BMW X3 F25 (2011-2017)

WORST CAR EVER BUILT! – X3 BMW There is something SERIOUSLY wrong with this brand. Here is a quick snapshot of my experience with my beautiful X3. Rather than rave about this and that, I'll just tell you in point form what happened, with this normally driven, and serviced like clockwork each and very time it was due, serviced by BMW. Bought X3 brand new, fitted out with… Read more

the best accessories. 2013. Within 12mths and since then:

Cruise control flick switch rubber worn smooth from normal use, had to replace. Hatch release button illuminated symbol broken off the switch, had to replace. Timing chain stretched, had to be replaced, involving removal of engine. Main Drive Differential Unit noisy, had to be imported from Germany and replaced. Workshop imported wrong one so had to re-import. Took almost 2 months to complete. Approx $13k, but done under extended warranty (which itself cost nearly $3,000 at time of buying X3). Writing on ignition button started to fade, but left it. Sunroof malfunctions, no maintenance schedule in existence. Car leaks water, carpet soaked, since there is no maintenance schedule and drainage channels were blocked due to inferior design of sunroof. Had to pay to clear channels. Battery needed to be replaced, just under $1,000. Rear LED brake light assembly had to be replaced, cost nearly $800. Cooling system burst hose, had to tow vehicle to workshop. Thousands to fix. Cooling system failure again, this time EGR cooler within engine, over $1,000 to fix. Cooling system failed again, this time below fill tank. Had to pay to get fixed. Front seats synthetic leather upholstery failed, had to be replaced under warranty. Front seat sides failed, had to replace. Mid Console Compartment latch spring failed, had to be replaced under warranty. Headlight controller unit failed, had to be replaced, twice. Rear camera housing retainer failed, due to the fact it's made from flimsy plastic, had to be fixed. Front tyres wear unevenly, due to poor wheel alignment methodology done by BMW and no maintenance protocol in place for alignment. Navigation screen badly worn in the middle, since they used inappropriate surface for unit. Navigation system malfunction (seized) and had to be hardcore reset in workshop. Navigation system unable to truly calculate best route (algorithms flawed). EGR valve failed, had to be replaced. Cost about $2,000. Apart from a few other things, I can't really think of anything else.

Other than that, it's a great car to drive, and handles superbly around corners and never ever bogged in muddy terrain. Paid $100,000 in 2013. Market value is less than 30k in 2019. What a great looking car, I thought, at first. I had owned an older (25year old) bmw, so I wanted to get something reliable, so looked for fuel economy, reduced pollution output, refuel range and long-drive comfort.

Excellent SUV - Just brilliant – Purchased as a well priced demo (4,000 kms) in 2016 from Brisbane BMW I was delighted with my 2.0D X3 after a tragic experience with a possessed by the devil Volvo XC60. The X3 is perfect in many ways - not too big and not too small. The 2.0L Diesel is powerful enough, yet does have a small amount of turbo large. Inside the X3 is not as plush… Read more

as the Volvo XC60 was - but it was still a nice place to be and in true BMW form, it was a delight to drive.

Over the 2 years I owned the BMW, I did 50,000 KM's - all trouble free. The servicing was a tad expensive, but no more then my Mazda 6 I owned some years back. Brisbane BMW where also a delight to deal with - a noticeable step above everybody else - nothing was too much trouble.

Having recently traded the X3 in on a new BMW - I still had original tyres on the car. It was near perfect in many ways and I only have praise for the BMW X3.

awesome-feel drive – I own this car just over a year and I am in love with it--I use it mostly over the weekends as a family car--Love driving it--though it is SUV but feels like a sedan-I am simply in love with car and highly recommend everyone--Love the panoramic sunroof--SUV but compact !!  Show details

BMW X3 30d an unassuming rocket! – I have now owned my BMW X3 30d for 6 months Performance is 5 star, absolutely fantastic, super quick for a diesel. The fuel efficiency is excellent when driven sedately. Finish and ergonomics are perfect Road noise is present but I believe my tyres may be the culprit. I have given the BMW X3 4 stars, it deserves 5 stars but price is the only… Read more

negative.

