A 135d is due for 2009 and a 4-litre V8, a 340d/540d from 2010.
I think the 340d has much potential. A 4-litre, twin-turbo, V8 diesel 3-series, with the mooted 320 bhp/500 lbs-ft as standard would be good. E46 M3 performance with 30 mpg average.
I'll just be happy if they put the 2 litre twin turbo diesel in the 3. 204bhp on RWD would be a really good compromise between usable performance and economy.
I think the best buy for performance cars will be the GT-R.
I was starting to wonder when the next BMW worship thread would appear, Bamf
Fair play though, they're leading the field in engine design and range right now. The V8 diesel is the obvious progression. Not really a gap in the range to be plugged, considering the 3.0 twin turbo, but a very welcome addition.
I would be suprised if you will see either of these cars in the UK. The Germans are trying to convince the americsns with diesel or "the dirty fuel" as they call it and the 135d certainly has been developed for the US and possibly the 340d too as they have said that Americans wont buy diesels that are not powerful in their sense of the word
a light responsive twin turbo two litre diesel in a grippy rwd chassis and oodles of torque would be a good entry level 'm' car....but bmw just dont do 'light' anymore..hence the need for these monstrously powerful, torquey engines..
if you have nothing but puerille contributions to make to any thread involving diesel power, why bother contributing nox...we all know you aint a diesel fan, we all know you aint gonna change...im cool with that...why resort to palmy style predictaposts.....
As much as i agree with a lot you say, Oli, that is very true. Palmy, basically a decent bloke, lets himself down with far too many silly generalisations and daft statements.
The current crop of diesels is so good that the only advantage of most petrol cars is you can rev the nuts off them and enjoy the soundtrack. However in real world driving give me a diesel anyday. I would prefer the 535d/335d to their M counterparts. If i'm spending my money then it will have to be the 335i which gives the low down torque characteristic of the diesel anyway.Btw BMW makes the best engines at the time diesel or petrol.
