Its absolute BS that I cant have a diesel MINI. It has to be a Republican Conspiracy That WE All cannot have these advance engineered MINI engines. HOLLY F , 60 miles per gallon , and thats on a terribly bad day. These MINI diesels are better for the environment and get better mileage than a Prius!!!!!!!!!!! check the facts people.
Why cant I import a Diesel engine and put it in my MINI? Is this feasible? Hell you all should ask WHY America doesnt get the new "standby" mode that 08 here in Europe get. see below, and yes the facts where checked for accuracy....... Im gonna look into a diesel engine, Ill import it as parts much like the Nissan SKylines, assemble it at home!

From 2008, all Mini models are equipped with BMW EfficientDynamics fuel-saving technology. This includes a start-stop feature shutting off the engine when the car is stationary (this is not available in 2008 Mini Cooper in the US market). When the gas pedal is depressed the engine is restarted with electricity generated from Brake Energy Regeneration. The Cooper D model attains 74.0 mpg–imp (3.82 L/100 km / 61.6 mpg–U.S.) and emits 104 g of carbon dioxide per kilometre. A Mini One D is a possibility in the future, possible attaining even better fuel efficiency and lower emissions of greenhouse gases than the Cooper D, which is itself quite comparable to the Toyota Prius for fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions (potentially better than the Prius at higher rpm). Efficient Dynamics is standard in all Mini models, making Mini the first automotive brand to have all models in its range as mild hybrids as standard (Mini's parent, BMW, is still in the process of implementing Efficient Dynamics across its older models).

 

Environmentalists have pushed for stronger and stronger emission standards with stricter and stricter testing. Currently the US has the strictest emission standards in the world and the federalization process is extremely costly on top of that. In order for BMW to justify the millions of dollars it would cost to federalize the diesel engines in the US there'd have to be enough extra cars sold to offset the cost in a reasonable amount of time. With MINI's selling so well and waiting lists in some places for them, there's simply not a market factor to justify the costs since they wouldn't necessarily sell any more cars with this added option.

Still, keep asking, if demand for all MINI's drop enough BMW might think this is just what they need to perk sales back up.

 

This Diesel has lower emissions than a Half electric car!!!!!!! I think I should buy the diesel engine and mail it to the states....Do you think I would have a hard time registering it? Where I come from people drive toyota trucks with V8 converstion....chevy smalls? This is an very earth friendly move w/ the diesel MINI, 75 miles per gallon BMW makes some of the cleanest engines in the world and Im conflicted being american....supposedly free, yet slave to the gas company and the regular fact that it pollutes more than todays diesels. I do not want to make Exxon rich, and I want to help save our planet, its shameful Id have to live in Europe forever.. I Am American, love my country SO MUCH, just wish we had what Europe has when it comes to autos!

 

The emissions they measure are things other than Carbon Dioxide (which isn't a pollutant anyways but that's another debate). Diesels produce higher NOx levels as well as increaed sulfer content in their exhaust and usually need a complex urea injection and particulate filter-setup in the exhaust to meet US emissions. In 2007 when these new standards went into effect the only manufacturer that was able to sell a diesel that met the requirements was Mercedes with it's Blue-tech C-class. VW is just now able to release a new TDi version of its cars in the US this year.

Engine swaps can be legal if the vehicle is emission exempt such as an older car, or if the engine swapped in is from a newer vintage and maintains all it's federalized emission standards. You may be able to cheat the laws some and get away with that but I won't comment on how this can be done or if it should be done. Importing a foriegn market car is possible but it will have to be brought up to US emission and safety standards.

I don't feel I'm a "slave to the gas companies" partially because my family owns a good bit of Exxon Mobile stock and partially because you have to buy fuel no matter what and I'm already in a pretty effecient vehicle. I can always choose to walk or ride a bike and if I wanted better economy on slightly farther trips a motorcycle or scooter can be used. We have plenty of options in the US, we just also have some of the more restrictive laws against the vehicle manufacturers themselves.

 

I doubt it's a Republican Conspiracy

 

There are a lot of diesel cars we can't get here.

