X3 - are they that bad?
Discussion
I'll be handing back my company 5 Series Touring next month and started looking at replacements for the family car.
I've set a budget of circa £15k and am tossing up between another 5 Touring or perhaps a 3 Touring. But I can't help but notice what tremendous value X3s are.
I know the image of these things, especially in the current climate, is hammering their residuals but are they actually a bad a car in 3.0 diesel guise?
I can live with the image for an X3 3.0SD for the price of a 320d if they're any good.
I've set a budget of circa £15k and am tossing up between another 5 Touring or perhaps a 3 Touring. But I can't help but notice what tremendous value X3s are.
I know the image of these things, especially in the current climate, is hammering their residuals but are they actually a bad a car in 3.0 diesel guise?
I can live with the image for an X3 3.0SD for the price of a 320d if they're any good.
I had one as a loan car while mine was in the dealers for a software upgrade. When I returned it I actually asked the salesman if people actually buy them with their own money......
I thought the drive was terrible, the gearbox felt just like the one in a ford transit with a long and vague action.
Acceleration was poor the ride choppy and the interior quality (cloth) dreadful.
So if you asked me there is a good reason they look good value.............
S
I thought the drive was terrible, the gearbox felt just like the one in a ford transit with a long and vague action.
Acceleration was poor the ride choppy and the interior quality (cloth) dreadful.
So if you asked me there is a good reason they look good value.............
S
My BiL had one a few years back. Inside it looked like a BMW, but it didn't feel like a BMW - the build quality was s
te. They may have got better though, I've not been in one since.
Also the packaging seemed odd - took up a fair bit of road but was far from spacious inside and the boot space was mean for a car this size. In the back it actually felt quite cramped. But again, I have no other experience of soft roaders, they may all be like this - so it might be class leading for all I know.
te. They may have got better though, I've not been in one since. Also the packaging seemed odd - took up a fair bit of road but was far from spacious inside and the boot space was mean for a car this size. In the back it actually felt quite cramped. But again, I have no other experience of soft roaders, they may all be like this - so it might be class leading for all I know.
Do test drive one and report back - I'm still in the dark as to whether the 3.0sd might be a hidden gem.
A friend who had a pre-facelift 2.0d MSport for 3 years preferred it to his current E93 320Ci cabriolet. And the post-facelift X3s are supposed to be built much better. 280bhp, decent economy and 4wd in a car-sized, good-handling estate seems a great combination.
A friend who had a pre-facelift 2.0d MSport for 3 years preferred it to his current E93 320Ci cabriolet. And the post-facelift X3s are supposed to be built much better. 280bhp, decent economy and 4wd in a car-sized, good-handling estate seems a great combination.
I had one for 2 years after 4 years of M3s and loved it! The early ones had questionable finishes, but I think the later ones, particularly 3.0D and 3.0SD are awesome cars. My wife has a CR-V and the X3 knocks the socks off it IMO.
Go and test drive one and see what you think - the SEs do ride better than the Sports due to the softer suspension setup, but the sport suspension was offered as a no cost delete option on later Sports so if you can find a 3.0SD MSport with SE suspension you should have the best of both worlds.
It drives every bit as well as an E46 and is far more practical.
Ignore your prejudices and try one for yourself! I'd have another in a flash.
Go and test drive one and see what you think - the SEs do ride better than the Sports due to the softer suspension setup, but the sport suspension was offered as a no cost delete option on later Sports so if you can find a 3.0SD MSport with SE suspension you should have the best of both worlds.
It drives every bit as well as an E46 and is far more practical.
Ignore your prejudices and try one for yourself! I'd have another in a flash.
I almost cant believe what im reading. we just took delivery of an 08 2ltr d. brilliant car. and we tested the crv and it was... how can i put it... dog sh*te? the whole range has just had an engine upgrade and they are promoting their new 4wd system called xdrive so perhaps the facelift is an enormous improvement upon the early cars?
