Evening all, my wife and I are considering buying a used X3 preferably around 2019. I test drove one today but I was wondering if any of you have had any experience with this model and your thoughts, options to have etc. We don’t necessarily need the M40d but it would be nice. Views on this model would be appreciated or even the X3 20d. TIA
X3 M40d
- Thread starter Lynchy
- Start date
We've got a 30d X3, previously had the 20d which was adequate but felt it was a bit under powered for the size/weight.
The 30d is plenty good enough.
It's not a sports car but sub 6-sec to 60 for something this size is easily fast enough.
Plenty of torque for overtaking
For the size we're pleased with the fuel consumption - we've had ours from new and fuel economy improved markedly after around 15k, we now average around 33mpg in town but can see 50+mpg on long runs.
The MSport and above are fairly well spec'd but options worth having are
- Electric seats (Cindy and I both use the same seat position but the memory will be useful if you and Donna have different seating positions)
- LED headlights (the auto high beam and beam splitting are great)
- Extended storage (comes with rails in the boot and removable metal 'loops' that slide up & down the rails to provide tie points
- 40:20:40 split rear seats
We didn't bother with any of the audio upgrades as Cindy only listens to the radio and I've got tinnitus in my left ear so it's be wasted on me now.
I'd say think about what it's going to be used for - ours is a daily driver and luggage hauler, it's nice and comfortable and a pleasure to drive but it's not (and never will be) a sports car, so options like adjustable dampers and performance brakes are, to me at least, a bit unwarranted and will only become expensive items to repair/replace in the future.
The 30d is plenty good enough.
It's not a sports car but sub 6-sec to 60 for something this size is easily fast enough.
Plenty of torque for overtaking
For the size we're pleased with the fuel consumption - we've had ours from new and fuel economy improved markedly after around 15k, we now average around 33mpg in town but can see 50+mpg on long runs.
The MSport and above are fairly well spec'd but options worth having are
- Electric seats (Cindy and I both use the same seat position but the memory will be useful if you and Donna have different seating positions)
- LED headlights (the auto high beam and beam splitting are great)
- Extended storage (comes with rails in the boot and removable metal 'loops' that slide up & down the rails to provide tie points
- 40:20:40 split rear seats
We didn't bother with any of the audio upgrades as Cindy only listens to the radio and I've got tinnitus in my left ear so it's be wasted on me now.
I'd say think about what it's going to be used for - ours is a daily driver and luggage hauler, it's nice and comfortable and a pleasure to drive but it's not (and never will be) a sports car, so options like adjustable dampers and performance brakes are, to me at least, a bit unwarranted and will only become expensive items to repair/replace in the future.
Good points Perry, we’ve had our 1 series for 7 years now and it has been a great car and enough for what we need tbh. Having moved north and surrounded by farm land etc with single track roads that don’t drain away as well it would be nice to have something higher to see across hedges etc. We really don’t need the big engined versions of the X3 as I test drove a fairly new 20d and it was more than adequate for what we need. These are coming in at a similar price so I’m thinking why not have the bigger engine and all the power that goes with it. I also think it would be a nicer more relaxed drive when we are out and about on the Dales.PerryGunn said:
earthdweller
Senior member
I’ve got an X3, just the lowly 20d which I’ve had since new for 8 years now. And for me it’s good enough, it’s not fast but it will pick its feet up if necessary
I just think it’s the perfect all round vehicle that just does everything so competently and without fuss
We live in the middle of nowhere and it’s great in all weathers and on rural roads where the Xdrive actually does come in useful!
