BMW X3

kyfdx

I'm not sure about your X3.. but my 325i downshifts a lot "harder" than any other car I've had.... Most cars seem to coast in whatever gear you are in, as you decelerate.. Only downshifting to keep the engine running. My 325i seems to downshift all the way down as you coast, making especially noticeable downshifts, if I'm in sport mode. I actually kind of like it this way....

regards,
kyfdx

bluecoyote

need to make a choice on the BMW X3 2.5.
test drove the leatherette, a great long test drive, but my clothes were sticking to me when i got out. really bad, would be quite annoying. dealer said won't happen in leather. Friends say untrue, leather will make me 'sticky' just as much. have always had cloth. SUGGESTIONS?
also, Xenon or no Xenon. it's a difference of $10 bucks a month. my night vision stinks, will this help? ADVICE?

harplayr

Hands down go for adaptive the xenons! That is the most amazing lighting system I have ever had. I also have poor night vision, and the difference between the adaptive xenons and the regular headlights is huge.

As far as a sticky but, I have the leatherette, and don't really have a problem with it. It has been a long time since I have had cloth seats, but both leather and leatherette will not breathe as much as cloth.

bummed out

I heard that about the 325i, but I don't think this is the same issue. My car jerks and the tach jumps 3 times and then settles, only at 28-30 mph, and not all the time.

lfeiwel

I also have the gurgle/horse drawn clopping...I thought it sounded like somewhere in the moonroof...no leaks thouogh

sr1nath

http://www.automobear.com/Does%20the%20BMW%20X3%20deserve%20its%2- 0Exorcising.html

lethalhazard

does anyone with an alarm system able to test if the interior sensor works?

jimbob533

There is a BMW fix for the dripping sound coming from the sunroof in the rain. One-way valves are installed in the drain lines from the sunroof.

cville

I have the same problem. The passenger side creaks constantly under all road and speed conditions, usually several times a minute. IT IS VERY ANNOYING. I called my dealer today and he claimed to never have heard of the problem. I called BMWUSA and they also claimed no knowledge of the problem. Clearly there is a problem and a bunch of us buyers have it. You would think that enough people have complained that BMWUSA would know. Anyway, I am going to the dealer today to take the service manager for a ride. I will be taking #1154 with me as a starting point. Does anyone else on this board have a solution or an experience with this which would be helpful? thanks.

fickle

I think I read in Edmund's review (long term, I think) that they encountered some type of noise also. You may want to check the article out.

stever

No Long Term test, but there is a Full one:

Full Test: 2004 BMW X3 3.0i

But I don't see any creaking complaints there or in the First Drive?

Steve, Host

saugatak

sound like typical 1st model year problems to me. Hopefully BMW can get them fixed.

Acura TL also had this problem (memory seat loss, droopy headliner, creaks) and even Toyota (with its Scion brand) has tons of problems with their new model line.

emr

Had to chime in and say that we have creaks too. I thought it was the zipper from my pants or something rattling but nope.... definitely coming from the door/window. Hard to pinpoint. And it only happens over small bumps at low speeds (~40 MPH or less). Never notice it at higher speeds.

jimbob533

How did you fare at your dealer's? My dealer, at the suggestion of BMW NA, is planning to replace the door seals in an effort to address my problem. They are not very hopeful stating that replacement of door seals with the same BMW door seals, which they believe to be defective, will, in all likelihood, not cure the problem. Here again, BMW NA has said they have not heard of the problem.?!! And I again state what I have previously been told, and that is that a door-seal problem causing these creaking noises occurred on another model change of the 5 series, and, ultimately, BMW redesigned the door seals.