 

Call it the CARB conspiracy. Lower particulate emission requirements virtually killed off all diesel engines. Slowly with the gas mileage focus companies are spending the money to make 50 state legal diesel engines. VW offers the jetta in diesel form but even that disappeared for 2 years while the regulations changed. Dont count on a MINI diesel anytime soon, the market share for the MINI version itself will never justify the exspense to make US diesel (short of regulation changes). If BMW finds someone to share the developement cost, which their next partener is Fiat, then it could happen.

 

#1 Please refrain from political commentary and review the site guidelines regarding such.

#2 The reason is economics, MINI has long stated that despite constant enthusiast requests, they will not bring the Diesel MINI to the US because they feel it will not produce worthwhile sales, as Americans are notoriously obsessed with Horsepower and Sub-100Hp cars wont sell here. If you take a look back on motoringfile the question has been proposed at least once to MINI Execs, not to mention several threads on the topicon NAM.

I'd love to see a Diesel version of the MINI in the US, or better yet, see someone take an R53, pull the W11 engine, get the R50 diesel engine from europe, fit with a turbo and FMIC, tune it up and have a MINI that'll blow most other MINIs doors off, while getting better MPG. Then someone reminds me of the $$ reality

 

A diesel MINI that just sound funny !!! How much H.P. are the diesels in Europe getting just out of curiosity.

 

Dont censor me. Im AMERICAN AND I HAVE HE RIGHT TO SPEAK Or is this NOT a NAM RIGHT?

 

given the fact BMW, MB, VW are selling clean diesel MY09 - the MINI D might come in a few years once the 'new' D thing kicks off here officially...

 

1) NAM is a company, not a village square. The management can have whatever standard it wants!

2) There are emissions and emissions. Europe does it on CO2, we have more stringent particulate standards. FWIW, there are real costs to particulates, but they are indirect, mostly having to do with effects on lungs. Debate as you want, but there are facts here.

3) 50 State diesels are coming, but they have some interesting ownership responsibilities. The urea injection systems need refilling. And since the standard for emissions systems was they should work for 100k, a compramise had to be met. For the urea systems to pass muster, the engine managment system gives you a fixed number of starts after the tank is dry to get to a service station to refil the urea. Don't do it and the car stops running.

4) Urea systems work better in larger cars than smaller ones, due to volume mostly, and weight as well.

5) There are non-urea systems in dev, but they aren't as close to sales as the urea systems are. They will take a couple more years to come to market.

6) We don't have the capacity to refine enough diesel to support a large amount of the car fleet to switch to diesel. That takes time and money. And the oil stocks used to make diesel compete with heating oil markets. Take that you northeasterners!

7) In Europe, the high percentage of diesel ownership is driven by gov policy: They tax the craap out of gas, not so much so for diesel. If you're into lassaiz-faire market mechanisms, that's a no go. If you think that there's a role for the gov to nudge the markets to induce long term changes in consumption behaviour, then gas tax increases can help make the trasition. While diesel has a lower cost to own, it has a higher cost to buy! Even in Europe!

Matt

 

That's so cute...

Yes, you have the Right To Speak... unless of course, you agree to certain things that abridge that Right, such as that little check box you filled in when you accepted the Terms of Service for the web site.

I think in your case, a little less speaking, and a little more reading what you're agreeing to, might be beneficial.

And before you reply calling me names or making some other offhanded remark, do yourself a favor and actually READ the Terms of Service that you already agreed to.

 

I have had a diesel here in the US. Many years ago, I bought a new 1980 VW Rabbit (now Golf) diesel. It got 50 mpg regularly. But it was a non-turbo, and couldn't get out of its own way. I had to turn off the AC when getting on the expressway in order to accelerate. But I loved the gas mileage. And diesel back then was cheaper than gasoline, as it should be.

The other problem with diesel in the US besides the new environmental standards, is quite simply, it has become much more expensive than gasoline, so any advantage in mileage is eaten up by the higher cost of fuel, plus the higher cost of the car itself. Now it makes no sense. I looked at the VW Jetta TDI before I bought my Mini, and saw absolutely no advantage to it in today's market. You are better off with a regular Mini that gets a solid 40 MPG and none of the cost or complications of diesel. And you can buy gas at every station.

Also, as the moderator said, leave the politics out of things.

