X3 for winter, would you go for the extra 2 cylinders?

[Grindle]

Just about to choose between 2 BMW X3 4wd SUVs. One's £5,000 and has the 3.0 218 bhp diesel and the other is £4,750, a 2.0 diesel with 150 bhp. Similar mileage and condition, both very good for the year.
Would you go for the 6 cylinders, more power and smoother or to you is an X3 a workhorse so it wouldn't make any difference? Just curious what people would do.

[southerndriver]

This is PH so of course you go for the bigger engine.

[Grindle]

There's also a 286bhp twin turbo diesel private sale for just £6,250 as well, having had that engine in a range of cars i know they go well. But this is really a winter hack.

[daveco]

BMW 4 cylinder diesels are dogs and less reliable. Their 6 cylinder diesels are excellent ime.

[Cold]

Which one has the highest air intake?

[K50 DEL]

I have the 2.0d in an X1 with around 50 more horsepower than the 2.0 you're looking at - it's not exactly rapid so I think i'd discount the 150bhp unit, even more so as the X3 is heavier than the X1 - go for the more powerful option, it might only be a winter hack but you won't regret it.

[Krikkit]

Having owned an I6 diesel I'd never go for anything less again, bloody marvellous. The increase in smoothness and refinement over a 4-cylinder is incredible.

[ric p]

3 litre i6 without a doubt. Got an 08 as the daily hack. 165k miles and no issues. Pulls like a train with 218bhp and returns 40+ mpg with the plastic swirl flap (?) removed as these can rattle and eventually fail.
I'd avoid the sd one or any with the sports suspension. Standard is as stiff as you'd want!!

[theboss]

I ran an SD 35d in the unusually snowy winters of 2008/09/10, it was very good. If I were buying one again I would pay extra for the twin turbo setup.

[Ranger 6]

I'm on my third X3 and have worked from the 150bhp 2.0d, through the 3.0d 218bhp that you've mentioned and now on the 313bhp 35d.

The sixes are massively better than the 4 cylinder engines, smoother, much more torquey and with the auto box, really nice to drive.

I'd vote for the 3.0d - a friend had the 3.0sd engine in a 3 series and had problem with some vacuum pipes at about 120k miles. Took a bit of sorting out.

[cerb4.5lee]

The 6 cylinder diesel engine is smoother and more powerful for sure, however I find SUV's really boring to drive(I guess that's the point of them though)...so the 4 cylinder diesel would suffice for me in a vehicle like this.

[V8RX7]

If they are identical so it's just £250 for the extra performance it's a no brainer.

[Pica-Pica]

Once you have had an I-6 you would never go back to I-4. However, I would hope for nearer 300ps.

[Pica-Pica]

Once you have had an I-6 you would never go back to I-4. However, I would hope for nearer 300ps.

[InitialDave]

6 pot all the way.

[prand]

Don't forget to replace the tyres with some decent winters, to make the most of the 4x4 traction.

[aaron_2000]

Grindle said:

There's also a 286bhp twin turbo diesel private sale for just £6,250 as well, having had that engine in a range of cars i know they go well. But this is really a winter hack.

Can't beat the SD. It was our family car for 3 years, it was absolutely brilliant. Most people don't know about it too, very much a sleeper.

[nunpuncher]

BMW 4 pot diesel is a turd.

I was looking at the 3.0 petrol version of these recently. I'd be inclined to get one of those unless you really need the diesel for mileage

[ZX10R NIN]

It has to be the 3.0 engine be it diesel or petrol you won't go wrong with either, basically ditch the 2.0d.

[aaron_2000]

But if you get an X3, try and get one with the heated seats and bi xenons.