:iagree: according to this article, that you linked, apparently it's History...

Federal Tax Credit for Diesels

I cut my fuel bill by $150 a month with the diesel by selling my 2004 4.4i V8. Like others the diesel Eco-Credit made the purchase decision a no brainer. Even with the cost differential between premium and diesel I'm still saving money. Although there is no sense in why diesel is more than gas.

It's a shame that the process to federalize a diesel engine in the US is such a (political) process for manufacturers. So many great options are available across the pond that it's a shame.

I didn't see it mentioned, but one major thing for me is the updated navigation system in the 2010 vs. the 2008, much better and quicker system. I'm also biased towards the diesel having just upgraded my 2006 3.0 to a 2012 3.5D. Have less than 2,500 miles, but amazing difference from the old one.

Z, Where can you get all of this for under $2,000?? :dunno:

I priced just the rims/tires flares, alone they were over $5,000! Exhaust?? NOT sure, but probably not cheap...

Interesting topic.

Diesel fuel contains 10% more energy than gasoline (by volume) so it should cost 10% more, just considering the energy value. We are just conditioned to think in terms of litres and gallons, not in terms of energy.

Beyond that, US refineries have been designed to produce a certain percentage of diesel compared to gasoline. We have had predictable consumption (relative to each other) for years. Now we have increased diesel demand, and so there will naturally be higher prices. Add to that the push for low sulphur fuels, and the investment required there, and I would say that not only are higher diesel prices justified (not liked, just justified) but that they will go higher in the medium term, relative to gasoline. I don't know if people buying diesel vehicles are budgeting for that or not.

I don't know that the process to federalize a diesel engine is any more political than a gasoline engine. Our respective government agencies have just targeted different pollutants than Europe does. EPA and Euro emissions regulations are both moving in the same direction, ie more strict, but they are alternately leapfrogging each other due to program timing differences. The limits to US introductions of diesels, and why manufacturers are going slow, is that there is still a limited market for diesels, and manufacturers need to recover their investments. You can only give away diesels with introductory credits for so long before it comes home to roost.

I would be interested in comments from others on this.

My feel is that the US governments and people in general are so focused on electricity as a fuel source for vehicles that diesels and hydrogen get no attention. In certain areas diesel is catching on but a general lack of interest doesn't help.

Our state government has been installing free charging stations at a few rest areas within North Carolina for electric cars, yet NC still does not have labeling laws on the cetane of diesel (unlike VA).

Diesel is a short term alternative IMO

Hydrogen isn't an energy source, it's a storage medium. We can't drill for hydrogen, and producing it from natural gas is a losing proposition due to the negative energy balance

Natural gas is a better medium term solution

replica wheels are on ebay for about 750, just an example of 2 seconds search
20 BMW 214 Replica Wheels 4.4 E70 E53 X5 E71 X6 Silver | eBay

as for tires, Discount Tire, Custom Wheels, Truck & Car Rims | Discount Tire
i got 4 x 20" Conti DWS for $780 + install and wheel alignment ($80) = 860

750 + 860 = 1610

i believe flares are 275 or around there, plus few bucks to install if u cant do it yourself

so overall u r under 2k

again this is just surface search, im sure better deal can be found if u dig a little.

as for exhaust:
BMW E70 X5M X5 M E71 X6M X6 M S63 OEM US & ECE Boysen Motorsport Exhaust Muffler | eBay

just an example, but this will make X5 sound better then 4.8



im playing a devils advocate because i would get 35D over 48i but they were too pricey so i ended up with 48i

:wow: WOW!!! I had no idea, I priced them with the Original bmw, etc.... Thanks for the great find, I never thought of replica wheels, Conti tires, flares, even the exhaust! :beerchug: I stand corrected...:p:

I guess you gotta ask yourself why you'd make the choice of diesel over gasoline or vice versa?

I got the diesel this time because I'm doing a lot of towing, driving a lot of miles and I do like the fact you barely have to rest your foot on the pedal to get it moving.. I mean it pulls like an adolescent school boy with a dirty magazine.

Then you've got the economy part, its as economical as a 4 cyl.

The engine noise doesn't bother me in the slightest.. its only audible from outside the car anyways.. you can barely even notice it from inside the cabin.

I will say maintenance to be more critical in a high performance diesel they're definitely not as forgiving as a gasoline motor if something goes wrong.

If this ^^ is you then maybe diesel.

But I'd definitely recommend an extended drive in both.