New X3 Launch - BMW what are you doing then?

[Ranger 6]

Dear BMW UK,

Please can we have some action from your good selves...?

Your Dutch colleagues have already got web pages up and running with teaser pictures and registration details for information - http://www.bmw.nl/nl/nl/newvehicles/x/x3/2010/prec... (password is JOYX3). Why haven't you?

There's interest in all sorts of places in this new car and while there are a few that are Clarksoning in throwing any and every insult at the X3 there are also quite a few who do actually like the car and are looking forward with interest to it's launch.

Now, let's take the example set by VW UK shall we? The 2011 Touareg is due for it's launch at the same time as the F25 X3 - VW UK have already had forum events....

'Forum events?' I hear you cry...... yes, they took members of the Touareg forum, yes, lots of them, to different venues across the UK and showed them the new model - better still they were able to drive them..... drive them hard I would add and really see what was coming later this year.

Now, had I been a die hard Touareg fan I would have gone and placed an order as soon as the dealer doors opened the next day. After all how often do you get the chance to drive a new model round the mountain circuit at Millbrook three months before the model is due for launch????????

Oh, yes, thanks to the VW marketing people too I have a lovely photo of me driving the V6 TDi

So my question is - what are you going to do for your customers - [u]the real ones[/u], not just the ones who go into the dealer and throw a wad of cash over the desk every couple of years, not the ones who are known by their first name in the showrooms, but the ones who save for your cars, who value the quality, the experience and defend when others are throwing verbal hand grenades - the ones who spend money getting the servicing done at your franchised dealers which bump up the profits as we all know you don't make much money on new car sales these days.....

When am I going to get the invitation to drive one...... Oh, sorry, I've probably dropped off the dealer radar because I haven't been to the showroom for six months now...... so I'm going to have to work, to scour the web for information as you can't be bothered to preview anything, there's no innovation in your UK marketing team, you have to rely on snippets of genius from Munich and hope the millions spent at Wentworth gain some 'share of voice'

Please let me know when it's coming and how much it will cost?

Yours

A disgruntled X3 enthusiast

P.S. The Touareg really was very good and a vast improvement over the old one - you're going to have to work hard to keep my interest

[petrolveins]

Ranger 6 said:

stuff

Can I add my mum to your list with you, she's not really into cars but even so, not a day passes where she doesn't mention how much she misses her X3. If given a look at one before the launch you can be sure she would have Dad convinced to sell the 530d and put their name on the waiting list. Mind you, we were lucky enough to get a good look at an X6 a few months ahead of launch. Didn't fancy one though. If you want sneak previews it pays to know the right people. (Such as the previous BMW UK MD's wife)

[Ranger 6]

Thank you - for your Mum...



I was very impressed by the way VW actually put faith in a bunch of random forum geeks (who I guess like PH turned out to be nice folk) and let us loose in what was some very valuable vehicles. We weren't nannied too much and having over cooked one corner I had a pre-production car sideways..... then took it down to an autotest... all in all great fun.

What could we expect from BMW? Well we may just get an invitation to a showroom event and sip some warm cava while looking at a static vehicle 2 days before the release date.
Will we be offered any more?
No.... such a shame after the first one was lambasted by so many and the few of us who do actually enjoy it will be left out.

[petrolveins]

Is that a leaked photo, or a mock up? Because I'm not so keen if that's what it looks like.

[T89 Callan]

Maybe they realised that the X3 is one of the most awful cars ever made and have decided to keep it quiet?

[Deva Link]

Ranger 6 said:

So my question is - what are you going to do for your customers - [u]the real ones[/u], not just the ones who go into the dealer and throw a wad of cash over the desk every couple of years,

BMW don't need to do any of the stuff that you mentioned, because people go into their dealer every couple of years and throw a wad of cash over the desk.

[Ranger 6]

petrolveins said:

Is that a leaked photo, or a mock up? Because I'm not so keen if that's what it looks like.

It's a best guess rendering from the spy shots and from the teaser pictures of the bonnet and rear flank it's fairly close.

[M3M5M6]

Press are due to drive pre-production X3s in the first week of June so you should have some driving impressions and mildly disguised pictures at some point next week.

