BMW X3 (2011 - 2017) xDrive20d M Sport 4d Step Auto (2011/11) Owner Review
Want to know everything there is to know about this car?
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Summary
What does this car say about you?
It has never spoken to me. Sorry, not true, there is useful voice controlled function to call up on board computer's main functions i.e radio, phone book..even recognises entries in phone book when spoken commands given
What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?
Nice one!
Would you buy this car again and why?
Yes, although I plan to hold on to it for severla years yet! Have been a BMW buyer for over 25 years and have always enjoyed each one, including a beloved little Z3
What are you likely to buy next?
A BMW
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Buying experience
Type of dealer you bought from?
Franchise
Did you buy this car new?
Yes
What price did you pay?
£34,000
When did you buy the car?
June 2011
Did you get a good deal and why?
Yes, got good trade in value on last car BMW 320d when trade in price held by dealer for 3 months due to late delivery of new X3 (BMW's fault, not the dealer's).
Is there any special reason why you bought this car?
Needed a 4x4 to get me around in the event of further bad winter(s). Have had a series of 3 series with latterly diesel engines and loved them, but not good in the snow.
What was the dealer like?
Tall dark and handsome?... Actually not, but have dealt with dealership before and always pleased with deals struck
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Driving it
What's it like to drive?
A joy to drive and as your main review states it does not feel like a 4x4 but actually handles in the same way as my 320d (perhaps a little less punchy on the acceleration.
What's it like to park?
With front and rear parking sensors as standard, its a dawdle to park. The centre console display assists in assessing really tight spots in conjunction with the audible beeps
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Living with it
Have you had any problems with the car?
Thought it was 'shoogling' occasionally, i.e misfiring and pull was not consistently smoothe. Put it in to another dealership to check it out (purely a geographical decision as dealer I bought it from is 110 miles from home and local dealer is only 26 miles from home). Car was kept for 3 days and, I am told, was thoroughly road tested to ascertain any running problems. None found. I thought it might be down to a fuel injection/computer problem but have been assured all was well. Now seems to be running perfectly well so maybe it was just a gremlin? Other issues are with the central display which seems to be inconsistent in the way it displays at start up. Nothing serious but puzzling none the less. Sometimes I get a BMW type logo, other times it immediately reverts to last used menu.
What's most practical about your car?
Space inside car and boot, and with back seats down a huge load space.
Favourite gadget, option or accessory?
Bluetooth, although as with all modern gizmos,it all depends on what mobiole make you have. Cannot achieve full functionality with my present mobile e.g. transferring all stored numbers from SIM card or from telephone itself onto car's system. Have overcome that by laboriously entering all the numbers I need manually to store on the onboard computer.
