Diesel X5 and potential woes (Rant)

Well I had been psyched for the incoming diesels into ny until tonight.
Just passed a few gas stations.
They seem to know Diesels are coming.
Regular gas $3.23 (I'm paying $3.55 for premium)
BUT
Diesel NOW $4.15 ! A good 30% higher than regular! (was in the $3.30 to $3.50 range before)
so much for cost savings, they are giving it to us right in the fuel tank! (substitute anatomical location for defecation)

So even with more efficient engines (albeit at a premium from bmw) the cost of diesel has been cranked through the roof.

I'm betting on $4.00 gas this summer on long island

Any takers?

Mike

All I have to say is 428 ft-lbs of torque... When you are spending over $55K, what's a few extra bucks a day when you have all of that torque?

When my 2 year lease is up on the 3.0si, we are getting the diesel.

When I was driving my 180db back in the day I always made it a point to stop where the trucks did usually on the outskirts of town. The fuel was always much cheaper and since so much was being pumped (as opposed to a local service station) I felt it was cleaner. Drove that car across country (Alameda to DC) 6 times with only one problem -- a pulley fell off in Manhatten KS, and I found the pulley and fixed it in a church parking lot with the onboard tool kit! Cheapest diesel I found was in TX at 15.9 cents a gallon! Moving on, diesel prices will be higher at the local self service. I also believe the prices will be lower at commercial fuel (truck) stops. The price will come down when more diesels are on the road, as supply and demand kicks in.

I have no regrets using an diesel engine. My X5 gives me the comfort and power I need.

Originally Posted by wjheinle

All I have to say is 428 ft-lbs of torque... When you are spending over $55K, what's a few extra bucks a day when you have all of that torque?

When my 2 year lease is up on the 3.0si, we are getting the diesel.

diesel prices have been escalating for quite a few years now. i don't really understand the mentality of it is an expensive car so you shouldn't feel the pain at the pump. when i bought my first diesel pick up truck in 2004, diesel was $1.45 & today it is $3.65. that same truck does not earn anymore money in a given day than it did four years ago. (other than adjustment for inflation). so increased operating costs eat into the bottom line. a new F450 runs about $62k

now if you use your diesel X5 as a toy or don't drive but 10k miles a year, then the extra couple of bucks will probably go unnoticed. my X5 is my DD / company vehicle. i average over 2500 miles / month. i don't see it being worth the upcharge for the torque and moderate increase in mpg's in my personal situation.

and i suppose if you are already used to throwing money away on a lease, the extra couple of bucks in fuel are negligible. realistically, in the case of a lease, what does the price of the vehicle have to do with anything anyway?

along with the benefits of better fuel economy and long term reliability of a diesel, resale value will probably be higher too

Originally Posted by soldmystang

diesel prices have been escalating for quite a few years now. i don't really understand the mentality of it is an expensive car so you shouldn't feel the pain at the pump. when i bought my first diesel pick up truck in 2004, diesel was $1.45 & today it is $3.65. that same truck does not earn anymore money in a given day than it did four years ago. (other than adjustment for inflation). so increased operating costs eat into the bottom line. a new F450 runs about $62k

now if you use your diesel X5 as a toy or don't drive but 10k miles a year, then the extra couple of bucks will probably go unnoticed. my X5 is my DD / company vehicle. i average over 2500 miles / month. i don't see it being worth the upcharge for the torque and moderate increase in mpg's in my personal situation.

and i suppose if you are already used to throwing money away on a lease, the extra couple of bucks in fuel are negligible. realistically, in the case of a lease, what does the price of the vehicle have to do with anything anyway?

The price of the vehicle has a lot to do with a lease payment, so I do not understand that argument. Think of the diesel X5 as a 335i vs a 328i, TONS of torque. That torque is what you notice when you are cruising in traffic, racing from a stop light, etc. BMW diesels do not sound like or smell like the an F-250. I am not going to buy the 3.5d because of economy, I am going to buy it for the ridiculous amount of torque. When they come out, test drive one, and you will understand.

Originally Posted by wjheinle

The price of the vehicle has a lot to do with a lease payment, so I do not understand that argument. Think of the diesel X5 as a 335i vs a 328i, TONS of torque. That torque is what you notice when you are cruising in traffic, racing from a stop light, etc. BMW diesels do not sound like or smell like the an F-250. I am not going to buy the 3.5d because of economy, I am going to buy it for the ridiculous amount of torque. When they come out, test drive one, and you will understand.

i dig torque for sure. i understand that aspect.

as for the price of the vehicle vs the lease payment, well lets just say the lease payment on a Ferrari would be comparable to the payment on a purchased 08 X5.

but at the end of the day my X5 is my company DD and as such the fuel cost goes to the bottom line. were i not carrying six vehicles, the pain at the pump might not be such a thorn in my arse.

sadly, if section 179 had been set up for fuel efficient hundahs & toyotters i doubt i would be driving anything different. might not have been the X5, but certainly a Tahoe at least.

Originally Posted by soldmystang

as for the price of the vehicle vs the lease payment, well lets just say the lease payment on a Ferrari would be comparable to the payment on a purchased 08 X5.

If I could lease a Ferrari for $1500 per month I would sign up tomorrow! I am not too optimistic though.

Well:
Regular unleaded 3.99 to 4.25 at various stations today!
Diesel 4.9 to 5.15!
Any takers for 5+ or 6 by end of summer!

Mike

You have to compare diesel to PREMIUM gas since that is what BMW wants in the rest of the models.

Here in Canada, diesel is about the same or less than premium.

looks worse than the regular!
Premium $4.12 to $4.25 with diesel now cresting 5.00 to 5.15!
This BLOWS!

Diesel prices in the U.S. reflect supply pressures caused by the fact that most refineries are focused on gasoline production. At current prices, its hard to make the case that diesel passenger vehicles make any sense from an economic standpoint. History shows that most people prefer gasoline vehicles, all other things being equal. That's why the manufacturers haven't been in any rush to offer them.

Premium is $3.69 a gallon out here in Phoenix.

And if in the U.S. then the diesel is now ULSD (ultra-low sulfur) so the added refinery cost is getting added into the price.