New F30 BMW 3-series to Offer Diesel Engine in U.S.—Eventually

New F30 BMW 3-series to Offer Diesel Engine in U.S.—Eventually

BMW is in the midst of launching the volume versions of its all-new F30 3-series sedan—you can read our hot-off-the-press first drive here—but a company insider has confirmed that a diesel version will join the U.S. lineup once the dust has settled.

The outgoing 3-series was available with a torque-tastic 425-lb-ft, 3.0-liter diesel inline-six; that model, badged 335d, was available only with an automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive—and hit 60 mph in 5.7 seconds in our testing. Its burly nature and exorbitant sticker price ($45,025) were a recipe for slow sales, but it was nevertheless a more cost-effective way for the company to offer a diesel 3, with the same engine having been brought up to U.S. regulations for use in the X5 xDrive35d.

This time around, we believe things will be different. It’s more likely that we’ll see a diesel four-cylinder in the 3-series. Our bet is on BMW offering a 2.0-liter dizzler, which makes 181 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque in the newly introduced European-spec 320d. If this engine does come here, BMW probably will deploy it in more models, too—the 5-series and X3 are both prime candidates.

The exact timing, however, remains unclear. We were slightly surprised that a U.S.-bound diesel wasn’t announced with the rest of the American 3-series lineup, but its arrival may have been pushed off to avoid stealing the alternative-powertrain spotlight from the new ActiveHybrid 3. Figure on a wait of at least a year—or possibly until the mid-cycle refresh rolls around in three years or so—for the new-gen diesel 3 to hit the States.

boo i want bigger hp and more torque or at the very minmum make the same engine as found in the 335d available.

I'll take one if it is AWD.

would love to have the opportunity to get a wagon with the 4 cyl diesel

Look @ pg 58 of the attached for the 320d specs. 320d gets 60 MPG Hwy, 43 MPG City & 53 MPG combined.

Originally Posted by d geek

would love to have the opportunity to get a wagon with the 4 cyl diesel

Me too. When the time comes to retire my truck, I want a fuel efficient wagon. Although a 3 series wagon might be small for what I'd want to use it all for.

There are going to be so many versions of the new 3 series it's going to make your head spin. BMW pumped $700 million into its Munich plant to prepare for production of the new 3 Series.

in 13 years when I retire and my 335d is old then I'll be able to go to Europe and have the delivery of the next generation 3 series LOL count on it !!!

Originally Posted by Axel61

in 13 years when I retire and my 335d is old then I'll be able to go to Europe and have the delivery of the next generation 3 series LOL count on it !!!

It will not be the F30 then. BMW uses a 6-7 year model cycle.

Originally Posted by cssnms

boo i want bigger hp and more torque or at the very minmum make the same engine as found in the 335d available.

Exactly. That torque is what makes it so much fun to drive.

Guys, guys, and ladies.........Let's not forget that with this engine being more widely used that the tuning options will be more prevalent. That means it could be more of a sleeper than the 335d is. Also, as the op mentioned, this thing is looking to get 60 mpg highway. WOW!!

Originally Posted by TJPark01

New F30 BMW 3-series to Offer Diesel Engine in U.S.—Eventually

BMW will offer more diesels in North America. Obviously. So what else is new?

BMW is being forced to bring DIESEL 'cause the following vehicles will be coming soon: Chevy Cruze DIESEL, Audi will provide more DIESELS in their line and VW might add more DIESELS on their models also!!

@Alpine yes I beleive their will be another code name but I am planning ahead!! LOL

Originally Posted by ProRail

BMW will offer more diesels in North America. Obviously. So what else is new?

Are we sure of that? I recall being promised a 5 Series diesel a couple of years ago and...nothing.If it had arrived as promised I'd be driving one right now instead of my MB which is nice but not as good as the F10,IMO.Sadly,Americans don't like diesels.That's why they're almost impossible to find here.My understanding is that BMW had lots of trouble selling the 3 Series diesel....thus the big "eco credit",etc.I hope you're right but I fear that hybrid/electric is the "green" and "energy efficient" car of the future...here,at least.

Originally Posted by Mbretl

Look @ pg 58 of the attached for the 320d specs. 320d gets 60 MPG Hwy, 43 MPG City & 53 MPG combined.

The numbers above are in imperial gallons. When you adjust then to US gallons the gains aren't as impressive (50 highway, 36 city, 44 combined). The combined number is right in hybrid electric territory. 0 to 60 is listed at 7.5 seconds, which is still better than a hybrid.

Hopefully, they'll bring me a 320xd to complement the E70d. I really want an AWD diesel sedan and NO ONE is offering one yet

Originally Posted by AutoUnion

I really want an AWD diesel sedan and NO ONE is offering one yet

Not true,Mercedes is offering one.Of course it starts at $90K....

Originally Posted by julesandtrish

Guys, guys, and ladies.........Let's not forget that with this engine being more widely used that the tuning options will be more prevalent. That means it could be more of a sleeper than the 335d is. Also, as the op mentioned, this thing is looking to get 60 mpg highway. WOW!!

With a 181hp/280 lbs of torque, not likely. Even with a tune it will be lucky to achieve anywhere close to the kind of performace found in the 335d. Aside from smaller displacement and turbos, other limiting factors will likely be a less robust transmission.

@Chris true BMW will not stick I6 back in the 3 series they will go with 20d instead, but it will be the torqey 2 liter outside the Jetta

I still feel 335d will be offered. They have invested heavily into e90 335d why would they stop it. Moreover they haven't announced 335d in EU so it wouldnt be ideal to assume 335d is not coming to US. Either ways I am gonna trade in my 335d with 320d MT if its offered in US. I dont see any value for me for those extra horses and torque specially with 6 points on record.

I am beginning to wonder how well the diesel BMW cars really are doing in the states. I had a friend look into taking mine as a trade in recently and he was surprised what he ran into. One of his wholesales even said they lost $10k on one and a few basically said they do not want to touch them.

Originally Posted by bimmerdiesel

I still feel 335d will be offered. They have invested heavily into e90 335d why would they stop it. Moreover they haven't announced 335d in EU so it wouldnt be ideal to assume 335d is not coming to US. Either ways I am gonna trade in my 335d with 320d MT if its offered in US. I dont see any value for me for those extra horses and torque specially with 6 points on record.

This is what BMW's press release on the new 3er stated:

Further engine versions will follow, including a six-cylinder diesel unit and numerous xDrive models.

No telling which 6 cyl diesel they put into the F30

Further clues to what diesels they may bring over (and when) :

Also, from mid-2012, advanced BMW BluePerformance technology will be available for the new BMW 320d and BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition. This system, which combines a diesel particulate filter and oxidation catalyst with a NOX adsorber catalyst, efficiently reduces nitrogen oxide emissions and achieves compliance with the EU6 standards.

I believe this would meet the US emission standards.