Posted on 09/25/2015 6:47:20 AM PDT by Red Badger
In the wake of the VW diesel scandal, German magazine Autobild found the Euro-market BMW X3 xDrive 20d also exceeds emissions limits by a significant amount.
Volkswagen's unfolding diesel emissions crisis may prove to involve other automakers as well: German magazine Autobild reports that a German-market, diesel-powered BMW X3 xDrive 20d put out 11 times the legal limit of pollution in a test commissioned by the magazine. (Update below)
Automotive News, which translated the Autobild report, explains that the BMW was tested by the International Council on Clean Transportation, the same group whose findings led U.S. regulators to investigate Volkswagen's U.S. diesel models.
Over at Jalopnik, Máté Petrány reports that the Euro-spec X3 tested by the magazine put out 11.88 times the Euro 6 limit for NOx emissions—slightly worse than a U.S.-spec Passat TDI tested by the magazine, but almost half of the emissions produced by a U.S.-spec Jetta TDI and a Euro-spec Audi A8 3.0 TDI included in the test.
BMW denied the report, saying in a statement that "there is no function to recognize emissions testing cycles at BMW. All emissions systems remain active outside the testing cycle." BMW shares dropped nearly 10 percent in European trading as a result of the report.
In the wake of the ongoing diesel emissions crisis, the European Union urged all 28 member-countries to open investigations into real-world vehicle emissions. The German transport ministry vowed to conduct spot-checks on Volkswagens and other manufacturers alike, Bloomberg Business reports.
Meanwhile at Volkswagen, the resignation of CEO Martin Winterkorn seems to be only the first executive-level departure: Bloomberg reports that Audi development chief Ulrich Hackenberg and Porsche development head Wolfgang Hatz will leave the company. The VW Group will announce Winterkorn's replacement tomorrow.
Update: BMW contacted R&T with a statement of clarification from Autobild on how it obtained the reportest test results. "The emission values of a BMW X3 xdrive 20d sent to AUTO BILD by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) had been supplied to ICCT by British test institute Emissions Analytics," the statement reads in part. "The values mentioned in the document were only generated in a single, one hour-long road test. Auto BILD has no access to the details of this test trail, which might explain the discrepancies to the test cycle NEDC.
"In light of the VW emission scandal, AUTO BILD deems it of utmost importance to emphasize that the communicated emission value of the tested BMW X3 is by no means proof of manipulation or the existence of a defeat device as found in the vehicles of VW [. . .] AUTO BILD never intended to accuse BMW of manipulating emission levels."
nitrogen oxides
I’m beginning to wonder if the EPA deliberately set the emission limits so low that it is basically impossible for any company to build a diesel car that will meet those standards, and still be affordable and/or drivable.
I don’t trust the EPA in any way, shape, or form.
And you have to wonder-have makers of gas cars been doing the same thing?
I loved 2002's before 1973 and an E28 535I or M5 were great! Also an E23 745I, WOW!
You are correct. They want to do the same thing to DIESEL as they have and are still doing to COAL.
Even if these cars were to pass all the tests unequivocally, they would raise the standards even higher, until the mfrs could no longer meet them without the Laws of Thermodynamics being repealed....................
NOx, Nitric Oxides...................
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NOx
NOx should not be confused with nitrous oxide (N2O), which is a greenhouse gas and has many uses as an oxidizer, an anesthetic, and a food additive.
BMW is getting dragged into the VW TDI mess....
The 5 and even the 7 series have the worst resale value. Just like Mini Coopers, car lots will rarely take them unless you really sell low, and hope some schmuck comes in and buys it later.
Won’t be difficult to find out.
I suspect one of VW’s competitors was trying to figure out how they passed the EPA test and still got the high fuel economy, tested some vehicles at proving ground or public roads, figured out the trick, and sent results to Fedgov.
Volvo is owned by the ChiComs so it’s difficult to project their financial strenght.
If that was true, why are the notoriously proud Germans so quick to offer up confessions?
The EPA has made no secret of the fact they want to discourage, if not eliminate completely, light duty diesel.
“You don’t want to buy a Volt?”
If we used the same calculation that the rest of the weorld does which accounts for emissions by weight of vehicle, VW and BMW (and potentially Mercedes if they did the same thing) wouldn't be an issue.
I seem to also remember that the US' "clean diesel" mandate affected Semi trucks in a big way initially so I wouldn't be surprised to see Kenworth, Peterbilt, Mac, etc.. also "cheat" because the clean diesel mandate is impossible to meet.
I really REALLY hope this turns into another example of over-regulation being the problem.
I’m not suggesting they didn’t violate the standards (deliberately or otherwise). I’m saying the standards are the problem.
And, if I may be a little paranoid in saying so, I would not be in the least surprised if I were shown documentation that the EPA’s intention was to make the standards unattainable. I’ve no reason to believe that’s the case, only that these fascists are certainly capable of doing it.
An alternative diesel engine might now have an opening.
http://liquidpiston.com/technology/x-engines-diesel/
http://news.mit.edu/2014/liquidpiston-small-efficient-rotary-engine-1205
http://papers.sae.org/2014-32-0104/
http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/research/a15233/liquidpiston-darpa-contract/
http://www.wired.com/2014/11/tiny-engine-make-leaf-blowers-sound-less-like-jet-engines/
http://www.gizmag.com/liquidpistol-rotary/24623/
True. My point is why risk it?
The antichrist!
From your autoblog link you provided I went through some to the 36 articles about the VW instance and the article below is one of the best at explaining the initial history of this event.
http://www.autoblog.com/2015/09/23/researcher-how-vw-got-caught/
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