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Hello Captain Shaw-
Many thanks for your analysis. As a fan of the diesel, I wish I lived in Canada where, as your calculations show, the 35d Xdrive is clearly a better value than the 35i Xdrive.
Unfortunately, these two versions of the X5seem to be much more neck and neck in the US, at least based on the numbers I see, as detailed below:
1. MPG (EPA combined city/highway)
35i: 21
35d: 27
2. Current fuel prices (USA national average, per AAA at fuelguagereport.aaa.com)
35i: premium gasoline $3.601/gallon
35d: unleaded $3.854/gallon
3. Annual fuel costs for 15k miles/year:
35i: $2,572.14
35d: $2,141.11
4. Annual fuel savings 35d vs 35i:
$431.03
5. Base MSRP price premium of 35d vs 35i:
$1,500.00
6. Number of years of fuel savings on 35d vs 35i required to offset price price35d's premium vs 35i (excluding any adjustment for lost investment income on the difference in the purchase price):
3.48 (i.e., $1,500 msrp premium divided by $431.03 annual fuel savings.)
That's my take on the US comparison anyway. Fundamentally, the economic difference between the 35i and the 35d seems negligible. But, to me at any rate, the 35d has the clear edge both in terms of better performance (the higher torque) and lower emissions.
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