We picked one up as a company car, but as a family owned company, we get to use it a bit more than the other employees. We've had the car for three weeks, and just broke her in. I figured its about time I share my feelings about the car.

First off it drives and handles like a car. A friend complained that the ride was rough, but it feels smooth as butter to me after driving my car for so long. You also don't feel as high and valnerable, and that thing can take a corner at speed VERY well. They put great tires on him stock too, I haven't gotten them to talk to me at all yet. I give it an A in SUV handling, it has more body roll than I would like, but I don't think I'm going to get sways for it.

The X3 also has very good pickup. They were having lease insentives on the 3.0 and i'm glad we got him. We drove a 2.5 and it was a dog. The 3.0 can get up and go if he has to, but still does feel heavy. Also has that stupid auto lag. Which honestly is unacceptable, I can't believe people put up with that daily.

The interior is also very roomy. The seats are easy to fold down, and on Friday I took him shopping for the company. He handled the poor streets with ease, then fit 5 flats of coke and bag after bag of: styrafoam cups, coffee, creamer, etc with tons of room to spare. I probably would have bottomed out my shocks if I attempted to stick that stuff in my car.

This thing also has a panoramic roof sent from God himself. It it seriously awe inspiring, a good 4 feet long, with awesome ventalation, and one touch everything. I think it is standard on the 3.0, and worth the extra money on the 2.5. Seriously the best sunroof I've ever seen. the interior is decent, a little plain, but not annoying or too plasticy. It could use a little bit more trim on the dash. The first, more shallow, bin on the center arm rest also has a gap large enough to let coins get out if you lift it to get to the second bin. A bit of a design flaw there because it is the first choice for change.

The car is great so far. In the three weeks we've had him we've really exploited him. He's seen 1,700 miles, gone off roading, been filled with tons of crap a few times, and gets an average of 19.4mpg. He's a great all-around-hauler that doesn't suck gas or give you the feeling that you are going to flip at any given time.

I honestly have no real complaints. It would be nice if the wheels were 18s instead of 17s (I wonder what that would do for offroading) and we did have to get her in automatic. But he is a joy to drive, it doesn't even feel like you are in an SUV.

biased a little?

biased a little?
What is that supposed to mean?

What is that supposed to mean?
Shhhhhh.

What color did you get? I love the X3 as well. I thought the 2.5 was too slow as well, and the sunroof is sick. I hated the stock 17's and bought some aftermarket 18's. Nothing to fancy since it's my wife's car. Any plans for mods?


http://uploads.ramstein.com/upload/dean_X3.JPG

The wheels look good dean. Our baby is alpine on sand

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/silverbeam/cars/x35.jpg

He is a company lease vehicle, so I don't think modding is in the plans. I did buy him a keychain, however. I would love to do put some ACS type 3 replicas on him, but I don't think I will.

I have a X3 as a loaner while my car is in the shop, so I can add my opinons too. First, before I ever drove the car, I felt the car was very ugly, I still personally hate the styling, but when I got handed the keys as a loaner, its still much better than a Ford from enterprise.

The X3 I'm driving around at the moment is a 2006(?) X3 2.5i, auto, I don't know if it has the sport package. BMWUSA site says there isnt a 2.5 in 06, however my keys say otherwise.

The interior is pretty nice, I like the instruments, its a good change to my e46, still not sure which I prefer. The sunroof is dope, very big. Not too sure on the seats, the car I have doesnt have leather and the leatherette isnt as nice as my 325Ci. The side bolsters seem like pure plastic, the seat is a mix of textured pleather and plastic, the seats are comfortable and supportive though. I don't like the steering wheel, its the 4 spoke wheel, I find it strange that it has stiching on it despite there being no leather on it, its all plastic!

The auto 2.5 is sluggish, works fine for driving around town however its pretty bad if I need to get up to speed. Every time I drive an automatic, I rediscover how boring and horrible it is. I think the 3.0 would improve this car dramatically, especially when the drop the 255hp 3.0 into it.

It does handle well for an SUV, quite enjoyable, I notice body roll under quick manuvers and while I have little experience driving SUVs, this one isnt as bad as I'd imagine most to be. The steering feedback is an improvement from my 01 e46 (w/ boosted steering).

I also sort of enjoy the raised seating level the SUV offers. The brakes worked pretty well when a racoon ran in front of me last night also! I haven't had anything to test the AWD (4x4?) yet, no rain or anything challenging. The stock tires don't squeal half as much as the stock conti's on my 325, could just be that I'm not pushing the truck as much cause I don't know it though.

Overall, it has impressed me, becuase I had low expectations of the car to begin with. The styling has not grown on me at all, but when you're driving it, you don't see that! It's pretty enjoyable to drive although I can't wait to get my manual e46 back!