2008 4.8 or 2010 35d

[JCL]

Originally Posted by ZheHbKa

In the long run diesel would be a win.

You want exhaust sound, drop a custom exhaust, replica wheels and flares would all run under 2k

You would get that back in gas mileage in short time

I tend to agree, if one is keeping it for a long time.

I spec'd out a 35i and a 35d E70 on BMW.ca, admittedly different pricing than bmwusa. I used BMW published fuel consumption numbers. I assumed the same maintenance cost. I didn't worry about resale, since it is an unknown today.

At Jan 31 2012 local fuel prices (which are equal, premium vs diesel, in my town; YMMV) the payback period on the purchase price of the diesel was 110,600 km. To breakeven. In other words, I would have to run it for 6 years at typical 18,000 km/12,000 mile annual mileages, just to break even. Given the OP's 9,300 miles per year over the past 10 years, he would have to wait 8 years. That doesn't sound like a very attractive investment.

We will all have different fuel prices, tax breaks (or not), driving habits, vehicle option preferences, and so on. But it isn't in any way a sure thing that people will come out ahead with the diesel. And if local diesel prices are above gasoline prices, as they are in many locations, then the payback period is even longer. Just sayin'.