Petrol SUV (X3 M40i) vs separate petrol car and diesel suv?

London1986

Original Poster

327 posts

51 months

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Sunday 26th June 2022

Hi all

I'm looking for a new car and have almost settled on a BMW X3 M40i.

I do about 5k mileage a year which consists of multiple short trips with a monthly long trip from London to Birmingham, which is why I'm considering a petrol.

I will be buying second-hand, 3-4 years old, with a budget of around £35k.

The X3 above seems to strike the perfect balance between being fun to drive, sporty yet practical for a family car.

Now the dilemma....

What if I was to buy a separate diesel SUV for my longer trips and get a petrol car for my short trips?

My reasoning, it would open up the range of diesels to choose from. I could then consider a Range Rover Sport, Porsche Cayenne, even an X5 for less than £30k. These are cars I initially was keen on but the petrol versions are too expensive and I feel like these SUV's would be better suited to diesel anyway. I'd also get much better mileage on these long runs than the M40i.

The remainder of that £35k can be spent on a small petrol runaround, maybe even put a bit more down and get something fun like a BMW M135i. So I still get my sporty fun hot hatch for local trips and a comfortable SUV for the family with good economy for the long trips.

Interested to hear your thoughts.

Han Solo

191 posts

25 months

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Sunday 26th June 2022

A X3 is not fun, nor sporty, nor large / comfy, dreadful choice.

Running two cars would be the best bet, but any potential fuel savings will be wiped out by the first repair bill on a FFRR / Cayenne, etc, plus the tax will almost always be £620 Pa anyway.

I’d get an AMG estate at that sort of budget, 5k miles pa make fuel inconsequential.

Jamescrs

4,479 posts

65 months

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Sunday 26th June 2022

Agree with the post above really an X3 is not fun or sporty. With the 40i engine it will have decent straight line speed but the novelty of that wears off fairly quickly.

Two cars gives you a better choice but running two cars is not cheap even when they are both running properly, believe me I know as I'm doing it.

If running costs are an issue the X3 will probably do a decent job but id go for a 340i tourer over an X3 personally.

London1986

Original Poster

327 posts

51 months

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Sunday 26th June 2022

Thanks both however I’d prefer to have an SUV over an estate for various reasons.

When you say the X3 M40i isn’t fun or sporty, are you comparing that to a regular car? Or is there any SUV you would put in that fun/sporty category?

I appreciate an SUV will never handle like a regular car, I accept that, one doesn’t buy an SUV to take it on the track. However from everything i’ve read/watched, it does seem to handle pretty well compared a typical SUV. I’ve driven a regular X3 and it’s not bad, especially when in sport mode, so I do feel like it’s something i’d be happy with.

Yes good point about maintaining two cars, that’s worth factoring in as it will definitely add up, twice the insurance, road tax, servicing, MOT. Just writing that list is painful.

ZX10R NIN

27,577 posts

125 months

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Sunday 26th June 2022

London1986 said:

Hi all

I'm looking for a new car and have almost settled on a BMW X3 M40i.

I do about 5k mileage a year which consists of multiple short trips with a monthly long trip from London to Birmingham, which is why I'm considering a petrol.

I will be buying second-hand, 3-4 years old, with a budget of around £35k.

The X3 above seems to strike the perfect balance between being fun to drive, sporty yet practical for a family car.

Now the dilemma....

What if I was to buy a separate diesel SUV for my longer trips and get a petrol car for my short trips?

My reasoning, it would open up the range of diesels to choose from. I could then consider a Range Rover Sport, Porsche Cayenne, even an X5 for less than £30k. These are cars I initially was keen on but the petrol versions are too expensive and I feel like these SUV's would be better suited to diesel anyway. I'd also get much better mileage on these long runs than the M40i.

The remainder of that £35k can be spent on a small petrol runaround, maybe even put a bit more down and get something fun like a BMW M135i. So I still get my sporty fun hot hatch for local trips and a comfortable SUV for the family with good economy for the long trips.

Interested to hear your thoughts.

London1986

Original Poster

327 posts

51 months

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[news]

Sunday 26th June 2022

ZX10R NIN said:

Thanks for this, some really good cars there however my budget is around £35k for both cars.

h0b0

7,581 posts

196 months

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Sunday 26th June 2022

London1986 said:

Thanks both however I’d prefer to have an SUV over an estate for various reasons.

When you say the X3 M40i isn’t fun or sporty, are you comparing that to a regular car? Or is there any SUV you would put in that fun/sporty category?

I appreciate an SUV will never handle like a regular car, I accept that, one doesn’t buy an SUV to take it on the track. However from everything i’ve read/watched, it does seem to handle pretty well compared a typical SUV. I’ve driven a regular X3 and it’s not bad, especially when in sport mode, so I do feel like it’s something i’d be happy with.

Yes good point about maintaining two cars, that’s worth factoring in as it will definitely add up, twice the insurance, road tax, servicing, MOT. Just writing that list is painful.

