BMW X3 (2011 - 2017) xDrive20d BluePerformance SE 5d (2012/12) Owner Review
Want to know everything there is to know about this car?
-
Summary
What does this car say about you?
I would hope it shows that I am a practical person who knows what he wants and appreciates German cars!
What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?
My family prefer this car to previous Mercs that I have had.
Would you buy this car again and why?
I would buy this car again based on the few months that I have owned it, but there is one thing that disappointed me. I am one of the few people that look underneath cars now and then. I am disappointed with the amount of rust on chassis components already. BMW bodies good, but the chassis components are a different matter compared to Mercs and Audis. I am actually addressing this problem myself as I want to keep the car for some years. For an expensive car I would expect BMW to do better than this, the cost of decent nuts and bolts and extra coats of paint are minimal compared to the buying price of the car. Average mpg is 42 and not the 50mpg claimed.
What are you likely to buy next?
It's too far off to say at this point. I want to keep this one for about ten years.
-
Buying experience
Type of dealer you bought from?
Franchised
Did you buy this car new?
No
What price did you pay?
£32,995
When did you buy the car?
December 2012
Did you get a good deal and why?
Yes, I was happy with the deal as the car I bought had lots of extras on it including Variable Damper Control which I wanted.
Is there any special reason why you bought this car?
I wanted a practical compact 4x4 and the X3 came out top on reviews.
What was the dealer like?
The dealer was very good (North East) and I would buy from them again as far as the buying experience is concerned. I have not really tested their after =sales service properly yet.
-
Driving it
What's it like to drive?
With the variable damper control the X3 drives like a car with virtually no body roll at all on corners and in comfort mode is very comfortable especially on long journeys. I find it very easy to drive both in town and on the open roads/motorways. The 8 speed auto is a very good transmission and I would recommend it. I make these comments being an engineer and previous owner of a number of Audis and Mercs.
What's it like to park?
With the Park Distance Control Parking is a very easy manoeuvre in almost any situation.If you have the rear view camera its even better.
-
Living with it
Have you had any problems with the car?
I really enjoy driving the X3 and yes it puts a smile on my face ! I have not had any problems with it to date.
What's most practical about your car?
The car has very good road manners, plenty of room in the cabin including good legroom in the rear, and comfortable seats. The controls are all well laid out and easy to follow and use. The iDrive system is excellent once you have just got used to using it. MPG is good at average 42mpg and you wont get 50 plus as it is claimed even if you drive very carefully.
Favourite gadget, option or accessory?
I like the iDrive system. I also really like the rear view camera as it comes in very usefull when backing up to my trailer. The Visibility Package is brilliant, especially if you are older and your eyes are not as good as they were! Dislikes are bonnet release catch on cabin is cheap looking plastic design and the rust problems mentioned elsewhere. I also prefer to carry a spare wheel, runflats are not the easy option you may think they are, and will almost certainly need a new tyre after a puncture.