Whatever the fix, I hope it is soon. As you have said, IT IS VERY ANNOYING.

cville

I went to the dealer and only had to drive around his lot for about 30 seconds for the service manager to admit that there was a very annoying body creak. He says that they had never heard of it and he emailed his regional rep who apparently also claims that BMW never heard of it. How is it that so many people have this problem and go to their dealer and contact BMWUSA and they all claim that they never hear of it?? At this point they ncertainly know about it.
Would anyone with this problem and a positive experience with their dealer please post and give us the solution. I gave the posting from westcoast to the dealer, but I don't know if it makes sense to them. Also, #1174 my dealer claims that they never had a problem with the 5 series with this.
Just for the record I have bought two new bmws from this dealer in the last 12 months, so I am expecting a prompt resolution.

emr

Ugh. Well I don't know about BMW NA or the dealers, but *I* definitely hear it. And it's *annoying*. I'd expect this kind of noise from a late 80's Jeep Cherokee. :-/

jimbob533

Perhaps the service manager misspoke when he stated that the problem was with the 5 series, perhaps it was with the 3 series. I don't know, but I don't believe that he was just blowing smoke. BMW NA also stated that there had been a door seal problem in the past, but they did not indicate on which model. In any event, there is power in numbers, and a number of us are having the problem, and I hope we will continue to complain. I don't see how, in the face of those complaints, BMW NA will be able to continue to say that they have never heard of it.

My appointment to have the door seals changed has not yet been made, but I will certainly post the results when it has been completed.

saugatak

Well it ain't just BMW that's never heard of a problem that lots of people are having.

If BMW admits it's a problem, they'll have to do a TSB or recall which will cost them money and give 'em bad publicity. It also makes it easier for the consumer to use lemon laws to get their money back.

kdshapiro

"If BMW admits it's a problem, they'll have to do a TSB or recall which will cost them money and give 'em bad publicity. It also makes it easier for the consumer to use lemon laws to get their money back"

I agree. Look at the black-eye Honda just got for recalling 600,000 vehicles, and the black-eye Porsche just got for recalling thousands and thousands of vehicles.

If BMW issues a TSB for a door seal, they'll get a black eye as well. Since the German cars and Japanese cars are such dogs, maybe I'll get a Hyundai.

kc2001

Sorry your experiencing these problems. My x3 had starting creaking at about 400 miles. All of a sudden it was the whole darn truck rattling apart from no apparent location that i can isolate. I brought the x3 in a spoke with the sales manager and service manager, both were clueless to the problems. After hooking up with my inside connection on the service team, the problems lays within the panels. Apparently, they need to be lubed! the panels are rubbing against each other and the only way to resolve this problem is to bring the sucker in for a lube job whenever the panels make these sounds again. Sorry, no quick fix. I recommend you speak with a tech and have a manager present. I think its nonsense if they dont own up to this service issue. Suffice to say, i ended my misery and traded this bad boy in for its larger older sibling the X5.

saugatak

I'm more willing to accept body flex creaks from a Honda or Hyunda because I paid less.

Once I start paying premium prices for a premium brand, I don't expect to get rattles and creaks.

cville

I appreciate your post. Can you explain a little more as to what you mean by "lube the body panels" and how often it might be necessary? Also, are you in Va as I am. If so, why does our regional man claim he hasn't heard of the problem. thanks.

kdshapiro

"Once I start paying premium prices for a premium brand, I don't expect to get rattles and creaks."

I don't know, you pay hundreds of thousands for a Ferrari and do you expect it to be in the shop every few weeks? I'm not sure there is a lot of difference between buying a $28,000 Honda to have a tranny recall or a $34,000 X3 that has body creak problems.

Whether it's a Japanese, Italian, or German made vehicle, paying more doesn't guaranty you less problems.

tarheel

We picked up our X3 3.0 yesterday, and had a great time driving it all over the city today. I've been a little concerned about the posts regarding the body creaks that have developed in some cars; but, I am grateful to the board for giving me ammunition to bring to the dealer if I end up having that problem. It will be hard for the dealer to say it is my imagination since I can show them it isn't an isolated prolem. Of course, in a perfect world, it won't turn out to be an issue.

saugatak

Whether it's a Japanese, Italian, or German made vehicle, paying more doesn't guaranty you less problems.

Any automaker that continues to adopt that attitude is going to bite it in this competitive market.

kyfdx

I agree with kdshapiro.. By paying more, you might get the engineering and parts to make the car faster and handle better, or more upscale luxury features.. but, the cars are put together the same way.

