Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
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
They also seem to find fault with the X3 braking so fast, that the guy in the Chev couldn't stop in time. Does that mean the X3 has brakes that are too good, and should be less powerful in case you have a GM car behind you.
The testers have done a lot of damage in very few miles.
Maybe the testers could be morons!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
That combination is definitely not designed for off-road..
That said, I still wouldn't be too happy about my entire rear suspension failing.. Something tells me that vehicle got the same test they would give a Nissan Xterra or Toyota 4Runner... The X3 is just not that kind of vehicle, and isn't even advertised as such...
I always laugh when I see the Honda Ridgeline commercials, with the vehicle bouncing over the rutted cart path.. I think they are idiots to show the vehicle where it is probably the weakest in comparison to it's competitors... They would be better off showing the wife putting groceries in it... At least BMW shows the car on the road.. .where it blows away the competition...
regards,
kyfdx
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
I test drove the Saturn Saturday morning. It was nice and all, but just not what I was hoping it'd be. Afterward I popped into my BMW dealership for a spin in the X3 3.0 (I'd never driven one, just looked at and read about them) It was VERY nice. What a ride! Reminded me of my old 330i. I'm sold! Gas mileage sucks though.
I'm having trouble finding just what I want of the remaining 2005's. I really wanted a 6-Speed manual. Wonder if I shouldn't consider the 2.5 in a 6-speed? There may be more of those. Or get an automatic in the 3.0? Decisions... decisions....
2) I like the deal.. It looks like no security deposit, though.. If you took $450 of that money and made a security deposit, they money factor would come down, and your payment would go up slightly, but you'd be ahead for the term of the lease.. A payment increase of about $12-$13, but a net gain of $150-$200, at the end of lease...
3) You could do a 39 month lease with the same exact structure as this one, and the payment would be $50/mo. less.... About $352/mo. including tax.. And, when you figure the downpayment and fees are spread over 39 months, instead of 24 months, the actual savings is closer to $100/mo...
regards,
kyfdx
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
tidester, host
I would suspect that the new X3 3.0 w/255HP could actually be "fine" with the 6spd steptronic or the SMG (should BMW elect to put this into the X3.)
So, with no offense meant, I would do all I could to NOT get the 2.5 UNLESS it had the stick shift and even then, I would caution you to drive the car with perhaps two passengers in it and see how the addition of 300 pounds of people will really bog this 2.5 down. With the automatic the X3 2.5 is more "yak" than "shak" or all hat and no cattle or words to that effect.
The lease deals on the 3.0 have been so strong, anyway, that it hardly makes sense to go with the 2.5, because the difference in mileage is minimal.
Do you know the dealer its at? You can always get it there.
Thats not fair, but neither is $1000. Offer him $500.
What is y0our leverage? Are you willing to walk away and not pay the 1G ? If not, pay it and be happy witht the deal.
Its not personal, just supply and demand. Good luck.
I'm looking at an 05 X3 to replace my 02 RX300. The lease deal on a msrp of 41,070 is: 39mo/12,000 miles
nothing down except 1st and security (520 & 525)
including all taxes, doc, etc. (DuPage county,IL)
for 518/mo
Several people said this is a great deal. Any thoughts?
AgentRed29
Given that, $518/mo. is a good deal...
regards,
kyfdx
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
I think only the dealer can program your clown nose to flash.. assuming they know how to do it.. and that feature is available... Again, you can do it on a 3-series (E46).
regards,
kyfdx
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
Also, I will see if the dealer will program the clown nose and headlights to flash on lock. I bought the X3 about 100 miles from where I live, so I hope the local dealer where I will be getting service from here will still program it for free.
One other issue. I found out that the Production Date of my newly acquired 2004 X3 was 8/2004. So supposedly, according to S.I. B84 13 04 dated January 2005, Bluetooth will not work despite the fact that I have the Owner's Manual insert with a Bluetooth Passkey number printed on it. The Service Information Bulletin says E83 (X3) vehicles produced between 3/2004 and 8/2004 are equipped with a TCU that does not support Bluetooth. Has anyone had any luck getting a new or reprogrammed TCU from the dealer that will support Bluetooth?
I have found a list of all the Recalls and Service Bulletins for the 2004 X3, but I just have the titles of those items. Does anyone know of a free site that has the full text of these recalls and bulletins?
Also, the only place I see to get full text of all the service bulletins and recalls is at www.alldata.com/recalls and pay for a subscription for one vehicle. But it tells me "ALLDATAdiy.com does not support Honda, Acura, and BMW at the request of the manufacture." So I don't know where to get this info. Funny, I have a Honda AND a BMW!
$250 down (long story.)
Sec dep and first month only (plus plates.)
36 months/15K annual.
Including tax $581.00.
