Diesel 1 and 3 Series confimed for Oz

BMW has confirmed it will debut diesel-powered versions of its popular 1 and 3 Series sedans Down Under.

The new 120d and 320d will be powered by a 115kW four-cylinder turbodiesel engine. The models are, respectively, among the top-selling variants of their ranges in Europe.

The arrival of the new diesel saloons will be announced at this week's Melbourne Motor Show. The auto-only 120d will go on sale in May and will be priced from $47,800 -- a $3000 premium over its petrol equivalent.

Also six-speed auto only, the first diesel 3 Series to be sold Down Under will hit dealers showrooms in June. The 320d will be offered in both standard and Executive variants priced from $56,700 (a $3500 premium).

The 2.0-litre diesel engine in the BMW 120d/320d is a throughly modern powerplant featuring high-pressure common rail fuel-injection and variable geometry turbocharger. Euro 4 compliant, the engine's 115kW peak kicks in at 4000rpm, with top torque an impressive 330Nm at 2000rpm.

BMW claims the 120d will sprint to 100km/h in 8.5sec -- 0.7sec quicker than the petrol variant. Claimed combined fuel consumption is 6.6lt/100km. The 320d is just 0.4sec slower and 0.1lt/100km thirstier than the 120d according to BMW's stats.

BMW’s first passenger diesel debuted in the 524td in 1983. In Germany, diesel now accounts for 39 per cent of all cars sold and, in BMW’s case, runs as high as 48 per cent. Almost one in four of all BMW passenger cars produced worldwide is fitted with a diesel engine, says the company.

Look out for reviews of the new BMW diesels on CarPoint in March.