BMW's clean diesel incentive program...

[dd74]

For those interested, BMW has been playing commercials where it suggests they will commit $4,500 to a trade in on for one of their new clean diesel models.

Plus, if the trade-in is a clunker, they won't crush it, unlike our government, but would rather resell the trade in to someone who might need a used car.

In all, the $4,500 is actually a sweet little deal, as BMW's diesels are a bit pricey.

[Rick Lee]

Totally awesome. I've been in plenty of BMW diesels in Europe and always wondered when we'd get them here.

[red-beard]

When I can get a 2 liter 5 door 1 series, I'll take them up on the offer.

[Porsche virgin]

Originally Posted by red-beard

When I can get a 2 liter 5 door 1 series, I'll take them up on the offer.

Make that two.

[red-beard]

I drove one 2 years ago in Spain. Great car. I would already own one, if it were offered here.

[David]

No doubt on the 5-door. They're much better looking than the 2 door available in the US. Who makes these decisions?

[Jim Sims]

The "numbers don't work" for the 335D even with the $4500 incentive; it's worse than buying a hybrid. It is priced far too high relative to the 328i. One would have to drive it in excess of 200,000 miles to break even compared to the 328i. I conjecture the market will mainly be novelty buyers. It will be interesting to see how the market evolves with turbo-boosted gasoline engine and plug-in hybrids becoming available.

[red-beard]

A Base model 1 series 5 door HB with the 116 hp Diesel and a 6 spd transmission is $29,000, list price.

That would work for me. 64.2 mpg. Compare that to your a Toyota Hybrid. And it is a nicely appointed BMW. Yep. I would already own one, if they were available in the US. I may have to go to Mexico to get one.

[gtc]

Oh god... 116 hp? That has to be horribly slow.... 914 slow.

[svandamme]

hey, the 2 door 1 series is the best looking one
just not the 2 door 1 series they designed for the us market

i'm talking about the "sports hatch" it's like the 4 doors, but only has 2 longer doors.. better looking lines imho




hard to tell though, it needed a wash right then... had been having fun on muddy farmroads just before i took this pic

it handles pretty good, swings it's tail when i want it to, i drive with the TC fully off when i wanna have fun, it's very balanced






don't focus to much on the MPG numbers though, mine's supposed to average 4.9 for urban driving... it's more like 7 (Liter/100km)...
You have to drive like grandpa to get the mpg numbers they list... i'm talking acceleration as if it has pedals instead of an engine.

[Tim Walsh]

Originally Posted by gtc

Oh god... 116 hp? That has to be horribly slow.... 914 slow.

115 hp but 190 lb-ft of torque so not soo bad.

[red-beard]

This is actually the "Three door", and I would find it quite acceptable as well. You are right, it may actually be better looking than the 5 door.

Originally Posted by svandamme

hey, the 2 door 1 series is the best looking one
just not the 2 door 1 series they designed for the us market

i'm talking about the "sports hatch" it's like the 4 doors, but only has 2 longer doors.. better looking lines imho




hard to tell though, it needed a wash right then... had been having fun on muddy farmroads just before i took this pic

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by gtc

Oh god... 116 hp? That has to be horribly slow.... 914 slow.

I had a 120 hp Toyota Corona (4 dr sedan version of the Celica), and it was plenty fast. My 914/6, with it's engine in original form was around 120 hp, and was very quick. Not as quick as when I had it bumped to over 200 hp, but still it was fun to drive.

The main thing to consider it against something that get's over 60 mpg. It's a rocketship!

[dd74]

Originally Posted by Jim Sims

The "numbers don't work" for the 335D even with the $4500 incentive; it's worse than buying a hybrid. It is priced far too high relative to the 328i. One would have to drive it in excess of 200,000 miles to break even compared to the 328i. I conjecture the market will mainly be novelty buyers. It will be interesting to see how the market evolves with turbo-boosted gasoline engine and plug-in hybrids becoming available.

Well, I have to say that when the list price of the 335D approaches an M3 ($60,000), one does have to wonder about how they're spending their money.

Like all the German manufacturers, they've put diesels in their best selling American cars for the American market, hence the 3 series, the larger Mercedes and the big Audi SUV -- all of which are already expensive, and now more so as a diesel.

VW is the only manufacturer who put a diesel in their mid-to-smaller car -- the Jetta, which in L.A. is completely sold out. If one comes available, there are multitude of buyers with cash in hand ready to plunk down whatever it takes to buy one. I've seen only one diesel 335 on the road. Meanwhile, I've seen at least 20 TDI Jetta sedans and sports wagons, and a whole mess of older diesel Golfs and Jettas.

The lesson BMW should learn from marketing diesels in America is to talk to people like Red Beard. He's completely correct about the fact the 1 series in diesel form should be sold here.

[dd74]

Originally Posted by gtc

Oh god... 116 hp? That has to be horribly slow.... 914 slow.

I doubt it's that slow. These aren't performance-oriented cars, really. But who knows what the aftermarket can provide. As is, torque is what really makes a diesel fast.

Our M-320 CDI can break an 8-second 0-60, which isn't bad for a 4,000-pound SUV.

[dd74]

Originally Posted by red-beard

The main thing to consider it against something that get's over 60 mpg. It's a rocketship!

Yep, best of both worlds. In my world, with a car like that, I'd only need to fill it up once a month.