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SUVs BMW X3 & X5 BMW X3
3287 messages, Last post on Nov 14, 2009 at 6:14 PM
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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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Replying to: div2 (Aug 01, 2006 9:24 am) The total costs that were attributable to the brakes were over $800, he now informs me and the remaining charge was for an oil and filter change -- but the out of pocket at 54K miles was $900, he says. The amount for the brakes "exceeded" $800 -- he says he thinks the brake portion of the bill was "about $830 or $840." The work was done at the BMW dealer and he was fine with the price -- until he figured out it was ONLY for the fronts. We have had Audi's, BWW's and VW's -- and when the work is performed out of warranty and after the service advantage has expired, it "costs $100" just to say "hello" to the service tech (on the phone!) Now, yes, that is for effect -- but the spirit of what I am suggesting is dead on. I asked my friend "would you have the CPO'd version were you able to rewind to 49,999 miles and make the decision then?" He says he even tried to get them to take the money for the extended service/warranty at 54K and BMW's policy won't allow it (and I do think that is true, Audi is the same way.) Hosed? Probably. But he had never had anything other than free service on this vehicle and other than the fact that the brake service light came on on the dash, he said the car has been flawless and he would get another one. He now knows whatI mean when I say "breathtakingly expensive." His main issue was that he thought they said all four brakes, not just the fronts. Audis do NOT require new rotors at the first pad replacment -- they can be "turned." I assume BMW's way is superior -- I know it is more expensive. I would go with the extended packages at either Gold or Platinum level and "fughettaboudit!"
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Replying to: bargamon (Aug 01, 2006 10:56 am) 15,000 miles per year with no money down, it is $581 per month including tax. It is very attractive in and out in high gloss black with a terracotta sport leather interior. The dash board plastic is too grainy -- a nit. The 2007's have (or so the spy shots show) this addressed. The 2007's also have body color bumpers and at least a 255HP engine and either 6spd auto or manual. 19" wheels are also an option. The thing drives like a BMW CAR with sport suspension -- i.e., it is a firm and well controlled ride. The uprated sound system and AGAIN ALL the high zoot options makes this little ugly duckling darn near a beautiful black, shiny black, swan. It performs well and will only be better with the new interior and uprated engine and transmission. This vehicle will most likely not appeal to someone who likes Acura's, Lexus cars or Cadillacs. And, one would assume, vice versa in terms of appeal. It is a German "car" wrapped in the body of an S A V, not S U V. It never was a truck nor a Jeep. If you have been a BMW fan -- however -- you may find a lot to like. |
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Aug 01, 2006 11:02 am) BMW dealers replace the rotors with each set of pads because in some cases the rotors will wear below their minimum thickness before a second set of pads is worn out. On my BMWs-including the tracked cars-I've always replaced the rotors at every other pad change with no problems whatsoever. We have had Audi's, BWW's and VW's -- and when the work is performed out of warranty and after the service advantage has expired, it "costs $100" just to say "hello" to the service tech (on the phone!) Now, yes, that is for effect -- but the spirit of what I am suggesting is dead on. That's funny. My dealer only charged $110 to change the ATF AND the final drive oil in the E39. I doubt that the Jiffy Boobs would do it for much less. The service techs must see you and your friend coming. He now knows whatI mean when I say "breathtakingly expensive." He obviously doesn't know how to find a good independent BMW tech. On the later BMWs my indie shop charges around $95 for an Oil Service, $250 for an Inspection I, and $450 for an Inspection II- and that includes services that BMW no longer calls for, such as changing the gearbox and final drive oil as well as fitting a new fuel filter. In most cases, I will usually perform the Oil Service and Inspection I myself, but even if I had to pay the added $$$ for labor the prices aren't bad at all. I would go with the extended packages at either Gold or Platinum level and "fughettaboudit!" I prefer to spend my disposable income on much more entertaining items, such as my Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica. And of course there's my M1 Acquisition Fund. Now that is one BMW that IS expensive to maintain. But who cares?
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Replying to: div2 (Aug 01, 2006 11:52 am) mark156, "Mercedes-Benz M-class (ML320, ML350, ML500 and ML55) 2005 and earlier" #7885, 18 Oct 2005 5:48 pm Gotta pay to play I guess. In other news, the SUV sales slump has hit BMW too: BMW July U.S. sales fall 12% as SUVs weigh (MarketWatch) |
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Replying to: bargamon (Aug 01, 2006 10:56 am) That being said I do have one pratical question...my last car was a 5 speed manual and the X3 is 6 speed. The feel is very different though and I'm having trouble getting into first geaer without lurching. It's no problem if I take it real slow, but that's not always practical or desirable. What's the trick with this car or does it just take practice? Thanks. |
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Replying to: stevenyc (Aug 02, 2006 5:57 am) It ain't no thang! What color interior? Premium, sport, navi, sat radio, Servotronic? Details, please! Congrats.
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