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BMW X3

4185 messages,  Last post on Apr 15, 2013 at 1:30 PM

You are in the BMW X3 & X5 Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW X3, SUV

Messages Page 331 of 419

#3298 of 4185 Re: 2008 BMW X3 [dwc4] by pp2009pp

Feb 27, 2010 (1:08 am)

Replying to: dwc4 (Feb 26, 2010 10:24 pm)
Well, I would read up on the continuing weirdness with the X3's auto transmission, its rock hard bouncing pony ride and check the VIN on the 2008 for any big fixes.
 
The Subarus get good marks from reviewers so I would test drive them, if at all possible, the same day along the same or similar route. The BMW dealer also said to NEVER take the X3 off roading...I don't know much about Subarus but they always show them muddy.

#3299 of 4185 Re: 2008 BMW X3 [dwc4] by roadburner

Feb 27, 2010 (11:25 am)

Replying to: dwc4 (Feb 26, 2010 10:24 pm)
You need to take a long test drive in both vehicles and evaluate how you are going to use it. We cross-shopped the X3 and the Forrester in 2005 and decided on the BMW- but that's not to say that Subaru doesn't build some outstanding cars and SUVs. The X3 is no Wrangler or Defender 90, but it can handle light off-road work. I have driven our 2004 X3 2.5 through 10-12 inches of viscous mud and through nearly two feet of snow. I know that the 2004 X3s were designed to operate in up to 20" of water, but I do not know if later models retained that ability. The BMW Performance Center has an off-road course designed to teach X3 and X5 owners about their vehicle's capabilities, and you can see a video of it by going to this page and clicking on "Other Roads".

#3300 of 4185 Broken springs and Edmunds off roading by pp2009pp

Feb 27, 2010 (2:38 pm)

There are a number of reports of broken springs in the X3 and Edmund's own long term testing on the '05 had them destroying the suspension in an afternoon of 'off-roading' on fire trails.
 
It goes to the mall like most SUVs.

#3301 of 4185 Re: Broken springs and Edmunds off roading [pp2009pp] by roadburner

Feb 27, 2010 (5:52 pm)

Replying to: pp2009pp (Feb 27, 2010 2:38 pm)
"There are a number of reports of broken springs in the X3 and Edmund's own long term testing on the '05 had them destroying the suspension in an afternoon of 'off-roading' on fire trails."
 
My house is at the end of a 2000 foot long fire trail. At 92,000 miles all four springs are still intact.

#3302 of 4185 Yep, 1 car makes an entire world by pp2009pp

Feb 27, 2010 (10:20 pm)

"Rear shocks blown on state-maintained fire access road. Shocks were replaced under warranty.
 
An afternoon of cruising a bumpy desert road proved to be too much for the X3's rear suspension. Perhaps our test vehicle's street-focused sport package had something to do with it, but we're still left scratching our heads. In any case, both rear shocks were rendered useless, and several suspension parts needed replacement.
 
Though the bouncy ride back to the office was fun for a few miles, we ended up parking the X3 while we waited a week for the back-ordered parts to arrive."
 
The dealer said, explicitly, to never take the X3 off road. Maybe they know about this article by Edmunds or maybe they have seen other issues. The broken pigtail on the springs seems to come up now and again. It appears rusted at times and at other times not so much.
 
Head scratcher it is and around $1K to replace both. I'm sure the guy setting the street on fire can find a discount.

#3304 of 4185 Well it finally happened by nyccarguy

Feb 28, 2010 (9:05 pm)

This has been a particularly snowy winter here in NY. They predicted a big snowstorm and they were right (this time). Thursday night into Friday we got more than 18" of big, wet, snowflakes. They always plow very well in our apartment complex. Leavinf for work is usually just a case of brushing the snow off the car and going.
 
This time the plows couldn't keep up. They must have called it quits sometime in the middle of the night. The X3 was buried in snow up to its doors & blocked in by snow up to its bumper 3 feet wide until the plowed road.
 
I hopped in, fired up the X3, hopped out, & cleaned it off. Once I cleaned all the snow off the X3, I threw it in Reverse & hit the gas. 4 wheels spun. I dug out behind the rear wheels, switched the DTC off, threw it in Reverse, & hit the gas. The X3 fishtailed in place.
 
I won't bore you all with the rest of the details, but after moving back, and getting stuck again and again, it took me over an hour and a half to get the X3 out of the parking spot.
 
I think part of it had to do with the heavy, wet, snow. Part had to do with the Michelin All Season tires with over 40K miles.
 
Once out of the parking spot, it handled the snow covered roads beautifully.

#3305 of 4185 Re: Well it finally happened [nyccarguy] by jayrider

Mar 01, 2010 (8:34 am)

Replying to: nyccarguy (Feb 28, 2010 9:05 pm)
Sounds like baby beemer needs a new pair of shoes !!

#3306 of 4185 Re: Well it finally happened [jayrider] by nyccarguy

Mar 01, 2010 (9:17 pm)

Replying to: jayrider (Mar 01, 2010 8:34 am)
If I would have bought the X3, then I would have fitted it with a proper pair of snow shoes (as I do to my Prelude and will do next year to my wife's TSX), but given that it is a lease and goes back at the end of July, we'll keep the Michelins that are on it.

#3307 of 4185 Re: Well it finally happened [nyccarguy] by pp2009pp

Mar 01, 2010 (11:36 pm)

Replying to: nyccarguy (Mar 01, 2010 9:17 pm)
So you are not going to buy the X3 after the lease is up.
 
Makes sense.

Messages Page 331 of 419

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