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BMW X3

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

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What is this discussion about? BMW X3, SUV

Messages Page 243 of 419

#2419 of 4185 Re: Should I buy a bmw 3x? Please advise. [bargamon1] by markcincinnati

Jan 17, 2006 (12:35 pm)

Replying to: bargamon1 (Jan 16, 2006 9:58 pm)
Our 8+ month old 2005 BMW X3 is one of my wife's favorite cars EVER (and she and I combined since 1977 have had 28 Audis and 2 BMW's -- take a deep breath that did include several company cars that were Audis.)
 
She got the 3.0 with the 6spd manual and
 
Premium
Sport
Cold Weather
Sound system upgrade
Bi Xenons
Servotronic
Sat Nav
Sirius
Chrome tail pipe extensions
In car built in/removable Sony Ericsson T637 Bluetooth and mounted phone.
BMW specific (dealer sold) Kleen Wheels
 
And probably a couple other things I forget right now.
 
MSRP including shipping and the three accessories mentioned above ~$47K; we put $250.00 down (for the Servotronic), sec dep and got a 36 month 15K per year lease including tax (state of Ohio) for $581/mo.
 
We custom ordered the car, it took 7 weeks to come in -- black gloss (at the time the bumpers ONLY came in black, now they are body colored) with the Terracotta Leather Sport seats and the light birch wood.
 
We have had the wiper blades changed once, it has over 13,000 miles on it and we have had to add one pint of oil during this period of time. Picked up the car in May 2005, car was built in April 2005. Only other visits to dealer are for weekly free car washes Starbucks and choc chip cookies avail to all customers all day Saturday.
 
I assume there are changes in the 2006's beyond the dressed up bumpers.
 
We thought the vehicle with the 5spd auto was adequately powered as the transmission seemed to hunt a lot (Cincinnati is the city of "7 Hills.") With the 6spd manual it was a blast and the mileage is good (~24 highway around town; in the city ~20; on long trips over 25mpg even with the A/C on.)
 
Regrets: we didn't get the home link transmitter option (didn't know it didn't come with it); we didn't get the privacy glass option (the only one we've seen without it is ours); AND MAYBE the power folding mirrors, but frankly this has never been a problem so for $350 or whatever, we might re think that one.
 
Encourage others to: ORDER the car with SERVOTRONIC it is "only" $250 and it transforms the steering and feeling you get via the wheel. It was here in Cincinnati a sold order option only. Beats me why. The stock sound system is lame. The upgraded system with Sat Radio and the single CD in dash is very nice.
 
It is a BMW -- it is NOT based on a truck. It is NOT really an off road vehicle. It rides higher than a BMW sedan and has a firm suspension. It handles, therefore, like a somewhat taller sport sedan from Germany -- the ride is firm, at slower speeds on a "washboard" surface the sensation can be one of being jostled. This happens, to us here in Pot Hole Central, less than 5% of the time.
 
This is a relatively quiet vehicle, but there is a bit less isolation than in a similar Lexus -- some people love this (my wife) some don't want to hear or feel the road -- hell, some don't even want to see the road. The X3 needs a slight upgrade to the material covering the dash. This has not been and I suspect it will not be a durability issue, it is an appearance issue. It seems to look better in black which hides the coarse pebble grain of the dash.
 
With a high contrast interior, like Terracotta, it is not really too much of an issue, but for $47K you'd think they would take a page out of the book of the 3 series or from an Audi A4 for Pete's sake.
 
Confidence inspiring is what my 50 year old lawyer wife says after 3 Audi TT 225HP coupes and a dozen Audis of various ilks since her first Fox in 1979.
 
She likes being slightly higher off the road and the feeling of the X drive when we have one of those nasty but brief Cincinnati Snowstorms (luckily only 1 this year.)
 
Hope this helps if you are a shopper at this moment in time. The deals, too, seem to be quite good as the residual (subvented or not, who cares?) on these cars seems impressive.
 
Drive it like you live.
 
 

#2420 of 4185 Redux on X3 by bargamon1

Jan 18, 2006 (7:54 am)

A GermanCarfans has a picture of what is a spy shot of a refreshed X3.
 
They point out that perhaps the interior will get touched up a bit and show the smoother front end, changed light lens, and describe the rear also gets smoothed out.
 
They also assume the new motor will make it this time.
 
I had read previously that there would be two years before the new X3 wouild be released. Makes sense as it would be 5 years old at that time and the competition in this segment will get crowded.
 
It would appear the X3 is going a bit more upscale to strengthen sales and shore up pricing.
 
