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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 330 of 419

#3288 of 4185 Re: Class Action Suit [pp2009pp] by lawman1967

Dec 21, 2009 (11:33 am)

Replying to: pp2009pp (Nov 10, 2009 10:03 pm)
Lots of bad reviews? Like Edmunds.com citing it as the best-handling and most fun-to-drive crossover on the market?
 
Almost all bad reviews were on the original 2004~2006 models when equipped with sport package. From 2007 the ride was smoothed greatly, and without the sport package the car is still very firm, but is not in any way bouncy.
 
There is no comparison between an X3 and a Lexus RX. Its like complaining that a 328i isn't as cushy as a Lexus ES350, when it should be compared with the (still softer than BMW) IS250.
 
This is a car/truck that rides stiff. It rides stiff so that it can handle well and not be floaty or tippy. If you do not like a stiff ride, you shouldn't buy a BMW.

#3289 of 4185 Bumpity, bumpity, bump, bump, sway, bump... by pp2009pp

Dec 21, 2009 (6:02 pm)

The 2009 X3 has much to recommend it but to say that it rides 'stiff' like a 'BMW should' is absurd. BMWs ride stiffly and, to those of us who have driven BMWs FOR YEARS that is anticipated and expected.
 
The X3 doesn't ride stiffly, it sways side-to-side through the mid section, bucks from the front and bounces around on the most minor of road imperfections. Having a hot cup of coffee is taking a big risk in this car. Of course I am talking about MY CAR. Your mileage may differ.
 
Try comparing the ride to a BMW SEDAN. You get the stiff ride but the sedans do not continue to reverberate from the shock of hitting a mole hill or a tiny ridge in the road as the X3 does. This is also a very good way to check out the X3's psychotic transmission. The BMW SEDANs shift beautifully while the X3 can't figure out what it is doing unless you are lead footing the accelerator...in that case the X3 acts as it should and provides nice power and smooth acceleration. In either case, the X3 still downshifts to a stop as if it were confused by the process.
 
Talking about Edmund's own review, try checking out the longterm test drive on the inside line. They managed to destroy the suspension in an afternoon of riding around on a state maintained fire road. This was very much unexpected by the reviewers.
 
You think?
 
Yes, the Lexus RX, IIRC their best-selling car and the best selling luxury SUV/SAV around is not like the X3. It doesn't have the handling or the sportiness but it doesn't shake your bones around either. The X3's suspension - or whatever is causing this bouncing around - is absurd. It makes what should be an excellent car (except for the transmission and the lack of standard features) a big question mark.
 
BMW could have hit this one out of the park but it did not.
 
On the good side, I am pleased to say that the X3 has excellent and sure-footed handling on wet pavement. I hear that it is great in snow with the DTC but haven't gotten around to trying it out.
 

#3290 of 4185 Re: Bumpity, bumpity, bump, bump, sway, bump... [pp2010pp] by lawman1967

Dec 21, 2009 (8:16 pm)

Replying to: pp2009pp (Dec 21, 2009 6:02 pm)
Of course you blast the X3, you clearly got a lemon, and spend dozens and dozens of posts telling everybody.
 
My car doesn't pogo around. My car doesn't shift abruptly. My car has no problem with upshifts, downshifts or much of anything else.
 
My car is a bit stiffer than my Mercedes C300 sport, and about the same as my friend's 128i sport package. My car (no sport package, 2009 base X3) handles like a dream on any surface, has a wonderful transmission that easily matches the excellent 7 speed in my Mercedes for smoothness.
 
I recently did a 300 mile drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas in the X3 and all four occupants were comfortable and enjoyed the ride. Of course, my X3 isn't a lemon. What it is, is the best new car ever in my family. Zero defects, zero issues, 19,000 perfectly trouble-free miles and at 80 MPH on the way to Vegas it even gave us 27 MPG.

#3291 of 4185 Car going po-go. by pp2009pp

Dec 21, 2009 (8:21 pm)

http://www.autoguide.com/manufacturer/bmw/2009-bmw-x3-xdrive-30i-1136.html
 
"OVERLY FIRM RIDE, WITH LOTS OF BODY ROLL
 
BMW’s usually have a firm to stiff suspension set up. I’m usually good with that, and prefer a firm ride to a spongy one, but it just doesn’t work in the X3. The ride quality on smooth highway roads was acceptable, but on ordinary city and suburban streets, every bump, and undulation caused to car to pogo up and down for several seconds after riding over the dip. The buckboard ride got old after a short time. It wasn’t as nervous and bouncy as a trail-rated Jeep Rubicon, but it was definitely more truck-like than car-like.
 
That being said, you’d expect the compensation for the harsh ride would mean flat cornering, but the X3 had about the same amount of body roll as other SUVs, like the Hyundai Santa Fe, and much more than the Infinity EX35. "
 
===================== Good description of what in the world is wrong with the X3's ride. I do disagree with the author that the Infiniti is a direct competitor as the Infiniti has no cargo space and is essentially (along with the Audi Q5) a sporty station wagon or large hatchback...take your pick.
 
I also disagree that BMW should have pics of X3's going off road since the dealer explicitly said to NOT take it off road.

#3292 of 4185 Re: Bumpity, bumpity, bump, bump, sway, bump... [lawman1967] by pp2009pp

Dec 21, 2009 (9:54 pm)

Replying to: lawman1967 (Dec 21, 2009 8:16 pm)
"Of course you blast the X3, you clearly got a lemon, and spend dozens and dozens of posts telling everybody. "
 
Not according to BMW. Although it is still rather muddy as opposed to being perfectly clear, the X3 I have 'drives like every other new X3'. Take that up with them.
 
