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BMW X3

4185 messages,  Last post on Apr 15, 2013 at 1:30 PM

You are in the BMW X3 & X5 Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW X3, SUV

Messages Page 199 of 419

#1978 of 4185 Re: Looked yesterday and need some help [mvs1] by markcincinnati

Jun 14, 2005 (9:53 am)

Replying to: mvs1 (Jun 14, 2005 5:38 am)
The "value proposition" was the final reason my wife went with the X3 over the Audi A4 3.2.
 
She pretty much loaded the X3 to an as delivered, pre discounted price of ~ $47K. I don't know how much the discount was -- the payment with only $250 down was $581 36 months 15,000 per year. The $44K Audi was $684, same deal.
Her current 2003 (or should I say, ex-2003 Audi TT coupe) Audi was $42K and the mo pay on that puppy was $709 same deal.
 
The BMW, at that exact moment in time, seemed to offer so much more for considerably less.
 
The "value" -- as evidenced by the residual and the money factor was there for a 2005 BMW X3, but apparently not so much for either the 2003 TT or the 2005.5 A4.
 
I think any other color than black would have required the bumper cladding though.

#1979 of 4185 Body cladding by driver100

Jun 14, 2005 (10:10 am)

Come on guys! Real men don't need monochrome body cladding. I said it before and I'll say it again, if given a choice I would choose the black body cladding. It contrasts nicely with the rest of the car and it looks more rugged - it looks like it was made for heavy duty driving. I wouldn't get it painted the same color as the car if I could get it done for 5 bucks!
 
I can't imagine a better car than an X3. I am a little upset that my windows won't go down when the temperature is below freezing (dealer says it is because of the giant rubber seals for sound insulation) but everything else is so perfect.

#1980 of 4185 Re: Body cladding [driver100] by bodble2

Jun 14, 2005 (5:19 pm)

Replying to: driver100 (Jun 14, 2005 10:10 am)
Real men who feel secure about their masculinity want monochrome bumpers!
 
Actually, "real men" in the sense that you're referring to wouldn't be caught dead driving an X3 anyway! They need a Hummer, or at least something that can actually go off-road. Also, "real men" don't need windows that go up and down. Hell, just head-butt the glass to break it! If it's strong enough to smash beer cans, it's good enough to open windows!! Protruding foreheads are good for many functions!!
 
And what "heavy duty driving" for the X3 are you referring to that requires rugged bumpers? Playing bumper cars while parellel parking?

#1981 of 4185 Re: Body cladding [driver100] by markcincinnati

Jun 14, 2005 (5:44 pm)

Replying to: driver100 (Jun 14, 2005 10:10 am)
Fresh from being detailed, the jet black X3 with the sport package terracotta leather interior and all the toys my wife put on her new car is, despite much derision from folks on the LPS forum, a quiet comfortable, dressed for success, luxmobile.
 
A trip from Cincinnati to Columbus (100 minutes) with Sirius channel 16 playing the entire Aqualung album uninterrupted is almost like being chauffeured in the town car with Jeeve's at the wheel.
 
The only thing that's better, is when I get the chance to get behind the wheel.
 
I imagine this thing with the new 255 hp 3.0 will be . . . well, instant, permanent, tang!
 
If I feel half this good about my new M35X, life will be so sweeet!
 
I would still want the body and the bumpers to match, were this not a Jet Black version.

#1982 of 4185 Re: Looked yesterday and need some help [markcincinnati] by mvs1

Jun 14, 2005 (8:11 pm)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Jun 14, 2005 9:53 am)
Mark, in your personal example the value is evident. In my comparison, I wouldn't cross shop the two, and I also own an A4. If I was using your comparison as a model, I'd most likely pay at or around 50k for an M35X. I'm looking at comparing like vehicles, relative to feature content, driving feel (for which no other smallish SUV/SAV/SUT compares to the BMW), etc. I grouped the X3, Murano, RX330, etc. and believe it or not the closest to drive feel I've experienced was a manual transmission Forester. Features others describe as must haves such as bluetooth can be added for $70 aftermarket, likewise with audio systems. IMHO, features such as these will be the norm similar to leather a once upon the time lux only feature.

