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Would you buy a diesel BMW?

Posted by Hootan Mahallati | March 02, 2009 | In bmw founder's thoughts

I came across this review by Fortune’s Alex Taylor III, who has recently driven BMW’s diesel 3-Series, and it got me thinking. In case you did not know, BMW has just started offering two diesel models in the US – the 335d Sedan and the X5 xDrive35d, both featuring the amazing 3.0L, 265hp inline 6 that return 36 mpg hwy in the former model and 26 mpg hwy in the latter.

There has always been a debate about whether diesel passenger cars are viable in a market that views them in quite a negative light. Moreover, critics are quick to point out that diesel fuel is more expensive than gasoline in the US. In fact, BMW’s former CEO, Helmut Panke, said only a few years ago that “our customers do not fill up at truck stops”. What gets left out of the discussion every time is the undisputed truth that diesel engines are at least 10% more efficient than gasoline engines. The most interesting, and ironic fact, is that the torquey nature of diesel engines makes diesel cars extremely well-suited to the typical American driving regimen: get in your car, get on the on-ramp, and floor it to merge onto the highway. That push that gets you onto the highway is torque, and the nature of diesel combustion means that size-for-size, diesel engines produce more of it.

I am used to driving diesel BMWs, Audis and Mercedes from my time in Europe, and even though I am sucker for a smooth, revvy inline-6 or V8 gasoline engine, I always wished Americans could experience for themselves just how far diesel technology has come of late. Yes, they are still noisy and stink a bit, but high-tech particulate filters have all but eliminated the visible soot emitted by diesels, and BMW in particular has been lauded for making even their diesel engines sounds sporty and fun to drive. In fact, I recall asking a former client, whose day job at BMW’s M Division was designing the current M3 and M5 engines, which BMW he had bought with his corporate discount, and the answer was “BMW 335d Wagon”. How is that for an endorsement?!

If for nothing else but curiosity, I suggest you go to your closest BMW dealership and ask to test drive a 335d. Tell them they can thank rightpedal for sending you their way, and please come back and tell us what you think once you have driven one.

4 Comment(s)

Mark Jacobs | posted 1 year, 4 months ago

I would absolutely buy / drive a diesel ...

Americans can't believe that In Europe up to 1/2 of all private passenger cars currentley being purchased are diesel, but its true and its because diesels are more economical (gas prices are more expensive because of taxation, so this is important), because they have great range (less trips to the pump) and the performance these days is excellent (on modern diesel engines vs. the old ones that American's pre conceptions are based on).

I like the BM engines but love the Volkswagen diesels ... if I had to buy a car with my own money right now, I'd get a VW Golf 1.8TDI (a Golf GTI with a diesel enegine) that does 40 miles to the gallon, has 150bhp and a 0 - 60 of less than 9 seconds.

Thats my two cents anyway.

Hootan Mahallati | posted 1 year, 4 months ago

Vee Dub makes decent diesels, but I have to go with my rule of a minimum of 6 cylinders..cause you know, that kind of environmental consciousness is so in these days!

Felix Jose Siman III | posted 1 year, 4 months ago

I can’t think of the day that we will have to give up our petrol but at $140 a barrel last summer became a scary thought, enough for me to foresee such sacrifice in the near future! I came to the realization that we needed to conserve all the petrol left as possible for more suitable use…the track (I mean come on, even race circuits such as ALMS are going green! Audi, please ignore this). Thus, in the future purchase of an SUV I have highly considered the 35d engine in the X5, it really is the perfect compromise. Its performance is faster than my old BMW 323Ci, getting to 60mph just 6.8 seconds (and at over 5,000lbs that is an impressive fete!) while maintaining 26mpg (hwy) and sitting 6, SOLD! I’ll keep my M3 filled with Petrol, scorching single digit consumption as my 8 cylinders gallop every ounce across Sebring, Homestead and any track I can place my ever melting Michelins on. As for daily driving, I would definitely do my part to save this planet, but more important keep our race cars thirst quenched with that petrol we took for granted all these years!

Hootan Mahallati | posted 1 year, 4 months ago

Haha Felix, I like the sound of your ideal garage! Let us enjoy the days of naturally-aspirated V8 M3 while they last - not sure you'll smile as broadly driving an electric M3 around Sebring! :)