2010 BMW X3 Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 2004-2015 BMW X3 as a used buy. BMW was one of the early prestige companies to spot the surge in interest in SUVs (Sports Utility Vehicles). Realising that most SUV buyers aren't interested in exploring off-road trails but wanted a tall station wagon BMW calls its vehicles SAVs, (Sports

Jock downsized to a 2.5-litre X3 and still enjoys it immensely. He likes the easy of entry with the high driving position, the cornering and driver control, the torque at low speed, the size of the cabin, and the look. So far, he has had no problems with his pride and joy.Dr Neil Cranston has owned his X3 for two years, and says it the best car he has driven or owned in 40 years of motoring. He particularly praises the X3’s quality, safely and comfort.John has done 40,000km in his 2012 20d and prefers its size compared to the X5 and X1. He reports that it runs very well and there have been no problems with it to date. He’s not convinced of the suitability of the run-flat tyres for Australian conditions and carries a spare tyre and repair kit when he goes bush.Tony Manning is disillusioned with his 3.0d. It’s only done 111,000km and there has been a succession of expensive problems with it, including transmission woes, radiator leaks, air-conditioning leaks, windscreen washer pump failures, and a turbocharger failure.NEWWith the runaway success of the X5 it was only a matter of time before BMW unleashed a smaller version. The X3 hit our showrooms in 2004, but failed to excite the masses as BMW hoped it would.Compared to the macho-looking X5 the X3 looked like a skinny kid with its long snout and tall, narrow-gutted shape.Minor cosmetic tweaks in 2008 helped, but it still lacked the strong presence that made the X5 so appealing to so many.Same with the interior, which was initially criticised for being unfriendly and bland, but changes made for 2008 went some way to answering the complaints.But it was under the long bonnet that the most significant changes were made.BMW offered two petrol engines and two diesels. The premium-guzzling petrol engines were both in-line sixes, one of 2.5 litres in capacity, the other a 3.0-litre, and both got extra power in the makeover. The turbo-diesels were a 2.0-litre four-cylinder and a 3.0-litre six.As is the norm with BMW sixes, the petrol engines were silky smooth, revved easy and packed plenty of performance, while the diesels were also smooth and responsive, and delivered the fuel economy expected of a self-igniter.All were linked to a six-speed automatic transmission and the drive was full-time four-wheel drive.On the road the chassis was responsive. The handling was as good as you got in any SUV, but the ride was firm, thanks mostly to BMW’s used of run-flat tyres.NOWThe allure of driving a BMW can be very tempting, but the reality can be at odds with the appeal.Owned short term life can be a breeze, but the dream can turn expensive over the long term. A BMW with high kays showing on the odometer should be approached with caution, and with an average of 80,000km - 150,000km 2008 X3s fall into that category. The last of the E83s, from 2011, are a better choice if you can stump up the readies needed to buy one.Apart from a problem with the transfer gearbox in the four-wheel drive system, the major mechanical components are generally robust and reliable. The same can’t be said for the peripheral components, however.The engines, for instance, don't use oil as a rule, but the plastic components used in the engine bay, like the radiator fittings, hose fittings, drive belt pulleys, all give trouble eventually.The gearboxes are also generally reliable, but the X3 does have a problem with a gear in the transfer gearbox; again it’s made from plastic and is known to break. To add insult to injury you can’t buy the individual parts to repair it, as BMW will only supply you an expensive replacement gearbox.There was a recall in 2011 that covered diesel models. Moisture can get into the fuel filter heater electrical contacts and cause a short circuit that can discharge the battery and affect the starting, and possibly cause a fire.Parts and servicing can be expensive, so it’s a good idea to find a BMW specialist mechanic to service your car, that way you can save money without compromising on the quality of the work.Resourceful mechanics will usually be able to source parts overseas, which can significantly reduce the cost of repairs.To make sure previous owners have kept up the required maintenance ask for a service record, and if you’re unsure about the car you are considering have it checked by an experienced mechanic.