Your deal would sound pretty good for 36 mo and 15K miles, but not for 12K miles and probably not for 39 months -- Ohio, like your state requires prepayment of taxes which when rolled into the lease as we did, raise the price in an unnatural fashion.
My 2 cents worth. :shades:
This is appearently a classic BMW annoyance which appears to plague the X3 particularly. You can search just about any BMW forum and find a lot of discussion about this solutions people have tried
The problem is the door seals rubbing against the door. What works for many people, myself included is simply applying some lubricant on the door seals. BMW sells something called "Gummiphledge" which I believe is German for "rubber care" or you can try some kind of silicone or teflon based lubricant, or even liberal application of WD40.
This is not a permanent solution, but appears to work for many.If your dealer offers you a better solution, please share for all of our benefit.
Steve, Host
No firm equipment levels noted, no confirmation about interior upgrades?
All we know is there will less black bumpers?
And certainly no company notes as to when the engine upgrade takes place.
Its september!
The owner, my wife and I have known each other forever. Unlike many dealers, this gentlemen is actually an advisor to BMW AG. He travels to Munich regularly to attend and teach other dealers around the world how to (essentially) become ISO certified. His dealership was the second or third US dealer to become so certified.
The point is, he seems (via what he says and how he acts) almost like a BMW insider rather than "merely" a BMW retailer.
His personal daily driver (although he has many personal cars) is a 2005 X3 3.0 stick shift that has "virtually every possible option" on it. He seems to "wax poetic" about two cars, his 1997 hot rod 3 series BMW and his X3.
We asked him about the "next" X3 (and X5 for that matter.)
He responded:
The X3 body style is "the newer of the two SAV's, and the X3 body style will carry on and the X5 will adopt the X3 look."
"Moreover, the X3 will get the 255HP 3.0 (the engine in the new 3 and 5 series -- as will the X5.)"
The X3's with a build date (at least I think he said BUILD not availability date) in early 2006 will offer customers a choice of two 3.0 engines (just like the BMW 3 and 5 series do), a 6speed Steptronic and a 6 speed manual (under consideration is the SMG). The bumpers will no longer be "unpainted" but will come painted in body color. I assume this means the X5's painted parts (on the current model) will be imitated on the X3.
Additional options (in due course) will be offered -- but I am unclear if i-Drive is one of them, but it does seem logical. Of course we wondered if the dashboard would be upgraded from the course grained look to the more granular, finer grained look that is in the rest of the BMW line -- again no clear answer here.
Major changes?
He claimed none until the refresh for the 2008 model year.
IMHO, the 255HP 3.0 engine and the Steptronic at 6 speeds are pretty major -- but I understand the answer, since the 255HP engine is more of a running change (as it was in the 5 series.)
Now, is this an authoritative answer? Yes, no, but. Yes, this guy is an atypical dealer, no he is NOT a BMW employee or official despite the fact that he is more of an insider than many dealers seem to be. But, what he says does track somewhat with the buzz here there and everywhere.
Clear as mud, I know.
This would appear to mean, you can order your new X3 for a January production and it will be "upgraded."
I do hope the dash and the doors get some ugrade touches.
While i dig the rugged approach, this model does not reek of being a rock climbing-hose it down interior. The seats dictate the interor and they are fine, but seem out of place in the rugged interior.
Perhaps two levels of trim would be available. At 35k or about, its just fine and a good value. At north of 45k, it needs some touches. Sounds like most folks are pretty happy with it as it is, but thats usually par for the course.
Im looking forward to drivng the new motor! Yes, that is a big upgrade!
If you can order what you want, you know it is real.
I believe the X3 is due in January. . .but that is my best guess.
Don't worry about it, I understood you perfectly.
You said your dealer is on the planning commitee and was 200% certain about the changes!
If I'm understanding you correctly, I could order a new 2006 X3 now and get the current 225 HP. Or if I wait to order one in January 2006 I will have the option to order a 2006 X3 with 255 horses. Correct?
Do you know when BMW will release official photos and specs on the 2006 X3? Since they're starting production mid September I would think there would be some concrete info for consumers out there somewhere.
Seriously, thanks for the info Mark...I wonder if they'd consider bringing the X3 3.0d here now, with gas at its current prices, I would definietly consider a diesel.
My questions are - why did we hear a loud noise and is it okay to have a flat tire without a nail or sharp object in the tire. Should I report it to NHTSA. As for the warning light, will ask BMW service to have a look at it soon. Thank you for any suggestions.
BMWUSA.COM appears to have photos of the '06 X3. They only offer a 3.0 engine, but it's the 225HP version, not the new 3.0 from the 3/5 series (255HP).
