Here in CA diesel costs 20 cents more per gallon then premium unleaded. If you compare the annual fuel costs of the standard 3.0 vs. 35d are they about even since the diesel has better mpg? Or does the price difference give the 3.0 the edge?
Simple math.
15,000 miles a year.
20mpg for the 3.0 avg; 750 gallons x 2.00 = $1500
24mpg for the 3.0D - avg; 625 gallons x 2.20 = $1375
But...the Diesel also gets to 60 in 7.2 seconds, versus the gassers 8 seconds...
and has more torque, and I suspect though i've not driven one, better performance around town...
Now...let's assume you drive like me:
30k miles a year, with a lead foot. I average 14mpg out of the 4.4i I have, in town, and 19 on the highway. So, overall a 17.5 mpg. Past experience has proven that even with a smaller engine, I"ll get very similar fuel economy, because i'm giving it the boot all the time...whereas, the V8 has enough power that I'm not *always* dogging it, just most of the time.
I'd expect real world mileage of the diesel for me to be about 22mpg or so. Highway would be more, in town a little less, but 22mpg is probably a good figure.
17.5mpg (V8) at 30,000 miles/year = 1714 gallons x 2.00 = 3428 At $5/gallon its 8570 for the gasser
22mpg (diesel) at 30,000 miles/year = 1364 gallons x 2.20 = 3000. at $5.20/gallon is 7093 for the diesel
But...the new diesels qualify for a tax rebate of $1800.
So...yes...the diesel will probably save you money, especially over the long haul and if you do a lot of driving. For me, the extra mid-range torque would negate the need for a thirstier V8, with little loss of overall performance. The tax credit is nice. And when fuel goes back up, the difference will increase dramatically.
Why don't I have one? Can you see putting 30k on a new car in the first year? The depreciation would kill me. I'm looking forward to a couple years from now, when the diesels are available as CPO vehicle, and I'm ready to upgrade from my '04 4.4i.
I waited two years for the diesel. The gas 3.0 didn't have enough power and the 4.8 uses too much fuel.You can look at the mathematics of it as demonstrated above.
There are simple advantages of diesel. You get substantially longer range between fillups. The midrange torque is unparalleled by any petrol from BMW, including the M5. It has 580Nm of torque versus the V10's 520Nm. This makes the vehicle extremely flexible in any situation. You are being "green" for the environment because it emits less CO² than any other X5 model (okay, the xDrive30d in the EU emits 3 g/km less, big deal).
Honestly, I don't understand why anyone gets the 3.0si model, maybe someone can explain this to me. Just my €0,02.
question....why are you using EUR and litre/KM to explain cost in the US? Are you really from Virginia?You can look at the mathematics of it as demonstrated above.
There are simple advantages of diesel. You get substantially longer range between fillups. The midrange torque is unparalleled by any petrol from BMW, including the M5. It has 580Nm of torque versus the V10's 520Nm. This makes the vehicle extremely flexible in any situation. You are being "green" for the environment because it emits less CO² than any other X5 model (okay, the xDrive30d in the EU emits 3 g/km less, big deal). In Virginia, diesel is usually a modest $0,08/litre more expensive, but I have seen places where it is almost on par with premium petrol.
Honestly, I don't understand why anyone gets the 3.0si model, maybe someone can explain this to me. Just my €0,02.
What is your conclusion based of?If and when the economy picks up, the spread is going to get bigger.
My conclusion is based on what happened last year. Prices between the two will increase as demonstrated this past summer. The reason why all prices are down is due to this ****ty global economy. China was one of the biggest consumers of diesel fuel. They've cut back dramatically. If and when the global economy picks up, the spread between the two will increase again.What is your conclusion based of?
Are you saying when prices at the pump go up the difference between premium and diesel will increase?
1st, i doubt it'll be tha case
2nd, when prices are higher for both gas and diesel, it will still be around the same ratio or less (percent wise)
So if the difference stays, lets say $0.40, then your savings for driving diesel are much more
P.S. My guess is that we will be paying for diesel same or less than premium in the future, not more
I still think that an $1,800 tax credit and $500-1000 per year (basically a car payment) in gas savings can be significant. When you combine that with getting a vehicle almost as powerful as the 4.8 for about $5K cheaper, I think the cost-benefit equation is a no-brainer. Am I missing something?The fuel and cost savings from owning a diesel will be small. When you look at it as a percentage of acquisition cost, almost trivial. I've heard some stories that this will change as our involvement in 3 wars diminishes--not sure how much I believe that.
What does this mean? Not profitable for dealers? No offense, but why would consumers really care about that? And why do you think they'll be less profitable than other vehicles?Diesel vehicles are about much more than cost savings. Perhaps the biggest reason we have them in North America at all is because consumers wanted a choice. Diesels will not be a profitable segment in the near term, or possibly even in the medium term.
Diesels do provide a good interim step as the world weans itself away from fossil fuels. And in a world where governments are beginning to legislate how efficient passenger vehicles have to be, diesels serve a compelling purpose for manufacturers looking to increase their corporate fuel economy averages.
I agree that it is not wise to buy a $60k vehicle purely because of small gain in MPG. I do think, however, that it may make sense to buy a diesel vehicle for its performance (power/torque), and in case of X5 35d - its performance well exceeds the 3.5 gas version while x5d currently costs less than gas x5 6 cyl. Better fuel economy is just an added bonus for me. I disagree that diesel engines only makes sense in less expensive vehicles. You should test drive 335d and x5 35d to understand.The diesel model costs $3-4k more than the 6 cyl model.
From what I have read, diesels/hybrids really don't have a payoff for several years and close to 75k miles.
If you lease a diesel, there is no payoff.
If you trade a 14MPG 5 year old X5 in for a diesel model, you just plunked down at least another $30k for a new car to get better mileage. Does not make sense from a savings perspective.
To me you have to look at the total vehicle cost including finance and operating costs.
It is rediculous to me to by a $60k truck because it gets 5 more MPG.
Don't get me wrong. I think diesels are great. But like Hybrids, they make the most sense from an economical standpoint when they are in $15-$20k cars.
I agree wholeheartedly. The gas versions have to drop a gear and wind up the RPM. Meanwhile the 35d calmly kicks butt and takes names. :thumbup:....when driving you are more likely to simply need to maintain 65 up a steep grade, or run 55-75mph to pass- THAT performance metric is hard to quantify, and is the root of the driving experience. IMHO.....
I've said it a few times, so I'll try to limit myself after this one, but it really is amazing to me how the diesel can accelerate going uphill with minimal downshifting. The V8 is certainly faster by the stopwatch, but it needs to get the RPMs up to match the diesel under load.I give a +1 to the post above about not needing to downshift when keeping constant velocity on an uphill road. .