X3 (F25) 30d thoughts
Discussion
Hello All,
I posted this question in Car Buying but it didn't garner much interest (except for the ever helpful ZX10R NIN!)
I was wondering if anyone on here had driven or owned a 2nd generation X3 30d.
We currently have an e91 330d (58 reg last of the M57s!) and are thinking what to replace it with. My wife wants something higher whilst I want something that has all the good things about our 330d including 6 cylinders. We both want something with more interior space and also stick with the automatic. The X3 seems to tick all the boxes on paper and comes with the ZF8.
I am not interested in the 20d and the 35d is out of budget which is about £11k including trading in the 330d. I realise this is the low end of 30d's currently for sale.
So what should I be looking out for on F25s. What options are good to have and what should be avoided. I am tempted by the plain-Jane SE model for a more comfortable ride. These appear to come with conventional steel springs rather than VDC.
Thanks
I posted this question in Car Buying but it didn't garner much interest (except for the ever helpful ZX10R NIN!)
I was wondering if anyone on here had driven or owned a 2nd generation X3 30d.
We currently have an e91 330d (58 reg last of the M57s!) and are thinking what to replace it with. My wife wants something higher whilst I want something that has all the good things about our 330d including 6 cylinders. We both want something with more interior space and also stick with the automatic. The X3 seems to tick all the boxes on paper and comes with the ZF8.
I am not interested in the 20d and the 35d is out of budget which is about £11k including trading in the 330d. I realise this is the low end of 30d's currently for sale.
So what should I be looking out for on F25s. What options are good to have and what should be avoided. I am tempted by the plain-Jane SE model for a more comfortable ride. These appear to come with conventional steel springs rather than VDC.
Thanks
So, I can’t talk from direct experience but I did buy an F25 X3 20d SE for my ex wife (before we split) and it was a pretty damn good steer. I had come from a long line of BMWs incl 2x E70 X5s which were amongst the best of the bunch so was a bit worried about getting the X3 but I really enjoyed driving it for the year before we
separated. The suspension was certainly more compliant than the M Sport on its non-VDC Steel Springs but could be hustled down a country lane pretty well and although the 20d was gruff, unrefined and ran out of puff when extended, it was ok. I bought it with 40k on the clock. The ex still has it and has covered 60k of relatively painless miles in the last four years.
That said, when we split I bought myself an F11 530d and that was a superb engine. Effortless and refined, I did wonder how the X3 would be with that lump.
I can imagine it will be a very good all round package.
separated. The suspension was certainly more compliant than the M Sport on its non-VDC Steel Springs but could be hustled down a country lane pretty well and although the 20d was gruff, unrefined and ran out of puff when extended, it was ok. I bought it with 40k on the clock. The ex still has it and has covered 60k of relatively painless miles in the last four years.
That said, when we split I bought myself an F11 530d and that was a superb engine. Effortless and refined, I did wonder how the X3 would be with that lump.
I can imagine it will be a very good all round package.
We have an x30d 2014. We have exactly the same criteria as you did. It's a great car, the 30d is hilariously fast (we came from a 118i though!). We have the xline which has the se suspension but some nicer trim I think. It rides on 18" wheels with rft's and I think it's very comfortable. I have no idea why anyone would have 20" wheels on an SUV and msport suspension. What's the point? I think one of the most important things is the options list. I kind of assumed (idiot!) that a lot of things would be standard but clearly they're not. I really miss folding mirrors and would really have liked cameras and adaptive cruise control ( I think that's available).
They're very easy to park even without the cameras and the view is great. I've hated SUV's for years and the deal with my wife was that it had to be a 30d if we weren't getting a 3/5 series. I have zero regrets on this car though otherwise. We only have one child but and there's plenty of space. I say go for it but work out which options you want!
They're very easy to park even without the cameras and the view is great. I've hated SUV's for years and the deal with my wife was that it had to be a 30d if we weren't getting a 3/5 series. I have zero regrets on this car though otherwise. We only have one child but and there's plenty of space. I say go for it but work out which options you want!
30d engine is a wonderful thing being fast , torquey and very good on fuel at the same time . If you can find one with VDC it could be the perfect package . All the others can be quite choppy on undulating cross country road but if you don't ever go "up country" they are quite adequate .
I bought the above 2011 X3 30d M-Sport on Saturday and love it.
I have had 2x E83 X3's and loved them and had no issues in 5 years on combined ownership.
I had a '56 LCI 2.0d manual and then a '07 3.0sd Twin turbo.
I cannot fault the E83 X3 but the newer F25 seems so much better.
Mine has quite a good spec: angel eyes, headlight assist, electric memory seats, panoramic roof, light package, folding mirrors etc.
Will see how it compares after a few months. Mine has 87k and fsh.
jagr said:
I bought the above 2011 X3 30d M-Sport on Saturday and love it.
I have had 2x E83 X3's and loved them and had no issues in 5 years on combined ownership.
I had a '56 LCI 2.0d manual and then a '07 3.0sd Twin turbo.
I cannot fault the E83 X3 but the newer F25 seems so much better.