Also, the photos indicate that there has been no revision to the interior, but the exterior has much less black plastic body cladding. Instead, the cladding is now body color, probably exactly like the aftermarket body color cladding upgrade offered on prior model year cars. IMHO, it still looks aftermarket... a little bit like a prop car from "The Fast & The Furious" :-) Hey- can't fault them for trying to make it sporty/more appealing.
The current X5, I think, maintains the right balance of body color and black plastic trim. The old X3 probably had too much black plastic, the new one- too little. I am a current X3 owner ('05 3.0 model) and love it. Think it's a great car and, to be honest, the black body cladding sort of becomes invisible after awhile.
you're quite right about considering a diesel 3.0 X3 if you can get one in North America; here in France no one would dream of buying a non diesel 4x4 gas guzzler; I've been driving a 204HP 3.0d for over a year, getting more than 30mpg and fantastic torque at low revs; the noise is perhaps just a little higher at tick over than on the gas version, but as soon as you are off it is very difficult to tell it's a diesel!
the only problem I've had so far- '25000miles- is the creaking of door seals or window guides, but that is not specific to diesel apparently
black bumpers do not bother me; in fact I think they look OK and they do not scratch as easily as painted ones
hope this helps...and again if you can GO DIESEL, you won't regret it!
The MY 2006 production MAY actually start in September, I thought any change that would include the engine (which is what I personally would wait for if I could) won't happen until calendar year 2006.
Full body paint, 6spd steptronic and 255 HP 3.0 engine and perhaps options and minor other changes are all that my dealer says are likely until the next big change (the X5 will, however, get the X3 look.)
I interpret all this as a bit of truth, a bit of speculation and consider the source (which means I basically believe him.) I was with an Audi product manager once in Ingolstadt who told me what was coming and when -- well, when it finally came, there were changes that obviously must have been decided upon after the manager shared them with our group (this was during January -- and the production actually began in July, so I can understand that a lot of tweaks can happen in 6 months.)
There is NO economy to be gained by keeping the 3.0 225HP engine much longer, considering the new 3.0 is both more effective and more efficient and ultimately must cost about the same (or less) to produce as the old 3.0 version.
Perhaps, at this juncture, BMW doesn't want to upstage the X5 with the 3.0 engine at 225HP with an X3 with a 3.0 255HP engine. And, it would certainly be understandable for BMW to NOT adapt the 255HP engine to the X5 since that body style is in its final chapter.
This is probably caused by an irregularly shaped object - a piece of steel perhaps.
"....BMW service repaired it yesterday..."
Hopefully the "rupture" wasn't larger than 1/4" long. Anything larger than that should have resulted in replacing the tire. Also, they should have used a combination plug/patch to do the repair. If they only patched it, then the steel belts will corrode over time, eventually causing the steel belt to come off - very bad.
"My questions are - why did we hear a loud noise...."
What you heard was the air coming out rapidly.
"....and is it okay to have a flat tire without a nail or sharp object in the tire.""
I think you mean a flat caused by some object other than a nail, etc. Obviously there are a variety of objects that could puncture a tire.
"Should I report it to NHTSA."
Only if you feel that a puncture caused by an irregularly shaped object might be important for the agency to know about.
Hope this helps.
Not sure if I like the painted bumpers. Might be something I need to get used to.
Seems odd!
Does anyone know differently?
OK, I can dig out the garage door opener. I can live without starting my hot tub from the car, but security system?
We quit at just under $47K with a lot of (but far from all) options. And, we don't even have metallic paint!
Is this the same kyfdx that used to be just a regular member? So anyone can become a Host? Might be a good idea to become one. That way you can post all sorts of nasty stuff and not get deleted! :P
Other than that, it appears they re-config'd the option packages, resulting a a few grand higher price if you tick off the same packages. :mad:
Overall, kinda disappointing. With the X5 about to be changed, it appears the looker in the BMW line-up is now the new 3-series.
The only thing that made the X3 look like an ugly duckling, to me, was its lack of body color bumpers.
We bought the Jet Black Gloss (standard paint) with the sport package, and the Terracotta Montana leather. The contrast between the paint and bumper is minimal and with the striking leather sport seats, this little ugly duckling is almost transformed into that beautiful black swan.
With standard full body paint now on the X3 3.0 (and with the mandatory Premium, Sport and other vital upgrades), the X3 can now almost join the "class crowd."
The performance with the promised 255HP 3.0 and 6spd steptronic, should be a sight to behold.
But.. since I've become a host, I've been deleted twice, and one forum I was posting in was shut down completely!!
So, even I'm not immune...
The biggest difference? When I get the e-mail about having my post deleted, the sender now makes fun of me.... I didn't get that when I was just a member.. :surprise:
regards,
kyfdx
Host-Prices Paid Forums
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
/snicker off
Thanks.
Hope this helps. YMMV.