Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
If I had the kind of problems some of you have experienced then I would certainly feel different about it.
I have only 9,000 miles in 10 months and I love driving my X3. I can't imagine another car that offers the safety, fun of driving, unique styling, comfort, reasonable gas mileage, engineering, and all at a fairly reasonable price (if you put the same options on an Explorer or Cherokee). Happy driving!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
1) With a car seat in the back from ages 1-3 is their room on either side of the car seat for two adults to sit comfortably (assuming the baby seat is in the middle rear seat)?
2) Does a stroller and baby stuff all fit in the back of the X3 from your experiences if the wife and I go away for a weekend (I know this depends on how much you pack but wanted opinions)?
3) Any other comments
I am also looking at M class, Jeep and X5 (X5 really does not seem that much bigger than X3 dimensions both interior and exterior!)
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
1. There is room on both sides for adults to sit when using the infant rear facing and the toddler front facing car seat. We used a Graco and now have a Britax. BTW baby in the middle is the safest position.
2. Big Graco stroller fits. We have enough room in the back to pack for a weekend, a week however requires us to put the Thule box on top. Suggestion is to bring your stroller to the dealer and try it out.
3. Rock solid engine, sturdy safe family of three vehicle. Drive an X3 and you will eliminate the Jeep from contention immediately.
I'll only have about 10,000 miles (15,000 kms.) on the car after one year. Any ideas on when and how often oil changes should be done would be helpful.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Then at the service interval, they will change it again.. You might ask your service department about this.... If they will do this, your problem is solved.
Growing up with 3K mile oil changes, I've found it is impossible for me to wait that long.. I pay for an oil change myself at 7500 miles ($94 USD). Since we drive about 15K mi./yr, this is just an extra $94/yr..
Maybe not necessary, but it will look good when I go to sell the car.. I doubt it is really necessary..
regards,
kyfdx
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
So I'm with kyfdx - while I don't think the old 3K intervals are really necessary, I also think 15K is going WAY too long. It keeps BMW's "free" service costs down I'm sure, but the cost of an extra change at 7.5K is peanuts and would give me a lot of peace of mind. Oil change intervals are compromises and I think many of the mfgs have swung the pendulum a little too far in an effort to reinforce the perception that their cars require very little maintenance.
Doing it at 7.5K would get you the new filter the salesman recommends as well.
- Mark
Here's the CR blurb:
Sludge: Jumping through hoops to make a case
CR's legendary taxi test used a 6,000 mile interval. (Australian Consumers' Association)
Steve, Host
Actually, since the mid-nineties the SI system has calculated maintenance intervals solely by the amount of fuel consumed. Munich's engineers claim that the calculated intervals are as accurate as those obtained by the old multiple input method.
Another question on the same topic. My previous new cars which were always American cars, I usually took them to non-dealership places for oil changes. I once heard the dealership has such high costs that they are going to find work to do because the oil change doesn't really pay for the garage time. This worked out fine, and was faster because you can get in and out faster at a specialty lube place.
Does anyone do this with a BMW?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Engine Oil - A slippery subject Part 2
Synthetic motor oil
I've never looked at this one, but the title sounds fun:
Oil change/fiascos
Steve, Host
Does anyone else have a similar experience?
Unless you are standing on the accelerator constantly, which is hard not to do, with this puppy, there is a problem there.
We are still putting our first thousand miles on but the [non-permissible content removed] mpg has climbed to 18.8 and seems to want to go higher. All city, stop and go driving.
Oil changes and dealer costs...
There is absolutely no way BMW is going to risk severe engine damage in the warranty period.
Those costs would dwarf their oil change costs.
They are using a full synthetic from the factory and have to have total confidence in the recommended change interval.
I would not risk having anyone but the dealer do the change at the one year or recommended interval.
BMW Financial and BMW dealers (and customers of course) buy and sell previously owned BMW's.
Not only does BMW not want to have problems with their cars in the first 50,000 miles (most leases are 39 months or LESS), they want to certify the cars once they come off lease so they can be sold a second time. Again, the Certification process probably includes some fairly broad warranty coverage of the car to 100,000 miles or 6 years (or somethings in that spirit.)
Again, BMW would be crazy for the cost of more frequent oil + filter changes to risk repair bills (even at cost) that would dwarf the cost of more frequent oil changes.
BMW demands that you use "BMW oil" (VW and Audi do the same thing) so that would pretty much suggest you should NOT get your oil changed somewhere other than a BMW dealer (the hassle factor will go to "11").
The point of all the above is, if you are reading this you probably leased your BMW and the lease will be equal to or less than the period of the warranty coverage.
Changing the oil more frequently is NOT a bad thing -- but it probably doesn't protect you, unless you plan to keep the car "forever."
The more frequent oil changes seem to be a good idea -- of that there is probably little debate.
And, due to the hassle factor, you will most certainly need to have the oil changed at the dealer.
What is the benefit to you of changing the oil more frequently -- especially if you are one of the people who lease?
