Anyone know of any availability of the Cooper D (desiel) in the US?

I am sure I am behind the times, but I just read about it, so its new to me.

 

I know of no plans to bring the MINI D to the USA at this point and time....believe me...if they did, there would probably be a line miles long for the waiting list on those! I am sure there will be others with more insite on this topic come along soon!

 

I would think it would be a really popular model, since they are saying 62-72 mpg. I really want a desiel, a buddy is super into bio-D so I would like free gas.

Maybe next mini, wow, have not even ordered my first mini and already thinking about next mini, I have the sickness

 

These wild figures of 70+ mpg are based upon the Imperial Gallon. However, a diesel may be a serious alternative. It would need to comply with 50 states emissons to make real sense. VW and Mercedes will be making huge inroads in the next few years with clean diesels so BMW will want to consider a move in the same direction.

 

Until our diesel fuel is improved (specifically in lowering the sulphur content) it is unlikely we will see this car. And if we do, it will not get the mileage of the European version due to re-tuning to use North American diesel fuel.

To get North American diesel fuel to the sulphur content levels of European diesel will raise the price of diesel considerably in the U.S.

 

US diesel switched to low-sulfur in October-ish of last year (2006). I believe it is now just as low-sulfur as European diesel. I believe most/all of the European diesels will run just fine with our diesel fuel too, but our particulate emission standards are now tighter than Euro, and they're not clean enough to meet them.

VW and MBZ have promised to meet the standards, but will use a urea injection system to clean the particulates. Not a bad way to go, but the urea tank must be refilled, and the system adds cost to an engine that is already more expensive than gasoline. So the engine just got more expensive too.

Personally, I tend to think we should (or CA specifically since I think they're the ones that have higher standards than the rest of the country) relax the particulate emission standards a bit (for at least maybe 5 years or so) so we can get as many diesel engines available ASAP. Of course, it might not matter. Despite high fuel costs, I suspect that they would have to be a lot higher for people to start making a massive shift from large to smaller cars and from gasoline to diesel.

Me personally? I LOVE the diesel in "everyday" commuter cars. They're great around town with the bottom end torque. Plus they pull down insane mileage. I was sold on a recent trip to Europe when we rented a diesel VW Passat wagon, loaded with 4 adults plus luggage, and we averaged 39mpg for the entire trip! That included driving in the alps, across Germany, on the autobahn at 110mph, and through Amsterdam. I probably would have gotten mid-20's at best with the 2.0L turbo gas. In thinking about the MINI, the Ford Fiesta gets something like 62mpg with their top-model diesel, so I would expect something similar from the MINI.

It is a shame we don't have that option here in the US. I would be all over it (though my Miata would have to stay gasser, low and slow revving diesels aren't much fun in a sports car )

 

There is no 'switching' to low-sulphur content diesel. The crude that comes from the ground has higher sulpur content than European crude. The crude has to undergo very expensive cracking to reduce sulphur content.

It will take a fair amount of time to accomplish the task and will push the cost of diesel up quite a bit.

You are confusing the EPA proposal for moving to ULSD (ultra-low sulphur diesel) dated 10/16/2006. The mandate for all road going diesel fuel, sold in the U.S., to be ULSD is currently slated for the year 2010. Non-road use diesel is required to be ULSD by 2012. At that time, all diesel sold in the U.S. will be comparable to the European diesel.

Where ULSD is available in the U.S., it is required to be marked as ULSD as well.

 

All the diesel that I have been buying for the past 5 months has been ULSD here in Oklahoma, Texas, Oregon and I know that the 2008 Ford Powerstroke requires the ULSD as well.

 

It is available. Never said it was not available, but it is not required by law to be available until 2010 and that is the rub. I know a couple of truck stops that do not have it available.

 

Ultra low sulfer diesel is required in California right now.

More info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-low_sulfur_diesel

VW and MB can do it, so get to work BMW, we want the diesels!!

 

ULSD is widely available nationwide. It is required in the E320 Bluetec that's been for sale since last October (not to be confused with the upcoming AdBlue cars). ULSD is not the roadblock prohibiting the Mini D from being available here.

 

I considered buying a diesel Jetta until I read that they wouldn't be sold in the USA in 2007 due to ULSD not being widely available until 2008. That is why most diesel pumps now CLEARLY state if they are ULSD or just LSD. If you run LSD in an ULSD capable car, it will mess it up. The common rail diesel powered vehicles are the ones that require ULSD. At any rate, I wanted a fun, economical car and the MCS fit the bill perfectly.

 

Re: Alan Smithee, DR61: Uhmm,..I do know places where you cannot get ULSD yet. But at any rate, it was my best guess. What is yours?

 

I see MINI dealers marking up "Doopers" for as much as $2,500 per unit if they ever come to our shores. At any rate, BMW is missing out a gold mine opportunity to bring the Doopers state side, now that gas has crossed the $4 barrier in many parts of the country. If ULSD fuel is already available, then what is the hold up? Bring it on!

 

 

Warped1966...not true regarding CRD diesels requiring ULSD; the Jeep Liberty and MB E320 CDI models were sold here pre-ULSD. I believe a variant of the same motor is in the Sprinter vans as well.

Regarding why the Mini D and others are not sold here yet...all European manufacturers other than MB want their diesel cars to pass emissions in all 50 states first (trucks/SUVs have different standards). The only technology that is currently available that will allow a diesel to pass CA emissions is adding urea (AdBlue) to the exhaust, which DCX developed with their partners. VAG has adopted the DCX technology, but BMW, probably due to being a bitter rival to DCX, has apparently not.

 

I saw this on another MINI site...

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/minid/

Check it out, and bring on the D!

 

I am a big backer of diesel cars and biodiesel in those car. Since etheonal is not working well to drive down gas prices. Why not use what is killing us all anyway, want fries with that will help fill up your tank.

 

Head on over to motoringfile.com and check out "Bring the Mini Cooper D to the US" they have somewhat of a petition going on for the cooper D. read the article and then post your thoughts. Cool Idea.