I forgot to mention the fun factor when pulling away from the lights leaving many fancy pants vehicles in your rear view mirror!!

Very satisfied – Great car. Drives very well with good control. Loads of features and Diesel engine gives great mileage. I tried Merc GLC but I found it a bit delicate ( not my type). The sporty version looks a bit sturdy. I am happy with this car. I might go for a bigger engine next time.  Show details

Terrible Quality Seat Covers – We purchased a new BPW X3 in July 2012. We wanted to buy leather seats but we were advised by sales staff that manmade leather the default was equally good and hard wearing. Seat cover started cracking in June 2015 (just before warranty expired). Seat cover was replaced by BMW under warranty. Now in 2018 February Seat cover again has same… Read more

problems. The standard seat covers supplied with a premier car does not even last three years. It is shocking to see such poor quality material being used by a leading luxury brand car in Australia.

Best car ever – Best car we ever brought. Very comfortable and has enough leg room. One of the best features it allows is the pre conditioning where you turn the ventilation of your car on via your mobile before you get to the car, making he temperature inside the car to better suit you. very friendly staff at Adelaide BMW.  Show details

Great operational single driver – Performance of BMW is unquestionable. IT IS THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE! handling is probably the best in its class. very good in maneuvering. just a noise reduction is not as good as the merc. been using this X3 since July 2013. I would say it does everything quite good. the only downfall is BMW didnt provide comfort shock or what they… Read more

call adaptive something which makes the car runs comfortable for bumps.

other than that, amazing 4WD compact car!

Some good features, expensive to run, customer service is very disappointing – The engine and transmission are mostly good other than annoying lag at times. Interior is quite OK without being great. Seats tend to be hard which when combined with run flats makes for a fairly hard ride. Run flat tyres are a pain as they make the ride too hard, they wear too quickly (around 30,000kms) and punctures are more difficult to deal… Read more

with. I have had more punctures in this car than any previous vehicle.

Brakes also wear comparatively quickly and are very expensive to replace.

3 years 60,000ks warranty and optional service package is poor in comparison to what is offered by other brands. This amounts to about two services which are little more than vehicle inspections. Don’t expect any consideration from dealership once out of warranty.

Waverley BMW are disappointing to say the least, quick to charge inflated prices for doing very little, not to mention not listening to what the customer tells them and therefore repeating work previously done while ignoring what was requested. Repair of blocked sunroof drainage system quoted in excess of $1200 plus $250 to diagnose problem. But didn’t bother to dry out the soaking wet footwell & carpet caused by this fault even though they had the vehicle for the whole day

No urgency in carrying out work, don’t expect a service (inspection) to be completed in a couple of hours.

Sat nav is ok, though updates are a rip off and infrequent.

This will be the first and last BMW I ever buy. Just not worth the premium price tag especially in view of the poor customer service.

A Great Team at Hawthorn BMW – I love my X3, and a big THANK YOU to Chris, Matthew and Christo at Hawthorn BMW for providing excellent service when purchasing my X3. The BMW seats are so comfortable, and I am thrilled with the panoramic sunroof. The bootspace is perfect for my needs. I was able to purchase 10 year fixed price servicing pack, which is a real bonus, given I tend to keep my vehicles for a long time.  Show details

Incredibly good car – We've had this for 15 months now, replacing our previous X5 and complementing our 320d. It is an ideal size, although rear luggage space isn't as good as the X5. Driving dynamics are excellent, and being able to switch between Comfort and Sport is ideal when you have two drivers who have very different driving expectations. The 2.0d engine… Read more

is very fuel-efficient and refined, although I still prefer the rougher yet slightly gutsier (yet older) 2.0d in my 3-series. The 2.0 turbo petrol (28i) would also be worth a look - this is a cracker of an engine in the 3-series.

My partner liked our X5 but dislikes my 3-series, being an M-Sport version. Although the X3 is an M-Sport, we both find it an excellent compromise.

