How are the X3s for reliability? -

OmniGLH · 06-16-2009, 01:47 PM

So I made the mistake of pondering out loud what my options will be at the end of my A4 lease (next March) and my wife now thinks it's time to get a new car. Since I pondered out loud that I was thinking of trading the A4 for possibly a used Q7 or Cayenne, she has now decided that my old GTI she's now driving is no longer convenient to drive, and she no longer feels safe, "especially with those crazy Chicago winters coming" and is now pushing to turn in my lease early to get her something more "appropriate" for Chicago winters.

LOL. That's the LAST time I share an idea out loud.

We drove a new Q5 last night. Nice, we both really liked it. But... it FELT bigger than it really was, and cargo space is pretty tiny in the back. With some dealer connections, combined with some current Audi special, the lease payment is still worse than I expected... almost double what my current lease payment is on my A4. That's a little bit hard to swallow considering I'm essentially getting a taller-riding A4 Avant with less cargo space.

So I'm gonna try to convince her to tough out one winter with the GTI (or maybe I'll just yank the coilovers off the A4, put the stock stuff back on, and have her drive that over the winter) before we go buy an SUV, and I'm gonna look around @ used stuff. We both like the Q7 a lot, but even used ones in decent shape are going for $40k. Older Cayenne S's are going for mid-20s with low miles, but Rennlist.com forums have me a little worried about reliability. Same with the early Touaregs. I'm planning to put together some cash for a Porsche purchase in the spring so I'm trying to watch where the money goes (otherwise I'd just buy a new Q7 and be done with it.)

I came across a few '04 X3 2.5i's for right at or under $20k. I've driven a few as loaners (my old VW service dealer was also a BMW dealer) and liked the way they drove. How are these things as far as reliability goes? Is BMW's X-drive decent in bad weather for your average, normal, non-enthusiast driver? Oh, and a big-ish one - my wife happens to really enjoy autocrossing. Does the BMWCCA allow the X3 to participate in their events?

r0nd3L · 06-16-2009, 01:57 PM

Why not get 325iT or A4 Avant?

**tannad** · 06-16-2009, 02:40 PM

Hi Jim,

My wife has an x3 (auto, 3.0, xenons, leather, pdc, cold weather pkg...). We have not experienced any mechanical issues with the car. The only things that went wrong were: bad speaker in passenger door, sunroof had to be adjusted, a couple of rattles in the trim.

You are welcome to stop by and take a look at it and get her opinion.

Pinoy2145 · 06-16-2009, 03:15 PM

you're welcome to my 335 lease

Lease Takeover: BMW E90 335 - $593/mo. with extras!

**bosstones** · 06-16-2009, 03:23 PM

Jim, if you go the X3 route, having ported one with the 2.5L engine from Patrick to Laurel, I think you may want either the 3.0 or 3.0si. The 2.5L engine is sluggish in the X3....the X3 kinda weighs more than a 325i/Ci.

thedude · 06-16-2009, 03:49 PM

Buddy of mines parents have one and have put about 78k on it with no major issues

OmniGLH · 06-17-2009, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r0nd3L

Why not get 325iT or A4 Avant?

She thinks wagons are "ugly."

I lost that battle in 2007 when I bought my A4, I wanted an Avant.

OmniGLH · 06-17-2009, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosstones

Jim, if you go the X3 route, having ported one with the 2.5L engine from Patrick to Laurel, I think you may want either the 3.0 or 3.0si. The 2.5L engine is sluggish in the X3....the X3 kinda weighs more than a 325i/Ci.

Yeah I know they're not the quickest. Each of the loaners I had were the 2.5i. While I thought the 325i was a turd, I didn't mind it so much in the X3 - probably because my expectations for straight-line performance were lower, knowing it was a SUV.

tannad - thanks for the offer, just might take you up on that. Are you still in the same spot?

**tannad** · 06-17-2009, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OmniGLH

Yeah I know they're not the quickest. Each of the loaners I had were the 2.5i. While I thought the 325i was a turd, I didn't mind it so much in the X3 - probably because my expectations for straight-line performance were lower, knowing it was a SUV.

tannad - thanks for the offer, just might take you up on that. Are you still in the same spot?

yes.

adevera86 · 06-18-2009, 12:25 AM

the x3's are a very reliable veh, the only major complaint i hear about is rattles and squeaks, and trims are made poorly inside that they tend to peel... other then that they are pretty much indestructible. they are re introducing the x3 in 2011 with a whole new make over

Court M3 · 06-28-2009, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adevera86

the x3's are a very reliable veh, the only major complaint i hear about is rattles and squeaks, and trims are made poorly inside that they tend to peel... other then that they are pretty much indestructible. they are re introducing the x3 in 2011 with a whole new make over

+1 75K on my 04 2.5 and it's had no problems. Even with the cargo space full and a trip from Louisiana to Washington State through mountains engine never felt like it was straining.

