BMW X3

codog3 · June 2009

bring to the dealer (hopefully still under warranty, This is a known problem with the x3. I had the dealer perform the service bulletin on my 05 x3 and it works great now

patc3080 · July 2009

whenever i drive my 07 x3 over slightly hilly roads i know im in for an adventure,lately when i slow for aleft turn i get ahead snapping downshift! Is there abulletin on this problem from bmw?

ddwzf · July 2009

Just bought a 08 used X3, the car has bluetooth connection. the Phone & bluetooth manual says the pairing code is available from the "onboarding literature". I have the owner's manual but have no idea what the "onboarding literature" is. Anybody here has any idea on how I can get the pairing code?

Thanks!

szimdahl · July 2009

I have a 2007 X3 and this worked for me.

Open up the back of your X3. on the left hand side of the cargo area is a compartment that you have to push a button to open it up. Once you do, then remove the cover and look down below the DVD player towards a white Label. On the label, there will be a set of numbers. look for something that says PK#### .... What ever those 4#'s are, is your passkey to activate the bluetooth.

I hope that helps.

racerx009 · July 2009

My wife's '06 X3 billows ominous white smoke upon startup and idles roughly. This occurred for the first time last night from a vehicle that hasn't given us any real trouble before. I'm somewhat concerned about the welfare of my bank account since naturally this has occurred while her vehicle is out of warrantee (we extended with maintenance only). Anyone with thoughts on what the trouble could be before we head to the dealership on Monday will be greatly appreciated.

ddwzf · July 2009

szimdalh, thanks for the tip. It worked for me as well. Thanks

tidester · July 2009

Where's the smoke coming from? Engine? Exhaust?

tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper

racerx009 · July 2009

Sorry about the delay in responding. It's coming from the tailpipe and only at startup, it's not continuous.

tidester · July 2009

White exhaust usually indicates the presence of water. If it only happens at start up and is not continuous then it may simply be a result of water condensation in your exhaust system.

tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper

s24w · July 2009

We are deciding whether or not we should purchase a vehicle extended warranty for the Used '06 x3 that we just purchased or to just set some money aside in a separate account for potential/future repairs.

Any suggestions?
If warranty, do you have any specific companies you can recommend?

racerx009 · July 2009

The dealership has the truck now and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you're correct. I'll keep you posted and thanks for the info.

racerx009 · July 2009

The dealer just confirmed that the CVV on my wife's X6 needs to be replaced. Fortunately for us this is the third vehicle we've purchased from them (BMW of Orland Park [IL]) and they have agreed to goodwill the work at no charge. THAT was great news! Thanks for the input.

roadburner · July 2009

Set some money aside; I have a 2004 X3 2.5 with 81,000 miles and non-scheduled maintenance has consisted of a passenger SRS sensor(warranty), one set of tires at 50,000 miles, and one set of brakes at 60,000 miles. Maintenance and repair costs over four years of ownership have averaged @$56 per month- hardly a money pit.

abc0123 · July 2009

I am planning on getting a CPO BMW X3 - 2007 but I have read many things about this car that I am not sure about it...transmission problems....I am not an expert on cars but I would like some advices. Is it a good car?

patc3080 · July 2009

I wouldn't let the transmission issue stop me but I would let the seller know that there are definite quirks such as premature downshifting and premature upshifting'make it a negotiable item.

nyccarguy · July 2009

We're coming up on the 2 year anniversary of leasing our '07 X3. We just returned from a beach vacation in gorgeous Bethany Beach, Delaware. The X3 had just enough room to swallow the gear for myself, my wife, my older son (who will be 3 in September), & our baby man (who is just over 4 months old). It is a BMW through and through. We've got just over 35,000 miles on the truck. The trip computer said we got about 24 mpg on the highway prorion of our trip which is pretty good considering I was going between 75 & 85 the whole way. It is smooth & powerful.

racerx009 · August 2009

My wife's '06 X3 has just developed a leak from an attachment at the bottom of the windshield washer fluid tank. Has anyone else experienced this problem?

roadburner · September 2009

My wife's '06 X3 has just developed a leak from an attachment at the bottom of the windshield washer fluid tank. Has anyone else experienced this problem?

