New X3 and speccing it...

[nick_j007]

My wife has to order a new car soon. BMW is the only brand, and she is set on the new X3. I would love the 5 series tourer, but hey-ho. We went to a local dealer near Worcester last week for a poke at one behind a screen ! Certainly looked very nice, and seemed bigger than I expected. Will be used to commute, tow caravan, dogs in back.

Servotronic steering is set as an option @ £175.00....worth it you think?
Not choosing run flats (£200)...would you agree?
We shall get a tow bar fitted ourselves (BMW charge £750)
Darkened glass £295 (Or maybe we'll get that done via film tiniting?)
Climate comfort package. (£1390) Pan. sunroof, heat reflective windscreen, rear passenger sun blinds. We'd like this option.
Sat nav. We this is expensive (but nice) and we'll stay with a TomTom.

Naturally you have to pay for every possible extra with BMW, but any comments on the above would be welcome.

[theoriginaltwig]

Are you looking at running it into the ground or selling it in 3 years time?

[Mustard]

nick_j007 said:

My wife has to order a new car soon. BMW is the only brand, and she is set on the new X3. I would love the 5 series tourer, but hey-ho. We went to a local dealer near Worcester last week for a poke at one behind a screen ! Certainly looked very nice, and seemed bigger than I expected. Will be used to commute, tow caravan, dogs in back.

Servotronic steering is set as an option @ £175.00....worth it you think? Wouldnt Bother
Not choosing run flats (£200)...would you agree? Personal Choice
We shall get a tow bar fitted ourselves (BMW charge £750) Get the factory fit, you may save a couple of hundred quid but you may get issues with non OEM, just not worth the hassle)
Darkened glass £295 (Or maybe we'll get that done via film tiniting?) Ditto the above
Climate comfort package. (£1390) Pan. sunroof, heat reflective windscreen, rear passenger sun blinds. We'd like this option. Pan Roof will be desirable
Sat nav. We this is expensive (but nice) and we'll stay with a TomTom. Fair Comment

Naturally you have to pay for every possible extra with BMW, but any comments on the above would be welcome.

Dynamic Pack

Heated Seats

Phone Prep

USB socket

and XL styling

all worth considering

Edited by Mustard on Sunday 7th November 12:34

[nick_j007]

theoriginaltwig said:

Are you looking at running it into the ground or selling it in 3 years time?

We'll have this one for 4 yrs then hand it back at which point she may retire. It won't be hammered as such, but certainly used for family activities.

Thanks.

[nick_j007]

Mustard said:

nick_j007 said:

My wife has to order a new car soon. BMW is the only brand, and she is set on the new X3. I would love the 5 series tourer, but hey-ho. We went to a local dealer near Worcester last week for a poke at one behind a screen ! Certainly looked very nice, and seemed bigger than I expected. Will be used to commute, tow caravan, dogs in back.

Servotronic steering is set as an option @ £175.00....worth it you think? Wouldnt Bother
Not choosing run flats (£200)...would you agree? Personal Choice
We shall get a tow bar fitted ourselves (BMW charge £750) Get the factory fit, you may save a couple of hundred quid but you may get issues with non OEM, just not worth the hassle)
Darkened glass £295 (Or maybe we'll get that done via film tiniting?) Ditto the above
Climate comfort package. (£1390) Pan. sunroof, heat reflective windscreen, rear passenger sun blinds. We'd like this option. Pan Roof will be desirable
Sat nav. We this is expensive (but nice) and we'll stay with a TomTom. Fair Comment

Naturally you have to pay for every possible extra with BMW, but any comments on the above would be welcome.

Dynamic Pack

Heated Seats

Phone Prep

USB socket

and XL styling

all worth considering

Edited by Mustard on Sunday 7th November 12:34

All good points thanks. Her comapny will do a BT phone prep, yes to heated seats, adio jack as standard now (3.5mm).

Still uncertain whether to be austere or spec it up tbh!!

[Mustard]

Audio Jack is no substitue for the USB socket

Silver launch car we had looked very plain, hence I think the Dynamic pack & Xl pack make the car without going OTT

[nick_j007]

Mustard said:

nick_j007 said:

My wife has to order a new car soon. BMW is the only brand, and she is set on the new X3. I would love the 5 series tourer, but hey-ho. We went to a local dealer near Worcester last week for a poke at one behind a screen ! Certainly looked very nice, and seemed bigger than I expected. Will be used to commute, tow caravan, dogs in back.

Servotronic steering is set as an option @ £175.00....worth it you think? Wouldnt Bother
Not choosing run flats (£200)...would you agree? Personal Choice
We shall get a tow bar fitted ourselves (BMW charge £750) Get the factory fit, you may save a couple of hundred quid but you may get issues with non OEM, just not worth the hassle)
Darkened glass £295 (Or maybe we'll get that done via film tiniting?) Ditto the above
Climate comfort package. (£1390) Pan. sunroof, heat reflective windscreen, rear passenger sun blinds. We'd like this option. Pan Roof will be desirable
Sat nav. We this is expensive (but nice) and we'll stay with a TomTom. Fair Comment

Naturally you have to pay for every possible extra with BMW, but any comments on the above would be welcome.

Dynamic Pack

Heated Seats

Phone Prep

USB socket

and XL styling

all worth considering

Edited by Mustard on Sunday 7th November 12:34

All good points thanks. Her comapny will do a BT phone prep, yes to heated seats, adio jack as standard now (3.5mm).