It’s not just we Aussies and the Yanks that love their SUVs, Europeans have really been getting into them in recent years; and the big name German marques have quickly cottoned onto the boom in these handy vehicles. BMW began its SUV range with the X5 and has gradually worked its way down in size with new models X3 and finally the X1. The reduction in size was caused by the realisation by car makers that most SUV buyers aren’t interested in exploring the wilds of their respective countries, rather they want a capacious station wagon with a driving position that’s higher than cars’.Note that BMW would like us to call its vehicles SAVs, standing for Sports Activity Vehicle, but no-one seems particularly interested in that acronym so we will stick with SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle).The midsize BMW X3 is the subject of this week’s article as it’s proving very popular in recent times. In Australia around one third of all BMW sales are in SUVs. The biggest seller is the X5, but the X3, introduced here in July 2004, is holding its own in the sales race. Interestingly, the second generation X3, sold from March 2011, is significantly larger than the original and is within a few centimetres of the first-generation X5 in many dimensions.If you’re looking for a family car the gen-two BMW X3 has ample legroom for those in the rear seat and three children will find they have good shoulder room. Boot space is good and the luggage areas are well shaped and easy to load in all X3 models.As there’s almost no demand for a BMW that can go off road, the suspension guys have gone for handling and comfort ahead of traction on unsealed surfaces. Clever electronics, further enhanced on the gen-two X3, do give it more grip in harsh going than you might expect.Four and six-cylinder engines are offered in petrol and diesel format. BMW has long been a specialist in turbocharged engines and both the petrol and diesel units work well. There’s the usual lag before things start to really motor well, but once the engines are past that stage they are beautifully responsive.Though the diesels are the more economical we do have a preference for turbo-petrol engines as they just love to rev way up in the scale, whereas the diesels give up in the high 4000s. Even better are the naturally aspirated straights sixes - one of our all time favourite powerplants. These are offered in 2.5 and 3.0-litre capacity.Six-speed manual gearboxes were offered in the early days, but were never popular and disappeared from the new-car price list during 2008. If you’re keen on DIY gearshifting you may find a few manuals have been privately imported. Be sure a private import meets all areas of Australian regulations.Automatic transmissions began with five forward speeds in 2004, this increased to six in 2006, then eight in the all-new model of 2011. There are manual overrides that give you a fair bit of control as BMW has long been an expert in sporting automatics.BMW is long established in Australia and has a well organised dealer network. The concentration is on major metro areas but there are quite a few in country cities and even large country towns. Spare parts are relatively expensive, but no more so than others in this class of SUV. We seldom here any real complaints about availability. Similarly, insurance costs aren’t low, but you generally seem to get value for money.Do it yourself work on an SUV like this should be left to minor items only. These are complex cars with a multitude of electronic items and should be left to BMW dealers. There are some ex-BMW mechanics in private practise and owners speak very highly of them, however, they may not have access to the very latest information or changes to the X3.WHAT TO LOOK FORThe BMW X3 is generally trouble free, but it makes sense to buy a used one with a full service history. The car will have been in contact by way of the internet with the technical departments in the German head office each time it was serviced at an official dealership.The use of incorrect tyres can cause problems with the transfer case due to incorrect rolling radii. Make a note of the details of tyres then contact BMW for a list of recommended tyres. If you suspect one has been off the beaten track - a rare event - examine the bumper corners, doors sills and undertray for damage - or choose an X3 that hasn’t beaten about the bush.Make sure a petrol engine starts almost instantly, or a diesel within a couple of seconds. Slow starting can indicate real problems. An inspection of the interior, including the luggage area will reveal that a car has been used as a workhorse for carting kids or other heavy-duty stuff.CAR BUYING TIPCars aimed at those who really like to drive may have been thrashed. Blindingly obvious? Yes, but too few buyers take this into account when falling in love with a potential new car. 

The middle child of the BMW X range has been given some special treatment. A new X3 has been launched in the US and is on its way to Australia around March next year. It is the second generation of the mid-sized SUV that sits comfortably between the small X1 and the large X5.BMW has substantially improved the crossover wagon, stretching and widening the body to the extent that it is very nearly as big as the first generation X5. There is new front suspension, fresh steering, more interior space, and an improved all-wheel drive system.VALUEBMW is yet to lock in prices at this stage, but sources suggest that prices, at least on the entry level petrol and diesel models will not increase over the current level. That means you can expect to get the base diesel, the best seller, for about $62,000 and the base petrol for about $69,000. This is a fair amount of cash, but you do get a prestige SUV that is nearly as big as the original X5.TECHNOLOGY BMW Australia will bring in the 20D model which runs a turbo diesel four-cylinder with 135kW and 380Nm that uses just 5.6 litres per 100km.  It will also have a naturally aspirated petrol six-cylinder and a six-cylinder diesel, but these are yet to be announced.There is a six-speed manual and a new ZF eight-speed auto available overseas, but Australia will only take the automatic.  Overseas markets also have a 35is turbo petrol six-cylinder that pumps out 225kW and 400Nm, but BMW Australia has decided against importing it.The engines are available with fuel saving stop-start technology, a heads-up display which projects information on to the screen is new as is electric power steering, optional top view reversing camera and optional adjustable suspension dampers.SAFETYThe X3 comes with permanent all-wheel drive to help the driver keep out of trouble in the first place. Electronic stability control and a full suite of airbags is standard. A cruise control system that can detect objects in front and brake the car is available as an option.STYLING  BMW has moved the X3 upmarket, adding more style. The hard angular lines of the existing car have been smoothed off, while new design lines have been introduced to give the car a sleeker look.The lengthening and widening of the body helped designers give the car a more muscular look compared to the existing model. The interior has been given a mild upgrade.DRIVINGWe drove a diesel X3 with a manual transmission and a turbo petrol with an automatic.  We won’t get the turbo petrol engine or the manual transmission but we will get the diesel engine with the automatic transmission.Even though we couldn’t drive that exact car, the drive through the countryside near Atlanta in the US gave us a clear indication that BMW really has lifted its game with the new X3. The existing X3 is not very good.The first X3 seemed like a model rushed out to capitalize on the success of the X5 that was cheaper than that model but nowhere near as good. It didn’t handle all that well, the interior looked cheap and design was ugly, especially when it first came out.BMW improved it with facelifts, but it still fell short of expectations. The new car appears to change that.  It looks a whole lot better, especially when you see it in the metal. The handling has been improved substantially, although our cars had the optional adjustable dampers, the steering is sharper and the ride is more comfortable.The diesel is quite strong and it is not too loud. It isn’t much fun with a manual thanks to the traditional narrow diesel torque band that means you have to change gears almost constantly.  The turbo petrol engine is a ripper and the automatic transmission shifts quickly and smoothly.VERDICTWe will have to wait to test the exact model that will come to Australia, but it is clear that the new X3 marks a significant improvement over the existing model. The X3 used to be the poor cousin of the X5, but now it is more like a younger and smaller brother.BMW X3Prices: TBAEngine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo dieselPower: 135kW at 4000 revsTorque: 380Nm at 1750-2750 revsTransmission: Eight speed automaticFuel consumption: 5.6 litres per 100km (claimed)