Check the small rubber hoses first and ensure that they are properly attached and not split or cracked. If they are good then look at this diagram; is the reservoir leaking where the pumps #4 or #8 are attached? If so it is likely either the pumps themselves or the "strainers"- parts #5 and #8.

pp2009pp · September 2009

Did you buy it or did you keep away?

The transmission problem is not a small issue, it is the heart of the car's movement. It isn't just small hesitation on an incline from a stop or a hard downshifting as you slow down...it is horrible and it doesn't appear to have a fix for all cars.

See the bimmerfest.com thread on this issue...it is very long. Some have no problems. Some have solvable problems. Some have problems that are fixed temporarily and then come back in 300 miles. Others are never fixed.

It is a BIG problem. It is jarring and things fly around the cabin. It makes the car go along and then slow suddenly to a halt as if you hit the brakes hard. It makes accelerating slowly an exercise in wallowing and rocking. It is unreal. Some have experienced sudden lack of acceleration and an inability to merge into traffic or turn out of traffic.

This isn't a normal thing that you can get used to (at least I cannot) but a serious issue that makes me want to leave the car in the garage and walk. It is ridiculous but this brand new $40K+ car is too embarrassing to carry passengers in...it always requires an apology beforehand....how ridiculous is this?

BMW: admit the problem and kindly FIX it.

:mad:

roadburner · September 2009

You do know that you are replying to a post from over six weeks ago, right?

pp2009pp · September 2009

You do realize you are just going around the threads, finding my posts and being as rude as possible right?

What do you want? Do you work for BMW and want people to think that all of their X3 AT and bouncing problems are figments of their imagination? Do you own an X3 and are offended that many, many, many people do not share your high opinion of them?

Do you have nothing to do with the X3 and simply want to bug me for amusement?

tidester · September 2009

Let's keep the discussion about the X3 and be (far) less concerned about who's posting what and when.

tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper

bmwguys · September 2009

Have an '07 X3 with Sport Package, which means it has the sport steering wheel. The matte black finish on the spokes is peeling off in several spots. What's the easiest way to fix this? After 30k miles, this is the only place the interior is showing any wear, so I want to take care of it.

I'm guessing this is considered wear and tear, so probably not a warranty thing. I've seen this type of thing on other BMW's though, so maybe I'm wrong if it's a known issue?

nyccarguy · September 2009

It can absolutely be replaced under warranty. We had a similar issue with my wife's '07 X3. The dealer fixed it with no cost to us.

pp2009pp · September 2009

OMG. Why is it that Google searches just come up with nice reviews? Where are these real stinkers before plunking down tons of money for this :lemon: :lemon: :lemon: :lemon: :lemon: ?

These reviews sites are useless. They have so little traffic! Where are the people who know the truth?

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/First-Official-Pictures/BMW-X1-- 2009-first-official-pictures/

"Shouldnt I just buy an X3?

Good point. The X3 boasts very similar proportions (its 116mm longer, 57mm wider and 130mm taller), but the new X1 usurps its territory, pushing the next X3 up a segment.

And, no, dont be tempted by a dealer desperate to clear old stock  the X3 is the worst BMW currently on sale. Being based on the latest 3-series both inside and underneath (and outside to a certain extent), the X1 promises to be a far finer machine."

--- So to add insult to BMW's injury to its longterm customers, the new ones will be so far and above better than these old $45,000 clunkers - which they don't bother to fix but sell anyway without losing a wink of sleep - that the value of the old X3s will fall to ZERO.

BMW's is the worst car company in the world as far as I am concerned.

BMW X3 Bimmer Bummed.

roadburner · September 2009

These reviews sites are useless. They have so little traffic! Where are the people who know the truth?