I have a Cayenne GTS and rented an X3 with M badges. No idea what engine it had but it sure did have a lot of M badges. The X3 was not sporty in any way and was a little disappointing. Frankly, the Cayenne GTS is about as sporty as an SUV gets but it’s still not a sports car. It does fit my needs perfectly though.

Over COVID, my Cayenne has been doing short trips mostly. About a 3 mile loop to drop kids off at school. No issues at all. We recently did a 600 mile round trip and then a 1200 mile trip to Canada and back from NYC area. About town I get around 18mpg and on a road trip it’s at 25mpg. (UK). It does have a drinking problem but your only doing 5k miles so that’s not a huge issue.

ZX10R NIN

27,577 posts

125 months

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Sunday 26th June 2022

London1986 said:

Thanks for this, some really good cars there however my budget is around £35k for both cars.

Johnnytheboy

24,498 posts

186 months

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Sunday 26th June 2022

London1986 said:

Thanks both however I’d prefer to have an SUV over an estate for various reasons.

Can you list the reasons?

Edited by Johnnytheboy on Sunday 26th June 21:55

Chris Hinds

482 posts

165 months

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Sunday 26th June 2022

As an X3 M40i owner (2019 model) I have what you are contemplating. Some thoughts, since most have written it off already. If you go in expecting it to handle like and Elise then you won’t be surprised to learn that it doesn’t. If you go in expecting it to be flat like a Ferrari then no, it isn’t. If you go in expecting it to have very good body control for its height, the ability to be steered on the throttle and a decent turn of speed you won’t be disappointed.

Today mine has been from Loughborough to Wolverhampton and back via the M69/M6/M54 route and done 57mph av speed and 31mpg. I consider that pretty good. Would I buy another, actually yes I would… because actually it surprises me by being refined, suitably menacing of engine tone and also more agile than you would expect. Yes if you tried to take it round Donington it would be all bent out of shape by the fourth or fifth corner but if you find a twisty bit of road and aren’t driving at 10/10 then it will make you smile.

Basically don’t write it off until you have tried it

London1986

Original Poster

327 posts

51 months

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[news]

Sunday 26th June 2022

h0b0 said:

I have a Cayenne GTS and rented an X3 with M badges. No idea what engine it had but it sure did have a lot of M badges. The X3 was not sporty in any way and was a little disappointing. Frankly, the Cayenne GTS is about as sporty as an SUV gets but it’s still not a sports car. It does fit my needs perfectly though.

Maybe it was just a regular X3 with M-Sport trim as opposed to an actual M engine?

London1986

Original Poster

327 posts

51 months

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Sunday 26th June 2022

Johnnytheboy said:

Can you list the reasons?

Edited by Johnnytheboy on Sunday 26th June 21:55

Sure.

Aesthetics (Personally not a fan of estates)
Higher driving position, good visibility of the road.
Easier to get in and out of
More comfortable, especially for long trips, less chance of lower back pain
Easier with kids in car seat
Big tall boot as well as depth

London1986

Original Poster

327 posts

51 months

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[news]

Sunday 26th June 2022

Chris Hinds said:

As an X3 M40i owner (2019 model) I have what you are contemplating. Some thoughts, since most have written it off already. If you go in expecting it to handle like and Elise then you won’t be surprised to learn that it doesn’t. If you go in expecting it to be flat like a Ferrari then no, it isn’t. If you go in expecting it to have very good body control for its height, the ability to be steered on the throttle and a decent turn of speed you won’t be disappointed.

Today mine has been from Loughborough to Wolverhampton and back via the M69/M6/M54 route and done 57mph av speed and 31mpg. I consider that pretty good. Would I buy another, actually yes I would… because actually it surprises me by being refined, suitably menacing of engine tone and also more agile than you would expect. Yes if you tried to take it round Donington it would be all bent out of shape by the fourth or fifth corner but if you find a twisty bit of road and aren’t driving at 10/10 then it will make you smile.

Basically don’t write it off until you have tried it

Thanks Chris for your feedback. This is exactly it, I appreciate it's still an SUV so is never going to drive like an M3 but that's ok, because it's also a very fully functioning SUV with a lot more space than an M3.

I've driven some SUV's that just feel like your driving a truck and you would never put those and sport in the same sentence. The M40i however is in a different league when compared to those. I was also considering a Macan but it's just a bit too small for my liking.

aaron-j9c9a

137 posts

36 months

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Sunday 26th June 2022

Not the same but I have an x4 40i, it’s good at what it does, it no sports car but that’s not why people buy suv.

I’m not a fan of estate cars and prefer a higher up position when driving, if you do the odd long trip then have a look at the 40d.

