X3 2.0L Diesel vs X3 3.0L Diesel

X3 2.0L Diesel vs X3 3.0L Diesel

Author
Discussion

chibbard

Original Poster:

1,554 posts

261 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2008
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Hi all, Could somebody please give me a brief list of "known issues" with regards to each of these vehicles. I'm looking at approx an 06 reg with low mileages. I was a BMW technician working in main dealers up until 12 years ago, therefore unfamilier with newer BMW's. I was hoping another BMW technician could give me their input. Thanks in advance !!!!

chibbard

Original Poster:

1,554 posts

261 months

Friday 5th September 2008
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Some input from anybody would be appreciated !!!!

StuB

6,695 posts

240 months

Friday 5th September 2008
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chibbard said:
I was hoping another BMW technician could give me their input. Thanks in advance !!!!
Guess there's not many BMW Tech's on here then eh?

rolleyes

chibbard

Original Poster:

1,554 posts

261 months

Saturday 6th September 2008
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Appears not. I've just checked the insurance and they are coming out virtually the same. Both appear to be under the £210:00 a year proposed tax bracket and are now priced similar to a pre face lift LR Freelander TD. It seems to be a no brainer at the moment. Especially when an 06 plate LR Freelander TD is £400:00 a year tax. In my opinion it comes down to my original post of which is the better out of the 2.0L to 3.0L Diesel. When I used to work for BMW you would get familiar with which to buy and which not to buy. Hopefully somebody will give some personal experiences of each. I'm not interested in BMW dealership woes because i do everything myself. Anyway, input anybody or can somebody advise of where else to ask. Thanks in advance !!!!

rassi

2,454 posts

252 months

Saturday 6th September 2008
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Can't help with direct experience of an X3, but did have a 530d and given that the X3 is even heavier I would certainly not want a smaller engine than a 3.0d - a 2.0d would seriously struggle.

You might want to consider a 3.0i also, if you are not doing huge mileage, as they can be bought cheaper + will avoid any worries about the injectors or turbo going bang.

Ranger 6

7,053 posts

250 months

Saturday 6th September 2008
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rassi said:
Can't help with direct experience of an X3, but did have a 530d and given that the X3 is even heavier I would certainly not want a smaller engine than a 3.0d - a 2.0d would seriously struggle.
It doesn't struggle at all. The 2.0d is a cracking motor, we've had ours for a couple of years now. It takes us all to the Alps every year with a roof box and loads of ski gear at 100mph (sometimes+). It takes me round a few rally routes at a decent speed (Course car) and overall swallows loads of crap in the boot when necessary.

Never driven a 3.0d in the X3 as I'm not a great fan of automatics, but if I can find a manual one then it's down as the next car unless a test of the facelft 177bhp 2.0d tells me otherwise.

If you're the sort of chap who scares easily then the talk of swirl flaps on bmwland.co.uk may put you off but I believe the X3 engine is the modified one and there isn't any indication of them failing on that model. I'm just about to change the rear pads at 45k miles and the fronts are in good shape so consumables are reasonable. Servicing is around every 16-18k miles and about £2-300 a time.

ETA: Found this - it can cope with extreme conditions, yes that is chains on the back wheels....


Edited by Ranger 6 on Saturday 6th September 16:54

grahamm

211 posts

203 months

Sunday 7th September 2008
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We have a 2.0d which replaced a 530d (E39).

The performance of the 2.0d is certainly adequate in 150bhp guise and I prefer doing my own gears. I do find the clutch pedal at an awkward angle but it may just be me

skeeterm5

3,363 posts

189 months

Sunday 7th September 2008
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Hi,

I was given a 2.0d X3 as a courtesy car while my was being serviced (which took two days due to software upgrade!)

When I walked out to the car park and the service guy pointed out my "new" ride I have to admit my heart sank a little.

On start up it sounded like i expected it to - noisy and like a taxi but this quickly settled down and i have to admit that on the move the performance was surprisingly nippy, i had expected it to be dreadful.

My only real gripes with the car were:

1) the gearbox was pretty vague, the lever felt like it was lifted straight out of a ford transit or similar
2) the ride was terrible, i dont know if it had run flats or not but it was crashy and very hard

In the very unlikely event that i were in the market for one i think that i would take this 2.0d, it was plenty fast enough for what it was. To be honest, i don't think i would had wanted to go any faster given the high centre of gravity and somewhat "comedy" handling.....

S

M3_chaz

267 posts

263 months

Sunday 7th September 2008
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I has a 150BHP 2.0D sport for 2 years and 40K miles. I have to say its the best all round car I've ever had. It did 34MPG, eat b-roads and did the day to day stuff just great.

I have my eye on a 170BHP 2.0D of the 3.0D for this time next year.

As for what to look for well my car was driven flat out 95% of the time and it needed nothing bar an oil service!

chibbard

Original Poster:

1,554 posts

261 months

Monday 8th September 2008
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Excellent. Many thanks to you all for your feedback. Much appreciated !!!! As it's for my wife, the 2.0L should do fine.

DRbeamer

64 posts

198 months

Tuesday 9th September 2008
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skeeterm5 said:
Hi,

I was given a 2.0d X3 as a courtesy car while my was being serviced (which took two days due to software upgrade!)

When I walked out to the car park and the service guy pointed out my "new" ride I have to admit my heart sank a little.

On start up it sounded like i expected it to - noisy and like a taxi but this quickly settled down and i have to admit that on the move the performance was surprisingly nippy, i had expected it to be dreadful.

My only real gripes with the car were:

1) the gearbox was pretty vague, the lever felt like it was lifted straight out of a ford transit or similar
2) the ride was terrible, i dont know if it had run flats or not but it was crashy and very hard

In the very unlikely event that i were in the market for one i think that i would take this 2.0d, it was plenty fast enough for what it was. To be honest, i don't think i would had wanted to go any faster given the high centre of gravity and somewhat "comedy" handling.....

S
gear box is fine on the X3 if you ask me... 2.0d pulls very well too.. they dont fit runflat tyres to the x3 so not sure why the ride was so still . . . the sports car be a bit firm but it depends what you are compareing it to... from a drivers point of view it handle fantastic and the x drive system works really well . . . id rather the x3 ride over the competitors they dont rock and roll so much... only issue i think the X3 has is that its getting a bit dated now...

DRbeamer

64 posts

198 months

Tuesday 9th September 2008
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2.0d defo the right choice.. 3.0d wont have such a strong residual

skeeterm5

3,363 posts

189 months

Tuesday 9th September 2008
quotequote all
wasnt a problem with the gearbox itself - just the very long and vague lever itself. As for the ride was comparing to my current car - e60 m5......

I would echo the other comments on here - the engine pulls surprisingly well, dont see the need for any more, afterall it isnt a sportscar.

S

chibbard

Original Poster:

1,554 posts

261 months

Tuesday 9th September 2008
quotequote all
It will be replacing our 51 reg 1.8 petrol Freelander (the family car), therefore the ride should be a little better.

Ranger 6

7,053 posts

250 months

Wednesday 10th September 2008
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To be honest you'll find it stiffer after a Freelander, the handling however is worlds apart. I would suggest you stick to an SE spec as they don't have the sport suspension.

DRbeamer

64 posts

198 months

Wednesday 10th September 2008
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if your comming out of a freelander then you will love the x3. steering is much better. clutch is lighter. gearbox is not so sloppy.

much better car all round....


you will love the x3