Okay, so last week I was in Germany. No kidding. I have REALLY been getting around this year for work. Anyhow, during our lunch hour in a day chock full of meetings, my company rented several German sedans for us to take a fifteen minute spin in. I drove a 2005 BMW 5-series diesel. It was AWESOME in that it was a bottomless pit of torque, and hauled *** for a diesel. I remember being told that it makes about 270hp, and God knows how many lb-ft of torque.

The coolest thing about it was, you couldn't tell that the sweet, buttery inline six was a diesel. It was so quiet and smooth, and started nearly instantly. No shake at idle. No stinky exhaust. It is amazing what can be done with modern technology (i.e. fine spray pattern & high pressure injectors, ultra fast heating glow plugs to initiate the first few cycles in just seconds, modern engine controls, linear sensors/ soot sensors/ and other high tech diesel emissions packages). If you don't believe me, just wait until 2006 when we get clean (low sulfur) diesel in this country, and some of these high tech, high powered Euro diesels make their way across the seas. They are a treat.

The downside of all this is, that the 5-series has ridiculous ergonomics. I-drive sucks, as do the goofy turn signal and some of other controls. And, I did not get a chance to take it on the autobahn. But I will tell you what, I sure want one.

 

damm hommie sounds like fun!!

 

No stinky exhaust because they run clean deisel in europe

 

well i guess theyre gonna hav to count me out...heehee!!

 

Man oh man...I do NOT wanna be paying for diesel right now...it's ridiculous!

 

It is like 2.05 here i think.

 

It's 2.35 here in PA

 

you know a typical 4 cyl deisel in a passenger car gets like 40+mpg , right ??

 

I knew i should have got a good beater diesel to drive around.

 

its like =2.40..OUCH!!! in michigan(aka-motor city)

 

hmmm $2.40 a gallon at 40 mpg, or $2.11 a gallon at 26 mpg....which is easier on the pocketbook ... duhh ?

 

Truuuuuuuuuuuuuuue....good point.

 

Only thing I dont like about diesel is you get to the red line real quick if you aint pay'n attention.

 

Who would be careless enough to be riding hard and not pay attention ???

 

fyi - we (the USA) will be phasing in clean diesel (i.e. low sulfur content) beginning in 2006, in line with pending emissions regulations for diesels.