 

Here's an article from CNET talking about the Cooper D: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10019208-48.html

 

Bravo

 

If you want to blame anybody blame California, it's their emissions standards that keep us from having good diesels

 

that use the standard. Seems that a lot of states with air problems like the idea of cleaner air. Blame them to, if you must blame. But really, in time Europe will institue particulate a smog legislation as well. I think the laws are already written, they come on line in 2012 or something.....

We're all heading to the same place, as we learn more about the potential harms of different kinds of combustion products. We're just taking different paths there.

Future engines actually have pressure sensors that look at cylinder pressures each and every combustion cycle in real time to see what's going on, so that they can balance emissions and efficiency. These engines are already being tested. It's actually very, very interesting, but gets very little play in the press. You have to read actuall engineering journals to see what's up with them.

Matt

 

Isn't a diesel engine just a pond away? They have boats that float across it constantly. Its actually pretty amazing to watch - they do it with bouyancy, like a fun science class experiment. Thing of it is though, products are placed on these so called boats and they do their floating back in forth enabling trade between continents. I think its amazing! I could buy something in europe and float it here for personal use, all because of bouyancy.

Here's a picture of a boat:


Also a picture of a Cooper diesel engine:


And cool badging you can do:

 

Are you related to Dave Barry? That was great...

 

I've owned my Jetta TDI for almost 2 years now and while I admit there are some differences in owning a car with a CI engine over a SI engine like constantly changing the fuel filter, it's not a big deal once you get used to it. I find the fuel milage I get with my Jetta (45 mpg) to be only one of the benefits of the little turbo diesel. For having 99 bHp you would never be able to tell by driving it, it's actually a pretty fun little car to drive.

With all that being said I am on the fence about ordering a Cooper S, but would have already of had my order in if the Cooper D was an option.

I can understand why Mini may be reluctant to bring the Cooper D to the U.S., every day I deal with the ever changing EPA emission standards (Marine Industry) and can understand where it may not be profitable to develop a U.S. spec diesel. I think the biggest problem was when the EPA set ridiculously high emission standards for diesel passenger vehicles all before the commitment to switch to the ULSD with would make meeting the requirements possible. It seemed like once the decision was made to go to ULSD the auto makers had given up on diesels in the U.S.

 

and while those novel contrivences (boats, did you call them?) look interesting. Try to register a diesel Mini in the US.

I'm not against that form of car, far from it. I just get frustrated with the oversimplification of the issues accompanied a lit of biatching...

Matt

 

An engine swap is more then likely possible...

But who here in the US would have the expertise to do it? Not too many people I bet.

You would have to:

1. Buy an engine from someone overseas, and hope you get everything you need. (ECU, transmission, exhaust, wiring harness etc...) $$
2. Ship it over. $
3. Clear customs. $
4. Pay someone to swap it out. $$$$

The only other problem you would have is emission testing, if it is done in your state.

There are some illegal ways to import foreign vehicles, but the odds of being successful cost more then the car is worth. There are no legal ways to import a car that is not certified or can't be certified to pass EPA and DOT regulations. It is damn near impossible to defeat the VIN system of modern cars, YMMV with each state though.

Sorry, but you are wasting your breath unless you are made of money. Since you are living in Europe currently, why don't you buy one there and sell it when you leave, and tell us what you thought of it? You are in a better position to own one then any of us are...

I was stationed in Naples Italy for three years, and I bought a brand new 2000 S1 Lotus Elise 111S while I lived there. I got it Tax Free so I saved alot of money, and enjoyed every moment of owning it.

Good Luck, and know that your wishes for Deisel cars here in the US are being worked on, but be careful what you wish for...

 

OP your location says Europe. Why would you care if you can buy a diesel in the US if you live in Europe?

If you could import a diesel engine from europe (@$8000 engine) + (@$4000 installation) = @$12,000. You would break even at 500,000 miles. I don't think it's worth it.

 

One more thing. That new stop-start system "BMW efficient dynamics" is not something that I would want on my car. I don't think it would save much, and looks like it adds a lot more complexity. I can stop my engine myself if I want, when there is a need to. There are some things which are so complex that they are simply not worth the very limited benefit they would bring.

All this business about diesels will eventually by overcome by other advances in hybrid technology. When the consumer can buy a plug-in car that can get 45-60 miles range on battery only, that would cover most people's commute. Good bye gasoline. That is coming within 2 or 3 years.