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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 314 of 419

#3131 of 4185 X3 2004 Creaking Noise & Mix Tires problems by mohannad

Aug 12, 2008 (4:20 am)

Dears,
 
i have two main problems in my X3 2004 car where the dealer in KSA is unable to troubleshoot or pinpoint how, where and all those questions!
 
the first problem is the creaking noise which comes from all the doors (or windows) when ever i drive over a non smooth road (which in KSA-Jeddah happens to be most of the roads). the dealer is saying this is an X3 problem and there is no solution, but its so annoying and no one can understand this is a BMW. whenever i lower the noise mostly disappears. so anyone passed through this problem and is there any solution?
 
the second problem which caused the dealer to get me a new gear box thinking the problem resides there but it wasn't from the gearbox. the problem is, whenever I'm accelerating (RPM goes above 4) some hard shifting will occur repeatedly (shifting is not the right word i guess, it feels like if 2 cylinders are moving together and there is a teeth in one of the cylinders broken, so there will be a shift whenever the first cylinder reaches that broken teeth). The only thing i was able to pinpoint is that my tires are mix (18in 255 rear & 18in 235 front) whenever i replace the tires with one size all (18in 235 rear & front) the problem will go away; some technicians said it might be the transfer box. if I'm driving in traffic and slow pace, alot of bubbing sound will come from the rear. again anyone passed through any similar problem.
 
last problem, my windows used to go down and up by pressing the key once, after i took it for maintenance check, i lost this feature, and the dealer guys are saying i don't have that feature ....so any clue how can i get this feature back.
 
thanks for your help

#3132 of 4185 Re: X3 2004 Creaking Noise & Mix Tires problems [mohannad] by roadburner

Aug 12, 2008 (11:42 am)

Replying to: mohannad (Aug 12, 2008 4:20 am)
the first problem is the creaking noise which comes from all the doors (or windows) when ever i drive over a non smooth road
 
BMW of North America has released a couple of service bulletins on the topic. If your local dealer cannot obtain the bulletin you might try lubricating the door seals and window channels with a rubber compatible product such as Vinylex.
 
the second problem which caused the dealer to get me a new gear box thinking the problem resides there but it wasn't from the gearbox.
 
The problem is that BMW's all wheel drive system is designed to work with four identical tires. Mixing tires of different diameters can cause the problem you describe. Run the same size tire on all four wheels.
 
last problem, my windows used to go down and up by pressing the key once, after i took it for maintenance check, i lost this feature, and the dealer guys are saying i don't have that feature ....so any clue how can i get this feature back.
 
The one touch feature can be enabled or disabled by the dealer. It sounds like your dealer does not know very much-if anything-about the X3. Is there another dealer in KSA that you could bring the car to?

#3133 of 4185 Catalytic converter & Octane questions by jrynn

Aug 13, 2008 (12:23 pm)

LEADED gas will wreck your catalytic converter, not typical grades of unleaded gas.
 
BMW (and other premium manufacturers) use premium fuel so that when they test (and report) engine performance, they can max out horsepower and torque numbers. That they recommend 91 octane is rather silly, as the typical grades sold at US gas stations are 87/89/93.

#3134 of 4185 Octane by califjohn1

Aug 25, 2008 (7:46 am)

In California (and I think most of the West Coast) the highest octane you get is 91.

#3135 of 4185 Octane by jrynn

Aug 25, 2008 (12:08 pm)

Then you might want to edit the Wikipedia entry on octane which says:
 
"Octane ratings can vary greatly from region to region. For example, the minimum octane rating available in much of the United States is 87 AKI and the highest is 93."
 
Exceptions for California (state-wide) and some high-altitude gas stations in other states are noted in the entry. The discussion re California also notes that it's possible to buy 100 octane at some stations and that earlier this decade 92 octane was sold.

#3136 of 4185 Octane by califjohn1

Sep 02, 2008 (8:05 am)

Can't speak to the Wikipedia entry, which may or may not be correct. All I can do is relate from personal experience that never have I seen 100 octane in CA outside of an FBO at airports. There probably are places you can get 100 octane but I seriously doubt they are your local gas station. Have never seen 92 either, but I suppose it might have been sold somewhere in the state. What you WILL see are 87,89, and 91 octane at CA pumps.

#3137 of 4185 Re: Octane [califjohn1] by szimdahl

Sep 03, 2008 (6:43 am)

Replying to: califjohn1 (Sep 02, 2008 8:05 am)
In Chicago we see a variety of different grades of gas depending on what station you are at. BP, Shell, and Mobil all have 93 Octane Premium, while some stations like Speedway and Thornton's have 92 Octane Premium. Most other stations only have 91 Octane Premium.
I also drove to St. Louis this past weekend and stopped at a Thornton's gas station that had 87, 90, and 92.

#3138 of 4185 Tires for X3 w/sport pkg and 19-inch wheels by bmwguys

Sep 07, 2008 (5:43 am)

We're south of Chicago, and just bought an X3 with the sport package and 19-inch wheel upgrade (pick it up next week). The 19-inch wheels come with 3-season performance tires rather than all-season tires.
 
Our dealer recommended buying a set of tires/rims for winter. Anyone know of appropriate all-season tires that will fit the BMW 19-inch rims? If possible, we'd love to avoid swapping tires/wheels every winter and spring.
 
Sizes are: 235/45R-19 front and 255/40R-19 rear
 
Thoughts?

#3139 of 4185 Re: Tires for X3 w/sport pkg and 19-inch wheels [bmwguys] by kyfdx HOST

Sep 07, 2008 (3:09 pm)

Replying to: bmwguys (Sep 07, 2008 5:43 am)
If you buy the stock size 17" tires for the X3 (235/55-17?.. something like that), you will probably save enough money over the 19" tires to buy a set of wheels to go along with them.. Plus, I bet 19" winter tires are hard to come by, especially in staggered sizes.. It will be much easier to swap a set of tires/wheels, than to change tires on the current wheels.. Either way, you have to tote 4 tires to the dealer, but with dedicated tire/wheel combinations you don't have to mount/remount each time (and at additional cost).
 
Also.. I wouldn't exactly call your current 19" tires, "three season".. Well, I guess that depends where you live... but, once it gets below 40F, those summer performance tires will get hard and slick, even if the weather is dry..
 
I'd look for a used set of factory 17" wheels. Check eBay. Should be $500-$600, at most. Then buy 17" winter tires to go on them.
 
I've noticed a lot of BMW corporate owned X3s hitting the dealer lots with the 19" wheel/summer tire upgrade.. Those are great, if you are on a 1-year lease... Not so great, once you have to replace those monster tires..
 
Good luck
kyfdx
visiting host

#3140 of 4185 Re: Tires for X3 w/sport pkg and 19-inch wheels [bmwguys] by roadburner

Sep 09, 2008 (10:59 am)

Replying to: bmwguys (Sep 07, 2008 5:43 am)
Our dealer recommended buying a set of tires/rims for winter. Anyone know of appropriate all-season tires that will fit the BMW 19-inch rims? If possible, we'd love to avoid swapping tires/wheels every winter and spring.
 
I second your dealer and kyfdx. It takes me 45 minutes to swap all four corners over to my winter wheels and tires. And 19" tires-even "all seasons" will not handle the nasty stuff as well as 17" winter tires will.

Messages Page 314 of 419

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