Help me find an X3!

[Rosscow]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a particular X3, and I'm struggling to find one.

3.0d Automatic
Preferably SE or xLine spec (we really don't like hard rides and prefer comfort - not fussed about M Sport styling/suspension, etc.)

Must have:
Cream/beige leather
Heated front seats
Electric front seats
Professional Navigation
Advanced Loudspeakers
Front & Rear PDC
Xenons
Maximum 18" wheels

Would be nice to have:
Towbar
Sunroof
VDC
Surround View
Reverse camera

Something like these two, which are both unfortunately sold!

https://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/201811032096536...

https://www.dicklovett.co.uk/bmw/used-cars/9307738...

Alternatively, can anyone offer experience of an M Sport on 18" wheels with VDC - does it take the 'crashiness' out of the ride?

maximum of around £22500.

Thanks!

[louiebaby]

Just for confirmation, my Dad bought a red one with the same spec, (not sure the seats are electric.)

It's very nice. I found it on Autotrader for him.

[325iMSport]

Rosscow said:

Hi all,

I'm looking for a particular X3, and I'm struggling to find one.

3.0d Automatic
Preferably SE or xLine spec (we really don't like hard rides and prefer comfort - not fussed about M Sport styling/suspension, etc.)

Must have:
Cream/beige leather
Heated front seats
Electric front seats
Professional Navigation
Advanced Loudspeakers
Front & Rear PDC
Xenons
Maximum 18" wheels

Would be nice to have:
Towbar
Sunroof
VDC
Surround View
Reverse camera

Something like these two, which are both unfortunately sold!

https://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/201811032096536...

https://www.dicklovett.co.uk/bmw/used-cars/9307738...

Alternatively, can anyone offer experience of an M Sport on 18" wheels with VDC - does it take the 'crashiness' out of the ride?

maximum of around £22500.

Thanks!

We have a F25 M sport with VDC and I would definetly not say it is crashy at all. Plus it is on run flat tyres too.

I have not driven a SE X3 so cant comment on how they compare.

[Rosscow]

OK, thanks.

I suppose a good alternative would be an M Sport with VDC. Not many of them around, either!

[arfur]

325iMSport said:

Rosscow said:

Hi all,

I'm looking for a particular X3, and I'm struggling to find one.

3.0d Automatic
Preferably SE or xLine spec (we really don't like hard rides and prefer comfort - not fussed about M Sport styling/suspension, etc.)

Must have:
Cream/beige leather
Heated front seats
Electric front seats
Professional Navigation
Advanced Loudspeakers
Front & Rear PDC
Xenons
Maximum 18" wheels

Would be nice to have:
Towbar
Sunroof
VDC
Surround View
Reverse camera

Something like these two, which are both unfortunately sold!

https://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/201811032096536...

https://www.dicklovett.co.uk/bmw/used-cars/9307738...

Alternatively, can anyone offer experience of an M Sport on 18" wheels with VDC - does it take the 'crashiness' out of the ride?

maximum of around £22500.

Thanks!

We have a F25 M sport with VDC and I would definetly not say it is crashy at all. Plus it is on run flat tyres too.

I have not driven a SE X3 so cant comment on how they compare.

I have a F25 X3 30d MSport with a spec as you have listed above (except towbar and sunroof). The cream/beige is the hard bit to find, took me ages to get what I wanted, as I wanted black with cream as well

Mine is on 19s on runflats and is by no means crashy at all. Was very surprised about how comfy it is to be honest.

[louiebaby]

Either of these any good?

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20180926089...

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20180906023...

Not gone too far into the options. Started with price, then mileage and age not too high. This left 2 non-M-Sport with light interiors.

Your list is very prescriptive, and reads a little more like a spec for a new car...

[Rosscow]

louiebaby said:

Either of these any good?

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20180926089...

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20180906023...

Not gone too far into the options. Started with price, then mileage and age not too high. This left 2 non-M-Sport with light interiors.

Your list is very prescriptive, and reads a little more like a spec for a new car...

Unfortunately not.....

