XSeries-forum

There was an 'option' to fit one, but no here in the UK we are less bothered......quite probably because our pollutants all get blown towards Germany..

That's why the Deutsch get so hacked off about Fessenheim.  :blink:

[quote="RenoHuskerDu"]
Thanks for that very thorough response.  It all makes sense and meshes with what I know about diesels. I don't remember seeing you on the E70 side, where I usually am.

I may be going a little OT, but now that I own an E53 and an E70, I am astounded at the advances that BMW made in pollution control and engine management.  My E53 is a 2005, and my E70 a 2011. In six years, the M57 to N57 improvement is amazing.

I start up the E70 inside my garage every time I drive it.  I cannot smell the exhaust.  At all.  Ever.  It's incredible how effective the DPF and other pollution controls are.  I've never been able to smell the exhaust, at any time.  My E70 has just about as many mile on it as my E53 does. 

The E53, otoh, does make a puff of grey/white smoke on cold start, and afterwards the exhaust has a distinctive smell. My kids notice it too.  If I let it idle for a while in the yard, one of my kids will remark that they can smell it. It's not acrid or visible, but it's not pleasant either.  The German title says that it has a DPF, and the car has the green windshield sticker that is only awarded to DPF cars, but the smoke and smell are there.
[/quote]

It is interesting that you mention the smell as mine has a strong distinctive exhaust smell too but no smoke.  I can smell it with the window open whilst stationary, almost like a burning oil smell but not quite and no smoke from the exhaust.