[Quasimodem]

I have seen two, my own (which I have been driving for seven months) and a second one yesterday (with a Nevada plate).

Trying to make this a poll, bear with me.

[Ron1n]

Just mine.

Got comments 3 times between yesterday about how mine was the first one they've seen.

[jibaholic101]

^^ @ ur sig

[Ron1n]

Originally Posted by jibaholic101

^^ @ ur sig

[Park2670]

Five.

The two Demo cars we had. And the three that have sold. Pretty rare in these parts since everybody wants Xdrive.

[DJKhan85]

I've never seen one. Including the 3 BMW dealers I went to when buying mine.

[JakeN5]

Let's hope we'll be seeing more of the d this year thanks to the ecocredit. Or BMW may give up and keep these kickass diesels out of the US market.

[JSpira]

One reason we started The Diesel Driver is to get the word out. If you haven´t visited the magazine on line, please take a stroll over!

Plus you can see pictures of a LOT of diesels there - BMW and others (including the world´s first diesel-powered autos)

[jopa489]

Three.

[chrisdridley]

I've only seen mine and a blue one with Penn tags on I-40

[CHCCubs]

Still have yet to see one on the road that is private owned. I've seen a few at dealerships and a promotional one on the road.

[Tuce]

None, besides mine. In NYC I've seen a lot of X5 35ds, three in one day recently. There seem to be a lot of 335ds in CA and TX, where Xdrive is probably not as desired.

[HoustonScott]

I have never seen one on the road.
The dealer had one to start 2009 with I saw one on another dealer lot his demo one for 2009.
Mine is blue....and a rare BMW indeed......

HS

[Nr!qUe]

Have not seen any. I see quite a handful of Jetta TDIs and have yet to see any golf TDIs

[HoustonScott]

BMW reported at the end of 2009 that the average number of 335d's sold was one per dealer in the first half of 2009. I know my dealer has sold 3 including mine this year and mine is a 2010. My guess is as far a sales numbers, the 335d is a big flop in the USA.

HS

[PJPHughes]

I've seen two in LA, apart from my own. The black demo I drove, and one on the road with Efficient Dynamics stickers all over it. The white one at the LA Auto Show I'm not counting.

I think it's still too early to call it a flop. BMW has done a pretty poor job of marketing the cars, and most dealers struggled to even have ONE car as a demo. People want to drive it before they buy it...I was lucky enough to drive a demo. My sales guy said after their black demo sold, they had no 335d on the lot for over 4 months. Not a great way to try and sell them if you ask me. Imagine Sony trying to sell a new version of their HD TV but there weren't any on display at the stores....

I told my sales guy that BMW needs to do a much better job of making dedicated demos available, and sales folks should try and get 335i drivers to try it.

Then again, I like having one of maybe two ZSP equipped Montego blue 335d's in the US??

[Quasimodem]

Originally Posted by Nr!qUe

Have not seen any. I see quite a handful of Jetta TDIs and have yet to see any golf TDIs

Well, I think that the more successful the VWs become, the more likely more people will consider the 335d. IMHO, 335d buyers are rather different than VW buyers, so I think the influence of the VW diesels will serve to boost 335d sales rather than bleed them away. I am thinking that if someone sees a neighbor with a VW TDI and sees how well it runs and the mileage it gets, that neighbor will start doing research, find out about the 335d and maybe try to one-up the neighbor (you know how it is .

So more power to VW!

[DerekS]

Originally Posted by HoustonScott

BMW reported at the end of 2009 that the average number of 335d's sold was one per dealer in the first half of 2009. I know my dealer has sold 3 including mine this year and mine is a 2010. My guess is as far a sales numbers, the 335d is a big flop in the USA.

HS

This may be true due to an almost total lack of marketing by BMW USA. The same applies to BMW Canada; I have never seen any print or video advertising specific to the diesel models. This strikes me as very strange for a company that is in the business of selling cars.

Couple this lack of marketing effort to a lack of visual difference (between 335i and 335d) and its no wonder that the diesels are seldom "observed" on the road. The only reliable way to confirm the siting of a 335d is at full stop, when one can see the "d" on the trunk as opposed to the "i". Yes, I know there is a circular access panel on the bottom left rear flank, but try observing that when the car is in motion.

It seems BMW wanted to deliberately hide the "d" in the crowd. I'm not sure this was a good decision. Mercedes at least puts a "Bluetec" label on the trunk and on the front fenders of its diesels. Toyota is not at all bashful about slapping "Hybrid Synergy" labels on its prissy Prius and Camry models.

As for BMW diesels being a flop in the US, I believe you will soon see additional models with smaller diesels from all of the German manufacturers. Clean, efficient and powerful diesels will be a significant part of the corporate strategy in North America for BMW, MB, VW and Audi. You can bet on that !

[Ron1n]

I just want Carpool lane access, like the Prius and Civics. :P

[coolchu001]

Seen one other at a dealership. None other than my own on the road :-)

[DnA Diesel]

I wouldn't want a huge "COMMON RAIL BLUE TURBO-DIESEL" badge on my car! LOL

Give it time...as well, when the X1 xDrive2.3d's come over in 2011, we'll see things gain momentum, I believe.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by DerekS

This may be true due to an almost total lack of marketing by BMW USA.

Not true. BMW NA has been advertising and marketing the diesels in recent months.

Originally Posted by DerekS

As for BMW diesels being a flop in the US,

1/3 of X5 sales in December were diesel. The proportion of 3er Series diesel sales is harder to calculate since the only number BMW would give me was that 335d sales for December were 366. They don´t break out E90 or even 335i v 328i etc. so there is no way to compare the 366 against the 9000 or so 3ers that were sold in the month.