We use it for a lot of long trips where driven gently it can hit 50mpg
Overall, since new it has averaged just over 40mpg over 84k miles
Mine has the heated sports seats, pro nav and a couple of other bits but nothing fancy the main one being the upgraded adaptive headlights which are ace
Like Perry not bothered at all about fancy hi-fi
Having run a 3 series touring alongside it for four years I’d have to say the build quality and general feeling of solidity is much better on the X3
The main testament to it is that I still have it after 8 years which is the longest I’ve ever owned a family car and have no plans in replacing it
I just think it’s the perfect all round vehicle that just does everything so competently and without fuss
We live in the middle of nowhere and it’s great in all weathers and on rural roads where the Xdrive actually does come in useful!
We use it for a lot of long trips where driven gently it can hit 50mpg
Overall, since new it has averaged just over 40mpg over 84k miles
Mine has the heated sports seats, pro nav and a couple of other bits but nothing fancy the main one being the upgraded adaptive headlights which are ace
Like Perry not bothered at all about fancy hi-fi
Having run a 3 series touring alongside it for four years I’d have to say the build quality and general feeling of solidity is much better on the X3
The main testament to it is that I still have it after 8 years which is the longest I’ve ever owned a family car and have no plans in replacing it
I have the X3 M sport 2.0d mild hybrid 21 plate I purchased it three months old and love it. Fully loaded apart from Panny roof. HK HUD Adaptive lights and adaptive suspension. Nice place to be it’s smooth on the motorway and returns 38mpg around town 50mpg on a run.
If you switch it to comfort mode on good roads the car is silent and so smooth. Switch it to Sports it tightens the whole car up no roll in the bends, it also works in conjunction with the Sat Nav predicting the road you are on :? go figure. Just love the whole package 
[ref]Lynchy[/ref], This thread got me looking yesterday, thinking of a workhorse.
Watched this, as love the colour. Finished at 5K which has surprised me.
Not know this market so i ask, was this a bargain missed ?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2012-BMW-X3-xDrive-20d-M-Sport-Blue-5dr-Step-Auto-ESTATE-DIESEL-Automatic-/204335094847?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=i%252B72a7%252B1QcWG%252BAwoEOTeL4luPIM%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc
8)
Watched this, as love the colour. Finished at 5K which has surprised me.
Not know this market so i ask, was this a bargain missed ?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2012-BMW-X3-xDrive-20d-M-Sport-Blue-5dr-Step-Auto-ESTATE-DIESEL-Automatic-/204335094847?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=i%252B72a7%252B1QcWG%252BAwoEOTeL4luPIM%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc
8)
We’ve had an X3 20D msport since 2018, on our 2nd one a 21 plate and it just does everything you could want. I was anti suv until we test drive the X3.
We have been eyeing up an electric model next, just don’t like the look of the IX, so we’ve decided to try an Audi Q8 etron shadow edition. It doesn’t land until the end of the year though! Time will tell if it was the right decision :rofl:
We have been eyeing up an electric model next, just don’t like the look of the IX, so we’ve decided to try an Audi Q8 etron shadow edition. It doesn’t land until the end of the year though! Time will tell if it was the right decision :rofl:
I am now on my second X3M40d, the first was the 2019 at the start of the G01 production then I changed it 18 months ago for the new LCI model with the mild hybrid.
Great cars and have had no problems with either. The performance of the 40d is very impressive but it is all about the torque with this engine, it literally pulls like a train in any gear at any speed. Fuel consumption is fine, averaging 35 round town and up in the 50’s on a long run. I was fortunate to have a load of positive equity in the first car and chopped it in early for the LCI model at considerably less cost than I was already paying. In all honesty they usually come pretty well specced, I went for the optional M sport seats, individual alloys and paint and a few other wee bits and pieces.
Great cars and have had no problems with either. The performance of the 40d is very impressive but it is all about the torque with this engine, it literally pulls like a train in any gear at any speed. Fuel consumption is fine, averaging 35 round town and up in the 50’s on a long run. I was fortunate to have a load of positive equity in the first car and chopped it in early for the LCI model at considerably less cost than I was already paying. In all honesty they usually come pretty well specced, I went for the optional M sport seats, individual alloys and paint and a few other wee bits and pieces.