Sir - As an ex-employee and now pensioner of BMW, I have a 3 series model.

As for the Lord Mayor's new motor (Oxford Mail, August 7), I fully applaud a 5 series BMW in place of the Rover 75, an under-rated car, but Longbridge-made.

My only problem with a 5 series is that it appears to be powered by unleaded petrol.

Why not diesel? It makes sense. Whereas petrol returns something like 31 miles per gallon, a 525d SE does 42. This car - the same insurance group 15 - costs some £2,000 more than the petrol equivalent, but the Lord Mayor plans to keep the car for eight years.

In any event, the car will retain more of its original value than the Rover ever will.

Michael Everett

Upper Road

Kennington

Oxford