Fans of BMW diesels may have something to celebrate. According to Car & Driver Magazine, BMW intends to add a diesel to its G30 5 Series lineup in the U.S. The BMW 540d will join the 328d and X535d that are already on sale here.
Ever since the Volkswagen scandal broke in late 2015, government regulators have put diesel offerings—especially from German companies—under the proverbial microscope, greatly adding to the time required for approval to sell them in this country. BMW buyers waiting for diesel X5s experienced the two- to four-month delay first hand earlier this year.
At this point in time, we don't know if the new 540d will have a version of the N57 that currently powers the 2017 BMW X535d with 255 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, or an engine closer to the European 530d that makes 262 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque. Whichever engine BMW chooses, it will almost certainly have a highway fuel mileage in excess of 30 miles per gallon.
The 2017 BMW 328d is offered in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions. We will wait to see if the 540d comes in both variants as well. It should be loaded with the same technology we have already seen in the gasoline-powered 530i and 540i models that have been available in the U.S. since February.
BMW is expanding the variety of 5 Series Sedans for the U.S. market. Along with the 530i and 540i, we get the 530e iPerformance, the M550i xDrive M Performance, and eventually in late 2017 or early 2018, the M5.
For those of us who enjoy and appreciate BMW diesels, this is great news. While diesels are still under very close scrutiny here and even government attack in Western Europe, the fact that a diesel 5 Series is coming to America shows that BMW is not ready to throw in an oil-soaked towel just yet. For that, we are grateful.—Scott Blazey
[Photo courtesy of BMW AG.]