Think Carefully Before Choosing – I have had my X3 30d for just over a year before writing so my experience would be holistic. This is the 5th BM I have had and I loved the previous models so I didn't question buying another. Doh! I should have. Pros: It has heaps of power, solid build, good vision, comfortable adjustable sports seats, easy access for old timers like me.… Read more

Reasonable fuel economy for a 3 ltr. The dash is ok. The Heads Up display is a good idea.

Cons:

*Run flat tires make the ride exceptionally hard and the older they get, the harder the ride is.

*There is no spare! BMW fits different width tires from front to back (this is an unwanted option), so depending upon which Tyre you get the puncture on, you may not get it fixed for a 3-4 days as these tires are not common at tyre stores. Run flats are meant to be a fuel saver, but in country Oz, they are a pain when you are stranded. The 250km you can drive on them is not quite true. The Bimmer forums are full of failed run flats.

*The Auto brake has to be manually turned on to use it, in other cars this is automatic.

*The econo mode has to be manually turned on each time you start the car, in other makes this is automatic.

*The old model had a split tailgate which protected the bumper from loading scratches, this is no longer the case, so expect the rear bumper to be scratched over time.

*The design of the rear funnels dirt and dust on the rear door and bumper, so every time to access it, you WILL get covered in grime, yet another dry cleaning bill.

*BMW still have the manual air temp switch as the auto aircon split doesn't function properly to keep the temperature constant.

*The auto engine off and auto brake combination is rough and feels like a truck to drive. With hard tires, this makes the car an effort and very unenjoyable.

*Large turning circle for a BM.

*The washer bottle clogs up regularly due to a design flaw and cost $200 to get fixed each time. It is not in an accessible place for a home job. Common problem across all BMs.

*The car bleeds grease from every drain hole in the panels covering the car.

*The GPS has a lag, so by the time you at are the location on the GPS, you have passed it.

*The Heads up display design is flawed. If you have sun glasses on, you cannot see it.

*Finally, a quick scan of the BMW servicing agents reviews reveals a worrying trend, they are almost all bad with a lot complaints to BMW Australia. BM service agents are tasked with changing over whole units rather than fixing the issues as this is one way to increase revenue. Not all service agents do this some are very good, but the reviews and forums are telling the same experiences of this approach. So beware and question any repairs, and it is better to get a second opinion before proceeding.

Would I buy another? No. The X3 is uncomfortable after a time, tiring and is a worry with the run flats, grime at the back, washer bottle clogging up etc... So many small annoying issues that make it unpleasant.

Previous models had innovate niches that made their cars worth getting and driving. These days, a Nissan will do the same job or better.

Sporty & responsive – Performance: The drive modes are accurate, quick change of modes, very responsive in Sport mode Likes: Lots of driver assist and safety features, cruise control is smooth, seat memory is useful. Dislike: GPS lacks speed warning, No dash cam, possible suspension calibration issues as you feel road contour Costs: 10.7 l for 100 Kms, not bad, not great.  Show details

Great SUV – BMW X3 handles well but a little soft around corners. the interior is well build but design is rather simple. legroom is very good even in the back seats. diesel engine means very good fuel economy but you do feel the diesel gruff whilst stationary. Go for the panoramic sunroof as it is huge !  Show details

Muscular was a word used often in its presence, partly because of its lower stance and aero pack – The driver has a fantastic view out from the high-set seat, with plenty of adjustment from both the steering wheel and perch. The big central screen and big instrument pod are all easy on the eye and simple to use. Six airbags, ABS, brake assist, brake force distribution, stability and traction controls, rollover sensor all add up to five ANCAP stars.  Show details

No regrets! – I am a convert! Not a big fan of BMW outlook to start with, but fell in love during our test drive experience. The comfort and effortless driving pretty much sell itself. Use the corporate program to get 5 years free servicing and warranty. So far it's been great, can't fault the car in any ways!  Show details

Spacious and Quiet Luxury Mid Size SUV – -Very quiet interior, good and dynamic handling along with great cornering ability -dashboard isnt great but apart from that very spacious and comfortable interior -very economical -very good clearance -excellent technology i.e heads up display and safety functions -good colour options -electric heated seats are the best -panoramic sunroof is also a nice addition  Show details

good car – good car, I did a lot of research before purchasing this car. HUD is an amazing feature. i have a white one. the color looks amazing too. leather seat is good. and it is very quiet when it is on eco efficiency mode. when it is switched to sports mode, it is very fast.  Show details

