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Hi All:

___I have been trying to get a hold of someone within the BMW North America group for the past few days and today it appears we may have hit pay dirt? In the near future, we are working on having a BMW 335d delivered for an I-80 run from Chicago to the East Coast to see what kind of range can be achieved from this monster fast fuel miser.

___Although only rated at 36 mpgUS highway and having a 17 or so gallon tank, I believe it "should" touch 800 miles with relative ease? Maybe even a thousand with a little effort on our part... Meaning the most boring drive in the history of BMW for the first 800 miles and a hair raising pucker factor drive the last 50 plus miles.

___Anyone want to go for a ride :D

BMW 335d – She looks nicer in person too.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2009_BMW_335d.jpg

___Let us hope this one bares fruit...

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Cant wait!!

Slick ride! Any estimated dates?

Hi Mike:

___April 6 through the 12th maybe? If that turns out to be the case, I will be able to attend the NY Auto Show Press Event with Ricardo and Chris.

___I am also trying to procure a BMW118d from Bosch as I was told by a “little birdie” that there was exactly one in country and it was in the Detroit area. That 70 + mpg capable super-diesel might be more of a wish and a prayer however :angel:

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Wow, can't wait to see what that BMW can do.

Wayne, you can put me on the list of volunteers... could work out nicely to be back by Easter Sunday (Apr 12) if that week ends up being the one.

This looks promising. I wonder if any local media would be interested in some sort of "the reality of hypermiling" story while you're here. Although fuel costs are down, so is the net worth of each paycheck, so people may need a reminder that the answer to spending less on fuel is as near as their right foot.

Most people don't want to hear that they need to drive differently to save fuel. They either feel insulted or feel it's a waste of time.

Plus, people hate change. I say the change you can control is better than the one you're forced to accept.

I wonder how it's going to live up to it's "Ultimate Driving Machine" claim.

Looks like you already have enough people, but put me on the list also.

Hi Jud:

___I have already spoken with Ken and still have to get Chris' permission to have Ken stay at his home for the NY Auto Show Press Event "if" we can get the 335d during the week of April 7th through the 12th.

___If it is a different week, Ken and I can pick you up in the Toledo area and finish off the drive to NY City with a continuous RT. Maybe we can stay at Ricardo's home by driving I-90 through Albany on the way back to knock down the hours a touch?

___I have not heard back from BMW's press vehicle handling company in Chicago yet so we are still floundering around with the details.

___Sefton, you, Manuel (MSantos) and Tim (Brick) have never been involved in one of these and if we ever get a shot in the 118d (if it is still in country?) or even a new Jetta TDI, would you guys consider driving down (up for Tim) for a Chicago to Dallas and back or similar Review drive?

___And I keep working on Sean...

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Having Ken stay wouldn't be a problem at all.

Hi Wayne, I'd jump at chance to come down to Chicago and go for a drive in any of those cars. Especially the 118d, it's one of my all time favorites. I'm busy with school until about April 15, but after that I'm more or less free for the summer.

Mike,

Do you know when we switch back to summer diesel.

Hi Jud, it probably varies greatly depending on region. I'm told that in Winnipeg, the blend starts shifting towards summer diesel in late March and it's back to full summer diesel by late May. I would imagine that you start the transition about a month ahead of us in Cincinnati.

Wayne, if this happens after April 6th, and I'm still unemployed, I may be up for the trip if you have room left. April 6th is my 24th wedding anniversary so I think it just may be a bad idea for me to be gone that day in particular.:D Also, since I technically have to be always available for full-time employment in order to receive unemployment benefits, I would have to be a bit creative if I weren't actually in the state.;)

Hi All:

___I just received a confirmation that we will have the 335d from early afternoon on the 7th through the 11th so the 1,000 mile challenge is on! Speaking with the owner of the press vehicle handling company, he said he is amazed at its performance while offering FE up to 28 mpg the last time he drove it. Let us hope we can do a bit better than that ;)

___Still no word on Bosch's 118d however?

___All the while I sit here waiting for the Milan Hybrid that should have been here earlier this morning????

___Good Luck

___Wayne

wow Wayne..... you have the best job in the world. Good luck!

Hi Jud:

___I have already spoken with Ken and still have to get Chris' permission to have Ken stay at his home for the NY Auto Show Press Event "if" we can get the 335d during the week of April 7th through the 12th.

___If it is a different week, Ken and I can pick you up in the Toledo area and finish off the drive to NY City with a continuous RT. Maybe we can stay at Ricardo's home by driving I-90 through Albany on the way back to knock down the hours a touch?

