Correct. At the diesel and gasoline prices we pay locally, there is a slight operating cost savings on diesel. For that saving to add up to $1500, the current price premium for the 35d, will take about 80,000 km (50,000 miles). And that is just to get to break even, not saving anything until then.

Refineries are designed to produce a certain amount of diesel vs gasoline, out of a barrel of oil. They can't easily turn the dial and if there is a cold winter, like the last few, diesel gets sold as heating oil so the price spikes. We saw diesel prices pretty close to premium gasoline through the winter. As diesel becomes more popular, that pressure on prices is likely to increase. And there aren't new refineries being built, at least around here, so I don't see that price pressure lessening.

If your diesel prices are lower than gasoline, and your climate doesn't create a seasonal demand for heating oil, then the above may not apply to you.

One more thing that no one mentions is that the depreciation of the diesel is really low compared to the gas.I have been hunting the salvage auctions all around the country for my diesel for almost a year,and the prices were just mind boggling.I still paid pretty top dollar,but at least the car was well worth it.Same goes for the clean title cars.On the other hand,when a friend of mine wanted one a few months ago we just find it and bought it within a week.2012 5.0i M package,fully loaded,with 21 k miles,hit on the back,for just a tad over $20k.Similar diesel would have been at least $5k more.

Depreciation is worth considering if it is different in your area. When I checked locally, 2-3 year old 35i and 35d prices were exactly the same, so the diesel sellers had taken an additional $4500 depreciation hit. We never had the ecocredit that justified many 35d purchases in the US.

I can only speak for the US.
I just read 4MoJoe's thread about selling his X5D.Only $15 k hit for 3 years is something amasing.I dont think that could happen with any car in this price range.

I probably wouldn't have bought new if it weren't for the Ecocredit at the time and some pretty good price negotiation. The guy that bought my car didn't blink but $500 off the price - to replace the 2 front tires. When I did my price research I found that most X5 D's were in the 40K mileage range and near what I asked so I felt I was about right on for the pricing. I did get a lot of yo yo's that kept offering me 31k or some redonk price and tried to tell me that if I have a cash offer I had better take it. Ummm, bite me.

Hi Guys,
Thanks for your comments so far. I'm a long time member of the forum, and just wrote off my 2005 e53 last weekend (I am nearly in tears!), when sideswiped by an idiot.

I'm looking at an 2010/2011 E70 3.0d, as my E53 3.0d was great, diesel fuel is not bad pricing here in Australia.

My question: is it true that the diesel engines are cheaper to own? Here in Australia, the diesel E53's seemed to last a lot longer before dying, and need less maintenance (simpler engine perhaps)?. We don't have snow/rust issues to wear out cars.

Is the diesel durability + operating cost lower?

Cheers + thanks,
Scott.
2005 3.0d sport (RIP)

The F15 is fantastic!
 

Petrol V Diesel, Mercedes, VW, Porsche, Range Rover all personal choice. Owned a Merc ml500 2003 model for nearly 10 years, loved the V8 but didn't like the latest model. Purchased a 2010 x5 35d (new) after testing the v8 and not being a diesel lover was impressed with the acceleration and power of the diesel. Also have a Bayliner 195 about 2 tons tows extremely well, not much different to the V8 but economy wise not in the same ball park. 150,000 kilometres later and at the end of the lease order a new f15 40d which I have had for 6 weeks. Didn't test drive one only sat in the seats to confirm the comfort was the same. Better, no fantastic, love the steering and the 8 speed and the power is fantastic. Most of my driving is in the country at highway speeds of 110kph on single lane roads having to pass caravans, trucks etc, acceleration from 80 - 90 is phenomenal. Undulating surface no change down from top gear to maintain speed. They made a great car better fuel economy was around 11 litres per hundred km 22 mpg in the e70 to 30 mpg in the f15 under various driving conditions. Very happy