Still uncertain whether to be austere or spec it up tbh!!

[StuB]

We loved the pan roof on our X3 and wouldn't want a car without it if you have the choice. Have a look at one, if you can find on.

Servotronic, if that's the variable speed rack, we have it on our E60 (5 series) and again I highly rate it, especially for parking in tight spaces, town driving and I don't see the issue rated in the press about sensitive at speed either.

We also had the bi-xenon adaptive lights, again great for country lanes in winter, though we did get flased a lot as the lights on the initial model X3 were high & abviously dazzled people when you are up close.

Don't write the X3 off, I WOULD go back to one, even though chopped it for an E60, this time it would have to be a SD or 35d (twin turbo) though.

Check you can get an aftermarket tow kit and what the issues are with bumper cuts/paint as it might turn out to be a false economy, if you have to have a lot of work done to sort the back of the car.

Hope this helps.

[nick_j007]

Thank you all for your input. Will sit down and look at this with the OH.

Nick

[theboss]

nick_j007 said:

Mustard said:

nick_j007 said:

My wife has to order a new car soon. BMW is the only brand, and she is set on the new X3. I would love the 5 series tourer, but hey-ho. We went to a local dealer near Worcester last week for a poke at one behind a screen ! Certainly looked very nice, and seemed bigger than I expected. Will be used to commute, tow caravan, dogs in back.

Servotronic steering is set as an option @ £175.00....worth it you think? Wouldnt Bother
Not choosing run flats (£200)...would you agree? Personal Choice
We shall get a tow bar fitted ourselves (BMW charge £750) Get the factory fit, you may save a couple of hundred quid but you may get issues with non OEM, just not worth the hassle)
Darkened glass £295 (Or maybe we'll get that done via film tiniting?) Ditto the above
Climate comfort package. (£1390) Pan. sunroof, heat reflective windscreen, rear passenger sun blinds. We'd like this option. Pan Roof will be desirable
Sat nav. We this is expensive (but nice) and we'll stay with a TomTom. Fair Comment

Naturally you have to pay for every possible extra with BMW, but any comments on the above would be welcome.

Dynamic Pack

Heated Seats

Phone Prep

USB socket

and XL styling

all worth considering

Edited by Mustard on Sunday 7th November 12:34

All good points thanks. Her comapny will do a BT phone prep, yes to heated seats, adio jack as standard now (3.5mm).

Still uncertain whether to be austere or spec it up tbh!!

I echo the previous comments on tow bar and tinted glass, have these specced from factory or don't bother. The tow bar in particular doesn't seem expensive for what it is, especially when you factor in the risk of an aftermarket job causing problems, upsetting rear suspension, etc. Film tints will just look tacky on a brand new £30k+ car and I suspect legality is dubious, I'd rather have normal glass than badly done tints.

Also on the bluetooth... I have an aftermarket bluetooth kit in my E90 and factory setup in an X3 and the factory kit is miles better. Much easier to use as it integrates properly with the steering wheel buttons and computer/nav. It's hardly an expensive option for what it is, and the aftermarket Parrot kit I have is seriously rubbish in comparison. If I could have the parrot ripped out and the OEM kit retro-fitted then I would but my dealer say it's nigh on impossible without completely re-wiring the car.

We have the pan roof in our X3 and it doesn't get used that much... the wife insisted on it which severely limited the choice of cars I could look at... so on the other hand it should be a good selling point when you come to dispose of the car. it is a nice feature but if you plan on keeping the car outside of warranty then I see it as a potential timebomb waiting to break... ours was done under warranty and the new unit required was something like £2k including fitting. I've taken out BMW's extended warranty as our car is now 3 years old.

Bi-xenons are the one single option I honestly would not do without, they really make the car superb at night, they are by far the best lights in any car I've ever driven.

[richterswil]

The panoramic roof is nice but expensive (have it on our E70).

Agree with other posters - go for factory bluetooth and the USB interface is fantastic - wish my E60 had it. We've just left an old iPod Nano in the car permanently and it's great - well worth the money.

Not sure I agree with others on the tinted windows though. My E60 has sun protection glass (ie tinted rear windows) from the factory but I ended up have a film tint put on as well. The factory spec didn't shield the kids eyes from bright sunlight which wasn't great given the name of the option! Ended up paying around £250 IIRC for a darker tint which works a treat and saves me having Mothercare blinds in the rear windows. Retro fitting is around the same cost as factory order and you can choose how dark/light you want to go. If you get someone good to do it you won't be able to see the film at all.

[NIIKME]

Just my 2p but having got servotronic on my m3 I almost view it as essential now! Quite a statement and Yes I have read and considered this before hitting send! It has made the steering on the x3 feel heavy - but granted it's tyres are on their last legs which doesnt help. One other thing I would strongly urge you consider is wheel size because I am currently replacing 4 on 19 inch wheels and the only choice are pirellis with a 1k price tag... It hurts. Should have taken 18s.

Finally....I'm a big advocate of the x3 and think it's a great family car that I will happily take off the drive instead of the m3 when the situation demands it.

[Guyr]

Personal choice but if you're limiting the budget, I'd get SatNav rather than sunroof every time.

You'll use the satnav a lot and it's great for resale.

I had a sunroof in my Alpina B5 and it just never got used, too windy at high speeds and in summer when its hot the a/c is on, so all windows/roof get shut. Just my experience.