06-16-2009, 01:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
OmniGLH Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Huntley, IL Posts: 975 Car: '03 GTI 1.8T, '05 A6 3.2q, '86 951	How are the X3s for reliability? So I made the mistake of pondering out loud what my options will be at the end of my A4 lease (next March) and my wife now thinks it's time to get a new car. Since I pondered out loud that I was thinking of trading the A4 for possibly a used Q7 or Cayenne, she has now decided that my old GTI she's now driving is no longer convenient to drive, and she no longer feels safe, "especially with those crazy Chicago winters coming" and is now pushing to turn in my lease early to get her something more "appropriate" for Chicago winters. LOL. That's the LAST time I share an idea out loud. We drove a new Q5 last night. Nice, we both really liked it. But... it FELT bigger than it really was, and cargo space is pretty tiny in the back. With some dealer connections, combined with some current Audi special, the lease payment is still worse than I expected... almost double what my current lease payment is on my A4. That's a little bit hard to swallow considering I'm essentially getting a taller-riding A4 Avant with less cargo space. So I'm gonna try to convince her to tough out one winter with the GTI (or maybe I'll just yank the coilovers off the A4, put the stock stuff back on, and have her drive that over the winter) before we go buy an SUV, and I'm gonna look around @ used stuff. We both like the Q7 a lot, but even used ones in decent shape are going for $40k. Older Cayenne S's are going for mid-20s with low miles, but Rennlist.com forums have me a little worried about reliability. Same with the early Touaregs. I'm planning to put together some cash for a Porsche purchase in the spring so I'm trying to watch where the money goes (otherwise I'd just buy a new Q7 and be done with it.) I came across a few '04 X3 2.5i's for right at or under $20k. I've driven a few as loaners (my old VW service dealer was also a BMW dealer) and liked the way they drove. How are these things as far as reliability goes? Is BMW's X-drive decent in bad weather for your average, normal, non-enthusiast driver? Oh, and a big-ish one - my wife happens to really enjoy autocrossing. Does the BMWCCA allow the X3 to participate in their events? __________________ Jim aka "Omni" '05 A6 3.2q - stock and staying that way '03 GTI 1.8T - Revo software, Sachs sport shocks, Autotech CS springs, Porsche BBK '86 944 Turbo - Bilstein Cup coilovers, Weltmeister adjustable sways and software, Pilot Sport Cups, the list goes on...

06-16-2009, 01:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
r0nd3L All go to all crap... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lombard, IL Posts: 2,282 Car: Something euro?	Why not get 325iT or A4 Avant? __________________

06-16-2009, 02:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
tannad retired ban hammer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: (312) Posts: 4,201 Car: ..... Images: 6	Hi Jim, My wife has an x3 (auto, 3.0, xenons, leather, pdc, cold weather pkg...). We have not experienced any mechanical issues with the car. The only things that went wrong were: bad speaker in passenger door, sunroof had to be adjusted, a couple of rattles in the trim. You are welcome to stop by and take a look at it and get her opinion. __________________

06-16-2009, 03:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
Pinoy2145 Unscene Media Group Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 4,422 Car: 08 E90 M3 (current), 01 Land Rover Discovery Series II (current), 07 E90 335i, 91 E34 M5, 91 E34 52	you're welcome to my 335 lease Lease Takeover: BMW E90 335 - $593/mo. with extras! __________________ UNSCENE MEDIA GROUP E90 M3

06-16-2009, 03:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
bosstones Professional Crastinator Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Suburbia Posts: 7,379 Car: 2004 330Ci ZHP	Jim, if you go the X3 route, having ported one with the 2.5L engine from Patrick to Laurel, I think you may want either the 3.0 or 3.0si. The 2.5L engine is sluggish in the X3....the X3 kinda weighs more than a 325i/Ci. __________________ Hi, I'm Jay and I work at Benihana's. (okay...not really) I buy Ken's old junk! bosstones' flickr

06-16-2009, 03:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
thedude The wheeler and dealer Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Woodridge Posts: 3,660 Car: 1999 Audi A4 Avant Images: 31	Buddy of mines parents have one and have put about 78k on it with no major issues __________________ 99 A4 Avant New work in progress 08 Ford Fusion (wifes ride) 96 328is (track/daily)The Work in Progress Its not what you drive but how you drive it- Jeremy Clarkson

06-18-2009, 12:25 AM	#10 (permalink)
adevera86 BMW service advisor Join Date: May 2005 Location: chicago Posts: 2,180 Car: DINAN M5 honda civic eg 1200 Harley Nightster	the x3's are a very reliable veh, the only major complaint i hear about is rattles and squeaks, and trims are made poorly inside that they tend to peel... other then that they are pretty much indestructible. they are re introducing the x3 in 2011 with a whole new make over

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