Diesel technical ?

Just wondering, I have noticed that Europe get a higher output diesel than we do in Australia, not much, but enough to make me wonder.

Aus spec - 150 kw / 480 nm
EU - 160 kw / 500 nm

Not fair! (at least we get a diesel)

Does anybody know where the difference is / or why?

I did notice the compression ratio 17:1 (vs 18:1) here is lower so its not just tuning as i was told by BMW here. Is it the piston or head that gives that dif. (or both or ?) They (bmw) said it was detuned for our (australian) diesel quality, but new zealand get the EU engine specs.

Just inquisitive

Mat

Perhaps it is a better head that is adapted for Europe's diesel? maybe they have better fuel than us?

I suppose the pistons would also be easy to modify for higher compression too, but I'd be shaving the head down if I wanted more compression from an engine that already had a set type of piston, otherwise I'd have to add metal to the tops of the pistons or machine the tops down and install longer conrods.

Turbo pressure could also account for part of the power difference.

Interesting that they sell them with less-than-ideal diesel fuel. We can't buy them in the US because our diesel isn't right, but that appears to be the same problem in Australia...

I'm going to check with the dealer mechanics here and see if they can shed some light on the matter.

From jan this year, our diesel has been better quality, to be "more in line" with Europe's. Now we get peugeot and vw etc..hi-tech diesels, wonder why bmw can't treat us the same as Europe now as well. Maybe they could offer an upgrade to match euro specs, now our diesel quality is better??

Mat

Ps If the compression ratio differance is only in the head, that would be the easiest change for us.

I've nearly got this post all to myself...

Found out some stuff - for the diesel ausie x5's.
1. jan 2006 - we will be getting 50ppm sulpher diesel
2. we now have 500ppm, some areas already have the lower sulpher diesel.
3. Europe has now got 350ppm, and will be getting 50ppm in jan 2006
3. Our aussie diesel x5's have a different piston shape (from BMW mechanic here) and maybe a thicker head gasket to achieve our 17:1 vs 18:1 eu spec.(not mentioning mapping differences)

upshot: 2 hard to change, expect full spec diesels early next year.

Mat