Great engine. Pity the rest of the SUV doesn't match it! – I did a lot of research before I purchased my 2015 BMW 30D X3 F25 LCI. I thought it was my dream car, but it didn't turn out that way. it drove and handled well, and that 3L Diesel engine is just delightful. Unbelievable go for a Diesel engine. The problem was that within weeks the car developed awful squeaks from the doors, tailgate and sunroof.… Read more

After many visits to BMW Melbourne, who I would not recommend if you are purchasing a BMW, the squeaks always returned within weeks. The only thing ever permanently fixed was the squeak from the sunroof, and that meant my car was with the dealer for a whole week. When I checked online it turns out that the squeaking door seals are quite common and it looks like some owners spend a lot of effort to defeat. No matter what I tried or the dealer tried the squeaks always returned. They were so bad they ruined the entire driving experience. I had an opportunity to exit the X3 after 2 years of persisting with the issues, and I gladly got rid of the vehicle. I changed over to the new generation Mazda CX-9 and I can tell you the service experience and vehicle are superior to BMW in every way. BMW need to do lots of work if they think the experience they offer is that of a premium brand and vehicle.

Not All It's Cracked Up To Be – I just read a review on Product Review of a new BMW X5, raving about the fuel economy, heads up display and lane departure among other features. Well my opinions of my 5 month old BMW X3 differ somewhat. Unfortunately my 2.0X Drive wasn't optioned with those features above and fuel consumption is only marginally fair with 9.0 l/100km as about the… Read more

best I can get around town. Look, the car is comfortable, spacious and looks prestigious but has little grunt (typical of a 2L engine under biggish body). I advise, go the 3L or TDi. The navigation system can be difficult and over-complicated to initiate but after a while, it's manageable. The 8 speaker sound system is terrific but again over complicated. The seats are comfortable but I kept getting a sore neck after driving. My osteopath said it may be the design of the seats as he knew of people who had real back issues with Mercedes seats. My biggest issue with this BMW however, is the steering. I really didn't detect it in my test drives but the steering is stiff and quite heavy around town. Get out on the freeway and it is highly direct. Move the steering wheel a tiny fraction and off you go. Correction is needed at every step. As a result, it is not a comfortable, relaxed drive. I find myself moving all over my lane. And it's not just my car. BMW acknowledges the directness of its electronic steering particularly as speeds increase. This car has disappointed me. I did lots of research against Audi Q5, Volvo XC60 and Landcover DiscoSport and reviews generally had X3 on top. Lucky I'm not a professional car reviewer.

Mechanically very disappointing – I bought the X3 in May 2016, it is a 30d model, which is a diesel 6 cylinder twin turbo. The car is really easy to drive and park, it has plenty of power and if you want extra you can just put it in sports mode. The fuel economy for this powerful car is amazing, around town I get about 8.6l/100km. The 360 degree parking system makes parking the… Read more

car super easy, along with the reversing camera and sensors. The car handles very well and is a pleasure to drive. The front seats in the car have many adjustments to make you comfortable while driving, the back seat has plenty of leg room but the can be a little slippery for passengers going around corners due to the leather seating. I purchased a service plan from the dealer for $1300 when I bought the car which covers my servicing costs for the next 5 years/80,000km, not including a few things like brakes & Tyres. The car requires servicing every 15,000km. I would highly recommend the X3.