___I have not heard back from BMW's press vehicle handling company in Chicago yet so we are still floundering around with the details.

___Sefton, you, Manuel (MSantos) and Tim (Brick) have never been involved in one of these and if we ever get a shot in the 118d (if it is still in country?) or even a new Jetta TDI, would you guys consider driving down (up for Tim) for a Chicago to Dallas and back or similar Review drive?

___And I keep working on Sean...

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Anything I can do to help Wayne ;)

I happened to look up a review at Car & Driver and Motor Trend..:eek:.. this 335d is a MONSTER! This twin-turbo 6 cylinder 3.0L precision engineered power plant puts out more torque than a 6.1L Dodge Hemi!! yeah only 425 lb.ft. of torque at 1700-2250 rpm :D

They mention 36mpg highway... nyuck nyuck... this engine loafs along at 1500 rpm at 60mph... methinks that with some diligence DWL/DWB that will be put away...

Sounds like the 335d could turn out to be quite the sleeper. Not just in acceleration, but FE as well.

That's 45mpg+ on the highway for someone with a touch of skill. Want.

Hi All:

___With the BMW 335d booked and ready (let us hope nobody crashes it before it gets to Illinois :rolleyes:), I spoke with a second PR person at Bosch regarding the 118d. She sent a note to the Bosch fleet manager North America asking if this vehicle is still in country. If it is, we get it sometime in May ;)

___Jud, Mike or Tim, you want to go for a ride too :D :D :D

___Good Luck

___Wayne

I am up for it. What are the exact dates?

Hi Jud:

___Not sure and she was not even sure they still had it. If they do however, she said we could have it in early May. It has to be picked up in Detroit however...

___Maybe we can have a two party review of the little beaut over a 5 to 7-day period including a super-run? Chicago to Washington DC on a single tank or something?

___Good Luck

___Wayne

OK I will plan on early May.

I'm in for a ride in May :)

Hi All:

___The "Ultimate Driving Machine(s)" vs. the "Ultimate Hypermilers". A cage match of unprecedented proportions bound to entertain young and old alike. Kind of like watching paint dry :D :D :D

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Dang, I am on vacation that exact week in April for the 335d. But, I may be otherwise occupied, and there is a lot I have to learn before I could even think about doing a run like that. I may be up for riding along to learn though.

As much as I would like to make the trip, I pretty much burned my "play time" with PCD in January. I have rationed every last vacation day (literally) from now through New Years between the wedding and a little time off around Christmas. Low-rent vacation policies plus living 900mi away from family positively sucks. :(

Definitely looking forward to the results, though! :D

You're going to pull great numbers with this car. The 3 series is an awesome hwy cruiser. I was able to pull north of 35 mpg in my old 330i from the same generation as the 335d, by just setting the cruise at 110 km/h.

Wayne,

BMW claims it was able to achieve 48 mpg highway (actually "≥ 48 mpg") with the U.S. market versions of the 335d in its tests (see http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/pdfs/deer_2008/session5/deer08_hiemesch.pdf - slide #35).

Will be interesting to see if you can match that.

Good luck.

Hi Wxman:

___That was an excellent link you provided!!!

___Although the 335d is equipped with an over the top small 6, I am hoping that the diesel drivetrain will make up for the extra displacement and friction added vs. the 4’s. The conventional 2.4L SI-ICE in the Accord will pull 50 to 52 mpg in warmer temps on the highway. I am hopeful the 3.0 CI-ICE will pull considerably more ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Hi All:

___The "Ultimate Driving Machine(s)" vs. the "Ultimate Hypermilers". A cage match of unprecedented proportions bound to entertain young and old alike. Kind of like watching paint dry :D :D :D

___Good Luck

___Wayne

That's why you need a good story or two to tell. That helps the time pass more quickly.

Looking at weather.com for the next couple days... Wayne, it appears that we will have a tailwind for most of the distance, ranging from WNW to W to WSW by NYC, with speeds above 10mph...

HI Ken:

___I am just recovering from the Washington DC pre-plan trip but should be in top form by Tuesday for our little drive West ;)

___Great news about the prevailing winds too!!!

___Good Luck

___Wayne

...And they are calling for a chance of rain here (NY) on Friday, too. Usually rain comes from systems moving up the east coast, and they bring winds from the E and SE, so you may even get a tailwind heading back home, at least until you get near the PA border.

Wayne,

Put Jermy Clarkston to shame. :D