F25 X3 - Being too picky?
Discussion
Hi all,
I made a post a while ago regarding certain SUVs that the other half wants. That list was Mazda CX-5, Jag F-Pace or E-Pace or an Audi Q5.... Well, seems like we're going after an F25 X3 now. This is almost a certainty, so it's just a case of finding one with the right spec.
We've had a test drive of a 20d M-Sport, seems to go well enough for what we need it for. I was wondering if anyone had any experience of the 20d/30d/35d, what they'd recommend & why? What are the running costs like on the bigger 6 cylinder engines? Any other things we should look out for when buying?
Also, we're struggling to find one to our specification. Our budget is 20-25k, ideally 23k. This should get us a nice 16-17 plate car. The only one we've seen that ticked all the boxes was snapped up pretty quickly.
Must haves
M-Sport or xLine. Not a fan of the SE model.
Grey, black or white. Preference in that order
Less than 40,000 miles
Oyster / Cognac leather - Not interested in black
Electric seats with memory - We will be both using the car and it'll be a nice feature to have as we have vastly different driving positions.
Pro nav - Standard nav looks awful and the pro nav does have features we'd use.
Xenon lights with LED DRLs - Standard lights looks terrible.
Would like to have
Harmon Kardon sound
Reverse camera
I've checked the classified on here, Autotrader & various car supermarkets, but can't find anything that fits the bill. Are we being a bit too picky? It's going to be a long term family car, so we'd really like it to have everything we'd want.
Cheers,
Ben
I made a post a while ago regarding certain SUVs that the other half wants. That list was Mazda CX-5, Jag F-Pace or E-Pace or an Audi Q5.... Well, seems like we're going after an F25 X3 now. This is almost a certainty, so it's just a case of finding one with the right spec.
We've had a test drive of a 20d M-Sport, seems to go well enough for what we need it for. I was wondering if anyone had any experience of the 20d/30d/35d, what they'd recommend & why? What are the running costs like on the bigger 6 cylinder engines? Any other things we should look out for when buying?
Also, we're struggling to find one to our specification. Our budget is 20-25k, ideally 23k. This should get us a nice 16-17 plate car. The only one we've seen that ticked all the boxes was snapped up pretty quickly.
Must haves
M-Sport or xLine. Not a fan of the SE model.
Grey, black or white. Preference in that order
Less than 40,000 miles
Oyster / Cognac leather - Not interested in black
Electric seats with memory - We will be both using the car and it'll be a nice feature to have as we have vastly different driving positions.
Pro nav - Standard nav looks awful and the pro nav does have features we'd use.
Xenon lights with LED DRLs - Standard lights looks terrible.
Would like to have
Harmon Kardon sound
Reverse camera
I've checked the classified on here, Autotrader & various car supermarkets, but can't find anything that fits the bill. Are we being a bit too picky? It's going to be a long term family car, so we'd really like it to have everything we'd want.
Cheers,
Ben
that same platform is available with a 20k discout if you take off the BM roundel and replace it with a Mini one.
spend the money on something fast, like those toys seen here
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_osacat=9800&...
spend the money on something fast, like those toys seen here
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_osacat=9800&...
Olas said:
that same platform is available with a 20k discout if you take off the BM roundel and replace it with a Mini one.
spend the money on something fast, like those toys seen here
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_osacat=9800&...
?????spend the money on something fast, like those toys seen here
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_osacat=9800&...
And whilst I'd love a 2 seater toy, it's not what I'm after / asking. Our other car is a Focus ST so I have something a little more involved than the X3. And as stated, this will primarily be my partners car.
I've had experience of the 20d/30d/35d engines although not in a X3. The 20d in a 520d/30d in a 330d/35d in a 640d, and predictably the 35d is my favourite...because the two turbos give it lots of punch at both low and high revs. I'm a big fan of the 30d too because it is smoother and more punchy than the 20d.
The 20d is my least favourite because it is the most harsh and the least punchy...however I do think that it would suit a SUV because they are a more laid back car...and you don't really need the extra punch of the bigger and more powerful engines as much for me.
The 20d is my least favourite because it is the most harsh and the least punchy...however I do think that it would suit a SUV because they are a more laid back car...and you don't really need the extra punch of the bigger and more powerful engines as much for me.
Well, we've managed to find the car after nearly 2 months of looking! Placed a deposit, viewing it on Saturday.