I have now owned this car for almost 3 years, it is still a pleasure to drive but there have been a couple of problems with it, one being a really annoying rattle in the tail gate of the car. I spoke to a BMW mechanic about this issue when the dealership had trouble stopping the rattling and then tried to charge me for the repairs. Apparently this rattle is very common in BMW's in particular the X3, X4 and X5 and it has been for years, it seems to be a design fault that BMW has never bothered to correct. You need to be aware of this as BMW have a 1 year rattle warranty, yes that is correct when you buy this extremely expensive car, it doesn't even come with a full 3 year warranty. In my opinion BMW are very aware of this consistent rattle problem so instead of fixing the problem they make the owners pay to have it corrected after only 1 year, I find this pretty appalling. The 1 year rattle warranty was certainly never mentioned to me when I bought the car but no doubt it is in the fine print somewhere, so please be aware that if you buy an X3,X4 or X5 the likelihood is that you will have a rattle that you will have to pay to have fixed. The other problem I have encountered is sourcing tyres for the X3, in Australia there is only a certain amount of run flat tyres brought into the country and if you have a flat tyre or need to replace your tyres in the last half of the year, it is almost impossible to get the matching tyres to the tyres already on the car.

I have now owned this car for 6 years, at about 73,000 km the gearbox has started to change really roughly in lower gears, it has not been fixed yet as it is random. The consensus from a few different mechanics is that it is most likely the Valve Body. I cannot express how disappointed I am in the "Quality German Engineering" of this car, they should change their wording to "Crappy German Engineering" . No wonder BMW won't offer warranty for more than 3 years. Having paid close to $100,000 for this car I expected a much better quality of car, my $5,000 Gemini which was my first car lasted mechanically for well over $100,000km. I will never waste my money on another BMW, buyers beware, they are not a quality vehicle.

The problem ended up being the fact that BMW do not have a proper maintenance schedule for their X drive cars. They do not change the oil in the transfer case or the gearbox as part of their scheduled maintenance.. They want you to have to replace these very expensive items. So if you drive a X drive vehicle (X3,X4,X5 etc) make sure you get the oil changed in both the gearbox and transfer case by 70,000km.

Something I was unaware of when I bought this car, was that BMW have brought in that you need Star rated BMW tyres for X drive vehicles, I have asked a couple of tyre places what a star rated BMW tyre is and they said it just means run flat, which is not correct. Having to keep all 4 tyres fairly even to make the X Drive happy becomes very expensive when the car comes with 2 different sized tyres.

Very satisfied, highly recommended! – Bought from BMW Melbourne August 2016. Excellent service and great car performance. Nothing to complain of. The leather seats are really comfortable (should have chosen the white color interior). Adjustable lumbar support, great and handy control panel, and love the heated seats. The head up display and the drive assist are A MUST features!! … Read more

A base model would not have any of those. Fuel efficiency with their 2L Diesel engine is also great.

Just a nice car to drive – Traded in a 3 Litre BMW X5. Outward appearance, dependent on color it is hard to differentiate between the X5 and X3, the 2 exhaust at the rear of the X5 is always our decider. Interior, the X3 is noticeably smaller and took a while to get used to but 6 months on we find there is plenty of room especially for the two of us. Interior fit is… Read more

excellent as expected, we opted for the faux leather seats which are great, you miss out on the new car smell. Rear, (boot space) is small but average with the mid range SUV's.

Engine performance is brilliant, we test drove the petrol model first and would have walked away if we hadn't drove the diesel model. I can't recommend this enough, comfort mode gives you heaps of pickup and highway speed but sports mode definitely impresses. I ran the economy mode on an interstate trip and was really impressed with the economy, it sat nicely at highway speed but put the foot down to overtake and the power kicks in. The ability to drive manual gears through either the paddles or shift is nice.

The auto is smooth, highway k's and acceleration certainly doesn't feel like a small 4 cylinder car. Road noise is okay considering it has run flat tyres.

The steering I find has no feel, the power steering takes took much away, having said that my wife loves it (and it is really her car).

One big complaint is the Sat Nav, no where near as good as NavMan, Garmins, no warnings of speed camera's etc. Huge disappointment when you can get an aftermarket one for a few hundred dollars which has free updates on maps. Yes, you have to pay for BMW updates and they are not cheap.

It has the BMW appeal and is probably priced fairly within the luxury SUV market.

Almost forgot, the panoramic sunroof is brilliant!