Did it ever occur to you that most people may actually like their X3s- and that you represent an extremely tiny percentage of people who are unhappy?

pp2009pp · September 2009

How can you tell? Do you know the stats?

We have me and we have you/your wife.

That's 50% like (or do you love it) and that's 50% who do not.

roadburner · September 2009

How can you tell? Do you know the stats?

Let's see... you think the positive reports on Google are misleading and you question the statistical significance of the Edmunds reviews. IIRC even Consumer Reports likes the X3. That said, if tilting at windmills is your thing, go for it...

pp2009pp · September 2009

Positive reports on Google? You mean using Google as a search engine to find positive reports. Is that what you are talking about? Is there a Google Auto site now?

One must search for specific problems in order to find the reality behind the glossy facade. That has been my experience. If you do not know about the problems before you buy the car then you are SOL. It is hit or miss. It would be nice to have a source that simply listed all the complaints about a single car so that people would have a fighting chance of seeing the list and researching the problems that concern them BEFORE purchase.

"Consumer Reports rated the 1971 Pinto below the Vega but above the Gremlin." - wiki.

I think CR buys their own cars and tests them which limits them to a small number, one perhaps? I don't know. I also do not know how they deal with commentary after they have issued their report. It may be another case of self-reporting but I do not know. Do you?

Two reviews on Edmunds versus thousands of postings about the X3's transmission, ride, etc. mean what to you.

stever · September 2009

People who are happy with their car don't spend a lot of time posting about it. It's a bit unfortunate I suppose, but it's human nature to complain about something and when the car is running normally, people don't think there's anything to report.

We have a Comments: Consumer Reports/JD Power Rankings discussion - instead of rehashing all that, why don't we get back to talking about the X3?

cotmc · September 2009

Exactly -- Discussion forums such as this attract more posts from people who have complaints or concerns about their car.

On the other hand, we are now on my wife's second CPO X3. The first one was a 2004 3.0i model, and now we have a 2006 model. Before we purchased it last spring, I did my research..., and yes, I was a little nervous about buying a 2007 model, due to the several threads involving 2007 X3 transmission hesitation issues found throughout the internet. Would these threads and this bad publicity have stopped me from buying a 2007 X3? No and Yes... By that, I would have considered a 2007 X3 only if I could take it for an extended test drive, and I would have considered the purchase only from a local BMW dealer.

Having said that, I'm guessing the % of '07 X3's which have this issue are well under 10%, especially after having the firmware reprogrammed. But my guess is no better than anyone else's here! And I wouldn't hesitate with a possible future 2008 or 2009 CPO X3 purchase, whether local or out of state. And overall, even Consumer Reports reflects fairly reliable long-term operation for the X3!

What I CAN say, for fact, is that my wife and I have been very happy with both of our X3 purchases. For an all-weather all-wheel drive SUV, you can't beat the steering, handling, and braking feel of our 2006 X3. It still feels tight as a drum, and it has been trouble-free. Everything about it provides us with a safe and secure feeling, including the capability of quickly maneuvering and avoiding a pending accident. The transmission and the throttle are very responsive. The interior design feels so open. It has a very efficient design. When we compared the X3 to other SUVs in its class, the X3 seemed to have the most usable interior space -- both for passengers as well as cargo. I emphasize the word "usable", because perhaps the numbers/specs don't reflect this? And, we average about 23mpg on a regular basis!

roadburner · September 2009

What I CAN say, for fact, is that my wife and I have been very happy with both of our X3 purchases. For an all-weather all-wheel drive SUV, you can't beat the steering, handling, and braking feel of our 2006 X3. It still feels tight as a drum, and it has been trouble-free. Everything about it provides us with a safe and secure feeling, including the capability of quickly maneuvering and avoiding a pending accident. The transmission and the throttle are very responsive.