Roger Irrelevant

2,927 posts

113 months

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Monday 27th June 2022

For a total combined mileage of 5k miles p.a. I definitely wouldn't bother getting two cars. The fuel savings on your long trips will be miniscule compared to the hassle of running two vehicles. If you want the X3 then get that - seems to fit your brief very well and for £35k you might just get an approved used one too which would be a bonus for me. I'd really like the 40d variant as my next car so am keeping a beady eye on prices of those (I do circa 17k miles p.a. so diesel makes a lot more sense).

arfur

3,871 posts

214 months

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Monday 27th June 2022

London1986 said:

Chris Hinds said:

As an X3 M40i owner (2019 model) I have what you are contemplating. Some thoughts, since most have written it off already. If you go in expecting it to handle like and Elise then you won’t be surprised to learn that it doesn’t. If you go in expecting it to be flat like a Ferrari then no, it isn’t. If you go in expecting it to have very good body control for its height, the ability to be steered on the throttle and a decent turn of speed you won’t be disappointed.

Today mine has been from Loughborough to Wolverhampton and back via the M69/M6/M54 route and done 57mph av speed and 31mpg. I consider that pretty good. Would I buy another, actually yes I would… because actually it surprises me by being refined, suitably menacing of engine tone and also more agile than you would expect. Yes if you tried to take it round Donington it would be all bent out of shape by the fourth or fifth corner but if you find a twisty bit of road and aren’t driving at 10/10 then it will make you smile.

Basically don’t write it off until you have tried it

Thanks Chris for your feedback. This is exactly it, I appreciate it's still an SUV so is never going to drive like an M3 but that's ok, because it's also a very fully functioning SUV with a lot more space than an M3.

I've driven some SUV's that just feel like your driving a truck and you would never put those and sport in the same sentence. The M40i however is in a different league when compared to those. I was also considering a Macan but it's just a bit too small for my liking.

I have an X3 - M Sport. It's just a 30d and is a good few years old. No, it's not a sports car, but mine is remapped to about 310/500 and it certainly hustles along very well indeed. As an SUV, it does the job perfectly and if I was looking to trade it in I'd almost certainly be looking at a newer 40d.

Overall mpg over 60k miles is 32, maintenance (other than one wtf issue) has just been routine at an indy, tyres (staggered) seem to be every 20k miles.

Take one for a spin and go for the 2 car setup.

London1986

Original Poster

327 posts

51 months

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Monday 27th June 2022

Roger Irrelevant said:

For a total combined mileage of 5k miles p.a. I definitely wouldn't bother getting two cars. The fuel savings on your long trips will be miniscule compared to the hassle of running two vehicles.

Yeh I was thinking more about this last night and you are spot on, I was coming to the same conclusion. The annual mileage doesn't justify 2 cars.

Roger Irrelevant said:

If you want the X3 then get that - seems to fit your brief very well and for £35k you might just get an approved used one too which would be a bonus for me. I'd really like the 40d variant as my next car so am keeping a beady eye on prices of those (I do circa 17k miles p.a. so diesel makes a lot more sense).

Yeh I do think so too. Also the fact it's very new (GO1 model) and has the latest tech is another plus point. It does seem to tick all the boxes for me. I've heard a lot of good things about the 40d too so good choice.

Part of me is still considering the Macan and my this is my wife's fave car (she's never really liked BMW's and this is meant to be for her too biggrin

), but I was thinking I may consider that as my next car as the price of the recent 2019 models come down in price.

arfur

3,871 posts

214 months

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Monday 27th June 2022

London1986 said:

Roger Irrelevant said:

For a total combined mileage of 5k miles p.a. I definitely wouldn't bother getting two cars. The fuel savings on your long trips will be miniscule compared to the hassle of running two vehicles.

Yeh I was thinking more about this last night and you are spot on, I was coming to the same conclusion. The annual mileage doesn't justify 2 cars.

Roger Irrelevant said:

If you want the X3 then get that - seems to fit your brief very well and for £35k you might just get an approved used one too which would be a bonus for me. I'd really like the 40d variant as my next car so am keeping a beady eye on prices of those (I do circa 17k miles p.a. so diesel makes a lot more sense).

Yeh I do think so too. Also the fact it's very new (GO1 model) and has the latest tech is another plus point. It does seem to tick all the boxes for me. I've heard a lot of good things about the 40d too so good choice.

Part of me is still considering the Macan and my this is my wife's fave car (she's never really liked BMW's and this is meant to be for her too biggrin

), but I was thinking I may consider that as my next car as the price of the recent 2019 models come down in price.

In case you'd considered it, but I had an Alfa Stelvio as a hire car in Spain a couple of weeks ago - don't ... just don't ! It was awful

Muzzer79

9,907 posts

187 months

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Monday 27th June 2022

FWIW, I was recently upgraded to an M40i X3 hire car in Germany.

Handling-wise, I can't comment as I was only on the autobahn.

But I can confirm that it made a lovely noise and shifted along quite nicely biggrin

London1986

Original Poster

327 posts

51 months

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Monday 27th June 2022

arfur said:

In case you'd considered it, but I had an Alfa Stelvio as a hire car in Spain a couple of weeks ago - don't ... just don't ! It was awful

Ha I did consider that actually. What happened?

The quadrifoglio looks and sounds amazing however from what I've researched, after the novelty wears off, you'll find it's not as refined as the Germans. Would love to drive one though.

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