BMW and Diesel Taxation in the UK

[sharpharp]

Thinking about maybe swapping out my F25 X3 for perhaps the newer X3 version, but looking at the lineup, it seems that all options are diesel (m40i will be petrol when released I think).

But in light of all the BS around Diesel pollution and the hikes in Taxation on new Diesels, what BMW doing about this?

Seems to me that BMW blind to what's going in parliament in the UK and are selling the X3 in diesel variety only, yet in the states its the opposite, mostly petrol.

Any ideas? Personally i'd love to go back to the quietness of a petrol, or perhaps a petrol/electric hybrid (x3 will eventually will come in hybrid I believe).

What you guys think? Buy another X3 diesel and get stung for tax and god knows what other punishment they dish up, or canvass BMW to wake up and get some Petrol models over here?

[X5Sport]

Diesel is very difficult to sell in the US as they are petrol mad and each State needs a separate type certification (unlike Europe) so most manufacturers simply don’t bother.  It also took the US years longer than Europe to bring in ULSD and EU engines won’t run on high sulphur fuels.

Petrol models don’t sell in Europe because they’re are expensive to run and with larger engines even more to tax and EU emissions rules also state how much Carbon can be emitted across the entire range offered.  There just isn’t the demand in the UK for RHD versions, so there aren’t any made.

[AW8]

Ridiculous situation.........there may not have been much demand for petrol X3 models a year or two ago, however, I suspect there would be more demand now if they were offered.


If I was in market for a G01 (Gen 3) X5 I would want  a petrol engine or petrol hybrid.  Particularly when many are avoiding buying diesel vehicles due to concerns of plummeting residuals linked to negative media surrounding nitrogen levels & talk of congestion charges or full bans of use in urban areas.

I am also surprised BMW is not offering more petrol engines for the latest X3 such as those offered in US. Not everyone wanting a petrol model will be able to afford the M140i &/or want one. Many would be quite happy with a petrol engine that offers adequate performance for everyday use.  Stateside the 3.0i is marketed. On F25 2.0i & 2.8i were available.

[Pinewood]

The media is blowing up dieselgate in my opinion. A heavy 4x4 is better suited to a cleaner euro6 diesel engine. If every diesel buyer went over to petrol, we would have a huge spike in CO2 emissions.
I’m personally sticking with my 3.0d euro 6 for several years until I need to change. By that time my decision will probably swing to a petrol/hybrid BMW