My experience with a 2004 X3 mirrors yours; I did have an SRS sensor replaced under warranty and I had the transmission firmwear upgraded(it was holding a lower gear too long on uphill runs. I plan to keep it at least another five or so years.

lawman1967 · September 2009

My wife has an 09 that we bought new in February and have since driven for 15,000 trouble-free miles. The transmission is a bit more abrupt in its action than the 5-speed automatic on my Mercedes, but it is by no means difficult to drive or in any way unsafe, rather it has sportier programming.

This is good in a BMW. It downshifts immediately when you stab the throttle and holds its gears to redline under hard acceleration. Sliding the shifter into sport mode dials it up a notch further, with standard mode being equivalent to sport mode on my car, and sport mode just at another level.

Driven gently, it is just like any other well-designed, high-quality automatic. Upshifts are smooth and occur at fairly low RPM to optimize fuel economy and downshifts only occur when needed, which isn't often on the highway given the terrific performance of the new 3.0 liter engine on the 07~09 models.

As I've said before, this has to be the best-built new car ever in my family. I've had Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mercedes and none have equalled the initial quality of the X3. The only vehicle I've ever had come close is a 2007 Ford F-150 pickup truck, but that is a stripped model with nothing on it to cause any trouble. The X3 is a considerably more complex, fully loaded vehicle and thus far, it has been absolutely flawless. Not a single squeak, rattle or imperfection.

This car is definitely a keeper.

pp2009pp · September 2009

So you are feeling the 2 down to to 1 shifting when you hit the throttle hard on acceleration when doing, for example, an unprotected left turn? Do you get the hesitation that others complained about?

pp2009pp · September 2009

Yes, the designers did an excellent job making the smallish exterior match with a spacious feeling interior. IIRC it has about as much interior space as the X5 and the Volvo station wagon and more than say the Audi or Infinity.

It appears that the other SUVs in this class keep getting squashed down with a higher waistline and a more rounded look to the back and a more raked and smaller windshield. Other makes feel positively claustrophobic and I think the new bodystyle of the X3 is going in that general direction.

If it is that will be too bad because that is what keeps the X3 unique as a more utilitarian, less fussy vehicle. All the glass provides a great view and they did not scrimp on the real ceiling underneath the panoramic roof.

I settled on the X3 because of all of these things when I could have bought any of the other competitors for about the same price or even less when you compare features. That is why I am so disappointed with this car.

nyccarguy · September 2009

gushed about how much fun & reliable our '07 X3 has been for the past 2+ years & 37K+ miles. There is NO WAY an SUV should drive like this. The brakes are great, the seats are super supportive, the steering is very direct & communicative. Nudge the shifter to the left (SD) & drop the hammer and you can pretty much pass anyone you want to. The back seat is roomy, we LOVE the panorama roof (standard on out X3, but an option on my Dad's '07 X5 that had an MSRP of $57K). The real ceiling is great too. Never realized how good it is until I drove an Audi A4 Avant without it.

The car could use more cargo space. The paint quality stinks (for lack of a better word), it is orange peel city. Blind spots are terrible and outward visibility is poor.

Besides scheduled maintenance, our X3 has been in the shop for a check engine light (due to a carbon filter), one of the doors wouldn't unlock with the remote, & a brakelight burnt out.

nyccarguy · September 2009

I feel bad you're not liking your X3 so much. The only person I've ever met that didn't like their X3 was an Audi salesman.

Part of the ride harshness you may be feeling is because you're coming from a 5 series. It is extremely difficult to replicate the 5 series' balance of ride & handling given its size. My Mom had an '05 E60 530i that was the most trouble free & her favorite car EVER. When the lease was up, the 5ers were a lot more money to lease per month than what she was paying, so she decided she wanted a 3 series. She has no problems with her 328xi, but doesn't like her 3er AT ALL.

pp2009pp · September 2009

I think the X3 is heading more toward the Audi Q5, more car than SUV. I think they are all headed toward becoming sedans with hatchbacks like the BMW X6. Not very utilitarian IMO but cushier and fancier.

