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My in-laws has a VW jetta, and it also has the "touch signalling" feature. I was wondering why my bimmer doesn't have it. It's actually cool to have it.
The angel eyes doesn't turn on unless you turn the switch to half (parking light) or full (xenon head lights), but the DRL is just the high beem lens which emitts yellow lights. I saw the new X5, 5 series, 3 series coupes, and even the 135i has the angel eye (halo rings) as their DRL. So I am wondering if the X3 can be upgraded as well.
:confuse:
Ask the dealer and listen for the words, "false economy."
If you used 30 gallons per week, $6.00 upcharge, if you use 5 tanks per month then there is your $30. If your mileage AND power drop the equivalent of $30 per month, you be paying the same and having a less peppy car that is retarding the ignition to prevent preignition -- all at the expense of power and gas mileage.
LOL!
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
We just took my wife's 65,000 mile X3 2.5 on a somewhat longer trip and it averaged 24.9(manually calculated; the OBC figure is @5% optimistic) at an average speed of around 80 mph. That number was obtained with two adults, two 13 year old boys, and a cargo hold stuffed full of luggage. It is an extremely pleasant cruiser, but the handling is still sharp enough that I can embarrass more than a few performance cars when the road turns twisty.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
I'm most interested because this vehicle is still under factory warranty.
I will still take all other factors into account when I make my octane decision at the pump. I just don't want to make that decision based on a salesperson's claim without further evidence. If climate makes a difference - this vehicle is driven in Florida. Thanks for your responses.
What color combo did you get? How much did you pay? What was the asking price?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
I know the "free" service is built into the price of the car, but it is a really nice thing. Coupled with the long service intervals (if I owned it I would change the oil every 7500, flush the coolant & brake fluid every 2 years, the tranny fluid every 3 years... Just like they used to before "free" maintenance) makes these cars great to lease.
Now besides the free service, the best part about taking the X3 in to the dealer was the loaner car provided :shades: . My wife was instructed to call me immediately and let me know what the loaner car was. Low and behold it was an '08 335xiA. After dinner I promptly volunteered to install our 21 month old son's car seat (which was to be followed by a short test drive). This car is scary fast. I came away from my extended test drive (from our place in Westchester, NY up to my best friend's place in Norwalk, CT) blown away by the N52's performance. You can pass any car at any time with a quick stab of the gas pedal (half way). On one ramp that goes from an eastbound highway (I-287) to a northbound highway (I-95), I floored the gas pedal while merging and blew past 2 tractor trailers. I looked down and noticed I was going over 100 mph. Like I said, scary. But what a ride!
There's a saying among car guys: "You can never have too much power." The N52 doesn't have too much power, but it has enough.
I don't drive like a lunatic. I take twisty roads at a nice clip when they're empty. I usually double the speed of exit ramps. If I'm running late for something and have to get there, I make up for the lost time. Most days I loaf my way home at around 60 mph with the cruise control set (especially now since gas is $4.57 a gallon). a twin turbo 135i or 335i would turn me into a complete hooligan. I'd probably have to see if I could pre-purchase speeding tickets in bulk from Westchester County, New York State, and The City of New York. Just give me a stick and a sport suspension on a 128i or 328i and I'd do just fine.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
The BMW engine in the X3 is "optimized" for premium.
It will run sub-optimized (and cost more) if you use regular or mid grade. What we are talking about is a false economy.
Using gas that is higher in octane than your engine requires is a waste of money. Using gas that is lower in octane than your engine requires makes it cost more to drive than if you used what it has been optimized to run on.
still no info. out there anywhere about catalytic converter damage?
random comment: my 20+ year old Audi had 4 knock sensors and it optimized itself to run on whatever octane level i chose to put in the tank.
Today, the same thing happens, more or less -- the ignition is retarded to prevent compression ignition.
One could imagine that, therefore, there could be a chance that more incompletely burned gas would be forced out the exhaust valve, and out to the exhaust pipe, down to the cat conv. If less completely burned fuel is input to the cat converter, one could argue some premature "damage."
Someone who actually does know the nuances of this will, hopefully reply. At the current price of gas -- mid grade usually costing 10 cents less per gallon than premium -- and knowing the reduced efficiency of mid grade, why would someone actually want to spend more money for less performance.
Unless, of course, the real reason BMW requires premium is to maintain the illusion of superiority. I do not know if BMW would require premium to suggest its engines are really more "upscale" than their actual technology would prove, but I seriously doubt it.
Your 20 year old Audi did optimize itself, sort of, to preven knock -- but you paid a premium in money for not using premium gasoline.
Waste not, want not.
i have two main problems in my X3 2004 car where the dealer in KSA is unable to troubleshoot or pinpoint how, where and all those questions!
the first problem is the creaking noise which comes from all the doors (or windows) when ever i drive over a non smooth road (which in KSA-Jeddah happens to be most of the roads). the dealer is saying this is an X3 problem and there is no solution, but its so annoying and no one can understand this is a BMW. whenever i lower the noise mostly disappears. so anyone passed through this problem and is there any solution?