If I have an X3 lemon then there are plenty of them out there including those given to reviewers like the one above. It has finally gone through the break in period during which I kept hearing that it was too new and that it had to settle. Well, it has settled into doing what it did before. It is still just as quirky as before.
 
I'm not sure what difference the 'break in' period is supposed to make but if the driver is supposed to get used to the car's quirks...that hasn't happened. It is still a carnival ride of a car.
 
What is interesting is that it has a great grip on the road, a nice tight turn radius and it feels like a little tank. I can see how great a car it could be and then it sees a manhole cover or imagines a slight dip in the road and it goes bouncity-bounce-bounce down the road shaking everything inside. Oddly enough when it sees a BIG pothole it takes that just fine.
 
It is the strangest car I have ever driven.

#3293 of 4185 driving through a winter wonderland by nyccarguy

Dec 21, 2009 (10:03 pm)

we got our 1st snowstorm of the year over the weekend here in Southern NY. We were supposed to go to a housewarming party on Saturday night on Long Island (got pounded with 18" of the white stuff) & I was very excited to drive our X3. The party was cancelled & we ended up staying in. By Sunday AM, the roads were 90% clear. Sunday night we ventured out to Long Island to my in-laws' place and sure enough some of the side roads on Long Island were still snow covered. The X3 tracks beautifully in the snow (with the stock all season tires) and just goes without question.
 
It really doesn't snow much here. We get maybe 5 storms a year with significant accumulation. The 4wd isn't a necessity, my FWD Prelude with 4 dedicated winter tires is amazingly agile in the snow. It is however a great thing to have.
 
I recently purchased a 2010 Acura TSX to eventually replace the X3 when the lease is up at the end of July 2010. I'm sure 4 dedicated snow tires will get the Acura through our realtively quiet winters, but I'll miss the X3 when its gone. My wife likes the Acura, but I think she loves driving the X3 & would do so if we weren't on our way to being over the mileage.
 
The X3's steering feel is superb. It is quiet & smooth. Comfortable without being plush. When you drop the hammer, the X3 goes & doesn't stop until you let off the gas. Passenger room is terriffic. Snow traction is tremendous.
 
My major complaint about the X3 is its cargo space. There isn't much of it behind the rear seats. Our TSX has a bigger trunk (front to back)

#3294 of 4185 Re: 2005 BMW X3 [libertycat] by sala

Dec 28, 2009 (9:52 am)

Replying to: libertycat (Apr 27, 2003 7:32 pm)
Hi iam new trying to find fuse box on my 2008 x3 can some one help thanks

#3295 of 4185 our 1st hiccup by nyccarguy

Jan 08, 2010 (8:41 pm)

39,600 miles and a big black mark goes on our '07 X3's pristine record. It actually snowed today, my wife needed the X3 for work, I've been home sick with some form of the flu since Monday & NOTHING. The phone rings and she tells me the truck is dead.
 
"How is that possible, I drove it yesterday & it was fine." I replied "Don't worry, take the TSX & I'll deal with the truck."
 
How hard can this be, I go and try to jump my X3 with my Mom's '08 328xi. Instead of nothing, I get 2 clicks, then nothing. I let the battery charge, same result.
 
I called BMW roadside assistance. They came (outsource), couldn't jump me with the booster pack, & went straight for the battery in the back. Fired up, let it run for a half hour.
 
Now some dash lights are on - uh oh. I call my service advisor at WIDE WORLD BMW (Spring Valley, NY). He asks if I can bring the truck in today? NO PROBLEM.
 
I bring the X3 in, they wisk it away. Test the battery & read fault codes. Battery is fine. There is an electrical component that reads the key & tells the car to start. For some reason that is shot & it makes the battery die. New PArt will be in Tuesday. Don't worry, the truck should be fine. Just jiggle the keys a few times & it will work.
 
I stopped at the Porsche dealer to drool. 15 minutes later the X3 was dead again.
 
The guys at the Porsche dealer jumped me & I headed straight back to BMW.
 
SA gets me an emergency loaner ('09 528i w/ X drive) & tells me he'll call me when the truck is ready.

#3296 of 4185 It's back by nyccarguy

Jan 11, 2010 (9:08 pm)

The culprit was an EWS Control Unit & EWS Antenna Ring.
 
Everything was replaced, the truck was cleaned, & returned to us.
 
I haven't driven the X3 a whole lot in the past few months. I got re-aquainted with it on our drive home. It is still a great driving truck. Strong acceleration, great steering & brakes.
 
It made me think. 45,000 miles (currently 39,600) and 3 years might not be the end of our relationship with our '07 Montego Blue BMW X3 3.0si. Maybe if I'm offered a nice chunk off of the residual value by BMWFS - I'll take it or if I can convince the dealer to buy the X3 from BMW, CPO it, & sell it back to me cheaper than the residual value.
 
stay tuned

#3297 of 4185 2008 BMW X3 by dwc4

Feb 26, 2010 (10:24 pm)

I am in the proces of looking at a new vehicle...I am looking at a BMW X3, or a new Subaru Outback Limited...which way should go..the BMW is a 2008, 2ith about 25,000 miles on it...I am really confused...any ideas out there?

Messages Page 330 of 419

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