Salesperson - Excellent

Good, but BMW Germany is cheap – I have had my X3 3.0d for a year and I haven't had any issues yet. However, it is clear that BMW Germany is making their cars as cheap as possible by removing small features that would make it a great car. I should say that I had a Citroen C4 prior to this which was fantastic but missing the quality to last. In comparison, the X3 is missing some… Read more

natural features such as where do I put my keys once I have started the car? I have lost them twice on the black carpet. There used to be a spot on the dash for older models, but this is now missing. BMW still have the Cold/Hot variance switch as a hangover from the very early days. I thought auto temp was to manage this!

The back seat is a bench seat and not comfortable for long hauls. BMW could have easily done better.

For the interior, if you want to see what can be done with the driver and passenger in mind, have a look at the Citroen DS5. The BMW is very very ordinary, even the Audi have done a good job internally.

Run flats tyres give a harsh ride and are expensive. Whilst not having a spare does save on fuel economy, getting a flat tyre in the country or at 5pm on Good Friday evening is a disaster. BMW customer service is useless to help. Make sure you have the number of a 24 hr tyre service and expect to pay about $270+ for the call out.

The new X3 comes with different size rims front & back, (doh! another stupid move for AU). I tried getting replacements and found it difficult to get a set as tyre fitters don’t readily keep that split combination. Also, you cannot just replace 1 tyre if it is punctured and you have notable wear on the others, you have to replace all the tyres as the differential will chew out the transfer case. I found a spare set of rims for $500 which now have standard Coppers tyres for spares.

So, the interior is basic, the ride is harsh, the fuel economy is good and the support service is non-existent. The 3 lt diesel is great and seems very reliable, so far. Lots of power when needed and an Econo mode for most of my driving.

BMWs are expensive to take to an Authorised dealer to get fixed, however there are plenty of excellent garages that will do the job for far less cost. My advice is to do your internet homework on the reviews an select a good mechanic as there are some trashy BM service garages out there. I had a Swiss mechanic for my old BMW 540 who kept it going for 14 years. He was god over the car till he retired.

Excellent BMW X3 xdrive 20d, F25 LCI – This is my first SUV prestige car. The car has currently done 17,000kms. It had its first 15,000kms service at the BMW dealer last month. My car has Msport package so it is comfortable, reliable and has top of the range options. The car has been bought as brand new from the warehouse with zero kms on it. The car was built in December 2015 and… Read more

has been registered in January 2016. I have used the car mainly for driving to work and driving home from Belconnen to Tuggeranong and drop my missus off in Woden. At the weekend, drive my son to private tutoring and my wife to Canberra centre to work. I have found diesel is economical as I fill up every 18 days that means the diesel has about 10kms left on the car. I would give the car as 5 stars as I have not found any faults or anything that I am unhappy with. I love all the options especially panoramic electric sunroof, headup display, surround cameras (front, rear and sides) with live traffic, Hifi stereo with subwoofer. I have been driven to the Coast, Tuross Head last Easter and Queens birthday with half of the tank. In regard to car servicing, I have got 5 years service FREE so I am very happy with this option. This is the best car I have ever driven and would buy it again when the lease has run out.

Great car - but expensive to maintain – Bought our X3 3.0d brand new in October 2014. Great car to drive, everything we wanted in a car. The diesel motor is an absolute cracker. Only downside has been the after sales service. BMW are quick to take your money, but not interested in following up with problems (such as excessive waxing that they put in to the car for shipping). We… Read more

have just clocked up 40,000ks in ours, majority of it being freeway driving and have to get new brakes ($3,200) and new tyres ($4,100) from BMW. Personally think that's a bit quick to have to replace these items (the car is driven by my wife - certainly not driven hard).

X3 Good drive - very bumpy due to Run Flat tyres - I'd give a 3.5 stars – First of all, this is my first Beamer X3 2015 to replace my VW Tiguan 20TSI. It is also my first Diesel car. Pros: 1. Stable drive. 2. Reasonable pickup for a Diesel car 3. Good Torque 4. reasonable space inside the car with a panoramic roof. 5. Vehicle status is monitoring (especially tyre) is a life saver. Cons: 1. Run flat tires… Read more

tends to be very bumpy.

