[M3 Europe]

I wanna say hi to all you guys. This is my first post here. I'm from Europe. Let the country be a secret. English is not my first language. I have a need to say that this is a great forum and the people are awesome. The pictures I saw on this forum are fantastic, therefore I think your cars are just fantastic.Unfortunately I personally don't own a BMW but I hope that will change very soon. My favorite car is of course M3 E92. Enough about me.

Let me get down to the point. I was wondering...does anybody on this forum own a diesel powered BMW? And if not, why?

[yazz]

i don't because i live in california

[M3 Europe]

So?

[yazz]

they 3-series diesels aren't available

[M3 Europe]

Why? Some law?

[Jake C]

No. BMW has not released them for sale in the US yet. We will receive the 335d starting this fall as an 09 model year BMW. We don't get all the models and options you have available in Europe.

- J

[MOB]

I'm in the UK and have a 330d E92 with 292bhp and 510lbs

Goes well...........

[F32Fleet]

BMW diesel's and most diesels for the matter did not meet the new emissions requirements and we did not have low sulphur diesel. BMW was not going to bring a diesel powered car to the US if it couldn't be sold in California and the North Eastern US (2 biggest markets for BMW). Unfortunately for many of us, BMW will only bring the big I6 diesel and not the smaller ones. We will have the 335d and X5d begining this fall. Another problem with diesel in the US is the price shift. Right now diesel is about 20% more expensive than gasoline (difference is mostly taxes).

[creepy coupe]

I'd imagine our friends here in the states don't have to run diesel because their government has tax them to the hilt and they don't have to take out a bank loan or rob a neighbours house each time the fill their fuel tanks.

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

I'd imagine our friends here in the states don't have to run diesel because their government has tax them to the hilt and they don't have to take out a bank loan or rob a neighbours house each time the fill their fuel tanks.

We are getting there! Fuel has doubled in price since two years ago. If the rate of increase continues well will be right there with you sooner than you think...

[M3 Europe]

Very interesting situation. Also it makes sense. Gasoline is cheap in US (we all know why, but that's not a topic for this forum), so there is no reason to drive a diesel powered car. However, in my country the price of gasoline is 2,6$ per liter (diesel 2,15$), so the diesel cars are VERY popular. They consume less liters, and the diesel price itself is a little bit lower. So i'm very interested in buying a 335d E92. Here are some specs:

Type 335d
Series 3 (e92)
Body Coupe
Built '06-now
Weight 1645kg
Dimensions
Length 4580mm
Width 1782mm
Height 1375mm
Performance
Top speed 250km/h
Acceleration 0-100km/h 6.1s
Elasticity 80-120km/h (4th gear) -
Fuel Consumption
City 10.3 l/100km
Highway 5.9 l/100km
Combined 7.5 l/100km
Engine
Type M57
M Number
Displacement 2993cc
Cylinders 6
Valves per cylinder 4
Fuel type Diesel
Power 210kW / 286HP
@ RPM 4400rpm
Torque 580Nm
@ RPM 1750rpm

To compare:

Type 335i
Series 3 (e92)
Body Coupe
Built '06-now
Weight 1600kg
Dimensions
Length 4580mm
Width 1782mm
Height 1375mm
Performance
Top speed 250km/h
Acceleration 0-100km/h 5.5s
Elasticity 80-120km/h (4th gear) 5.2s
Fuel Consumption
City 14.3 l/100km
Highway 6.7 l/100km
Combined 9.5 l/100km
Engine
Type N50
M Number N54 B30
Displacement 2996cc
Cylinders 6
Valves per cylinder 4
Fuel type Superplus
Power 225kW / 306HP
@ RPM 5800rpm
Torque 400Nm
@ RPM 1300rpm

As you can see it's very good and very fast.







And the second of all, i'm also wondering WHY all the cars are much more cheaper in US then in f.a. Germany, in bmw's motherland?!? I've looked for M3 price here in Europe and it's for sure not below 120k$, matched with yours 57k$. On the link below you can see prices of 1 year old used M3's. First couple results are usually fakes, just to get in the top. Amazing. Just to mention, 1EUR=1,6$.
link

[spazmojack]

Originally Posted by M3 Europe

Very interesting situation. Also it makes sense. Gasoline is cheap in US (we all know why, but that's not a topic for this forum)...

bunch of stuff in the middle

...And the second of all, i'm also wondering WHY all the cars are much more cheaper in US then in f.a. Germany, in bmw's motherland?!? I've looked for M3 price here in Europe and it's for sure not below 120k$, matched with yours 57k$...

they're "cheaper" in the US for many of the same reasons gas is cheaper (one such reason being taxes). welcome to the world of economics.

