BMW 520d beats Prius in MPG test

[dirty30]

http://www.technoride.com/2008/03/bmw_diesel_beats_prius_in_econ.php

Interesting article, however there was a large smug cloud gathering so I had to evacuate.

[CorvallisBMW]

Cool article, now all we need is those diesels here!!

[StereoInstaller1]

I had to post a response:

Wow...every single one of you that posted cannot READ!

British article = IMPERIAL gallon

US fuel economy numbers+20% = British fuel numbers...their gallon is BIGGER, did you forget?

And who the hell where was talking anything about BioDiesel?

Is anyone ever suprised that BMW builds a better car?

Toyota owners, know thy place.

[Jon325i]

^^^^ You make a good point ^^^^

It is often overlooked that these Euro tests are based on the imperial gallon versus the US gallon. Even when you take that into consideration and determine what the actual mileage is in US numbers, the feat BMW pulled off is still quite impressive given the fact they used a 5 series. Now imagine what the economy might be if this 2.0L diesel was put into a 3 series.....or even better, a 1 series. The fuel economy would only improve in those smaller, lighter platforms.

Jon

[Yakinho]

With the price of diesel being $4.05 a gallon where I live, and the price of regular being $3.25, I don't see the point of them releasing a lot of diesels over here...

[bolognablake]

With the price of diesel being $4.05 a gallon where I live, and the price of regular being $3.25, I don't see the point of them releasing a lot of diesels over here...

They sell B20 Biodiesel for about the same as regular gas here.

[Addissimo]

the 120d gets 55mpg avg (imperial), and 65mpg highway. I think thats about the same size as a prius.

Hybrids lose... unless you're talking diesel hybrid :).

-Addis

[Addissimo]

With the price of diesel being $4.05 a gallon where I live, and the price of regular being $3.25, I don't see the point of them releasing a lot of diesels over here...

I've never understood this arguement.

My 325ix gets 22mpg at best. Most diesel cars in that size range are averaging 45mpg or more. I know alot of vw owners are in the 50's.

23 more miles per gallon of fuel. That is 204% better fuel economy.

So, using your example, with a diesel car averaging 45mpg at $4.05 per gallon, you're paying $.09 per mile. With a gasoline car averaging 25 mpg at $3.25, you're paying $.13 per mile. When you consider that any newer BMW requires premium, which is $3.47 per gallon here, using the same 25mpg (wtf, seriously? Still that low? yes.) You're paying almost $.14 per mile.

That doesn't seem like all that much of a savings, but when you consider that most cars today don't "average" 25mpg, and that figure is just from highway driving, the savings up up even more. So if you're saving $.04 per mile, at an average 12,000 miles of driving per year, you're saving $480 in fuel costs... not to mention lightening our dependency on foreign oil.

Diesel is the way to go. I'm pretty seriously considering a 330d when they come to us this fall. I wish I could get my hands on a 320d, or even better a 120d though.

-Addis

[StereoInstaller1]

Addis, correct me if I am wrong, but aren't diesel engines shorter lived?

[e30e]

Addis, correct me if I am wrong, but aren't diesel engines shorter lived?

What do you mean by that? Like mileage, its not uncommon for the cummin's guys to go 200-300k on a engine, yes I know eta's do the same but diesel engines usually can go twice the intervals for rebuilds than gas engines can.

[Jon325i]

You guys want to get the dirt on the performance/economy/longevity of small diesel engines, check out http://forums.tdiclub.com/. Some of these V-Dub diesels are still running after 500K miles.

Jon

[atomic]

Addis, correct me if I am wrong, but aren't diesel engines shorter lived?

I know the diesel engines in the Ford F series superduty trucks if maintained correctly can go 300k+ before having to worry about the engines. Locally there is a boat transport company that sells their trucks every once in awhile and they usually will have 400k on them and still run fine when they go to sell them. I have however NO idea the longevity of the smaller diesel engines normal cars will have.

I also get 18-22 mpg gallon in mine and it weighs just under 11k lbs. Diesel fuel is generally lower than gas in cost, but during the winter time due to heating oils having to be produced, will make it higher than gas but usually drops to well below the cost of 87 octane gas for the spring and summer months. Where the difference in operation cost between gas and diesel are the services. I have to change fuel filters every 15k miles at a cost of $250 plus oil changes are 16qts or $125 every 5000k. The fuel filters have to be changed very often due to the diesel gelling and causing issues down the road. Also if a lot of towing is done the truck has to have transmissions fluid changes every 15k as well.

I know that is a bit OT but should give an idea as I am sure there isn't much difference in the normal service requirements (other than transmission needs) and of course fluid capacities.

[Hon2BMW]

My only comment on this subject will be as follows:

Thank you Toyota for bringing hybrid systems to market and mass producing them.

Thank you Toyota for making these systems socially acceptable and popular among image conscious members of society, as we all know how the american consumer is generally a gullible 5 year old when it comes to the power of the media and product placement. For once a large corporation has used these tools to move an entire industry towards progressive solutions to immediate problems, and has profited from it at the same time.

The environment and the future thanks you for taking these first feable steps. Regardless of the "but this is better" criticisms of those who only followed after your lead in the U.S. May they respect you while using your success to sell a product they where unable to move just 5-10 years earlier.

Thank you Toyota, may your profits continue to grow wether your intentions where solely good-hearted or not.

[Addissimo]

My only comment on this subject will be as follows:

Thank you Toyota for bringing hybrid systems to market and mass producing them.

Thank you Toyota for making these systems socially acceptable and popular among image conscious members of society, as we all know how the american consumer is generally a gullible 5 year old when it comes to the power of the media and product placement. For once a large corporation has used these tools to move an entire industry towards progressive solutions to immediate problems, and has profited from it at the same time.

The environment and the future thanks you for taking these first feable steps. Regardless of the "but this is better" criticisms of those who only followed after your lead in the U.S. May they respect you while using your success to sell a product they where unable to move just 5-10 years earlier.

Thank you Toyota, may your profits continue to grow wether your intentions where solely good-hearted or not.

Well said.

Toyota: please use one of your 4 clyinder diesel engines that you have everywhere else in the world aside from the US, and mate it with your hybrid technology. 80+mpg would be wonderful.

Thanks.

[dirty30]

My only comment on this subject will be as follows:

Thank you Toyota for bringing hybrid systems to market and mass producing them.

Shame on Toyota for making the prius and its hybrid drive system. It was nothing more than a marketing stunt. Hey Toyota... want to do something better for the environment? Stop selling trucks and SUV's that get 14 MPG. Not directed at you but making four cars (RX330h, Prius, Camry, Highlander) that get marginally better gas mileage than a standard gasoline engine and then marketing thier entire company based on fuel economy and emissions is a joke.