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elias, "Karl's Daily Log Book" #1906, 18 Sep 2005 11:47 am
Steve, Host
Anyone?
There is not a cotter pin to prevent this from happening.
Any ideas or any good cleaning products I can try? Thanks.
Steve, Host
From the performance/handling standpoint, I think the attributes of the X3 that make it unique are its sports car handling in an SUV. The car is so nimble, it never feels like a 4000lbs vehicle. The X-Drive is awesome, probably the best AWD system around. Also, if you are looking to get a manual transmission, the X3 and X5 3.0 are your only options. The X3 is build on car platform (the 3-series touring) which really gives it a car feel.
From the performance standpoint, the only other SUVs that I think is in the same league is the Subaru Forrester and maybe the Tribecca B9 (although I haven't heard much about it) also, the Infinit FX35. VW will be introducing its small SUV the Marakesh in late 2006 as a 2007 model, which is based on the Golf platform, so should make for a nice handling SUV.
However, if luxury and utility are more your concern... the X3 is less unique here. I think you could look at FX35, RX330 and Touareg (also the Touareg is a hardcore off-road vehicle, which the X3 is not). You could also consider the X5 which shares many of the benefits of the X3 but feels much heavier (not nearly as nimble), also its design is aging and is due for major model change in two years. The Acura MDX is OK too, but when I drove it, it felt like a mini-Van. However Acura is releasing the RDX based on the new CR-V design in 2007.
Other factors to consider are value, at the time I got my X3, the lease offer was so sweet that nothing on the market came close to being an equivalent value.
Good luck...
Hope this helps.
newBmr
Thanx
Michelle
My dealer's service center is closed today(Sunday). Does anyone have any idea, how to unlock the latch on the door. If not, I have to wait till tomorrow and contact BMW service.
Thanks
The 2006 is dressed somewhat better for success, with the painted bumpers, etc.
The dashboard material seems fine, but it looks less expensive than the dash in the X5.
Now, having said all this, and saying that we did end up with a 2005 X3 3.0 in black gloss (which effectively hides the fact that the bumpers are unpainted), that we believe is handsome and configured as we have ours, is dressed for success both inside and out.
Every one of the cars that are ON THE LOT are usually not very well equipped and they are not as satisfying as they can be made to be:
We did the following:
X3 3.0 (the manual transmission is THE ONLY one to get, the steptronic is old technology and is only a 5 speed -- performance and mileage will suffer)
Jet Black Gloss exterior w/Terracotta Montana Leather Sport Seats
Premium
Sport
Cold Weather
Premium Sound system
BiXenon headlights
Satellite Radio (Sirius)
Satellite Navigation
Built in (in the armrest) BMW Sony T637 Bluetooth phone
Servotronic (A MUST HAVE and $250.00)
BMW Brake dust shields
F+R Parktronic, Tirepressure monitoring system
The bottom line MSRP ~ $47,000. No money down, $581 mo lease @15K miles per year for 3 years.
The car is quiet, comfortable, sporty, has a decent sound system and the nav system and bluetooth work great.
It could not be had with a heated steering wheel as configured and oddly BMW doesn't offer rear heated seats. The sunroof is very large and with the servotronic and sport package the car handles, well, like a car.
With the 6spd manual and the 3.0 engine, it is adequately+ powered, with the automatic, the thing is a slug relegated to that "transmission hunting" behavior so reminiscent of the Oldsmobile Bravada 4 speed.
This car would be fantastic, not that it isn't already close as is, with the 255HP 6 and the new SMG or perhaps 6speed steptronic.
They almost seem to give them away from a leasing perspective, too.
Terracotta is an acquired taste, but this car when all shined up, can go to work and to a black tie affair with its head up high. :shades:
The X3 gets excellent reviews and one said it was the best car M3 to SUV of them all, might even be better than the car from which it is derived. Good luck in choosing.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I'd say your latch is basically "closed", so that there is no way for it to slide past the solid bar on the "B" pillar... You need to "open" the latch up..
Hope this helps... I'm not very mechanically inclined..
regards,
kyfdx
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I called the BMW service this morning and had it unlocked. All that I had to do was, unlock the door using remote. Then, pull the door handle, hold it with one hand and using a screwdriver, open the latch on the door. It was simple, but had to wait for the right person.
In case, anyone in this situation, you know what to do.
Michelle
P.S. Any opinions on the ipod input?
Thank You
As for navigation, it's an $1800 option. Not a great nav system, as it's controlled by the right radio knob. Certainly an aftermarket nav would be less expensive and/or touch-screen.... but it wouldn't have the nice fit and finish as the built-in nav, either.
The ipod input is installed through the glove compartment and is wired up through the back of your radio. Note that it is not compatible with the Nav system, the premium sound system, Sirius, nor a CD changer.