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by M3 Europe

And the second of all, i'm also wondering WHY all the cars are much more cheaper in US then in f.a. Germany, in bmw's motherland?!? I've looked for M3 price here in Europe and it's for sure not below 120k$, matched with yours 57k$. On the link below you can see prices of 1 year old used M3's. First couple results are usually fakes, just to get in the top. Amazing. Just to mention, 1EUR=1,6$.
link

You can not directly convert units of currency for products, in differing markets. It does not work that way... Purchasing power is what it is all about. Inflation rates and the competitive market place dictate the price of goods. Even in the US prices from state to state or region to region differ. There is more to the price than the simple value attached to it.

The Euro is actually about 50% over inflated when you look at purchasing power parity.

the best measure of this is the Big Mac index by the Economist:
http://www.economist.com/finance/dis...ry_id=11793125

[M3 Europe]

But 120k comparing 57k?!

[Jake C]

And in the US, at least where I live and places I travel often, Diesel is more expensive than 93 octane gas. Which was not the case about a year ago.

- J

[M3 Europe]

@mapezzul
I really don't get what you're saying. Are you suggesting that purchasing power in Europe is a lot more bigger than in USA, hense the big difference in car prices?

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by M3 Europe

But 120k comparing 57k?!

Like I stated in my post and if you read about purchasing power in my link you will see that the Euro is overvalued by almost 50% compared to the purchasing power, guess what that makes sense with the price discrepancy and the fact Germany has a VAT.... the price is 50% more b/c the Euro buy 50% less than the dollar even though it exchanges for more.

It really is simple:

a Coke in the US: $1.50
a Coke in Germany: 2.50 euro

It is the same Coke but costs more (and is made in) in Europe. It cost more to buy the same thing in the local currency so what difference does using exchange rates make? none. Convert the 2.50 euro for a Coke in dollars and it is almost $4. But since the US dollar has more purchasing power it is only $1.50 in the US. In other words a dollar goes a lot further than the Euro if you stay in the home of the currency.

So if the Euro and the dollar had the same purchasing power as the US dollar and the exchange rate was utilized that Coke should only cost .80 Euro cents, but as we see it does not, and that is because of the weaker EU purchasing power.

Look at the Big Mac index, and if that does not make sense I can not help you realize that it is not the exchange that matters... there is more to economies than that!

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by M3 Europe

@mapezzul
I really don't get what you're saying. Are you suggesting that purchasing power in Europe is a lot more bigger than in USA, hense the big difference in car prices?

No it is the opposite, EU has less purchasing power... by almost 50%.

[M3 Europe]

I got your point know. I actually didn't know that about US dollar. All I read about US economy is that it's in a mess and it's going to collapse (all your war waging doesn't really pay off).
So what I really should do is: exchange 35k euros for 57k $ and import an M3 from US.

[CirrusSR22]

Originally Posted by Socom

and we did not have low sulphur diesel.

The entire US has been low sulphur diesel since October 2006. The current US requirements for sulphur are actually more strict than the European Union. I think it's just overall emission standards that are so tough.

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by CirrusSR22

The entire US has been low sulphur diesel since October 2006. The current US requirements for sulphur are actually more strict than the European Union.

It had to be phased in by the end of 2007, not all regions were required to have it since 06, due to production issues and transition.

[CirrusSR22]

Originally Posted by M3 Europe

All I read about US economy is that it's in a mess and it's going to collapse.

Ha Ha, well that's not going to happen. Been reading too many anti-US liberal european media reports ?

But yes, cars in general are far cheaper in the US. For example, the Chevrolet Malibu (which is a remodeled Opel Vectra) with a V6, alloy wheels, A/C, power everything, leather seats, LED taillights, etc. would be 17,780 Euros vs. 33,780 Euros for a similarly equipped Opel Vectra model.

As was said earlier though, you can't directly compare using just an exchange rate. So yes, take your 35,000 Euros, bring it to the US, and buy an M3 Or 26,300 Euros and buy a 335i,