I really don't think BMW or Audi does any better job putting their cars together than Honda or Toyota (and my anecdotal experience suggests they don't even do as well). You might expect to get better assembly by paying more, but I expect you would be wrong.

regards,
kyfdx

cville

Dealer wants me to bring in and leave the car for "a few days." I'm giving to him the several "solutions" to the creaking that some of you have posted. What I find to be a little disingenuous is his claim that nobody at BMW has heard of this problem. In any case, I hope that by next week I'll have a solution to post for all of you with this problem. Judging from the posts, I'd guess that this problem is fairly widespread. Let's hope that my dealer can come up with something.

saugatak

Not disagreeing with you or kdshapiro. You're both right.

What I'm saying is that IMO the frustration level is proportional to the dollars spent, whether justified or not.

kyfdx

No doubt about that... It is funny what you remember. I was just out of high school, and my friend and I stoppped by the local import dealer to drool on some cars. This one dealership sold out of one showroom: BMW and all the British marques (Jaguar, MG, Triumph). As you can tell, this was quite some time ago... As we were walking up to the showroom, this 60-something society matron proceeded to scream at us to never buy a Jaguar.. that they were all POS, after all she paid for it, etc..etc..etc.. in very blue language. Like two teenagers were going in there to buy a Jag?

Anyway, as you said, the level of expectations is higher, and SOME of the clientele are used to getting what they want, no matter what.. I just think it is an unrealistic expectation.

Now, that said, I just got back from the local BMW dealer for the first 15K service on my 325i. FREE DONUTS. And done in under an hour... I guess all that expense is starting to pay off...LOL.

regards,
kyfdx

mamgt

".. I just think it is an unrealistic expectation."

I totally agree with what's been said. I think I got alot of car for the 40K I spent on the X3. But obviously, it's not going to have the same build quality as a vehicle in the 60 to 80K range...even if it's a BMW. Certainly, I would be less tolerant of any problems in that price range.

jed

I think you mentioned you have the sensatec and that you have found it easy to clean. I'm wondering if that means it doesn't stain on the nylon fabric portion, and what color you have. Anyone else with a view on the sensatech? Originally I thought I wouldn't like the sensatech but having seen a couple of black ones recently, I'm reconsidering. Haven't seen a beige one yet.

kc2001

Not sure the full details of how they do this, but apparently they dry out every few months and will need to be lubed again. i'll try to get more details from my source. I believe as more and more owners start to complain, these issues will eventually be resolved. So far, im super happy with my x-5. upside down 8-10k but i love this truck. its super quiet and has the perfect balance of sportiness+luxury. Which dealer did you visit in VA?

trader_tom

Hi All. I am considering the purchase of an X3 after test driving one. My current Land Rover Discovery is a wonderful vehicle, but I would like to get something more practical. I also don't want to give up too much utility. I was wondering if anyone could comment on their X3 usage on unplowed snowy roads, dirt, sand, gravel, seasonal roads or grassy fields. I was also wondering if anyone is towing anything with these vehicles. I plan on towing a small trailer and/or boat up to about 2000 pounds. Any help on the practical aspects of this vehicle would be greatly appreciated. I am already sold on the performance, style, and handling, but if I can't do the occasional towing and mild off roading, than this is not the right vehicle for me.

I welcome your comments.

Tom

x3r

Recently did a 1400 mile trip down to Sedona which included about 60 miles on gravel/desert roads. The X3 and X-Drive did a great job. I have had the tow package installed but only have used the external bike rack so far...no towing. One thing I would suggest if you plan to tow anything is that you consider the 3.0i version as the best option. Having previously owning vehicles capable of true off roading, I was wondering how the X3 would do but it did fine on admittedly mild off road work.

The real merit of the X3 was how it could accommodate the off road work as still do such an outstanding job on twisty paved secondary roads and made short work of interstate sections of the journey. A versatile vehicle for sure.

