Import X5 (or X3) with diesel engine

I understand these autos are available overseas with the 3.0 diesel motor. Is there any way to import these and legally convert them to be used here in the US?

A diesel X3 or 5 getting 30+mpg would be a GREAT commuter car!

It would probably be easier to convince BMWNA to sell them here than to do a conversion...

Well, you could probably do it for 20-30K on top of the cost of purchasing.

Sure, if you know someone living on a military base in Europe.
Military personnel overseas get special attention when they buy Euro spec vehicles and have them converted to US "Federal" standards for import.
Otherwise, it would be quite costly to convert the entire vehicle to North America standards (bumpers, lights, exhaust system, ECU, etc.), pay import duty and taxes, delivery, pass federal emissions, and so on.
BMW will have diesel X5 in a few years, to compete with upcoming Mercedes diesels.

I agree with your commment... I drove a new 330d recently, and it had alot of high torque!

Doesn't Canada also get the X5 diesel? If so, I wouldn't think it would be hard to get one from over there and stateside.

Our diesel fuel currently sucks big chunks compared to Europe. Everything will change once 2006 rolls around though. We should be more inline with the good quality diesel offered in Europe and THIS might convince BMW and other marques to bring in the oil burners.