Mine has quite a good spec: angel eyes, headlight assist, electric memory seats, panoramic roof, light package, folding mirrors etc.
Will see how it compares after a few months. Mine has 87k and fsh.
That looks very nice.
I have concluded my budget is currently a little shy of where it needs to be to get "into the peloton" of 30d's as opposed to just the very cheapest on offer or those that seem to have been on sale forever. With my e91 still driving great, I sense saving up some more cash is the plan.
Mind if I asked (ish) what you paid for yours and whereabouts in the country you live. We live in Poole and I am finding there are hardly any locally and the going rate for cars up to 100miles away is £11k to £12k (there is a 35d in Southampton for £12k..) for nice looking examples.
I hope you enjoy your new car. A review would be great (hint!)
I have concluded my budget is currently a little shy of where it needs to be to get "into the peloton" of 30d's as opposed to just the very cheapest on offer or those that seem to have been on sale forever. With my e91 still driving great, I sense saving up some more cash is the plan.
Mind if I asked (ish) what you paid for yours and whereabouts in the country you live. We live in Poole and I am finding there are hardly any locally and the going rate for cars up to 100miles away is £11k to £12k (there is a 35d in Southampton for £12k..) for nice looking examples.
I hope you enjoy your new car. A review would be great (hint!)
SlowV6 said:
. I am tempted by the plain-Jane SE model for a more comfortable ride. These appear to come with conventional steel springs rather than VDC.
Bit late responding to this one, mostly as I have no F25 experience. Not yet anyhow ;-)Anyhow, VDC refers to the damping - you either have conventional shock absorbers, or the electronically controlled variable ones found in VDC equipped cars. But the springs are always steel in the case of the F25 (SE having softer springs, M Sport having harder lower ones). VDC was available in either the SE or M Sport cars.
Just to add, the ride on 18's with SE suspension and PZero's is great (Pirelli P7s were more comfortable though). The handling is fine for an SUV too. If you're into slaloms or drifting you may want to look elsewhere but it does everything I need including changing direction with ok precision at a fair pace.
Lozw86 said:
Yes I appreciate the puncture risk, but I have tried various modern, premium run flats and with 20” wheels (35 profile) they’re just too hard. With smaller wheels they are fine
Loz out of interest did you try the latest Run Flat Goodyear F1 eagle assymetric 3's ....yes mine are 18s agreed but I actually prefer them to my Michelin PS3 Normals ...the other runflats I had were awful
Well after nearly a month and 700 miles I still love it.
I paid £11,800 for it and I live in Cheshire (bought in Stoke-on-Trent). It was the owner of Stannah stairlifts car.
I have just ordered from Germany a set of 19" wheels as I think the 18's look a little small.
It is so comfortable and quiet. Mine has a toggle switch near the gear lever that has 'Normal' 'Sport' and 'Sport+' options that come up on the idrive. I like 'Normal' best.
It is quite frugal averaging 32+mpg.
The panoramic roof is great but any advise to keep it working and noise free will be appreciated.
Seats in mine are memory electric and so much better quality than on the E83's.
Problems found or gripes really:
There is a annoying rubbing squeak like plastic on plastic that I think is the parcel shelf and mine has the 'Nav' button but no Nav is highlighted on idrive.
I have removed the glovebox and found a few cables that I believe the satnav should plug into. Still investigating.
I have fitted wind deflectors, boot liner and interior bulbs have been changed to LED.
As said I loved my E83's and would recommend one to anyone but now after owning this one I would say budget permitting buy one of these.
I paid £11,800 for it and I live in Cheshire (bought in Stoke-on-Trent). It was the owner of Stannah stairlifts car.
I have just ordered from Germany a set of 19" wheels as I think the 18's look a little small.
It is so comfortable and quiet. Mine has a toggle switch near the gear lever that has 'Normal' 'Sport' and 'Sport+' options that come up on the idrive. I like 'Normal' best.
It is quite frugal averaging 32+mpg.
The panoramic roof is great but any advise to keep it working and noise free will be appreciated.
Seats in mine are memory electric and so much better quality than on the E83's.
Problems found or gripes really:
There is a annoying rubbing squeak like plastic on plastic that I think is the parcel shelf and mine has the 'Nav' button but no Nav is highlighted on idrive.
I have removed the glovebox and found a few cables that I believe the satnav should plug into. Still investigating.
I have fitted wind deflectors, boot liner and interior bulbs have been changed to LED.
As said I loved my E83's and would recommend one to anyone but now after owning this one I would say budget permitting buy one of these.
jagr said:
...mine has the 'Nav' button but no Nav is highlighted on idrive.
I have removed the glovebox and found a few cables that I believe the satnav should plug into. Still investigating..
All have the nav button. I have removed the glovebox and found a few cables that I believe the satnav should plug into. Still investigating..
Nav is built into the main unit, so no point looking for wires.
You need to replace the CIC or get a newer NBT unit and the screen and swap them out if you want nav.
Personally I wouldn't bother, the NBT nav is f
king useless compared with things like waze. If you do it, then get a later version that can be coded for Carplay so you have Waze on the screen.
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