Rumor: X3 to get diesel option in US
 

According to those ‘sources’ you hear about once in a while that really don’t like being named, BMW is considering a diesel version of the 3-Series and 7-Series for the United States market. Insiders say that the two diesel BMW vehicles have been approved for the U.S. market and should arrive at the end of this year.

While there are no powertrain details available yet, it is speculated that the diesel engine found in the X5 xDrive35d and the 335d will make it into the diesel X3 and 7. The 3.0L turbocharged 6-cylinder diesel is the only diesel approved for BMW in the United States.

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That would be interesting, because I'm surprised BMW would bother engineering/fitting an older M57 engine and the corresponding 6AT into such a new chassis.

I still think that although there is a small following of folks who would enjoy a diesel X3, BMW should tread carefully. It's not a big market.

This is a HUGE market. X5 diesels are selling above 30% of all X5 sales in the US, even higher in Canada. We have been waiting for this for years and can't wait for it to arrive.

There is only 1 engine approved for use in USA/CAN so it is easier (ie. cheaper) to fit it into the vehicles than certify a new one.

I really hope that the X3 gets the 20D, or 23D, in North America, and not the 35D. It would make a lot of sense, and BMW has said that they plan to bring a 4 cylinder diesel in. If they certify that engine, it will work in the X1, X3, 1 series, and 3 series.

The 35D isn't really a fuel economy model, except in the larger heavier vehicles. If they are going to sell more diesels in North America, it needs to be driven by better fuel consumption than current models.

That's because of the financial incentives. Takw those away, and I bet the gas ones sell more

I am in favor of a diesel model as I currently like the diesel we have now in the X5. My only complaint on our X5 is that we can't find diesel fuel pumps where the nozzle will go directly in - the diesel pump only fits halfway in. Everything works as usual, the pump shuts off automatically but it is a little uncomfortable for my wife who always wonders if the tank will overflow.

It's now the N57 single turbo engine with the 8-speed transmission for the 30d powertrain. Europe also gets the N57S twin-two stage turbo plus + 8sp (we know it as the 40d and it replaced the 35d) as this is more economical than the manual version which is no longer offered on the X5/6. The UK is due to get the 6-cyl engine in April but we do not yet know whether the 6sp manual will be standard as it is on the 4-cyl or the 8AT. Currently the 8AT is a cost option.

For the X3 in the UK there is no petrol option. Diesels outsell petrols across the board now having taken more than 50% of all new car sales since the Summer of 2010. Even if the US market remains small, the Rest of the World Market is very big and getting bigger all the time.

Yup. BMW had to push the Eco-credit pretty hard, especially on the 335d (which hardly sells here......dealers have 5-6 on lots).

The X5 35d makes sense because it slots nicely between the petrol 6 and petrol 8. But the 335d, and a "top dog" X3 35d, make less sense because they're the most expensive model in the range.

We don't have any eco credits, tax incentives, financing or lease breaks on diesel models. We do have higher fuel prices. X5 was reported to be running at 40% diesels last April, the last month that BMWCA broke out diesel sales in their monthly sales press releases.

I understand that the 335d has had disappointing sales results here. I think if they had brought in a more efficient (smaller) diesel they would have done better, but then they would have been competing with VW.

BMW's various four-cylinder turbodiesels, 18d, 20d, and 23d, are all excellent and are ideally suited to the X1 or the X3.