A few pictures are posted at:
http://www.designbivouac.net/X3_Gallery.html

jeff33

I have the beige leatherette and I love it. My chocolate lab has ridden in the back on regular occasions and, sometimes has climbed in with siginificant mud on him. The surface easily wipes clean with a wet cloth. Also, I've found it to be far less "sticky" on skin and clothes in weather in the 90's than the leather in my old Exlorer. So far, absolutely no complaints, I wouldn't trade it for the leather.

jeff33

Did you have the tow package installed by the dealer? If so, how much was it? I tried to go to an independent installer and they can't even get a hitch that will fit it. They say that BMW has probably stopped any non-dealer sales for one year.

Also, does anyone have Sirius in their X3 yet? My dealer told me July! I asked for it in February!!

trader_tom

Thanks for the feedback. Enjoyed your web site. It sounds like the X3 should be fine for the occasional stuff. I just won't be tempting any of the feats that I would normally try in a Land Rover (a truly awesome FWD machine.)

Is the trailer hitch fitted with the 2" inch receiver? Also, what did the dealer charge, and did they warranty the hitch install? (Land Rover includes the hitch into the vehicle warranty.) This would be most practical as most accessories are this size. I have an aluminum carrier which is priceless for toting messy stuff (wild game, gas outboards, etc.) outside of an SUV(SAV).

I hope other chime in with their comments, as I would like some more opinions. I have not found others on the web using the vehicle for its clearer intention. As usual, most folks buying SUV/SAV's are substituting them for cars, and then complaining about the ride, height, or handling of a vehicle that is intended for other uses. Ugh !!!

Tom

x3r

Parts for the Trailer Hitch Kit package run as follows (as per BMW X3 Accessory Catalog available at your local dealer):

Trailer hitch kit: $390 (includes wiring harness, cross member, receiver cap)
Removable ball:$42.50
Rivet: $1.35

Should run about 3 hours of labor. Rear bumper must be removed to install cross member and vehicle must be reprogrammed to accommodate trailer towing lights. The wiring harness hook up point is very solid and substantial.

The hitch is comprised of a 2" receiver. There is some modification (read cutting with dremmel tool or similar of a portion an internal bumper component) which is not really visible externally but may prevent having third parties do a clean job.) I understand the issue is that the hole for the hitch needs to be modified in some instances which involves a tech cutting along a pre-scored and indicated line.

I assume this is covered by warranty since I had it done at my dealer as a dealer installation but I did not ask that question specifically.

jed

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly re the beige leatherette. I saw an x3 at the dealer where my 325 is serviced, and it was pretty close to the color and equipment I would want. So I was thinking of checking back in a week to see if it's still there and then discussing price instead of ordering and waiting 10 weeks. I'm not desperate for a car (yet). Your input, as always, is appreciated. Looking back on some of the vinyl I had in the past on Volkswagens, I now wonder why I was initially so critical of the vinyl in the x3. By the way, I never could figure why one person was so annoyed at your bike cost reference, in an earlier message. It was clear to me you were making a point about protecting your investment. Your response to that person couldn't have been nicer. Hope your motoring continues to be great.

harplayr

Thanks for the kind words Jed,
There are a lot of helpful people here, and this is a great place to share observations and tips. Let me know if you decide to get the X3.

cville

I just got my X3 back from the dealer today after 6 days. He adjusted the door stop and applied "HKS 2000" to the door seal. The drive home is 7 miles and there was no creaking. The other poster apparently had his dealer try the same type of fix, and he claims that it has to be renewed after a while since the creaking begins again. I will post on this board if it happens again. For those with this problem of creaking, if you are interested in this solution, my dealer is crown in charlottesville, va. Ask for the service manager since I dealt with him directly. Lets hope it works!

jimbob533

I appreciate your response. I hope that your problem is a thing of the past. Mine, unfortunately, is ongoing. As of this date, BMW has now at least admitted to having heard of the problem. Although they do not know of a fix, they have offered to replace my door seals. I hesitate to have door seals replaced on a brand new vehicle for fear of what other problems might arise from doing so, but I believe that will have to be my next step. Please keep us posted on the success or failure of your repair.

