2009 BMW 335d - Emissions Technology and Specifications - First Drive

BMW has done a lot of work to get the diesel to meet U.S. NOx emissions targets, which are significantly tougher than those in Europe. Among the changes to the engine for U.S. spec are an advanced exhaust gas recirculation system and a urea injection system that works with a special catalyst to neutralize NOx emissions.

The urea solution is held in a 20L tank (accessed through a filler in the bumper molding on the left-hand side of the car), enough says BMW 3 Series product director Klaus Borgman, to last from oil change to oil change, where the refill is covered under the normal BMW service agreement. Use it up before your next oil change is due, which is theoretically possible if you drive hard, and you'll have to pay for the cost of the refill yourself. You get a warning when there's about 1500 miles worth of solution left, and if you attempt to drive the car once the solution it used, the engine management software has been programmed to allow only a limited number of starts before immobilizing the car.

With the vast majority of Americans still viewing diesel as something you put in a Peterbilt, not a performance car, the BMW 335d is going to surprise a lot of people. The trick will be convincing them to get behind the wheel and convincing them to pay what BMW's North American execs hint will be a $1500 premium over the gas-engined 335i. Klaus Borgman is confident his car can win over the doubters, though: "In the beginning, European customers used to calculate how many miles they had to drive to recover the extra cost," he says. "Now that is not an issue. They just love the performance."

We'll soon see for ourselves whether America is ready for a diesel sport sedan -- the 335d we have been driving here in Europe will soon be shipped from Munich to join Motor Trend's long term test fleet. So stay tuned. It's going to be an interesting ride.