I understand the logic of the 35d for a heavy vehicle like the E70. I just think their North America diesel car introduction would have been much more successful with a 320d than a 335d

I have to agree with you on this one. :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:. Anyway, I understand they will be bringing the 4 cylinder 320d here soon in the new 3 series.

Currently the four-cylinder 2-litre diesel comes in a number of variants, 16d, 18d, 20d and 23d. The 23d is a bi-turbo like the 35d and 40d, while all the others are single turbo. The difference between the 16d, 18d and 20d is state of tune, the 16d being the most modestly tuned. I'm not sure what the US will get but the 20d and 23d are sweet engines with decent performance and great economy.

Just put my name down for a X5 M50d, have no date yet but assume April or May production?

Does anyone know when production is supposed to start?

Did they give you any indicative pricing mate?

Going on the my current X5 M40d which is highly spec'd I would say with AUD dollar being up, it will be around $180k, my current X5 came in at $176k but the same replacement is around $170k now.

A lot of optional extra's are now part of feature packs and you get alot more in the X5 now as standard for the same price? which tends to happen near the end of a model run and when our dollar goes up, rather than drop the price they throw in more options.

Can someone explain why this model wont be available to U.S. customers, even though it is produced here lol? I keep hearing the word "homologation", but I don't fully understand what that means. Seems to me if you qualified the car for California emission standards it would surely pass every other state. I'm so bummed we won't be able to buy an "M"-diesel here in the U.S.!

It means that the model has to be tested according to the US emissions regulations, and get a certificate as having passed. It isn't a cheap process. The M50d isn't just a small variation on the 35d, it is a whole new engine and so would be a major undertaking. This model won't meet US or California emissions standards as it is currently designed.

Given how many they would likely sell, BMW appears to have decided that it isn't worth the bother, ie it would cost more than they would make in profit. There are likely additional variables involved, but that is the essence of it.

Where it is produced doesn't matter at all. All the diesel X5s made from start of E53 production were made in the US, but they weren't legal there.

I don't understand. I see loads of Ford, Chevy and Dodge diesel trucks spewing forth black smoke every day. How can those pass our emmisions laws but this new BMW cannot?