Car and Driver: 2017 BMW Diesels Delayed Due to Additional EPA Emissions Testing

The EPA’s increased scrutiny on diesel emissions in the U.S. has delayed production of BMW’s 2017 model-year diesel vehicles, a BMW spokesperson confirmed. Certification of four diesel models—including the 328d sedan, 328d wagon (pictured), X3 xDrive28d, and X5 xDrive 35d—is still pending additional testing, and production of these vehicles won’t begin until they are officially homologated for sale in the U.S.

This doesn’t come as too much of a surprise, as the EPA stated in September of last year (soon after Volkswagen’s emissions scandal was revealed to the public) that it would significantly up its testing procedures for all diesels in the U.S. This means comparing real-world and lab-generated emissions results, along with testing non-manufacturer-supplied test vehicles. Previously, the more stringent tests delayed the on-sale date of the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon diesel pickup trucks.

The BMW models affected by the delay use either a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel, for 28d models, or a 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbodiesel, for 35d models, and no changes were made to these engines for 2017. BMW has insisted in the past that its cars meet all emissions requirements in the U.S., despite rumors to the contrary, issuing a statement in September 2015 saying that the company “does not manipulate or rig any emissions tests.”

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Curiously, the diesel-powered BMW 5-series, the 535d, is not included in this certification process, despite sharing its engine with the X5 xDrive 35d. In fact, BMW has not released any information about the 2017 5-series sedan lineup—perhaps because of the impending debut of the redesigned 5-series. In the meantime, 2016 BMW diesel models, including the outgoing 535d, are unaffected by the delay.

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