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BMW X3

4186 messages,  Last post on May 26, 2013 at 11:24 AM

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What is this discussion about? BMW X3, SUV

Messages Page 185 of 420

#1832 of 4186 Re: Premium Sound [beemcity] by markcincinnati

Apr 20, 2005 (12:49 pm)

Replying to: beemcity (Apr 20, 2005 8:59 am)
Test drove one with and one without -- huge difference. The lease payment difference was about $6 per month on a 36 month 15K lease. I thought it was well worth it.
 
I currently have a 2003 Audi allroad with the Bose "upgraded" system.
 
A. I think the Audi system is better than the standard BMW system
 
B. I think the upgraded BMW system is better than the upgraded Audi system
 
C. I think they (both) cost more than they ought to.
 
D. We listen to lots of music and books on CD -- while it doesn't make much difference on the books, it does on the music -- hence it was worth it.
 
E. We ordered Sirius Sat Radio and wanted the best it could be delivered in the car.
 
The X3 3.0, as configured was MSRP'd at $46K and change. The difference was fairly minor -- no money down, 36 months, 45K lease, $581 per month (that includes the tax).
 
Ordered the car March 18th, 2005. Hope to have it sometime in June.
 
Every time, previously, I have "chinzted out" on a feature like an upgraded stereo, I have regretted it. My wife (me too) could really hear the difference (we always take CD's with us on the test drives).
 
 The margin must be fairly high, since the deal was good.
 
We went back and added Servotronic to our order ($250) after reading how it "truly transformed" the car -- seemed too cheap to pass up if the auto journalists were accurate in their assessment of the "transformation."
 
The releveance of this last comment was to suggest how we had initially felt that Servotronic was just a way to get another $250 out of us -- reading about the feature changed our mind (the dealer didn't even push it, but when we said we wanted it, her eyes lit up and she told us how it would improve the drive of the car.) Of course we ordered the Sport Package which the early tests of the X3 poo-pooed. Later tests were much more favorable about the SP (after the recalibration of the X3's suspension post May 2004.)

#1833 of 4186 Re: Premium Sound [markcincinnati] by dherzfeld

Apr 20, 2005 (2:58 pm)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Apr 20, 2005 12:49 pm)
Every time, previously, I have "chinzted out" on a feature like an upgraded stereo, I have regretted it.
 
I agree. Years ago I decided no matter what to order the biggest engine and best stereo in whatever car I was buying. Here I am again re-thinking that position. By my calculation on an outright purchase, the upgraded audio makes an $11/mo. difference. Not really a huge deal.

#1834 of 4186 Re: gas mileage [1stbeemer] by idagorn

Apr 22, 2005 (12:33 pm)

Replying to: 1stbeemer (Dec 10, 2004 2:44 pm)
Hi
I must be the only non north american bmw driver on this forum-very interesting by the way-;I chose to answer your message because it dealt with gas mileage
I drive an X3 Diesel (yes I know diesel isn't exactly popular in the US)
I get 30mpg out of the 204HP turbo diesel 6 cyl engine (over a period of 20000km) considering the price of the car ($60000+) in France -and just about the same in most european countries- I think you Americans are lucky when it comes to buying automobiles: big choice of models, "cheap" gas, and reasonable prices if you take the wage/price ratio into account
just hope this little note helps bring an outsider's view about what I consider a great SUV

#1835 of 4186 Re: gas mileage [idagorn] by markcincinnati

Apr 22, 2005 (2:07 pm)

Replying to: idagorn (Apr 22, 2005 12:33 pm)
I think we would love to have the current crop of turbo diesels that are avail elsewhere -- our poor fuel quality is about to come to an end and I would suspect that our soon to be $3.00 per gallon gas will be a heafty motive to move to diesel.
 
BTW, I read that Europe actually exports gas to the US because it is more profitable than selling it to EU customers. I also read that minus taxes we pay more for the PRODUCT than some of the European countries that export gas to the US. Is this true?
 
You do, since a dollar is a dollor or a Euro is a Euro pay more out of pocket for petrol than we do -- but I suspect we are on the cost rise more steeply than some other countries. And, all in all that may be a good thing to allow us to have access to all the cars that we can only look at when we visit Europe.
 
I, for one, would love to have a super high torque medium HP diesel (turbo) car -- I drove the Audi A4 2.5TD with a 6speed manual -- "only 180HP, at the time" but the torque was waaaayyyy more impressive.
 
Color me envious of your diesel X3.

#1836 of 4186 City and Hwy Mileage BMW X3 (2.5 and 3.0) by haakon

Apr 22, 2005 (4:54 pm)

Could X3 owners please share their experience on gas mileage for "pure" city driving and "pure" highway driving? It would be helpful if you could specify whether you have the auto or stick and 2.5 or 3.0.
 
Thanks.

#1837 of 4186 Re: City and Hwy Mileage BMW X3 (2.5 and 3.0) [haakon] by vmerch

Apr 23, 2005 (10:46 am)

Replying to: haakon (Apr 22, 2005 4:54 pm)
I own a 2004 X3, 2.5. I get 28.6 on the highway (no stopping), and 18 in the city. I live in Chicago, so the city mileage reflects a lot of gridlock.
 
On a separate topic - I am considering getting the Ipod accessory cable to play through the stereo. Does anyone have any experience with this? Do you have to go to the dealership? Cost? Worth it?
 
Thanks!

#1838 of 4186 Re: City and Hwy Mileage BMW X3 (2.5 and 3.0) [vmerch] by haakon

Apr 24, 2005 (6:50 am)

Replying to: vmerch (Apr 23, 2005 10:46 am)
Vmerch:
 
Thanks for the info. I'm surprised that you get that good mileage as it is higher than the estimates (which I believe are 17mpg and 23 mpg). Do you have auto or stick? Have you been happy w. the car?
 
Thanks.

#1839 of 4186 Re: City and Hwy Mileage BMW X3 (2.5 and 3.0) [haakon] by vmerch

Apr 24, 2005 (9:39 am)

Replying to: haakon (Apr 24, 2005 6:50 am)
I was pleasantly suprised also. I have the steptronic automatic. I am very happy with the car. I have 13K on the car, and have only had the passenger cupholder fixed (wouldn't open) and a rattle checked out in the back (the jack was loose). Other than that, it's been great. I always stayed away from buying a SUV because of the bad mileage. My X3 gets better than the Mercedes C230 that I had before!

#1840 of 4186 Re: City and Hwy Mileage BMW X3 (2.5 and 3.0) [haakon] by whchan

Apr 25, 2005 (11:53 am)

Replying to: haakon (Apr 22, 2005 4:54 pm)
'05 3.0 AT
 
City Only: 14.5 to 15.5 mpg
Highway Only: 24mpg at 60 mph, 21 at 70-80 mph

#1841 of 4186 Re: City and Hwy Mileage BMW X3 (2.5 and 3.0) [whchan] by haakon

Apr 25, 2005 (4:10 pm)

Replying to: whchan (Apr 25, 2005 11:53 am)
Thanks for the info. Have you otherwise been happy w. the car?

Messages Page 185 of 420

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