#1983 of 4185 Re: Body cladding [driver100] by mvs1

Jun 14, 2005 (8:16 pm)

Replying to: driver100 (Jun 14, 2005 10:10 am)
I don't want to buy into the whole "Real Man" Philosophy of life, love, killing what you eat in the wilderness, and driving happiness. But my money is real and hard earned. Maybe on a 10k vehicle unpainted cladding is acceptable, but not....GASP on a 45k BMW.

#1984 of 4185 Monochrome Body/Bumpers by driver100

Jun 15, 2005 (5:18 am)

Amusing replies about "Real Men". Actually, I only drive about 8,000 miles a year, have a 2.5 X3, have never been off the road, live in an urban area, have a maximum of two beers a week, and don't own a gun and wouldn't know how to operate one.
 
They do have top notch designers designing BMW's and they obviously went for this look. When you are making the cars it wouldn't cost any extra to make the cladding the same color as the car, so it was a conscience decision.
 
Monochrome cladding would give that all American Pontiac (ugly) look. There is beauty in design by making the car have a functional look.
 
People who like monochrome bumpers probably like those stereos that look like fireplaces or telephones that look like Mickey Mouse. Bumpers are functional and they shouldn't be hidden so that you think they aren't really there. If you like the monochrome look check out a new M-Series Mercedes. I think the X3 looks much better!

#1985 of 4185 Re: Monochrome Body/Bumpers [driver100] by markcincinnati

Jun 15, 2005 (5:30 am)

Replying to: driver100 (Jun 15, 2005 5:18 am)
And our personal tastes are what makes the world go 'round. I think the option for either way should be offered as a factory option and be about $999 (like the Audi allroad.)
 
If you take a new A4 3.2 sport for a drive and then follow that drive with the same drive in an X3, Premium, Sport, Audio upgrade, Sat nav and Parktronic, etc -- the ride stiffness, solid feel of the body as bumps and pot holes are encountered are strikingly similar. The $44+K A4 and $46+K X3 were not considered against each other on paper. It was only after "this isn't just quite right" opinions uttered by my wife that I suggested she consider the X3 since one of her main gripes about the Audi was the lack of a manual transmission.
 
When she got behind the wheel of the X3, I would say it was less than 5 miles later she remarked, "this is the one." The drive and ride similarities between the X3 sport and A4 sport were not expected, but when they were observed it became a no brainer especially when a $3K more expensive car cost $103 per month less (and had both manual and bluetooth).
 
Every night when my wife comes home she walks through the door and says "I love my
X3."
 
Now, my M35X, final price to me was $48K (about $1K more than my wife's MSRP). I know these two cars are not usually cross shopped, but with 2,000 miles on the X3 (mostly as a passenger), if someone told me I had to take the X3 it would not faze me one bit -- the X3 is THAT good.
 
But only with body colored bumpers.

#1986 of 4185 Re: Monochrome Body/Bumpers [driver100] by bodble2

Jun 15, 2005 (9:19 am)

Replying to: driver100 (Jun 15, 2005 5:18 am)
"They do have top notch designers designing BMW's"
 
Oh, you mean like Chris Bangle?
 
I think it does cost more to make body-colored bumpers.
 
I think they went with unpainted bumpers on the X3 not for aesthetic reasons, but to visually set it one notch down from the X5. And for cost reasons. As it is, X3 prices are already crowding into X5 territory a tad too close for comfort.
 
I thought Aztec had unpainted bumpers? For that all-American rugged look!

#1987 of 4185 Re: Monochrome Body/Bumpers [bodble2] by mvs1

Jun 15, 2005 (4:57 pm)

Replying to: bodble2 (Jun 15, 2005 9:19 am)
I agree....unless paint is now free, it costs more to have body colored cladding. Next year this will be standard, so maybe the X3 isn't for real men???

Messages Page 199 of 419

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