2. It is confusing how their climate control works. You have to set the temperature, then there's also a dial you have to set for cool/warm/hot air coming out of the vent. One would think they supposed to be taken care but it's obviously not.

3. The automated wiper is also an oddball. It's not consistent with it's rain sensing capability and randomly it goes fast, slow and hibernate. Pretty strange behaviour.

Suggestions:

1. Get an adaptive suspension. You'll need it.

2. Consider X5 if you think X3 is a little too tight. I have 2 baby seat at the back and it's quite cramp for 3rd person. X5 would have been better option.

3. Make sure you get the Car Service option for about $3000+, giving you 5 years services inlcuded; instead of paying everytime. It'll cost more than just 3 grand.

Thoughts:

My next car will not be X3 or BMW at this stage and might move over to Audi or Merc

XDrive20D - Reasonable family car but struggling on take off – We had our 20D for over a year. We were one of the first people to buy a new model. I bought it for my wife and our 3 year old. So, it's plenty of space for what we are using it for which is mainly driving around city, doing shopping etc.. we don't go away long distance, so no need to transport a lot of luggage. Having said that I think the back… Read more

storage compartment is more than adequate to fit several suit cases. My wife really likes high sitting position, which i personally dislike. Compared to my BMW 1series i can't go through corners any fast on x3 since it feels like it will roll over to one side. Major issue that annoys us both is that it just hasn't got that much power on take off from still position. When you press it down it takes off but very jerky and you never know how much to press it down because it takes some moments to kick in and if you overdo it then you'll have too much acceleration in few moments and even some loss of control. Basically we often get a kick in our back when we try to merge into traffic or just taking off lights. Once it took off it accelerates pretty fast though.

Also we upgraded navigation system - which is only available as part of some package, can't remember what it's called now. Anyway, it gave us a bigger screen, which is nice. However, their navigation is not that good. It often makes mistakes and gets lost. My old navman beats it hands down. BMW, please get your act together! Also, I think this upgrade allowed us to stream music wirelessly from our iPhone, which is a great feature and I can't advice more anyone considering any BMW to make sure that it's there.

We also upgraded to seats with lumber support, but I must say their standard seats are quite comfy and I don't think lumber is that useful. We did it because I had some back pains and so it was kind of insurance in case if it helps a little, which it does, just not that much difference really.

Another somewhat concerning thing is that apparently it's ANCAP 4 star rated. I wonder why?

Overall, my wife likes this car because of high seating position and lots of space, yet that it's not too big - for us living in Sydney it's easier to cope with traffic and parking. Our friend bought x5 and although it's only a touch bigger they already smashed their mirror twice, and it's 2K to fix a mirror on x5 :)

Also, she really like heads up display, which was an option.

She doesn't like the lack of power and jerkiness on take off from stand still position - it's a major issue.

I don't like this car altogether. I must say that comparing it to my new much cheaper bmw 1 series 118d, my car has much more dynamic drive, no jerkiness on take off and lots of space because it's a hatch and if I fold back raw seats it becomes simply gigantic.

I suspect if we go into top of the range in x3 then probably the more powerful engine will eliminate the problems with take off. But that's up to you to test, unfortunately that was the only diesel model when we were buying it. We would recommend this car if only not for that issue.

Oh yes, last reminder, if you have kids like we do, make sure you get black leather seats :)

I hope this helps and feel free to ask any questions! Space, optional larger screen, optional heads up display, optional ability to stream music wirelessly, dimensions aren't too huge Issues with jerkiness on take off from stand still position. Have to take it easy on cornering as it's not a sedan.

Great car until something major goes wrong – My BMW X3 2011 was fantastic until it broke down with major engine failure, taking 2 months for BMW to source the parts and repair the vehicle. Customer service is severely lacking at BMW. It takes days for people to return phone calls, if they do at all.

BMW X3 – I love the quality of this vehicle. It is very nice to drive. It is comfortable, well fitted out with quality seats and instrumentation. It looks good. The 2.0 litre diesel has lots of power and is very economical with an average of 5.5 litres per 100kms. Styling. Fit out. Diesel power.  Show details