The red is just horrible, and the other one is spot on for colour/interior etc. but has basic spec. (no professional nav, electric/heated seats, etc).

I didn't think I was being overly fussy, but I obviously am!

[VerySideways]

A lot of these cars would have been provided new on a lease or PCP rather than bought.
And unfortunately with a lease, options become expensive. Slightly less so on PCP due to increase in residual value, but the same still applies.
For many people, they would have leased the best model they could for the money, which wouldn't leave much in the kitty for options.

I don't think you're being unreasonable at all, my current X3 has pretty much everything on your list, but finding the cars with the spec is the hard part.

[AB]

Rosscow said:

Unfortunately not.....

The red is just horrible, and the other one is spot on for colour/interior etc. but has basic spec. (no professional nav, electric/heated seats, etc).

I didn't think I was being overly fussy, but I obviously am!

I agree with you, red does not work on the X3 whatsoever, it looks cheap.

If you're in no major rush I'd definitely hold out, nothing worse than compromising and regretting it.

[Rosscow]

Unfortunately I am in a bit of a hurry as our old car has now gone and we're using the mother in laws Focus as a temporary fix!

I'm actually going to look at a Touareg this afternoon, looks very nice and sounds promising.

13 plate with 41k, one owner from new, full history, nice grey colour with cream leather.

Includes retractable tow bar, area view and reverse cameras, heated electric seats, pano roof, etc.

Private sale.

[AB]

Sounds nice, bigger than the X3 and dare I say it maybe more appropriate considering you're looking for something that drives a bit more smoothly?

[Rosscow]

Well, I bought the Touareg.

What a car! Very pleased.

Thanks all.

[louiebaby]

Rosscow said:

Well, I bought the Touareg.

What a car! Very pleased.

Thanks all.

Good to close off a thread, rather than leave it open.

Hope it goes well for you.

[Rosscow]

Cheers!

Looking back at my ‘mush have’ list above makes my decision look pretty good:

Must have:
Cream/beige leather ✅
Heated front seats✅
Electric front seats✅
Professional Navigation
Advanced Loud speakers
Front & Rear PDC✅
Xenons✅
Maximum 18" wheeled

Would be nice to have:
Towbar✅
Sunroof✅
VDC
Surround View✅
Reverse camera✅

I question the sat nav and the stereo - it’s the top of the range for this car of this age so I presume it’s good. 18” wheels went out of the window, and the VDC isn’t really required as it has a much higher towing limit, tow ball nose weight limit and vehicle weight so not needed.

Fingers crossed it all goes OK!

[aeropilot]

Rosscow said:

Unfortunately not.....

The red is just horrible, and the other one is spot on for colour/interior etc. but has basic spec. (no professional nav, electric/heated seats, etc).

I didn't think I was being overly fussy, but I obviously am!

Yep.

Going to very hard hard to find a non-MSport with leccy/heated seats, ProNav, and hearing aid beige interior etc.

Might be waiting another 6 months or longer for one to turn up.......or one could turn up tomorrow.
All depends on how long you're prepared to wait or what spec you are prepared to compromise on if not.

Personally, I found that the non-sports seats are not very comfortable, and would be looking for a MSport with adaptive suspension option instead. More chance of finding one of those in the spec your after than a SE/XLine.

[Rosscow]

Yes you're right, although I did find 2 cars that were pretty much spot on but missed out on both.

And regarding the beige hearing aid leather..... each to their own!

In my opinion black leather is bog standard and run of the mill - every car comes with black or dark grey weather it's a Vauxhall, a Kia or a BMW!

Cream/beige/almond or whatever you want to call it certainly, in my opinion, lifts the interior of a car to the next level!

But anyway, I couldn't wait around forever so went with the Touareg!

[aeropilot]

Rosscow said:

In my opinion black leather is bog standard and run of the mill - every car comes with black or dark grey weather it's a Vauxhall, a Kia or a BMW!

Agree completely, I hate black interior.
My problem is I also hate ivory/cream/beige as well, so my options become very limited

Rosscow said:

But anyway, I couldn't wait around forever so went with the Touareg!