Was you dealer able to give you an explanation as to why this occurred on your vehicle when, apparently, it has not on so many others?

cville

The dealer had no explanation as to why my X3 creaked. He still maintains that neither he nor BMW ever heard of it before. I don't drive much as I have my office at home. However, the last week in July I have a one week 1500 mile trip scheduled, so that will be when I see how it holds up. Look for me to post after I return, during the first week in August, unless something happens before then. By the way, a few posts back there was a response supposedly by a BMW Rep; if true, then they are watching this board and know about the creaking from the people complaining here.

new2bmw

This is my 5th day of ownership of a 2004 BMW X3 3.0i…aaaaaah Love.

Question: How do I get the X3 to flash any of it’s lights or make a sound when I lock the doors using the remote on the key ? It does nothing now and when I asked the dealer they thought it was not a supported feature. The manual is vague but does say “You can have an acknowledgement signal set to confirm that the vehicle is correctly locked” (Pg. 16), and “Different acknowledgement signal set to confirm locking/unlocking of the vehicle, refer to page 16.” (Pg. 30). There is no other information that I can see.

It just started to make a squeaking (creaking or rattle) in the doors or windows when I go over small bumps or around curves. I have read the other reports here and on other forums about squeaking doors and windows (cville and jimbob533, BTW I am in charlottesville also). Questions: do any older X3s have this problem, is this a problem that settles out after break-in, has anyone successfully resolved this problem and want to share their knowledge ?

Thanks for everybody's posts, it helps a lot.

cville

I wasn't intending to post again so soon, but since you asked, I took delivery in early March, the second one to arrive in Charlottesville. Do not hesitate to go to the head of service with your complaint about creaking; they just worked on mine, so don't let him give the BMW party line that "no one has heard of such a Problem', because they have and they just had my car for six days trying to fix it. My impression was that they really hoped that they solved the problem and that I would not become a thorn in their side.

x3joy

new2bmw...my creaking problem started out exactly as you're describing yours. Check back to my original post #1154 that tells how my dealership analyzed and resolved the problem. I've since put on about 1500 creak-free miles.

I'm wondering if any other owners experiencing the creaking problem have talked about the faulty general module solution with their dealerships? It may not be the solution for everyone, but it completely resolved my problem, and seems to make sense as they explained it. BTW...my dealership is Fields BMW in Northfield, IL. They were really responsive in resolving this.

x3r

These features have to be programmed at the dealer. Mine included the initial programming session free of charge. It is a good idea to review all programmable functions prior to going in, i.e. lock upon driving away, one key press to unlock all doors etc. so they can do it all in one programming session.

new2bmw

Thanks to all for the responses.

I have not yet decided what to do about the creaking. The faulty general module sounds reasonable on the other hand if the HKS 2000 fix works, what then, is it too separate problems that we are all having ?

Concerning the flash lights when remote locks door problem - I talked to the service manager of the dealership today where I purchased and he said that an earlier version of the programming software they had worked to set this option to flash the parking lights to confirm locking but the new version of the software he has does not allow this feature on an X3 for some unexplained reason. He says the only way around it is to program the vehicle to use the alarm, even though there is not one and he thought that would flash the lights. This sounds like a kluge to me and I don't like the idea.

Has anybody bought a new X3 3.0i within the last week or two anywhere that has it programmed to flash the parking lights when it is locked using the remote ? If so can you share your dealerships name so I an call them and get the version of the software that they have ?

Thanks to all. I will keep you informed.

vsroman

My dealer told me that I needed to install the alarm. Since I have only owned 5-series prior, I was surprised to learn that the alarm is standard on everything north of the 3 series.

Bummer.

kyfdx

No experience with the X3, but this is absolutely not the case with the 3-series... You can have the lights flash on locking, have the clown nose blink, etc.. even without the alarm. Not sure about the chirping, though. The dealer should have a programming sheet with all the options, so you can look through it, and decide exactly what you want. It sounds like your dealer is not being very helpful or thorough.. It could be different with the X3, but I doubt it.

regards,
kyfdx