[Ranger 6]

Thanks I wonder if they'll let some of us drive them too.....

[GregE240]

T89 Callan said:

Maybe they realised that the X3 is one of the most awful cars ever made and have decided to keep it quiet?

I don't know if you ever owned or drove one, and I know I'm biased, but I can't agree with that, sorry.

[T89 Callan]

GregE240 said:

T89 Callan said:

Maybe they realised that the X3 is one of the most awful cars ever made and have decided to keep it quiet?

I don't know if you ever owned or drove one, and I know I'm biased, but I can't agree with that, sorry.

It's my view as an Automotive Designer, awful looking thing that doesn't do a single thing well. So so so many better cars out there that there is no reason that anyone would buy one except for badge snobbery.

[GregE240]

T89 Callan said:

GregE240 said:

T89 Callan said:

Maybe they realised that the X3 is one of the most awful cars ever made and have decided to keep it quiet?

I don't know if you ever owned or drove one, and I know I'm biased, but I can't agree with that, sorry.

It's my view as an Automotive Designer, awful looking thing that doesn't do a single thing well. So so so many better cars out there that there is no reason that anyone would buy one except for badge snobbery.

Hmm, and the fact a dog has more room in the back than an X5. That was our reason.

[petrolveins]

GregE240 said:

T89 Callan said:

GregE240 said:

T89 Callan said:

Maybe they realised that the X3 is one of the most awful cars ever made and have decided to keep it quiet?

I don't know if you ever owned or drove one, and I know I'm biased, but I can't agree with that, sorry.

It's my view as an Automotive Designer, awful looking thing that doesn't do a single thing well. So so so many better cars out there that there is no reason that anyone would buy one except for badge snobbery.

Hmm, and the fact a dog has more room in the back than an X5. That was our reason.

Yeah, I think it's the car everyone loves to hate without giving it a chance. We loved ours, only two things I didn't like were the engine (every BMW should have a 6-cylinder) and I thought the rear seats were a bit hard. Other than that we loved it. I also think it was a very good looking car, my mum has never had more compliments about the looks of a car than she did with her X3. When we sold it we discovered the previous owner was stated simply as NATO, irrelevant to the car I know, but very cool all the same .

ETA

It was also by far the most competent lot of the small SUVs when we bought, and we literally looked at everything.

Edited by petrolveins on Tuesday 25th May 17:17

[philmots]

Very capable in sd35d guise too! 335d/535d whatever it's called in the X3.

[Deva Link]

philmots said:

Very capable in sd35d guise too! 335d/535d whatever it's called in the X3.

I seriously doubt that many people want that though - I'm sure they'd sell more if was lazy, soft & comfy.

I drove an early one and thought it was horrendous, although I understand the later one rode better.

[theboss]

We've got a later model 3.0sd and I think it's a fantastic family car. I don't think it's as well appointed on the inside as, say an X5 or 5-er, but I'd say it's better than my E90 LCI. It also offers far more space, tractive benefits of AWD and the ride height allows it to ascend our drive without bottoming out like any car does. It cost no more than the equivalently specced 335d touring when we bought it, is far more practical if you're carrying large pushchairs and a load of shopping, and is even 90% as quick off the mark.

I think to write it off as being for 'badge snobs' is rediculous... quite the opposite in fact as I was initially repelled by its image/reputation... so it's redeemed itself purely based on ownership experience.

Edited by theboss on Tuesday 25th May 20:01

[Ranger 6]

Ranger 6 said:

Oh, yes, thanks to the VW marketing people too I have a lovely photo of me driving the V6 TDi

[Deva Link]

I know it needs extra suspension travel but they always look like the wheels are way too small.

[Ranger 6]

Funny you say that - I think they were 20"s so it shows the size of the thing

[Deva Link]

Ranger 6 said:

Funny you say that - I think they were 20"s so it shows the size of the thing

The overall size of the wheel & tyre usually stays the same but the tyres get lower profile as the wheels get bigger - so the arches stayed filled (ir unfilled!) to the same extent.

Not sure I'd want an SUV with tyres as low profile as those look in the picture.