We have owned a 3.0sd in se trim for over two years and 24.000 miles, it has returned 29.7mpg and only now needs a set of new tyres, we tow a trailer and even fully laden it pulls like a train, solo it makes a fine Q car. I do not like the pre face lift X3 the se looks like someones just dipped the car in a tub of chocolate and all the sport models inc face lift look like a smacked arse, this IMO of course. The sport suspension ruins the ride, go for a face lift SE with half leather and pan roof plus any other spec you might require, the six speed auto is also great. having said all that if you can find a 3.0sd for 15K you will be lucky, and if you do find one buy it. Yes the 3.0sd is a hidden gem.
BAHN-STORMA said:
Never really saw the point of the X3, not much smaller/cheaper than the better equipped and better looking X5.
Someone else mentioned gearboxes - avoid manuals, automatic is the only way to go for these.
It is much narrower => fits into supermarket car parking spaces and you can open the doors.Someone else mentioned gearboxes - avoid manuals, automatic is the only way to go for these.
hughjayteens said:
I had one for 2 years after 4 years of M3s and loved it! The early ones had questionable finishes, but I think the later ones, particularly 3.0D and 3.0SD are awesome cars. My wife has a CR-V and the X3 knocks the socks off it IMO.
Go and test drive one and see what you think - the SEs do ride better than the Sports due to the softer suspension setup, but the sport suspension was offered as a no cost delete option on later Sports so if you can find a 3.0SD MSport with SE suspension you should have the best of both worlds.
It drives every bit as well as an E46 and is far more practical.
Ignore your prejudices and try one for yourself! I'd have another in a flash.
Is that the latest CRV? We've got the latest one and when comparing the two prior to purchase I really couldn't find a reason to put the X3 over it... the ride in the X3 was absolutely awful and interior trim naff. Only think it had in favour was being a better looking car externally but even then we bought the top spec CRV and that looks quite nice with the decent sized alloys,etc.,Go and test drive one and see what you think - the SEs do ride better than the Sports due to the softer suspension setup, but the sport suspension was offered as a no cost delete option on later Sports so if you can find a 3.0SD MSport with SE suspension you should have the best of both worlds.
It drives every bit as well as an E46 and is far more practical.
Ignore your prejudices and try one for yourself! I'd have another in a flash.
As per usual there are going to be lots of negative comments from those who have never owned one of these cars let alone driven one. As usual the people who really know and are the ones who have owned one and it seems they are well regarded. We had a 2004 2.0 d m sport and it was brilliant. Ive been in a fortunate position to have had many BMW's and this stands out as one of the best we have had so drive one and ignore the mindless tw@ts on here.
Let us know what u think
Let us know what u think
Edited by Russell B on Saturday 27th December 14:48
BAHN-STORMA said:
Russell B said:
mindless tw@ts on here.
Just summed yourself up - no need for such comments... 
I was most dissapionted when I was given one of these horrific things as a loan car.
Except... it turned out not to be horrific at all. I'd never buy one but I really rather liked it. The build felt fine, the interior was a curious mix of new-style BMW and E46, the ride was nice, the autbox suited the 2.0 diesel engine..... it was fine.
Except... it turned out not to be horrific at all. I'd never buy one but I really rather liked it. The build felt fine, the interior was a curious mix of new-style BMW and E46, the ride was nice, the autbox suited the 2.0 diesel engine..... it was fine.
They arent that bad at all, my dad has had two - both 6 cylinder petrols. Not bad looking with the sport bumpers and on the road as you would expect for a BMW they are excellent. Nice and roomy inside and the slightly higher driving position helps.
Only bad thing was the ride comfort on the sport model, with runflats it is totally, totally unacceptable.
Only bad thing was the ride comfort on the sport model, with runflats it is totally, totally unacceptable.
it will be much smaller than the 5 series touring. I had a X3 for a week and gave it back. Now have the X5 which is a fantastic car. Not a very big boot though compared to my wife`s 325 touring. X5 seems twice the car but for the same price. You can pick them up very cheap now!!!!
Good time to be buying a car
good luck
Good time to be buying a car
good luck
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