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SUVs BMW X3 & X5 BMW X3
3287 messages, Last post on Nov 14, 2009 at 6:14 PM
You are in the BMW X3 & X5 Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Jul 28, 2006 11:05 am) Maybe I should have mentioned that I'm looking at the X3 as a possible second car for utility and winter driving mainly. Hence why I want to be practical. My other car is a 2001 Saab 9-3 convertible. I'm not totally enamored with my Saab, but I am drawn to European cars for both their styling and performance. I chose the Saab over the BMW 3 series convertible because the dealer knocked $9,000 off the sticker price making it a bargain and the larger trunk. As I've read mixed reviews on the X3 (mainly harsh ride, interior below typical Bimmer standards, slightly underpowered for "sport" vehicle, poor gas mileage and reliability), I'm mainly looking for feedback on X3 owners experiences. I hope all of these negatives are cured with the 2007 update. (I'm really interested in gas mileage figures, but all I'm hearing is "improved" from what was terrrible, in my opinion, for a smaller SAV.) I think consumers have a right to, and should, demand improvement in lagging areas even though a product has excellent attributes in most areas. In other words, I unequivically reject the notion that it acceptable for BMW products to lag in some areas (say, realiability) because it delivers so well in others. I know this is an X3 lovers website, but surely you can offer an objective, critical opinion without losing your love! ButI digress. I am leaning towards buying the X3 (that's why I'm here!), but obviously must wait a few more months for the 2007 model. As I'm looking to own the vehicle longer term (say 8 to 10 years), do you think it would be a good idea to purchase a long-term service warranty? Do you know the cost of these? Also, does intended long-term ownership make leasing a less attractive option? Thanks for your comments.
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Replying to: bodble2 (Jul 29, 2006 10:56 pm) Too bad I have to sell the house to cover my drug rehab bill! Reality is, I don't have such a property, Just being sarcastic. Funny, your one line really tells alot about yourself. 
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Replying to: bargamon (Jul 31, 2006 7:07 am) So I guess your one line said everything about you. 
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Replying to: bodble2 (Jul 31, 2006 9:17 am) Now I'm wondering what it would say about me if I asked that we all get back on topic?  tidester, host
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Replying to: tidester (Jul 31, 2006 9:31 am) It would say that you are a good host, on top of things!  Like a good referee, you have the judgement to let enough go to keep the "game" entertaining, but not too much so that a full-scale brawl breaks out. There are other hosts/hostesses on TH that whacks posts at the drop of a pin! 
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Replying to: bodble2 (Jul 31, 2006 9:17 am) 
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Replying to: wmdavis1 (Jul 31, 2006 6:47 am) First, would you do that again? Sometimes it is better to get what you really want. You might keep it longer, be more satisfied, and get a better trade in. As I've read mixed reviews on the X3 (mainly harsh ride, interior below typical Bimmer standards, slightly underpowered for "sport" vehicle, poor gas mileage and reliability), Harsh ride is not a negative if you like a firm ride...I like it. I don't like that phony floating feeling. The interior could be jazzed up a bit, but it is also timeless, will always be tasteful, it is certainly ergonomically correct, and I don't get tired of it. IMO the power is satisfactory for an SAV especially considering the weight, and the gas mileage is the best I know of for a vehicle with this much power and weight. I haven't had any problems mechanically in about 20,000 miles and hopefully I won't have any. My 1995 and 2000 Jeeps were rated as not that reliable and I didn't have any problems in about 70,000 miles. I know this is an X3 lovers website, but surely you can offer an objective, It would be nice to be able to design a car custom made to your own tastes. Since this isn't possible we choose the best we can...kind of like a mate!!! : . Sure I'd like a little more color and contrast in the interior etc., but it is as close to perfection as I will find. Personally, I like the style of a Volvo, but after our 1995 I vowed never again!  As I'm looking to own the vehicle longer term (say 8 to 10 years), do you think it would be a good idea to purchase a long-term service warranty? Not my area of expertise but with my wifes Mercedes we didn't have to decide on a warranty until after the original (at that time) 3 years was up. We bought the extended warranty and never used it!!!  Also, does intended long-term ownership make leasing a less attractive option? If you are pretty sure you will be keeping the car for at least 5 years buy it. Leasing just pays the depreciation and then you will buy it back at a higher price than you would have paid it down to. See whay others say. I was saying just today, I usually buy practical, but I am so glad I bought the X3, I would be missing out on a wonderful experience 
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Replying to: wmdavis1 (Jul 31, 2006 6:47 am) The answer is "yes" get the BMW extended service/warranty. My friend has an X5 -- and loves it -- trouble free, thus far. At 54K miles it needed new FRONT brakes -- $900, standard, normal, routine expense. It will be almost this much for the rears a few thousand miles down the pike. He wishes he would've purchased the extended package offered by BMW. These Germans, all Germans in fact, ARE breathtakingly expensive to maintain. God help you financially if something breaks (not that I am suggesting I think something WILL break.)