What kind of gas mileage are you getting? I'm still around 10-12 in the city but 12 only if I'm paying attention and coasting at times. I may do a decent highway mostly drive soon so I'll see if I can get above the 20.8 I've hit max so far.

I haven't seen a paint problem in BMWs in the past. It should last a long time. I found all cars in this range to have bad blind spots. This one really needs a standard back up camera or a blind spot sensor partly because it is so tall.

Have you had a problem with your tailgate sticking? I unlock all the doors, press and hold the tailgate button on the key and the tailgate pops open about 1/2" and gets stuck there. It won't open, it won't close. I have to do the unlock again and then I can press the button in the tailgate to open.

I haven't heard big problems with reliability. Then again, the oldest has been on the road 6 years or less so it is probably early days yet.

I am beginning to think that whatever they did to answer the hard ride criticisms in years past has now led to a wobbly suspension that bounces around under the mildest of conditions. So far I haven't seen a big problem with potholes but smooth, flat streets are a big problem.

I wonder what they did and did they go too far.

nyccarguy · September 2009

The gas mileage calculator is very shall we say...optimistic in our X3. The best way to get results is to figure it out yourself. Our computer says the X3 averages around 18-19 mpg with my wife and her heavy foot driving. Gas mileage has improved since we got the X3. It used to be like 15-16.

I've gotten 22 mpg on long straight highway trips.

bruceomega · September 2009

What I CAN say, for fact, is that my wife and I have been very happy with both of our X3 purchases. For an all-weather all-wheel drive SUV, you can't beat the steering, handling, and braking feel of our 2006 X3. It still feels tight as a drum, and it has been trouble-free. Everything about it provides us with a safe and secure feeling, including the capability of quickly maneuvering and avoiding a pending accident. The transmission and the throttle are very responsive. The interior design feels so open. It has a very efficient design.

+ 1 for our '06 X3.

We've had a couple of problems, which were quickly fixed under warranty, but overall the car has been very reliable.

Our only regret is not having the premium sound system. The Logic 7 systems in my previous 3 series and current 5 series are noticaably better.

We are interested in replacing it - with the new X3 fitted with the twin turbo I-6!

Bruce

pp2009pp · September 2009

The 06 does not have the 6-speed GM6 Automatic Transmission.

I do not know how the ride compares to the 2009 as I have not been able to find anything that says what BMW fixed if anything from the original 2004 model. :lemon: :lemon: :lemon: :lemon: :lemon:

bruceomega · September 2009

The 06 does not have the 6-speed GM6 Automatic Transmission.

Not sure what you mean by this, as I never said it did.

Our '06 X3 has the older engine with a 5 speed AT. We like that a lot, but I think we would like the more powerful engine and 6 speed AT introduced in the '07 model even more.

If BMW offers the twin turbo in the new X3, then we would lust after that! My 535Xi has spoiled us.

Bruce

pp2009pp · September 2009

OIC. Yes, you lucked out on the 06. Maybe fewer HP but many fewer potential problems.

http://www.allworldauto.com/tsbs/NHTSA__BMW_X3_technical_service_bulletin_286325- .html

NHTSA Item Number: 10028464
Service Bulletin #: SIB-12-17-07
Replacement #:
Vehicle/Equipment Make: BMW
Vehicle/Eqipment Model: X3
Model Year: 2008
Mfg Component Code: 103000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Date of Bulletin: 2008-06-01
Date Added: 2009-05-05
Summary: BMW VEHICLE: ENGINE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. POOR THROTTLE RESPONSE; LACK OF POWER WHEN ACCELERATING; ENGINE MAY CRANK TOO LONG BEFORE STARTING; LOSS OF POWER AT IDLE OR WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP. E83 (X3) MODELS. *PE

bruceomega · September 2009

pp2009pp,

What model year is your X3?

I had not been following the transmission issue for awhile as I thought that had been resolved.