Specs are:
2015 (15 plate)
xLine in metallic blue
40k miles
Auto (without steering padels)
Variable Damper Control
Oyster leather with electric memory seats
Security Pack
Comfort Pack
Visibility pack (Adaptive xenons)
Pro Nav
Harmon Kardon sound
360 degree cameras
40/20/40 seats
Extended lighting pack
It only arrived yesterday, so still needs to go through the BMW approved checks, so wont be ready until mid march.
The only thing I was wondering, is how expensive / difficult is it to fit the gearshift padels. At a guess it's a new steering wheel & coding. It's obviously not a big deal, mainly just wondering if it's worth doing.
Specs are:
2015 (15 plate)
xLine in metallic blue
40k miles
Auto (without steering padels)
Variable Damper Control
Oyster leather with electric memory seats
Security Pack
Comfort Pack
Visibility pack (Adaptive xenons)
Pro Nav
Harmon Kardon sound
360 degree cameras
40/20/40 seats
Extended lighting pack
It only arrived yesterday, so still needs to go through the BMW approved checks, so wont be ready until mid march.
The only thing I was wondering, is how expensive / difficult is it to fit the gearshift padels. At a guess it's a new steering wheel & coding. It's obviously not a big deal, mainly just wondering if it's worth doing.
Xenoous said:
The only thing I was wondering, is how expensive / difficult is it to fit the gearshift padels. At a guess it's a new steering wheel & coding. It's obviously not a big deal, mainly just wondering if it's worth doing.
I honestly don't think that you will miss them at all. I've had a couple of diesels with paddles and I never used them because the gearbox is so good being left to its own devices. cerb4.5lee said:
I honestly don't think that you will miss them at all. I've had a couple of diesels with paddles and I never used them because the gearbox is so good being left to its own devices.
Yeah I don't think we'd really use them. I've got another car for changing gears in. If we can get it done cheap(ish) we will, otherwise not worry too much about it 
Xenoous said:
Yeah I don't think we'd really use them. I've got another car for changing gears in. If we can get it done cheap(ish) we will, otherwise not worry too much about it
I defiantly wouldn't bother with the paddle shift. Im lucky that my OH works for BMW so get to drive most new cars, and I rarely ever use the paddles. The 8 sp auto is very good, and as its the X3 its not like you will be hammering round the country roads. What engine did you go for?
The wife has a 2016 X4 30d and I think it’s a great car. Certainly quick enough with all that torque and arguably more usable power than my V8 M3... it makes a brilliant family wagon.
Despite using the paddles all the time in my M3 DCT I can honestly say I’ve never used them in the X4 and they are redundant given how good the 8-sp ZF Auto is.
My only criticism of the entire car is how harsh the ride is on 20” run flats but they look good :-)
Despite using the paddles all the time in my M3 DCT I can honestly say I’ve never used them in the X4 and they are redundant given how good the 8-sp ZF Auto is.
My only criticism of the entire car is how harsh the ride is on 20” run flats but they look good :-)
If the car lives up to expectation, we'll be going for it. It's the 20d, which on the test drive would be more than adequate enough for us. After all, it's the missus car, and she's definitely not after speed. It's the xLine with 18" wheels so it's only to waft along in.
If anything, it'll make me appreciate the manual box in the ST a little more!
If anything, it'll make me appreciate the manual box in the ST a little more!
Xenoous said:
Specs are:
2015 (15 plate)
xLine in metallic blue
40k miles
Auto (without steering padels)
Variable Damper Control
Oyster leather with electric memory seats
Security Pack
Comfort Pack
Visibility pack (Adaptive xenons)
Pro Nav
Harmon Kardon sound
360 degree cameras
40/20/40 seats
Extended lighting pack
On a 5 year old car that likely you'll be keeping for a few years that looks like a list of things to go wrong. Expensively.2015 (15 plate)
xLine in metallic blue
40k miles
Auto (without steering padels)
Variable Damper Control
Oyster leather with electric memory seats
Security Pack
Comfort Pack
Visibility pack (Adaptive xenons)
Pro Nav
Harmon Kardon sound
360 degree cameras
40/20/40 seats
Extended lighting pack
How did you find the car - just an Approved Used search?
Sheepshanks said:
On a 5 year old car that likely you'll be keeping for a few years that looks like a list of things to go wrong. Expensively.
How did you find the car - just an Approved Used search?
Approved used indeed. To be honest, if things go wrong then we'll sort them down the road. It's a car we'd likely keep for 4-6 years. How did you find the car - just an Approved Used search?
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