I am certain there is some benefit -- to the engine -- of doing so, but it is probably pretty small. If the benefit was large and the risk in the first 100,000 miles could be traced to over long oil change intervals, you can bet BMW would just cut the time and or mileage accordingly.
Don't waste your money. Do check your oil level. Do use a "top tier gas" (www.toptiergas.com).
Don't sweat it. :shades:
Could I ask you to BRIEFLY compare the x3 to the allroad. Acceleration, fit and finish, driving charactor?
The interior is a bit below, and for the nearing 50k price I am a bit underwealmed.
Looking at the x5 its quite a difference!
But the x5 in a stick seems silly, the x5 might be bloated in size with little cargo gain (acutally none!) and since its coming fast to the end its very long cycle witht he new one coming very soon!
You seem very happy with the X3!
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
allroad 250 HP 6speed manual -- acceleration, strong (especially 1 - 3 gears), more than adequate -- improves after 5000 miles (thirsty, too.) allroad 250 HP 5spd tiptronic -- "tip lag," "turbo lag," "really thirsty," far less satisfying; avoid at all costs. allroad 4.2 V8, tip only -- "tip lag" or "hunting" behavior still there, but overall goodness of the V8 makes this the allroad to have if you want an automatic.
X3 can be had with a sport package -- feels like a firm BMW 3 series -- which is a good thing. Higher off the ground -- with this, you give and you get.
allroad can be modified with "H sport" anti-sway bars to pretty much eliminate body roll. allroad has four position air suspension which can be computer controlled to be very low indeed; when so modified and tired with 18" 245 x 45 wheels and tires, the allroad is a great sports sedan (that just happens to be an avant.) It is more offroad capable than any car, but less so than a jeep (the X3 is called an S. A. V, not S.U.V -- don't think the X3 is a truck, ditto the allroad.)
Interior of the Audi wins in any way you can list.
The styling of either is subjective. I like them both.
Either can now be had (if you can find one) with a DVD full screen navi system. Get it.
In terms of "car like" -- er, sporty character car like demeanor -- the Audi is your car.
Equip the X3 with about $10,000 worth of stuff and it is fun and luxurious but the interior compared with the Audi is "casual" while the Audi is "dressy."
Dress the X3 up, however, and it'll pass just fine at a black tie affair. That, however, requires that you dress it with the optional matching bumpers or buy it in Jet Black Gloss with a striking color interior with the Premium Leather, Sport Seats.
That, for me, is brief! :shades:
While we're in comparison mode, this may be of interest:
Audi's allroad Paired Alongside New SUVs (Inside Line)
Audi seems to be looking at the M-Class as the competition, not the X3/X5.
Steve, Host
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
I asked for you to be brief because I thought it was polite to do so. If I am asking for somthing, I appreciate the effort and just did not want you to spend much time.
I think if you want to write an epic review its cuz you got somting to say, and want to do so. But to ask for lenght would be rude.
Your well crafted posts are great even if long!
Otherwise, sales of the X5 would go into the toilet...
Not sure when that is going to happen...
regards,
kyfdx
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
We are NOT unhappy with the 225HP 6, tho.
I was also told that the new X3's would have the 6spd manual and the 6 speed steptronic and probably (eventually) the SMG. Is this correct or are the two hand in hand -- 255HP and 6spd steps?
We love our stick shift and it does improve the mileage and the acceleration.
Glad that the body and bumpers will be the same color even if it means you have go with the sport package -- which is NOT a bad thing as far as I'm concerned.
Not a bad marketing idea... get the new X5 off to a big start... then later in the year, drop the new engine into the X3, and get another bump in interest....
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
The lease deals on the x5 are incredible these days!
1) Have you seen anyone obtain bumpers that could be painted for current body style X3? I assume the current bumpers could not be painted given their plastic texture.
2) Can you recommend a place that would sell OEM X3 wheels? I have a non sport and am looking to purchase the sport wheels/tires.
Thanks
Also you could buy OEM wheels from BMW, too.
HOWEVER, I believe there are "Jen-U-Wine" imitation replicas available that, when capped with the BMW center caps are 99.44/100% drop dead look alikes at a lot less money.
Google this or ebay it and you'll see what's out there.
The body kit IS, however a real BMW accessory.
Hope this helps.
A heavily-discounted X5 would be very tempting since IMO the X5 4.4 is still one of the most attractive (styling and performance) SUVs out there, even in its old age!
With the dressed up bumpers of the 2006 model and perhaps a bit finer vinyl grain on the dashboard (and the 3.0 255HP engine) this car has a great future ahead of it. It is BMW's "secret car." Configured like you will virtually never see it on the lot, the X3 is sporty, utilitarian AND does a pretty good job of being luxurious.
The handling is very much like a 2005 330xi and the comfort is very much like -- a BMW 3, too.
I would believe the car was purposefully sabotaged in some fashion before I believed both brake cylinders went bad at the same time.
Twice this happened and has the problem been found? Substantiated?
Does she cry out for help repressing the clostrophobic repression that comes with the reality that your life is not your own and is now focused on the child?
Thoughts?