the second problem which caused the dealer to get me a new gear box thinking the problem resides there but it wasn't from the gearbox. the problem is, whenever I'm accelerating (RPM goes above 4) some hard shifting will occur repeatedly (shifting is not the right word i guess, it feels like if 2 cylinders are moving together and there is a teeth in one of the cylinders broken, so there will be a shift whenever the first cylinder reaches that broken teeth). The only thing i was able to pinpoint is that my tires are mix (18in 255 rear & 18in 235 front) whenever i replace the tires with one size all (18in 235 rear & front) the problem will go away; some technicians said it might be the transfer box. if I'm driving in traffic and slow pace, alot of bubbing sound will come from the rear. again anyone passed through any similar problem.
last problem, my windows used to go down and up by pressing the key once, after i took it for maintenance check, i lost this feature, and the dealer guys are saying i don't have that feature ....so any clue how can i get this feature back.
thanks for your help
BMW of North America has released a couple of service bulletins on the topic. If your local dealer cannot obtain the bulletin you might try lubricating the door seals and window channels with a rubber compatible product such as Vinylex.
the second problem which caused the dealer to get me a new gear box thinking the problem resides there but it wasn't from the gearbox.
The problem is that BMW's all wheel drive system is designed to work with four identical tires. Mixing tires of different diameters can cause the problem you describe. Run the same size tire on all four wheels.
last problem, my windows used to go down and up by pressing the key once, after i took it for maintenance check, i lost this feature, and the dealer guys are saying i don't have that feature ....so any clue how can i get this feature back.
The one touch feature can be enabled or disabled by the dealer. It sounds like your dealer does not know very much-if anything-about the X3. Is there another dealer in KSA that you could bring the car to?
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
BMW (and other premium manufacturers) use premium fuel so that when they test (and report) engine performance, they can max out horsepower and torque numbers. That they recommend 91 octane is rather silly, as the typical grades sold at US gas stations are 87/89/93.
"Octane ratings can vary greatly from region to region. For example, the minimum octane rating available in much of the United States is 87 AKI and the highest is 93."
Exceptions for California (state-wide) and some high-altitude gas stations in other states are noted in the entry. The discussion re California also notes that it's possible to buy 100 octane at some stations and that earlier this decade 92 octane was sold.
I also drove to St. Louis this past weekend and stopped at a Thornton's gas station that had 87, 90, and 92.
Our dealer recommended buying a set of tires/rims for winter. Anyone know of appropriate all-season tires that will fit the BMW 19-inch rims? If possible, we'd love to avoid swapping tires/wheels every winter and spring.
Sizes are: 235/45R-19 front and 255/40R-19 rear
Thoughts?
Also.. I wouldn't exactly call your current 19" tires, "three season".. Well, I guess that depends where you live... but, once it gets below 40F, those summer performance tires will get hard and slick, even if the weather is dry..
I'd look for a used set of factory 17" wheels. Check eBay. Should be $500-$600, at most. Then buy 17" winter tires to go on them.
I've noticed a lot of BMW corporate owned X3s hitting the dealer lots with the 19" wheel/summer tire upgrade.. Those are great, if you are on a 1-year lease... Not so great, once you have to replace those monster tires..
Good luck
kyfdx
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I second your dealer and kyfdx. It takes me @45 minutes to swap all four corners over to my winter wheels and tires. And 19" tires-even "all seasons" will not handle the nasty stuff as well as 17" winter tires will.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
The BMW dealers around here will store a set of tires for you at their dealership full-time.... for an annual rent of around $300. No chump change, but to save the hassle of storing 4 tires in a crowded garage (and risk getting them stolen), and lug 4 dirty tires across town twice a year....
Who knew?
It's a P. T. Barnum moment.
I'm amused by all the touch signaling posts I've seen ... our sales person is fabulous, and has sold BMWs for 20 years, and still didn't know about it. Glad we weren't scared of the owners manual ... the instructions to set up touch signaling are on page 42, which then refers you to page 18. It's part of the vehicle and key memory set-up.
Tap, blink, blink, blink ... it's all good!
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
You didn't say if the X3 was a 2.5 or 3.0. The X3 2.5's, in my opinion, were a little slow. I'd probably avoid a 2.5. If you can afford to step up to an '07 X3, you'd be much better off. The '07's got essentially the same inline-6 introduced in the '06 330. It's a lot peppier than the '04-'06 X3 3.0, and drives rings around the X3 2.5. The '07's also got better gas mileage than the 2.5 or pre-'07 3.0. There were a lot of interior and exterior refinements for 2007 that made the X3's much nicer too.
The run-flat tires on the 3-series are problematic. I have Continental ContiPro SSR all-seasons on my 330. I have no issues with the performance of the tires, and I like the idea of run-flats, but they're expensive to replace. A nail in a tire means a new tire, a trip to the BMW dealer (tire dealers where we live won't touch the run-flats), and a $250 hit to the checking account. If you live in an area where nails are easy to pick up, you can always swap the run-flats for regular tires. If you do that, you'll just want to be sure and have a can of tire sealant and a portable air compressor in the trunk since there isn't room for a spare. When I'm ready to get new tires, I'll probably go that route.
Hope this helps.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
I can't wait to see what they give her as a loaner car. Last time it was a 335Xi sedan.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
I wouldn't think so; my wifws X3 didn't need pads/rotors until around 60K miles.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
My dealer has a CPO 535xi Touring; my wife would REALLY like to get it...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
I'm seriously going to try and find a way to get a 5 series when the lease on our X3 is up (july 2010). Maybe a new 528 with some trunk money because the new 5er is coming out in '11. Maybe a CPO 535. I might have to go for an Xi because that's pretty much all that the dealers around here stock.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD