BMW Four Cylinder Diesels Coming

by Edward Niedermeyer

November 12th, 2009 4:37 PM

“You’re going to see it of course in the 3 Series,” BMW’s Tom Baloga tells Inside Line, “and the 5 Series is a good possibility. If the performance [of such an engine] is sufficient in the X3, U.S. customers would likely accept it in the X5 as well.” The “it” he’s referring to is BMW’s two liter turbodiesel engine, which BMW hopes will soon make up 10 to 20 percent of its engine mix in the US. And the Bavarians aren’t bringing the diesel four over for mere miserly mileage alone. “We would be focusing to make sure we get the performance that people expect without squeezing every last mile per gallon out of it,” Baloga says. “I don’t think we would ever consciously look at [the VW Jetta TDI’s] numbers and say ‘we have to beat that.'”

Inside Line claims that the US-bound oil burner is the same one found in BMW’s European 320d, which would make it 177 hp strong. However, BMW also makes a 143 hp version of its two liter diesel as well as a 204 hp version, the latter being the first production oil burner to achieve over 100 hp per liter. However that engine is only available in the 1 Series (123d), making it unlikely to come to America. The 320d burns 4.9 liters of diesel every 100 km, giving it an approximate rating of 48 MPG. It’s important to note though, that European cycles tend to rate higher than EPA, meaning a 320d should arrive somewhere closer to 40 mpg when it arrives in the US. A particle filter is more likely to be used for exhaust cleaning than the urea-injection system used on US-market Audi and Mercedes diesels, although a final decision has not yet been made.

#320d #BMW #Diesel #FourCylinderEngines #FuelEconomy

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5 of 24 comments

JLD2k3 on Nov 12, 2009

Let's talk TORQUE when discussing diesels. The E320 CDI/Bluetec is only 200 hp, but nearly 400 lb*ft. That thing's a rocket compared to the 215 hp E320 with 221 lb*ft.

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Dejal on Nov 12, 2009

I thought people bought BMWs for their racing heritage and performance? http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/whats-wrong-with-this-picture-bmw-by-volvo-edition/ With diesels in the US and the F1 pullout it looks like even BMW doesn't believe that crap anymore (if they ever did).

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- Mirko Reinhardt on Nov 13, 2009
  
  2 liter diesel BMWs have successfully competed in touring car racing, so I don't see your point - a fun to drive 4-cylinder diesel car is a perfectly contemporary interpretation of what a BMW should be.
  
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Artmaltman on Nov 12, 2009

WHEN?!!! How long could it take? BMW already floods the rest of the world with these!!! Definitely include AWD and manual, PUHLEEZE! Art

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Bimmer on Nov 12, 2009

Not sure if it still affects new 2- liter diesel, but in 320d E46 there were problems with turbo failures and intake manifold swirl flap breaking and being sucked into the engine.

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