RE: Is A Diesel M Car On The Way?

[Dracoro]

WorAl said:

Isn't that just, "a car" then? When does any car get 40 mpg if you rag it's bks off?

That wasn't my point.

Although I'm sure you "can" get 40mpg (much like I can in my Honda), that's not what you'll get (IMO) in normal driving (esp as the 530/535 don't even get that high mpg).

If you rag it, of course it will be low/mid 20s (similar I'm guessing for the 550d), however in normal mixed driving (bit of commuting, some m-way trips, some fun down the country lanes and overtaking when required) then it will sit in the late 20s. I think the 550d will sit around 30mpg (maybe less) in normal mixed driving. Certainly very good for a barge with a lot of performance!

[wid77]

Agree that this sounds like a fast real-world, desirable daily driver.

[edo]

WorAl said:

Dracoro said:

Jakg said:

Some people would love an M5 as a daily driver, but do 20+k a year so just can't justify a 25 MPG car.

Imagine all the focus on handling & performance in a car that could do 40+ MPG, or have 800+ miles range - that would be the ultimate daily driver (for me, at least).

Do you *really* think this will do 40mpg. I would say it will struggle to get over 30mpg, probably closer to the 25mpg you mentioned. The M5 will struggle to get late teens driven the same way.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it will be a decent car and certainly more economical than an M5 but it won't get 40mpg all day long. To drive in a way that gets good mpg, you'd not be using much of that 395bhp (in which case, just get a 530d and get another 10 mpg. Use the 395bhp as it is intended and you'll never get 40mpg.

Edited by Dracoro on Tuesday 9th August 11:55

Isn't that just, "a car" then? When does any car get 40 mpg if you rag it's bks off?

320d ED.

Had for about 7,000 miles. No effort whatsoever towards economy, loads of different roads, traffic etc. 55.4mpg to date.

[seann]

thewheelman said:

It was only a matter of time, surprised it's taken this long to be honest.

True. A BMW marketing boss said (can't remember where I read it) that the US market expects four-wheel drive in that segment. Diesel is the only surprise. That can't be for the US market.


Tri-Turbo is a catchy name, but I suspect it's technically a twin-turbo with an electric supercharger. At least in the petrol Tri-Turbo. Not sure about diesels.

[bobberz]

I remember reading in European Car a few years ago about an e60 535d tuned by one of the BMW tuners (Hamann, maybe?). I think it was something like 350BHP and 400-something lb.-ft.

Thought at the time "wish BMW would sell it in the 'States". Of course there's still some stigma here about "smokey, smelly, noisy" diesels left over from when they sold the VW Rabbit(Golf) and old Volvo diesels, but with petrol prices climbing here and the consumer demand for better MPG, cars such as the Jetta diesel have sold remarkably well.

I sincerely hope (but am not holding my breath) that if they make an "M550dX", they'll sell it here.

400bhp with maybe 500+ lb.-ft. in a 5 series with AWD sounds like the perfect BMW for me, especially since they got rid of the V10 M5.

Anyone know the acceleration specs of the current 535d? I'm thinking this new one should do 0-62 in less than 6sec, maybe closer to breaking the sub-5sec barrier.

[bobberz]

Can't believe that you guys in the UK don't get the AWD BMWs. Even the slightest snow here and even the lowest torque 3 series are seen sitting on the side of the road whilst I drive comfortably past them in my Focus!

I'm sure part of that is due to people in the South knowing st about winter driving, but it seems BMWs are the one brand I see stuck most in winter (apart from all the 330ix and X5/X6/X3s).

Is snow that rare in Britain that the "Ultimate Marketing Marchine" don't think they can sell them?

[BSC]

4WD is not suitable as a substitute for winter tyres! Stupid people may think 4WD is, but htose have never thought about braking on snow, have they?

[nickfrog]

Exactly. 4wd is pretty useless on proper snow/ice if you have non-winter tyres, or at least one may have the impression to make progress because of 4wd when a front driver with winter rubber will get a much better result. It's not difficult to make better progress than a stranded rwd font engine BMW, everything else does, even mid-engine cars.

