Hi, all. New X3 owner here - 2016 xDrive35. X-Line, Tech, Cold Weather, Premium, DA+ and surround view.
Background - I've owned two BMWs in the past, a 2004 and 2008 M3. I've since gotten a dedicated weekend fun car, so the X3 is replacing a 2014 Subaru Forester XT as my daily.
Some observations...
TL;DR - My ideal spec in the US would be Tech, Premium, CW, DA, M-sport, and dynamic handling. DA+ (incl. surround view) not worth it unless you're going full adaptive cruise. Overall, a really good car but seriously let down by RFTs, artificial feeling steering in base setup, non-sport seats, and a weird seat/pedal setup.
1.) Drivers assistance plus as a standalone package is pretty worthless in the US. Side mirrors on the X3 are big enough to make the blind spot information redundant if you have your mirrors adjusted properly. Lane departure and city collision are nice safeguards but aren't terribly useful in day to day driving if you're a relatively attentive driver Likewise the surround view package. Side view cameras are a nice toy but the screen views are distorted and small enough that they're not really practical for day to day driving. For the top down view - we just don't have that many tight places in the US and I'm guessing most of the owners here won't want to park in a spot tight enough to merit the surround view benefit. To date, all I've gotten out of surround view has been a bunch of false alarms and annoying beeps at toll booths and drive-up ATMs.
My advice - get the base Drivers assistance package since PDC and the rear view cameras are very useful. Skip DA+ and surround view unless you're going for the full adaptive cruise control package.
2.) Tech package - HUD alone is nice but not a deal breaker (especially since it washes out with polarized glasses). That said, the HUD integration with the nav system is quite good (intersection views, etc.). Way too expensive but worth getting if for nothing else than to scratch your tech itch and the larger iDrive screen and extended control panel look cooler. In my view, this is the package that gives you the most 'cool' factor as befitting a car in this price range.
3.) Premium package - worth it for comfort access. The button that closes the rear hatch and locks the doors is a godsend. Don't know why more manufacturers don't have this. The ability to open/close the hatch with your foot is very useful, too.
4.) Ride and handling - the engine and chassis are outstanding but there's a reason everyone bitches about the run-flat tires. They are simply horrible and ruin this car's sporting character (which is arguably, one of the reasons people buy the X3 over it's competitors). When combined with the artificial-feeling base steering, this car loses quite a bit of fun factor. I'm not sure how the RFTs manage to be this bad - they feel like mush at low speeds and yet manage to be stiff enough to make highway cruising harsher than you'd expect.
My advice - take the money saved on DA+ and put it towards the dynamic handling package. The variable ratio steering has to be better than the base set up and the adjustable dampers might help to make the RFTs seem less bad (my 2008 M3 had EDC and it was really good). Consider new tires very seriously, though in my mind, the need to buy new tires and figure out your spare/emergency setup really cramps the appeal of the X3.
5.) Interior - generally a really nice place to be but the base front seats are not great. I'm 6'3" and weigh 225lbs and I find the base front seats uncomfortable after an hour of driving or so. They're too flat and not long enough. Also, the seat/pedal relationship seems awkward. I've never had this be an issue in any other car but I constantly find myself bothered by the position of my foot against the pedals in the X3. It's like the seat points you in the wrong direction and the pedals aren't positioned deep enough in the footwell (even with the seat all the way back).
My advice: while I think the X-line package looks great on metallic colors, the M-sport package might be a better buy if for nothing else than the sport seats. I haven't driven them, but I imagine they have to be better than the base ones.
With the benefit of hindsight, I might pass on the X3 if I had it to do again. The Q5 provides a more comfortable ride and the Macan delivers better on the sporty side of things. The X3 is theoretically positioned to be the best of both worlds but the RFTs, light steering, and uncomfortable base seats absolutely kill both the comfort and sporting characteristics of the car (I'm staunchly against having to put another $1,000+ out of pocket to make a brand new car drive like it should). Heck, the X3 in stock form is a good car by all means but the Forester XT delivered 95% of the satisfaction at about 60% of the price.
A couple of questions...
1.) Do any of the larger drivers here find the base seats as uncomfortable as I do? If not, are there any tricks to the adjustment?
2.) what are you doing with your keys while you drive? The BMW key is a little too big and awkward to keep in my pocket (especially since I have my house key attached to it). I generally have the cup holders filled in the morning with my coffee and phones (one for work and one for business) and the car doesn't seem to recognize the key when it's in the driver side door pocket. BMW used to have a dedicated place for the keys despite keyless start - it's a shame they stopped doing this.
