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IRS Wants You to Drive a BMW 335d or X5 Diesel!

 
2,919 views Feb 4, 2009
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2009 BMW 335d

2009 BMW 335d

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So your better half just won't let you buy that BMW you've been eyeing? And anyway, the recession is making you think twice? Well, here's an unlikely savior for you and your wallet: the IRS.

Yep, that's right, the Internal Revenue Service will actually give you up to $900 to buy a 2009 BMW 335d. Even better, up to $1,800 for a 2009 BMW X5 Xdrive35d Sport Activity Vehicle (as BMW pompously insists on calling it).

It's all courtesy of the Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Tax Credit, which subsidizes vehicles that burn a lot less fuel and emit much lower levels of greenhouse gases. It comes to you from the Energy Act of 2005, with various vehicles qualifying each model year--which the IRS helpfully lists on its website (though as of today, hey hadn't updated the page to include the ultimate driving machines).

The news comes courtesy of BMW, who launched two diesels into the US market just in time to see diesel soar to roughly $1 a gallon more than gasoline. Diesels are pricier to build than gas engines--they have to be sturdier to withstand the much higher compression ratios--but usually that's offset by better fuel economy. Now, the price differential makes the math a real challenge.

Neither diesel is exactly a slouch, by the way. The 335d sedan does its 0-60 mph in just 6.0 seconds, while the porkier X5 diesel (I'm not repeating the gibberish model name, sorry) is just slightly slower at 6.9 seconds. The 335d is the most fuel efficient sedan BMW has ever sold in the States, racking up EPA ratings of 23 miles per gallon in the city and a blissful 36 mpg on the highway (the X5 comes in at 19/26). Either one will probably outlast your bladder, as both can travel almost 600 miles on a single tank.





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Comments (2)

  1. By Jonathan McGrew Posted: 2/4/2009 3:07pm PST

    "Jonathan McGrew"

    Perfect! Now if I can just get a sponsor to buy the car for me! I like the idea of the 335d...I wonder if they offer the engine or will offer it in the coupe body. Personally though, I don't think the tax incentive is enough to take on the car payment unless it is more or less the same as the one you have today. I wonder how well this tactic will work in selling new BMWs.
     
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  2. By David Kuraguntla Posted: 10/16/2009 8:45pm PDT

    BMW is currently offering a $4500 EcoCredit that is taken off the MSRP, until 11/02/09.
     
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