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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 307 of 419

#3061 of 4185 Interior quality of X3, did I see 3 bad examples?? by gouldn

Mar 12, 2008 (10:34 am)

Hello All:
 
I currently drive a 2001 Subaru Forester, and with 130K on the clock I'm thinking of replacing it. I had pretty much decided to get a 09 Forester, but have always loved my boss's BMW 5 series, and wanted to see if a used X3 might make more sense.
 
I went to a local lot, and looked at 3 X3's, all 2004's, with between 30-50K on the odos. On all three, the interior was shockingly worn. Examples: The plastic trim around the cupholders were bubbling. The pebble plastic dash was unevenly sun faded, trim pieces where starting to de-laminate, and the seats showed way more wear than I would expect for a car with
My el-cheapo car (the Forester) has probably the world's cheapest looking trim, and yet it's all in fine shape after 130K and 7 years, and I really don't baby this car at all. To compare, I looked at similarly aged 3 and 5 series sedans, and found the interiors in better shape.
 
Do you think I saw 3 bad examples (out of 3), or is this a known issue with the X3. Has the interior of the car been upgraded since 2004, and if so when. I was kind of bummed, as I always thought premium car would wear well.
 
Of course it's possible that I was seeing three bad examples, but it was a little surprised that they all looked as worn as these.

#3062 of 4185 Interior Wear-my comment by alaskan_otter

Mar 12, 2008 (4:18 pm)

I have a 2004 X3 with the fake leather interior. I do not have the laminated wood so my car has held up fairly well. It almost has 70K on it. Right before 50K I had the driver seat cover replaced because there were tiny, almost razor-like slits that formed on the edge of the seat. Replaced under warranty and not had a repeat issue since. My interior is tan. The dash hasn't faded but my car is garaged day and night when not in use. I have a Blue Heeler that has walked on the seats too and they have wiped clean. The interior, while certainly bare-bones and not fancy, has held up fine.
Once I'm no longer a dog owner, I'll get leather in my next BMW 1 series or X6.

#3063 of 4185 Re: Interior Wear-my comment [alaskan_otter] by roadburner

Mar 12, 2008 (7:11 pm)

Replying to: alaskan_otter (Mar 12, 2008 4:18 pm)
The interior, while certainly bare-bones and not fancy, has held up fine.
 
That's been my experience as well. My 2004 X3 has 60K on the clock and leather.

#3064 of 4185 Re: Interior quality of X3, did I see 3 bad examples?? [gouldn] by cotmc

Mar 13, 2008 (1:13 pm)

Replying to: gouldn (Mar 12, 2008 10:34 am)
I'll make it "3 for 3". Our '04 X3 interior, with 37K miles, and with leather seats and wood trim on the doors, shows very little wear. In fact, most people cannot believe it is 4 years old. Some passengers actually think we bought it new last year! The only place I see visible wear is on the cargo carpetting in the back hatch area.
 
Hence, I don't know what to say about your experience? I'm hoping it was merely 3 bad examples, and some rather unfortunate luck for you. Were they all found at the same dealer? Were they Certified (CPO) vehicles? I'm not an expert, but I expect BMW dealers to replace delaminated or bubbling trim pieces when they certify a vehicle. (Roadburner: Would you agree?)
 
In response to your other question, the interior of the X3 did not receive any real upgrade until 2007.
 
Incidentally, last year I experienced some very minor bubbling on the trim around one of my cupholders, but this problem occurred in my 3-series coupe. Fortunately, the BMW dealer replaced the cupholder assembly for free under warranty. I definitely haven't noticed any similar issue with our X3. Since we weren't the original owners of either vehicle, I can't say whether this is a YMMV sort of issue, or if these wear issues are due to uncareful handling.

#3065 of 4185 Re: Interior quality of X3, did I see 3 bad examples?? [cotmc] by roadburner

Mar 14, 2008 (8:21 am)

Replying to: cotmc (Mar 13, 2008 1:13 pm)
I'm not an expert, but I expect BMW dealers to replace delaminated or bubbling trim pieces when they certify a vehicle. (Roadburner: Would you agree?)
 
Yes, although the quality of CPO BMWs does vary from dealer to dealer.

#3066 of 4185 The Eagle has landed by markcincinnati

Mar 17, 2008 (5:08 pm)

The new X3 is in the US (gotta love the order tracking feature on the BMW usa website.
 
Got a trip planned for the Easter weekend, so we probably won't quite have the new X3 in our garage.
 
Counting down the days tho. . .

#3067 of 4185 Brake Time! by roadburner

Mar 22, 2008 (8:26 am)

After 60K miles my wife's 2004 X3 2.5 finally needed brakes. Funny thing; the outside RR pad had begun to score the rotor but the pad wear sensor on the inside RR pad hadn't worn through yet- we never got a brake lining warning light. We checked the front pads and rotors while we we at it and they were almost gone as well, so we went ahead and replaced the pads and rotors at all four corners. The X3 is the first BMW that I've ever owned that wore out the rear pads before the front ones. All my other Bimmers would go through two sets of front pads before you had to touch the rear pads.
Kudos to Swope BMW in Louisville-in particular my Service Advisor Edwin-for taking the truck in at 10:00 AM(without an appointment) and having it washed and ready to go by 5:50 the same day.
By the time we put another 60K on it my son will be driving it...

#3068 of 4185 Re: Brake Time! [roadburner] by bodble2

Mar 24, 2008 (5:40 pm)

Replying to: roadburner (Mar 22, 2008 8:26 am)
"The X3 is the first BMW that I've ever owned that wore out the rear pads before the front ones."
 
Any chance that your wife may have a habit of leaving the parking brake engaged while driving from time to time?

#3069 of 4185 Re: Brake Time! [bodble2] by roadburner

Mar 25, 2008 (9:25 am)

Replying to: bodble2 (Mar 24, 2008 5:40 pm)
Any chance that your wife may have a habit of leaving the parking brake engaged while driving from time to time?
 
The X3 gives the driver a continuous warning chime if you drive off with the parking brake handle lifted by just one notch. Even if that wasn't the case, BMWs have a separate parking brake assembly that uses shoes that act against a drum which is cast into the rear rotors- as can be seen here. I checked a couple of X3 boards that are much more technically oriented, and their members confirmed that the rear brakes DO tend to wear out before the fronts. My Service Advisor also stated that X3s are harder on the rear pads.

#3070 of 4185 Re: Brake Time! [roadburner] by bodble2

Mar 25, 2008 (1:59 pm)

Replying to: roadburner (Mar 25, 2008 9:25 am)
I didn't know that about the X3 --- thanks for the info!
 
Do you know if that warning chime applies to all BMWs?

Messages Page 307 of 419

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