Background - I've owned two BMWs in the past, a 2004 and 2008 M3. I've since gotten a dedicated weekend fun car, so the X3 is replacing a 2014 Subaru Forester XT as my daily.
Some observations...
TL;DR - My ideal spec in the US would be Tech, Premium, CW, DA, M-sport, and dynamic handling. DA+ (incl. surround view) not worth it unless you're going full adaptive cruise. Overall, a really good car but seriously let down by RFTs, artificial feeling steering in base setup, non-sport seats, and a weird seat/pedal setup.
1.) Drivers assistance plus as a standalone package is pretty worthless in the US. Side mirrors on the X3 are big enough to make the blind spot information redundant if you have your mirrors adjusted properly. Lane departure and city collision are nice safeguards but aren't terribly useful in day to day driving if you're a relatively attentive driver Likewise the surround view package. Side view cameras are a nice toy but the screen views are distorted and small enough that they're not really practical for day to day driving. For the top down view - we just don't have that many tight places in the US and I'm guessing most of the owners here won't want to park in a spot tight enough to merit the surround view benefit. To date, all I've gotten out of surround view has been a bunch of false alarms and annoying beeps at toll booths and drive-up ATMs.
My advice - get the base Drivers assistance package since PDC and the rear view cameras are very useful. Skip DA+ and surround view unless you're going for the full adaptive cruise control package.
2.) Tech package - HUD alone is nice but not a deal breaker (especially since it washes out with polarized glasses). That said, the HUD integration with the nav system is quite good (intersection views, etc.). Way too expensive but worth getting if for nothing else than to scratch your tech itch and the larger iDrive screen and extended control panel look cooler. In my view, this is the package that gives you the most 'cool' factor as befitting a car in this price range.
3.) Premium package - worth it for comfort access. The button that closes the rear hatch and locks the doors is a godsend. Don't know why more manufacturers don't have this. The ability to open/close the hatch with your foot is very useful, too.
4.) Ride and handling - the engine and chassis are outstanding but there's a reason everyone bitches about the run-flat tires. They are simply horrible and ruin this car's sporting character (which is arguably, one of the reasons people buy the X3 over it's competitors). When combined with the artificial-feeling base steering, this car loses quite a bit of fun factor. I'm not sure how the RFTs manage to be this bad - they feel like mush at low speeds and yet manage to be stiff enough to make highway cruising harsher than you'd expect.
My advice - take the money saved on DA+ and put it towards the dynamic handling package. The variable ratio steering has to be better than the base set up and the adjustable dampers might help to make the RFTs seem less bad (my 2008 M3 had EDC and it was really good). Consider new tires very seriously, though in my mind, the need to buy new tires and figure out your spare/emergency setup really cramps the appeal of the X3.
5.) Interior - generally a really nice place to be but the base front seats are not great. I'm 6'3" and weigh 225lbs and I find the base front seats uncomfortable after an hour of driving or so. They're too flat and not long enough. Also, the seat/pedal relationship seems awkward. I've never had this be an issue in any other car but I constantly find myself bothered by the position of my foot against the pedals in the X3. It's like the seat points you in the wrong direction and the pedals aren't positioned deep enough in the footwell (even with the seat all the way back).
My advice: while I think the X-line package looks great on metallic colors, the M-sport package might be a better buy if for nothing else than the sport seats. I haven't driven them, but I imagine they have to be better than the base ones.
With the benefit of hindsight, I might pass on the X3 if I had it to do again. The Q5 provides a more comfortable ride and the Macan delivers better on the sporty side of things. The X3 is theoretically positioned to be the best of both worlds but the RFTs, light steering, and uncomfortable base seats absolutely kill both the comfort and sporting characteristics of the car (I'm staunchly against having to put another $1,000+ out of pocket to make a brand new car drive like it should). Heck, the X3 in stock form is a good car by all means but the Forester XT delivered 95% of the satisfaction at about 60% of the price.
A couple of questions...
1.) Do any of the larger drivers here find the base seats as uncomfortable as I do? If not, are there any tricks to the adjustment?
2.) what are you doing with your keys while you drive? The BMW key is a little too big and awkward to keep in my pocket (especially since I have my house key attached to it). I generally have the cup holders filled in the morning with my coffee and phones (one for work and one for business) and the car doesn't seem to recognize the key when it's in the driver side door pocket. BMW used to have a dedicated place for the keys despite keyless start - it's a shame they stopped doing this.
New Owner Observations and Questions (US)
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