[rebelfocus]

I had reason to drive from Cork to Dublin today (530km round trip). I filled my 320d at the beginning of the journey and still have slightly more than half a tank after 530kms (330 miles). I am so impressed - this is incredible fuel economy for this size of car (with aircon, heated seats and full beam lights on and doing about 120km/hr for most of the trip)

The trip computer was not telling lies when it said I had over 1000kms on the full tank. And I expect this to improve as the engine runs in (just over 1000kms on the clock so far).

3 cheers for diesel power and economy!!!

[HRC]

Nice! For me, a good week would be 340 miles on a tank of gas.

Danny

[StewtheBassman]

I wish we would get friggn' diesel here in North America!

[David328M-Sport]

non stop country driving will always do it right for you. Nice one!

Enjoy.

[Paul330d]

Originally Posted by StewtheBassman

I wish we would get friggn' diesel here in North America!

This debate has been raging on forums for years and apparently it's something to do with the diesel fuel sold in the US not being up to it (though VW sell their TDI engines in the States, so I'm not too sure). It is a real shame, because - at the risk of sounding smug and apart from the noise (petrol engines are still sweeter-sounding) - diesel engines win all round. I drove the 330i before ordering the 330d and found it feeble in comparison. There's just not enough torque for mid-range acceleration and that's what I use the most. The 330d also comes with a particulate filter as standard, meaning you no longer have the disgrace of black smoke from the exhaust under heavy acceleration.

One example : the well-respected French motoring magazine Le Moniteur Automobile reviewed all the cars it tested last year and compiled a list of the fastest accelerating cars from 90-120kph. Top was the Bentley Continental Flying Spur (2.5 secs, 560hp), followed by the MB CLS 55 AMG (2.8 secs, 476hp) and... the 745d (300hp) & M5 (500hp), both 3.1. Next was the 535d (a mere 272hp) at 3.4 secs.

[SRT]

Next was the 535d (a mere 272hp) at 3.4 secs.

Torque rules!

[davinet78]

thats just the beauty of having a diesel engine

[poldim]

With highway milage, my trip computer tells me its about 560 miles to the tank... Thats about 33 mpg or so, cruising at 80-90 mph

[b1mmer2]

I don't even check computer for milage... cause the DAMN traffic in DC metro area! :mad::mad::mad:

[voltron1011]

Mercedes is coming out with diesel engines for the US starting next year. There will be a new V6 diesel to replace the existing I6 that is available only on the E320 CDI (the only one that Merc offers to the US). They will first introduce the new engine in the ML SUV and E-class, but hopefully will be eventually available for the C class as well. This new motor is supposed to be clean enough to pass all of the new US smog restrictions that will begin in 2007.

[BMW F22]

Cant we just ED a freaking Diesel E90??? will the government allow that???

[voltron1011]

Originally Posted by BMWE90

Cant we just ED a freaking Diesel E90??? will the government allow that???

Nope...

If it doesn't conform to EPA standards it cannot be imported into the US. You can't even swap a diesel drivetrain into a North American version. There are very strict rules governing car importation.

[vladinecko]

damn, i'm stilling breaking mine in so i'm happy to get 220 miles per tank...

[Paul330d]

Originally Posted by voltron1011

Nope...

If it doesn't conform to EPA standards it cannot be imported into the US. You can't even swap a diesel drivetrain into a North American version. There are very strict rules governing car importation.

I don't understand: how can the US govt. ban modern diesel engines (the 330d even has a particulate filter, meaning there's no more black smoke under acceleration), while allowing huge Cadillac Escalades the size of a house that do 2mpg

[DTM]

Originally Posted by Paul330d

I don't understand: how can the US govt. ban modern diesel engines (the 330d even has a particulate filter, meaning there's no more black smoke under acceleration), while allowing huge Cadillac Escalades the size of a house that do 2mpg

Let's ask ourselves.. is the Cadillac an import. The US doesn't want to make American companies lose money. But why would the gov't care about companies in other nations?

To raise dollar value, the gov't wants to discourage importing and encourage exporting.

[JonMad]

Yep, I average around 550 miles from a tank and expect to be able to get over 650 if I have a few decent high speed cruises in succession. Top stuff.

[b1mmer2]

Originally Posted by DTM

Let's ask ourselves.. is the Cadillac an import. The US doesn't want to make American companies lose money. But why would the gov't care about companies in other nations?

To raise dollar value, the gov't wants to discourage importing and encourage exporting.

That's one approach. Another would be to stimulate making better cars by hiring more qulaified engineers so the cars will naturally compete with import stuff. The "economic" approach won't work in long therm.
And by the way who they compete with with? A lot of Euro car makers belong to local auto giants (thx God with exception of BMW).

[voltron1011]

Originally Posted by Paul330d

I don't understand: how can the US govt. ban modern diesel engines (the 330d even has a particulate filter, meaning there's no more black smoke under acceleration), while allowing huge Cadillac Escalades the size of a house that do 2mpg

This is the dilema that frustrates me every day as I drive into work. The US laws are written very ignorantly with respect to polution and fuel economy. Firstly, they measure polution based on a gallon for gallon (or liter/liter) basis. So, in their thinking a gallon of diesel fuel polutes more than a gallon of unleaded benzine. Which, for the most part is true based on what the US has decided as "polution." They don't take into account that the gallon of diesel will take a car 30 to 40 percent farther than the same amount of unleaded benzine. And, when making this comparison, the diesel is actually LESS poluting (mile for mile).
These same laws also dictate fuel-economy. Our laws state that every CAR has to get at least 27 mpg (correct me if I'm wrong). The problem is that this does not include Pickup-trucks and SUV's. For some stupid-ass reason the US government decided that it's ok for an individual to own a 8mpg Hummer H2 versus a 19mpg sedan (M5). The sedan owner is forced to pay a "gas-guzzler" tax on his car but the SUV owner isn't. Now take a look at the best selling vehicles in the US and you'll notice that at least half of them are trucks or suv's.
The reason American's are still buying up these land-yachts is that there are so many incentives for them. You can lease a full-sized Tahoo for 350 bucks a month or have 0% apr for 72 months. That's a lot of gas you can buy with all the savings from the monthly payments. Unfortuneately, that's how most people think... They don't worry about the fact that they are sucking are natural resources away, they only want to drive in the biggest "Canyonaro" around.

[b1mmer2]

8 mpg on H2 in let's say DC metro traffic (where I see one or two every day) is very optimistic guess I'd say...

[Paddy]

Hi Tony,
what does a E90 320i/330i go for in Ireland these days...I'm from Belturbet, Co. Cavan myself and curious about the price difference.

[rebelfocus]

A decently spec:ed 330i in Ireland (leather, wood, bluetooth, nav, xenons, etc.) will bring you to about 67,000 Euros or about 80,000 American Dollars!

Shocking isn't it... Ireland is not alone though. Many other European countries are similar...

Cars are just so affordable in the US compared to here (I know all about it as I lived there for many years) but the downside it that they are not as customizable. It's all boring 'packages' and limited engine choices.

Despite the expensive motoring, there are many, many nice things about living in this part of the world :-)

[underDAWG]

Originally Posted by StewtheBassman

I wish we would get friggn' diesel here in North America!

2x........

I am sure we will have our diesel cars here when the clean diesel is available in the States.