I hope they do this sooner than later and in my timeframe of purchase.

#2421 of 4185 Loaner X3 by kyfdx HOST

Jan 18, 2006 (8:33 am)

I have my wife's car in for service today, and they gave me an '05 X3 2.5 for a loaner.... About the only options I can see are the big moonroof, steptronic and heated seats.. No premium package or leather.
 
I always thought that the 2.5 was too small of an engine for the X3, but this is a pretty nice little rig.. Plenty of acceleration.... Even though it doesn't have the premium package, I can't think of much I would really miss.. I usually like all of the options on a luxury car, but this isn't bad, at all... The improvement over my normal ride (CR-V) is tremendous, obviously..
 
One question.. The big moonroof has two upholstered interior panels covering the opening.. I didn't have a lot of time this morning.. Can you slide these back manually? Or do they only move when you open the roof? I don't remember seeing these before.. are they an accessory item?
 
regards,
kyfdx

#2422 of 4185 Re: Loaner X3 [kyfdx] by markcincinnati

Jan 18, 2006 (9:38 am)

Replying to: kyfdx (Jan 18, 2006 8:33 am)
Pull the power switch backward for 1 second and release, the inner roof panel will slide partway open, repeat and it will do it the whole way, repeat and the glass opens part way, repeat and the glass opens to its maximum position (which is no 100%.)

#2423 of 4185 Re: Loaner X3 [markcincinnati] by kyfdx HOST

Jan 18, 2006 (9:41 am)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Jan 18, 2006 9:38 am)
Thanks... since it was 29F this AM, I didn't want to play with it!!
 
Seriously.. for what was probably a $35K MSRP vehicle, it is pretty nice.... and better acceleration than I expected... even though I've had the same engine in a 3-series..

#2424 of 4185 Re: Loaner X3 [kyfdx] by markcincinnati

Jan 18, 2006 (3:47 pm)

Replying to: kyfdx (Jan 18, 2006 9:41 am)
With the 6spd I probably would have been OK, personally.
 
My wife had come from a 225HP Audi TT coupe and it was "spunky."
 
The 3.0 X3 did the trick, but not the 2.5.
 
We drove it too, with the auto which near the BMW store made it seem to "hunt" at lot to compensate for its lower torque.
 
Moot now, since only the 3.0 is offered.
 
Shame is they could put the 255HP 3.0 in it in a heartbeat, but that would surely kill the X5, and, well, that isn't about to happen.
 
The marketing and the manufacturing are lagging -- one or the other.
 
I would think they could sell as many of the X3's as they could mint with the 255HP engine and the 6spd step or manual. But only if they kept reasonably close to the price.

#2425 of 4185 Re: Loaner X3 [kyfdx] by div2

Jan 18, 2006 (6:12 pm)

Replying to: kyfdx (Jan 18, 2006 8:33 am)
All things being equal I'd rather have the 3.0, but as you said,the 2.5 isn't bad. The BMW performance data shows the X3 2.5 to be about one second slower 0-60 than our departed 528i, but you really don't notice it in everyday driving. What I do notice is the added mass; two tons is a lot of weight to haul around. I almost got caught out by the sled on a damp downhill off-camber corner that the Club Sport laughs at. Oh well, it's my wife's truck, and she's happy with it-and it IS an excellent long distance cruiser. OTOH, MY next Bimmer-vintage or new-will be much more tossable. Not to mention track ready.

#2426 of 4185 Re: Loaner X3 [kyfdx] by driver100

Jan 20, 2006 (3:35 pm)

Replying to: kyfdx (Jan 18, 2006 8:33 am)
When I first tested the X3 I tried the 3 litre and I thought I don't want to take this car back. I tied the 2.5 and it was quite adequate for me. If someone really enjoys the extra power for whatever reason, then the 3 litre is a must. But, if you just want all the advantages of an X3, and you don't need the extra horses, I don't think you will be sorry with a 2.5, and you might even get better mileage I would assume (though not necessarily - does anyone know?).

#2427 of 4185 Re: Loaner X3 [driver100] by markcincinnati

Jan 20, 2006 (8:43 pm)

Replying to: driver100 (Jan 20, 2006 3:35 pm)
It is now moot, there is no 2.5 2006 X3 here anymore.

#2428 of 4185 Re: Loaner X3 [markcincinnati] by kyfdx HOST

Jan 21, 2006 (6:50 am)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Jan 20, 2006 8:43 pm)
Hey now!... some of us still consider used cars..

Messages Page 243 of 419

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