Report: BMW Diesels on Sale in U.S. by Mid-October

Jeb April 22nd, 2008 3:12 PM Link

BBC America just ran the Top Gear episode where the guys raced the diesel 3-series last night. Interesting coincidence.

Garfield134 April 22nd, 2008 3:48 PM Link

Unfortunately, diesel fuel prices are going through the roof. It wouldn’t surprise me that by October, prices will be $5 per gallon or more for diesel fuel. Too bad, because BMW, Honda, VW, Mercedes et al have these terrific machines that may not sell here because of fuel costs. Unless we can get diesel prices under control, diesels will fail AGAIN in the US. The fuel economy differential can make up the increased fuel cost but how long is the payback? If the fuel ends up costing 35% more than gasoline but the vehicles only get 25% better fuel economy, the diesel will not be worth it. The only savings will be from reduced maintenance costs, probably never recoverable in the life time of the car.

I owned a diesel VW in the 80’s and enjoyed 50 mpg, although the car was painfully slow. I have a diesel Kubota tractor now and love it. I would buy a diesel again if the costs were in line.

enthusiast April 22nd, 2008 4:49 PM Link

seriously, why is diesel so much more expensive than gasoline in US? Last time I was in Russia(past summer), it was the other way around and I’m sure it’s the same in Europe.

dante April 22nd, 2008 4:55 PM Link

I wouldn’t doubt if the refineries change the mix soon as this is killing the trucking industry and our economy depends upon them. But it doesn’t matter to me since I can make my own diesel. Try making your own gasoline.

BMW should send their 4-cylinder. A salvage 6-cylinder doesn’t interest me.

mo April 22nd, 2008 6:39 PM Link

@ enthusiast, i believe diesel is much cheaper in russia coz it is used by residents for heating. in russia not all heating system function on electricity and some work on diesel. thus the government keeps the diesel prices low over there. otherwise, ppl will start burning other stuff or freeze till death.

Mena April 22nd, 2008 7:26 PM Link

BMW should send their 4-cylinder. A salvage 6-cylinder doesn’t interest me.

But it sure interests the people actually buying BMW’s. No one’s going to pay over $40k for a 4 cyl diesel in the US. BMW knows that and, intelligently, doesn’t ship that motor here.

Sherief April 22nd, 2008 9:19 PM Link

Diesel is simpler to refine than gasoline..

The overinflated price of diesel is simply gouging to take advantage of our dependence on the trucking industry.

Ducati Minor April 22nd, 2008 10:08 PM Link

Yes, but there is a more complex method on how that distribution is performed. Gas jumped, but diesel soared. Diesel, for many years, was just 10¢ over premium gas. This recent spike saw diesel sell for 50¢ more here in the Southland. That killed diesel talk in the Southern California media.

I can see BMW’s having a mighty thirty preorders for a 335d. And then sales of even more impressive five hundred. I couldn’t give a care for a BMW diesel; but this has made the likelihood of my 2 dr. Audi A3 2.0 TDI coming here about as likely as Jimmy Carter holding hands with a Jew.

I’ll settle for a A3 2 dr. with FSi.

Garfield134 April 23rd, 2008 8:07 AM Link

Autoweek has an interesting article on the European Civic i-CDTi:

(http://autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080423/FREE/142313747/1530/FREE)

With the figures they are reporting, the diesel’s per mile cost advantage is only $0.0052 (1/2 cent). In other words, you would save $52 in 10k miles of driving. Wow! In my mind, it it NOT worth it. Like I said in my earlier post, unless we can figure out how to get our diesel fuel costs under control, diesels will fail again in the US. Too bad, because there appears to be some potentially great machinery headed our way.

bmwloco April 23rd, 2008 9:09 AM Link

Diesel is expensive for one reason: Greed.

The oil companies are making record profits. They don’t want to see fuel efficient vehicles in the US as it’ll cut into their bottom line.

Additionally, there is some question about Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) availability. A major European manufacturer (that made the Beetle) looked into it and found only BP and Shell where actually selling 15ppm sulfur ULSD.

All the US based petroleum companies had stickers on the pump saying ULSD, but it was actually 50-70ppm sulfur.

It blows, but it’s the same as it ever was.

All we can do is demand more efficient vehicles, drive less, and use alternative transportation when we can.