235/55-17 on 17 X 8 wheels...
235/50-18 on 18 X 8 wheels...
There may be a staggered wheel option with summer-only tires... There was on last year's model... but, that isn't standard with the sport package..
regards,
kyfdx
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As I said in my previous post, the fact that all the nav controls are done through the right-side radio knob. It just feels a little clumsy or something. The screen is not really crisp like in the BMW cars, either. Despite iDrive, I actually like the BMW car version of the nav much better.
If you get a chance to see/use one in person, that would definitely be your best bet.
F 8.5 X 19 235/45-19
R 9 X 19 255/40-19
Price: $3550
I think this is priced as an accessory, meaning you get to keep your standard wheels/tires (handy for winter).
regards,
kyfdx
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Also, I wonder why the need for different sizes for F & R? Even though the x-drive is rear-biased, I don't see the power-split, nor the overall hp, to be sufficient to over-power the rear tires.
Assist in full on mode is free for one year. Beyond that, according to my BMW dealer, you can use Assist on a per call basis. Again, a no brainer.
The 18" wheels and tires that are part of the sport package are better looking than the standard wheels and with the lower profile and the sport suspension the turn in and control of the vehicle is enhanced. More car like.
We have have 6 cars with Nav systems -- the X3 system is well integrated, easy to program and has amazing detail and points of interest in its database.
My new Audi A6 has a somewhat more crisp screen, but the BMW screen is easy to use and the system is actually easier, by a tiny bit, to program than the A6's. The voice commands, integration with the left instrument cluster "pod" too are wonderful.
Don't leave home without it. We integrated the accessory to plant the phone into the armrest, upgraded the sound system and with the sport multi function steering wheel, everything works great.
It needs voice activation for the phone at least, but the ability to load the phone's address book into the nav screen for easy scrolling ALMOST makes this a non-issue (I would still take voice dialing, now that I know how good it can be in the Audi implementation.)
The aftermarket units work. They look like aftermarket units. If this is OK with you, well, that is OK with me. I like the integration and ease of use of a completely designed together system.
The screen is color, it won't play DVD's and there is NO CD changer (but you can get one) -- add the upgraded sound + sirius sat radio and this X3 is darn near a luxury sport activity vehicle, not just a mere SAV.
What will it do to the ride? Well... it won't make it any better..
What you should be asking? How long will those 19" tires last, and how much will it cost to replace them...
Answer? Not long... and a lot..
regards,
kyfdx
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The tires are H rated, A/S Michelin's profile is 50, the ride may be somewhat firmer with 50 series tires, but somehow I suspect the harshness some folks talk about in this instance has to do with the stiffer spring rates in the sport package.
We like the firmness, so this has, thus far, never been an issue. The X3 is quite comfortable especially with the Premium and Sport package combination. Great adjustability, too (speaking of the seats, that is.)
We have never taken this car off road -- I don't think that is its forte, but it is a great road car -- as noted, I only SOMETIMES wish for the 255HP engine now in the new 3 and 5 sedans (both for the power boost and the better mileage.)
Not wanting two X3's in our garage would be one of the only reasons for me to NOT consider an X3 when my current 2005 Audi A6 lease is up.
With the two cars in our garage (now that the TT is gone), I seldom find myself having a preference as to which car we take -- both the A6 and the X3 are capable and comfortable.
The upgraded sound system has in me a new fan -- my wife put a copy of Brothers in Arms in the CD player the other day and we were both blown away by this system's abilities to produce sizzling highs and gutteral lows (I said "wow, and this is THE FACTORY system upgrade,") color us impressed.
I have never been "anti BMW" but his dude has made me a fan.
Anyways, took the car for servicing after 15K miles - according to service meter that was when it was time to take it. I guess they did an oil change, did some minor body repair work for Free and washed the car nice and clean.
Was surprised when service counselor said tires need to be rotated only every 20K miles. Seems like BMW service is in the alternate world vs. most cars (oil change 5 k miles, etc), but I dind't question it.
When i turn on ignition now, it obviously shows the next interval for service but it also says "INSPECTION" in upper right hand corner - what does this mean praytell?
AAP
The 30K interval is Inspection I (one)
The "INSPECTION" in the upper right hand corner is just notifying you what the odometer is counting down to...
regards,
kyfdx
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We always use either Mobil or a Top Tier gasoline (Shell, Chevron, etc.) and of course always use premium and we make certain our tires are inflated near the top of the range suggested in the manual.
We have 18" wheels -- if that matters (and I don't think it does -- or at least it is only negligible.)
Using regular ONCE or in an emergency is fine -- but not on a regular (no pun intended) basis.