The temporary measure... 71 plate BMW X3 20d xDrive M Sport

[danb79]

Due to my Dad having a fall nearly 4 weeks ago; gashing the back of his head a very large flower pot, but also smashing his left tibia He's now home; but as he's 75 and battling stage 4 prostate cancer; my Mum's 73 and has a few of her own issues - I've moved in with them to be here to help out when he needs moving around etc

His left leg is in a solid, straight cage for the time being; it starts to get adjusted next Monday onwards - so moving him about required a specialist turner (looks like a sack truck); we've got him an all singing/dancing hospital bed in the dining room etc

So with this; me being here, the E39 being sold a few weeks back etc, means I've got his X3 to use now for a min. of 3 months as he cannot put any load on to the leg for another 10 weeks, if all is ok!

So far I've deep cleaned it inside as it was filthy with being sat there for 4 weeks; and this morning I've got as much of the exterior cleaned as I could, inc deep clean of the wheels, and all door shuts/window trims/tailgate trim etc as it's all packed with green sludge, moss, crap from being parked between a large confider hedge and a large beech hedge etc

It's a bloody big motor compared to what I'm used to and even at 6ft 4; I could only just reach the middle of the roof on my tippy-toes!

But it's been snow-foamed, rinsed, hand washed, rinsed, Koch Chemie 'Protector Wax' applied; rinsed and then all glass towel dried and cleaned with BH Trace-Less, inside and out, wheels towel dried and tyres treated with Gyeon Q2 Tire Sealant

I've not been able to towel dry the panels as needed to get back to my folks to help move Dad back into the bed etc; but it's scrubbed up well and it's a lovely car to be in; very comfy with a lovely interior, plenty of gadgets etc

[danb79]

Finally got chance to give the interior a full in-depth deep clean

Every inch vacuumed to within an inch of its life; so much detritus in the carpets All surfaces wiped down with citrus pre cleaner and a detailing brish; and then I've gone over them with Gyeon's Q2M interior detailer

All weather mats scrubbed with citrus pre cleaner too and wiped dry; all leather cleaned with AGs Leather Cleaner and then treated with AGs Leather Balm; same with the steering wheel

I've fitted the old F31 boot mat I had in the garage too; it's needed a bit of cutting here n there to get it to fit right; it's not far off being the right fit to be fair... My Dad just had an old sort of rug down and it just got in the way; this is a much better solution

[si_xsi]

They are decent cars, my 80yo dad has the same car on a 68 plate. His second x3 2.0d. He ordered 2 new Pirelli non run flats by mistake from blackcircles and has same wheels and tyres, they've done 20 miles before he moved back to run flats and so I'm trying to shift them for him. If you need some practically new rubber let me know!

[danb79]

si_xsi said:

They are decent cars, my 80yo dad has the same car on a 68 plate. His second x3 2.0d. He ordered 2 new Pirelli non run flats by mistake from blackcircles and has same wheels and tyres, they've done 20 miles before he moved back to run flats and so I'm trying to shift them for him. If you need some practically new rubber let me know!

Agree; it's a very good motor indeed... I'm not it's biggest fan; it drives lovely, but I'm just not keen on being so high up in comparison to our F31 and all my previous BMWs etc

And re tyres - it actually needs new tyres this year; they're down to just under 4mm now, so my Dad has been looking - but it's his motor and not mine, so he'll sort them

It's on non RFTs now from BMW - so he'll stick with non RFTs (he has the repair kit and gunk etc in the boot as well as a tyre repair kit, if it's just a simple nail / screw etc)

I was looking on Camskill for him today and he really likes the look of the Bridgestone Potenza Sports (the new ones); they're getting rave reviews...

But; seeing as he got stuck at Glenshee in Feb when we went across to Braemar from their property in Dunkeld; I think he may go for all-seasons - I had Goodyear Vector Gen3 4Season's on my E39 that my wife & I went up in and had zero issues haha

The X3 maybe xDrive; but on summer tyres and 0ºC temps and iced over snow; it was bloody useless, but very funny

[danb79]

x3 tip runs today - got my Dad's X3 absolutely filthy inside. What didn't help is when I went to take a black bin liner of garden detritus from my folks - it split and then poofed everywhere I've literally had to vac the headliner from front to back; and then every nook and crannie - the Nilfisk vac is such a good purchase, does a superb job!

All surfaces wiped down, leather cleaned and treated with AGs Leather Balm and then AGs Autofresh sprayed onto all the carpet areas









I've gotten quite used to the X3 now and the drivers height... It handles like a barge compared to what I'm used to, but it goes well, it's a super-comfy drive and to be honest, I'll be sad to give it back when my Dad's able to drive again, which unfortunately, is still a good while off

[stevep944]

Interesting to read your views on the X3 Dan, I keep 'half looking' at swapping my G31 520 touring for one of these, being of more mature years with a dodgy back I'd like something higher up that's easier to get in and out of gracefully! An X5 would be nice but too big for my needs really and a possible prospective money pit. Most X3s I've seen aren't as well specced as my 5 series though and that puts me off a bit, downgrading to be higher up as it were.

[danb79]

stevep944 said:

Interesting to read your views on the X3 Dan, I keep 'half looking' at swapping my G31 520 touring for one of these, being of more mature years with a dodgy back I'd like something higher up that's easier to get in and out of gracefully! An X5 would be nice but too big for my needs really and a possible prospective money pit. Most X3s I've seen aren't as well specced as my 5 series though and that puts me off a bit, downgrading to be higher up as it were.

That's the main reason my Dad's had 3 now. His last one was an X3M but he had too many issues with it unfortunately; so as soon as the warranty period was coming up, it went and he bought this brand new / spec'd to how he wanted it

My Dad's now 75; my Mum's 73 - so being able to just get in to a car and out of iot without having to fall in, and then crawl out, is perfect for them

Once my Dad's able to be bent to 90º, which should be in the next week or so, I'll be going to their with the X3 to see if we're able to slide him from the wheelchair he's bought onto the seat - rough measuring says the height of the wheelchair on the pavement, with the X3 on the road are only a few inches different.

If he can get hold of the grab handle fine, we'll have a bin liner on the seat so he can slide into the car and then swing his left leg in. It'll be in its brace still; but he's been sat in the same chair and led in the same hospital bed, in their dining room for nearly 8 weeks now, he's going stir crazy

I do like driving the X3; it really is comfy and you get a good view of all that's going on... But my preference is to be lower, even in a 7 series you get a good all round view and it's higher than our F31 or my previous BMWs, even E39s etc

But a 7'er is no good for my folks and I'm not going down that route again when I start to look for my next car... Which could be sooner than I was thinking if we're able to get Dad in / out the X3 with no issues, I'll have to deliver it back to them haha