My conjecture on preferring the engine - transmission in the current X3 over our '06 model was based on having previously owned an '06 330Xi, which I thought had the same engine and 6 speed AT as the current X3, and before that we owned an '01 330Xi, which I believe had the same engine & 5 speed AT transmission as our '06 X3.

I never had any trouble with the transmission in my '06 330Xi, and I much preferred it's performance over the '01 iteration. I wonder why the transmission worked so well in the sedan but not in the SAV.

Bruce

pp2009pp · September 2009

2009 X3.

The acceleration is jerky. It starts and stops and then finds a gear. It sometimes cannot move forward for awhile. Sometimes it has trouble finding R. Intermittent problems all.

I do not know if you have the same transmission in your 330xi. Do you have an excessively strong engine brake? I have to accelerate into turns now as it will come to a complete stop all by itself. It is worse in SD.

Can you decelerate in D while going downhill without brakes? I am curious to see who has the same problems as I do. I find it to be extremely finicky and temperamental.

lawman1967 · September 2009

The acceleration is nice and smooth on my 09 X3 automatic, better than my 05 C class Mercedes and easily equal to the 09 C class I test drove yesterday.

Ignore pp2009pp, he's one of the vocal (and extremely small) minority who got a lemon. The X3 is a mature product with the bugs long since worked out.

I had a new 07 Camry that went through rear brakes in like 5000 miles, REAR brakes. It was an issue with some 07s, and was corrected later on. Do I crap all over the Camry forums complaining that Toyota is selling junk? No, I just understand that not every single car is perfect. Except, of course, for the 09 X3 we bought earlier this year. It is, without a doubt, THE BEST new car we have ever bought.

16,000 perfect, trouble-free, smooth shifting high-performing miles later I am still thrilled with this wonderful vehicle.

Forget pp2009pp, you'll love the 09 X3 engine and tranny.

pp2009pp · September 2009

Lawman, who are you to say what I do and do not have. You have:

1. never driven my car
2. never ridden in my car
3. never looked at my car

I am not assuming anything about your car, I take your opinions to be honest. My X3 2009 is the most abysmal drive I have ever experienced. It has the herky jerky acceleration that many people have written about, the nauseatingly bouncy ride that professional reviewers have written about and the strange engine brake that many other people have experienced as a sudden pull back.

These are well documented on the X3. Just because you are not experiencing them is meaningless to those of us who do.

I suspect you have read the many threads that talk about these issues with the X3 along with the review that said the X3 was the worst car in the BMW lineup or the review that said the X3 had a concussive ride or the review that said the X3 suspension was made of rocks.

I do not know for sure if I have a lemon. According to the dealership, my car drives just like the other new X3 in the lot. Do you want to dispute that with the dealership? Please do so. Then maybe they will fix my car. OTOH, if my car isn't different from other X3s then I am really shocked with BMW.

:lemon: :lemon: :lemon: :lemon: :lemon:

pp2009pp · September 2009

OK, that was a bit harsh. I would have edited it but I ran out of time.

woodyww · October 2009

I'm curious: how many times have you taken it back to the dealer? Have you researched what it'd take to get it declared a Lemon? Tried to get a "zone manager" involved, (or whatever the bmw equivilent is, if any)?

Or, taken it to a good indie bmw repair shop to get a diagnosis, or at least confirmation of your problem (s)? That'd be my advice.......

BTW, CR gives the x3 generally good reliability marks, but a giant black mark for the '07's under "trans., minor". (I'd assume "minor" means the trans. isn't totally failing?, not saying I think it's minor).

pp2009pp · October 2009

The problems are intermittent which not only makes them difficult to diagnose but also makes working around them impossible. The dealer felt the ride problem when I drove with them but not when they drove by themselves.

The AT work around involves driving in SD (which actually makes the sudden slow down more severe) or, worse, in MT mode all the time. I don't see either being remotely viable. I'm still trying to figure out how the lemon laws work on intermittent problems.

I'll give CR a big black mark for calling this minor. It isn't minor and it isn't just in the 2007's either.

BMW X3

Comments

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles