Hey fellow dieselhead,
I've experienced a similar phenomenon and was extremely underwhelmed at the Chicago auto show yesterday. I kept asking "Do you have a diesel model?" and most said no. When they tried to play up their 25 or 30 hwy mpg "midsize" 4-seater, whatever mom-mobile it was- I was unimpressed. With a cruising range of 230 miles? Why bother? With a 65 mile commute, if my wife isn't driving the diesel she has to fill up her (8 gal capacity/240 mile-range car) every other day!

The only diesels exhibited that were impressive (and on display) were the audi models. (I saw NOT ONE diesel benz at the show- disappointing.) The VW offerings were so spartan and cheap feeling that we agreed with the young females that climbed out of the golf tdi before we got into it- "Eeew, it's just nasty!" I don't know if it is possible, but it even smelled like glue and inexpensive plastic, and the color/texture of the squarish "cloth" seats looked like an obese woman's thigh that had been forced into black stockings that were 2 sizes too small...

But the next bit of info will be VERY IMPORTANT in your consideration of a BMW diesel. I talked to the BWM rep at the auto show about their diesel models and he said that BMW is ceasing production of diesel in the US and Canada, and that a main reason for doing that is because a number of municipalities and states are requiring biodiesel to be blended for all auto- diesel sold in those areas. He said that BMW will not honor a warranty repair on any diesel bimmer that has run ANY biodiesel- because (this is according to him) anything higher than B5 will wreck them. I explained that my understanding was that with increased lubricity and lower emissions, the biodiesel was a better fuel. He shook his head no, and said that biodiesel over B5 ultimately causes catastrophic failure of the BMW 3-series diesel motor, and because drivers have little control over what comes out of the pump- they are moving away from diesel in North America...

He mentioned something about a proposed additional "tax" likely to be placed on auto diesel in midwestern states as well, which would offset the increase in economy too. I've heard nothing about this but wouldn't be surprised...