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Aug 01, 2006 8:02 am) $900 for front brakes on an X5? That's ridiculous. Your friend gor hosed. Big time. I hope the Service Advisor kissed him and sent flowers the next day. My wife's E39 got new rotors, pads and parking brake shoes just before the PO traded it and our local BMW dealer charged him  $1000. A good indie BMW shop would be even less. My shop charged $550 for a four wheel brake job(BMW rotors, Axxis Pads) on my Club Sport, including a brake fluid flush using ATE Super Blue DOT 4 fluid. These Germans, all Germans in fact, ARE breathtakingly expensive to maintain. God help you financially if something breaks (not that I am suggesting I think something WILL break.) In my twenty three years of BMW ownership I haven't found that to be the case. Maintenance and repair costs for my 1995 104K Club Sport have averaged a bit under $40 per month. My wife's 1997 E39 hit 130K about a few months before we sold it and the maintenance and repair costs averaged $80 month. The only reason we sold it was because my wife wanted an X3 and at the time I needed to keep my US built Jeep TJ for PR reasons. In retrospect, I really wish that I had kept the 5er. FWIW, the new owner loves it(she bought it to replace her 300K E34 525i). Looking on the bright side, I'm now able to ditch the Jeep and very soon it is going on the block so that I can find a nice E36 or E46 to serve as my work sled. My E24 M6 was a bit pricey to run, but even then the costs weren't that much out of line. I believe the most I ever spent on one shop visit was around $1200- and that covered replacement of the radiator, water pump, and PS pump. I still kick myself for letting that one go-though I did drive it for three years with zero depreciation. As for my wife's 2004 X3, I'm not considering an extended maintenance plan. Nothing that I've learned about the car leads me to believe that it will be all that expensive to run. That said, I do think that the newer gadget filled cars such as the E60 and E65/66 will be expensive to maintain-primarily due to the sheer amount of their on-board electronics. Normal scheduled maintenance costs should not be that bad. In any event, keep talking up that "breathtakingly expensive" angle every chance you get; it might help depress the market for the non-CPO cars I'm looking at
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Replying to: driver100 (Jul 31, 2006 11:44 pm) Copy cat Korean makes look similar now in design and size, and new offerings from Acura are less expensive with more wiz bang techno for the money. I keep reading in magizines whether applicable to the X3 or 3 series that: " for north of 40grand it does not have Navagation!!!" I read this over and over and somehow this has been the "IT" interior accessory! For me, I don't own a X3 but might in a few months. Im glad the competition is available whether real or percieved. It keeps prices down and BMW to update its offering. For a modest increase in MSRP, the new engine and interior is a good value. Maybe the incentives will return if its not a hot seller. Besides, who else is going to make me a manual transmission vehicle like this? Let the general buying public froth over GPS and boy racer video graphic glowing instriment dials. I'll take naturally inspired over turbo any day, row my own gears, and yes pay 10 grand more to get it! A 5 series wagon will cost me almost 20 grand more than a similar equipped X3. Same engine, same xdrive! Not its not as refined but it represents a good value to me. Question is if the 3 sports wagon ups its horsepower from the 325ix to the new 328ix as will be in the coupe, for the same money forgo the space for the drivablity of a 328 sportwagon for the same money? Or, with a spring time refresh of the 5 series make it interesting. I don't mind going above budget if its sweet enough to do so. 530ix sedan would work for me! |
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