BMW UK have been refusing to sell X 4wd saloon (that have been produced for 20 years+) BECAUSE of their marketing stance that RWD is better, even though 99% of their customers drive so far from the limits of traction/grip that it makes zero difference.

[MrLou]

adz13091982 said:

4wd, 400bhp, 30+MPG and shed loads of torque - what's not to like?

The fact that it won't come to the UK?

BMW have been making 4wd 3 and 5 series for years but haven't sold them in the UK (not even sure they made a RHD variant for Aus/NZ/Japan). I'd be surprised if they bucked that trend in future.

[Likes Fast Cars]

The world is going crazy - for crying out loud, it has to be a petrol engine if it's an "M"

[Munich]

I wonder if MB would allow BMW to use that badging today? I heard that one of the reasons BMW insist on using the rather ridiculous naming, Z4 35i sDrive, or the X5 40d xDrive, is because MB didn't allow BMW to badge them Z435i or X540d as this is basically the same as their naming scheme.

I didn't know how true that is, but it would make sense.

[Niffty951]

I haven't read the thread so sorry if it's a repeat but could this just be the release of a new engine not a car? Many of the non M BMW engines have M*** engine codes. M series usually have S***

[Itsallicanafford]

....late to this one so apologies if this has been said...a did a little over 35k in my 335d before I got rid if it, the speed was certainly there but not the excitement, it was just a efficient way to go fast but with a mute sound track...having driven an E90 M3, the difference is like night and day, even if the real world performance is not that different (boot them both at 60, and see what I mean)..it's all about the sound they make... I would certainly buy a tri-turbo 5 series touring and fill it with kids and smoke a few hot hatches on the way to the shops (in a safe wife watching the speedo unto 60mph sort of way!), but wouldn't kid myself that I was in a M5...IMO of course..

[Munich]

Riggers said:

filski666 said:

There was an E34 M540i in Canada in the mid '90s - which was an M5 with the 4 litre V8.

Ooooo.... now that sounds nice... Pics?

Don't forget the E30 320is that was sold in Italy and Portugal. It had the S14 engine from the E30 M3 but with a short piston stroke so only 2.0 litres. It also had the gearbox, and I think the LSD, from the E30 M3, but was not badged as a M320i.

[Mr Dave]

MrLou said:

The fact that it won't come to the UK?

BMW have been making 4wd 3 and 5 series for years but haven't sold them in the UK (not even sure they made a RHD variant for Aus/NZ/Japan). I'd be surprised if they bucked that trend in future.

They have sold them in the UK, I have a UK spec E34 525ix sitting in a lock up.

The big problem was that noone bought them, we dont get enough snow for it to be a problem and they cost extra and were very expensive to make due to steering rack positioning and problems with that.

Thats why they didnt bother with the E36 and E39.

I think with market conditions and BMWs success selling 4wd cars in the UK that 3s and 5s will come with four wheel drive in the future.

[anonymous-user]

bobberz said:

Can't believe that you guys in the UK don't get the AWD BMWs. Even the slightest snow here and even the lowest torque 3 series are seen sitting on the side of the road whilst I drive comfortably past them in my Focus!

I'm sure part of that is due to people in the South knowing st about winter driving, but it seems BMWs are the one brand I see stuck most in winter (apart from all the 330ix and X5/X6/X3s).

Is snow that rare in Britain that the "Ultimate Marketing Marchine" don't think they can sell them?

Yes, snow is pretty rare in the UK (especially in the South). Although a lot of people waste money fitting winter tyres for the few days of the year there might actually be some snow.

[edo]

St John Smythe said:

Although a lot of people waste money fitting winter tyres for the few days of the year there might actually be some snow.

[anonymous-user]

edo said:

Love it. That took all of two minutes for someone to take the bait

[Zod]

St John Smythe said:

edo said:

Love it. That took all of two minutes for someone to take the bait

So you were trolling?

[anonymous-user]

Zod said:

St John Smythe said:

edo said:

Love it. That took all of two minutes for someone to take the bait

So you were trolling?

It was a joke. When did it get so serious around here? Is this a rolleyes smily meeting or something? Ah well, might as well join in