[silverado]

I had my car at the dealership yesterday (to install the slotted center light dome) and was given an 2004 X3 as a loaner. Now I didn't expect it to compare well to the E90, but boy this car was rattle city! It's the most rattling car I have ever driven, and it only had 14K miles on it!

I have heard of issues with the windows rattling when they are rolled up in the X3 and this seemed to be at least part of what's going on. Is this really normal?!! It was the most disappointing BMW I've ever been in.

[CC 330i]

Originally Posted by silverado

I had my car at the dealership yesterday (to install the slotted center light dome) and was given an 2004 X3 as a loaner.

I'm curious... Did your dealer give you the slotted dome light free? I think they are getting mine to me under warranty but was just curious. I couldn't wait so I unintentionally butchered my non-slotted cover so the ultrasonic alarm sensor would work in the meantime, since they said the slotted cover is on national backorder (ok, so I am impatient) .

[BellasBmw]

i had a 04 X3 loaner also. I had it for 4 days. There was no comparison to my 325 (it made me appreciate my car more), but it was alright. It was a bit bumpy at first, but i have the sport pkg on my 325, so that is a little rough at times too. I liked being higher up, but if i dont think i'd ever buy an X3. Better off with an american or jap suv.

[NY3Drvr]

Originally Posted by silverado

I had my car at the dealership yesterday (to install the slotted center light dome) and was given an 2004 X3 as a loaner. Now I didn't expect it to compare well to the E90, but boy this car was rattle city! It's the most rattling car I have ever driven, and it only had 14K miles on it!

I have heard of issues with the windows rattling when they are rolled up in the X3 and this seemed to be at least part of what's going on. Is this really normal?!! It was the most disappointing BMW I've ever been in.

I drove the X3 at the Susan Komen Drive for Cancer and was extremely not impressed either. Felt like I was driving a Toyota Rav 4 both in looks, driveability and feel. They really messed this one up !

[CC 330i]

Not to burst anyone's bubble here, but does anyone expect a compact SUV to rival a sedan (or any other car for that matter) in terms of performance and driving feel? Even with the hallowed and often worshipped blue and white propeller, it is still just a compact SUV with a center of gravity just slightly lower than the Chrysler building.

However, I recently took the wife's Ford Escape off road on little 10 mile jaunt through some creeks and stuff, and it gives you a different view of "performance". The X3 is better for the mountains and hauling than it is for the racetrack.

[silverado]

CC 330i,

Yes, it was replaced for free.

As I said in my message, I didn't expect the X3 to compete with my E90, but I was quite disappointed with the noisy interior. It sounded like it was falling apart.

[F32Fleet]

I remember reading rattles were an issue with x3.

[David328M-Sport]

just based on the x3's pricing here in australia, is reason enough to steer clear of it. it is, for bmw australia, "CHEAP" for what it is supposed to be.

not many on the roads.
enough said.

[HRC]

My uncle has the X5 and that ROCKS!!! But it's entirely a different vehicle with lots of power. So I wouldn't say across the board that BMW's SUV suck.

Danny

[CC 330i]

Originally Posted by silverado

CC 330i,

Yes, it was replaced for free.

As I said in my message, I didn't expect the X3 to compete with my E90, but I was quite disappointed with the noisy interior. It sounded like it was falling apart.

I hear you on that one. I sat in an X3 and I have to say the interior is not nearly as nice as the E90 or any other BMW for that matter. I think the X3 is US built and probably uses cheaper components and plastics to keep the cost down. That segment is really competitive. (Small SUV market).

[marcus330i]

The X3 is built in Graz, Austria. (maybe "assembled" is a better word)

I had 2.5 loaner for 5 days last year and I thought it was fun to drive. The visibility is great and the pano roof was extra cool. Can't recall any rattles but I also can't imagine buying an American or Japanese small SUV over this. They could spend another $500 on the interior quality I guess. I spent a lot of time in a client's new 4-Runner last month and could tell it was capable/functional but not a real "driver's" vehicle. My thoughts after driving the X3 were: "Gee...it handles more like a car than I expected".

