but let's get from winter to summer when diesel prices typically roll down after the home heating requirements subside and then let's do another expenditure comparison.

Cheers

[IndyRon]

Seriously, smell?? Have you even driven a X5D? They have NO smell, not even at startup like the gasoline engines do when cold.

As far as MPG, I drive 60% highway and 40% city in my X5D, I am averaging 23.8mpg over the 9500 mile life of the vehicle thus far, FWIW. This is not the computer number but I actually calculate my MPG based upon mileage and gallons filled with each fueling.

[midwest x6]

Originally Posted by IndyRon

Seriously, smell?? Have you even driven a X5D? They have NO smell, not even at startup like the gasoline engines do when cold.

As far as MPG, I drive 60% highway and 40% city in my X5D, I am averaging 23.8mpg over the 9500 mile life of the vehicle thus far, FWIW. This is not the computer number but I actually calculate my MPG based upon mileage and gallons filled with each fueling.

Yah, it's crazy there is no smell! I too am calculating based on mileage and gallons filled - 21.8 right after break-in and in the middle of a very, very cold February..

[kck7]

pfbz, are you sure the smell isn't from your own rear end? Because there is NONE with the X5D.

[pfbz]

Plenty of diesel X5 apologists. That's fine, go your own way and be happy. For me, until they introduce the 40d with the eight speed, the diesel is the third choice engine in the 2011/2012 BMWUSA X5 lineup.

The smell I was referring to is the smell of diesel fuel itself... Yes, I have a diesel. F350. Just touching the diesel pump leaves a stink on your hands if you don't wear gloves.

As for "real world performance", you are totally believing your own BS if you think the 35d will outperform the 35i in any measurable performance category.

I know diesel defenders think that EPA is "unfair" in their testing... real world vs. actual, etc., but certainly it is more meaningful and accurate then individuals saying things like "I get 22 mpg every fill up..."

[boyce89976]

I am averaging 22.8 mpg based on miles/gallons at each fill up. Can generally get 235-250 miles per half tank of in-town driving. Could easily go 2 weeks between fill ups if my wife didn't make me top off every weekend

[JCL]

Originally Posted by atlanta2011x5d

First off, any EPA numbers are going to be more closely achieved in the real world by the diesel X5, not the gas ones, EPA numbers are pie-in-the-sky figures that are tough to match in most cases. But, the diesel does get close to its' 26 and 19, Hwy/City numbers under most conditions in my own experiences, if not even better....

Fully agree that the EPA figures (which have a large number of correction factors applied to the as-tested figures from the dynos) aren't particularly related to the real world.

However, I don't see why the diesels would be closer to the EPA figures than the gasoline models.

EPA figures were not designed to promise a purchaser what they would get, but were rather designed for comparison between models, repeatable tests. That is what people are doing here with the 35i and 35d.

Real world test results by lots of posters here puts the spread between the 35i and 35d at around 3 mpg, which is interestingly the same spread the EPA reports.