[Mauricio]

Originally Posted by CC 330i

I think the X3 is US built and probably uses cheaper components and plastics to keep the cost down.

If I remember correctly, I think the X3 is built in Austria by a firm contracted to assemble the vehicle for BMW. It isn't built at a "BMW factory" per say. At least that's what I remember reading when it was released and it stuck in my head, wondering why BMW would do such a thing. But I think other manufacturers have done it in the past to release the vehicle sooner.

[onesixeight]

I've driven the X3 quite a bit and I think the handling is great, but the ride needs some work. I don't really like the front styling, and the interior looks like it came out of a Kia.

[ward]

I tried really hard to like the X3, but could never get out the pocketbook for it

interior's not as nice as the 3, and the 3's got more cool features

[E90 Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by silverado

I was quite disappointed with the noisy interior. It sounded like it was falling apart.

Probably doesn't help either that it's a loaner. People drive the #%!@& out of those things. If it starts out as a rattle trap, no telling what a few months and a few thousand HARD miles will do...

[BellasBmw]

Originally Posted by E90 Enthusiast

Probably doesn't help either that it's a loaner. People drive the #%!@& out of those things. If it starts out as a rattle trap, no telling what a few months and a few thousand HARD miles will do...

Haha, i did all the things i wanted to try on the X3 before i try it on my E90.
(except the corners, too scared of flipping)

[xspeedy]

The X3 is assembled by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria. The engineering is all BMW. Steyr also assembles many of BMW's engines.

I had an X3 2.5 for a year, and I didn't notice that many more rattles than an e46. One has to remember that wagon vehicles will have more rattles - it is the price one pays for not having a rear bulkhead.

For an SUV, the X3 was quite fun to drive. I could take corners pretty hard, and lean on the outside suspension. Roll for an SUV was minimal. If you want to compare it to something, then compare it to other SUV's.

My impressions when first driving the vehicle during a Susan B. Komen event was that it was surprisingly carlike in the way it went about its business. The ride was firm, but no more so than a 3 series with sport suspension. In fact, I could have had it firmer.

In the end, I prefer cars. But if I was to buy another SUV, the X3 is the one I would buy.

[scottz5]

Just plain cheap!

[Robert2]

I recall driving the X3 in a BMW autocross event a year or two ago, and they pointed out that the X3 is based on (previous-generation) 3-series chassis. That's the E46 chassis, now superceded by the E90, of course. But that's not a bad starting point. And it has been modified to ensure that the center of gravity is hardly higher than the 3 (even though you're sitting way up there).

I can't get excited about it in comparison to a 3, especially a new E90, but it is an option for folks that like that footprint.

I do recall many panning it since it had little to offer in comparison to a 3 series sedan other than the Jeep-like look. No more performance, AWD, trunk, mpg, interior space, ... nothing.

Robert

[jwarcd]

I drove a 3.0 X3 in Europe this summer on my vacation. (Was supposed to get my E90 but someone messed up and it wasn't at the delivery center when I arrived so they gave me the X3 as a loaner). I was plesently surprised by the X3. It was rock solid, easily did 135mph, quick, great handling, and rattle free.

[onesixeight]

For those that got the slotted dome for free when getting the alarm, did they mention that's a special deal for you guys or are they covered under warranty? I was under the presumption that the alarms were pre-wired. Now my dealer charged me $136 for the light dome.

-Chris

[xspeedy]

Originally Posted by Robert

I do recall many panning it since it had little to offer in comparison to a 3 series sedan other than the Jeep-like look. No more performance, AWD, trunk, mpg, interior space, ... nothing.

Robert

Huh? It has much more to offer than a 3. It has much more interior room, a wagon body style that offers a cavernous trunk with the standard option of fold down seats. It has a panorama roof option, more ground clearance, X-Drive...

I drove my X3 through the huge snowstorm last Christmas, from Texas to IL. No 3 would have made it through that.

You forget that the definition of "performance" can vary based on who you talk to. The 3 wouldn't have performed very well in the snowstorm I had to go through. That trip totally proved the value of the X3. If I was a BMW fan, and I had to live in a place like Colorado, it would be vehicle of choice.