Binning my Rangey for a 2009 3.0 SD M sport

[Super_M]

I'm fed up with stupid issues with the range rover so its going.  >:(

I need a more reliable motor so going back to German engineering.

I'm looking at getting a 2008 or 2009 3.0 SD M Sport X3 and wondering what the common faults are ?
Are they anything like the range rovers list of common faults ?

Do they rust ?
Do the gearbox's fail / need separate maintenance ?
Do they blow turbos that then end up being eaten by the engine ?
Do they suffer water ingress ?

Are the twin turbo X3's expensive to maintain (Range Rover is circa £1500 per year maintenance).

Thanks in advance

[jagr]

I have only had my X3 3.0sd since the beginning of December last year but if it is anything like my previous X3 2.0d I will be very happy.

Things to look for/check:

1,Tyres need to be '*' rated
2,When test driving it check the hidden computer for real temps. To do this hold down the trip reset button till it says 'test' then cycle through to 19 and select off, it will then go back to 'test' cycle to 7. You want to see around 90c when up to temperature. Under 80 you need to budget £100 if you can change them yourself or around £250 for a specialist.
I did mine last week and it is very DIYable.
3,Check rear springs as they will have been changed or will need to be. Again not too expensive.
4,You don't have to but I would recommend getting the diff/transfer case and gearbox oil changed on anything over 75k miles. BMW say sealed for life but oils do degrade. I had mine done 2 weeks ago and a specialist charged me £444 for all.
5,TAX is a minefield with BMW's
Mine is a 2007 '07 and is £490 a year yet when looking at a 2007 '57 is was £290
I bought mine because it was a 1 owner car with 52k and the '57 was a 4owner car with just under 60k.
6,Swirl flaps - I did them on my 2.0d and was not difficult so expected to do them on my 3.0sd but after checking on RealOEM it appears mine does not have them.
7,BMW in there wisdom decided to run the washer pipe through the car. My old '56 came apart and soaked the rear carpet behind drivers seat.
I was told this happens when the owner used just water in washer bottle and it freezes and with all water it finds the weakest point. It is a pain because you have to remove the drivers seat and lift the carpet to dry it and reconnect the hose.

That may sound like a lot of problems but all cars have them. The X3 is a very underrated car in my opinion.
The 3.0sd is a wonderful engine and seems very fuel efficient for the power you get. As said I haven't had it long but so far I have seen 23-27mpg local driving and 35-37mpg open road.

[jagr]

[quote="Super_M"]

Do they rust ? Never seen rust on an X3
Do the gearbox's fail / need separate maintenance ? As previous post
Do they blow turbos that then end up being eaten by the engine ? Not heard of turbos failing on the 3.0l
Do they suffer water ingress ? Early X3's '04-'06 had weaker seals but the later ones are much better. Saying that my friend had a '54 petrol and then an '05 diesel and had no water issues.
My '56 had no problems with seals.

[/quote]

[Super_M]

Thank you, that's quite a comprehensive check list

I'm reading about the tyres on here, more reading needed...

On point 2.) what are the things Im testing that would need replacing ?

4.) Same as Rangey's, sealed for life = garbage, so I'm used to that bit LoL

5.) Yes been looking at the wacky TAX side of things, anything between 06-09 with a bit of an engine seems to incur horrible VED rates unless your really careful with your choices.

6.) Im not sure what the swirl flaps do, is it similar to blanking off EGR's ? That RealOEM site looks very useful, thanks for that 

Where do people buy all there parts from ?

I'm used to having a main dealer on tap who provides genuine parts at very good prices, does this forum have anything like that ?

By comparison to Range Rovers that list is small and looks manageable, I feel better now about buying the SD than I do about getting another Rangey.

Many Thanks for your help jagr

[jagr]

[quote="Super_M"]

On point 2.) what are the things Im testing that would need replacing ?

6.) Im not sure what the swirl flaps do, is it similar to blanking off EGR's ? That RealOEM site looks very useful, thanks for that 

Where do people buy all there parts from ?

I'm used to having a main dealer on tap who provides genuine parts at very good prices, does this forum have anything like that ?

[/quote]

Point 2 is thermostats.
1 Coolant £55 and 1 EGR £35

Swirl flaps can break loose and destroy engines. The later ones from around 2006 are supposedly better but if the car you buy has them I would remove.
You can buy the blanking kits from eBay, PMW etc for around £20 for 4 cylinder and £30 for 6 cylinder.

I usually use main dealers for my bits.

[X5Sport]

Eurocarparts hold a lot of the 'service' items - which are frequently the same ones badged by BMW, and with added cost!

Swirl flaps are part of the missions control system.  Later ones are far less prone to breaking that the ones from the late 90's - mid-00's.  If they do break then it is indeed goodnight engine!

Turbo failures much rarer than if old as long as you keep the oil services going, and use the right stuff!

Ask about the type of use it has typically had as short journeys could lead to DPF problems.

[Super_M]

What do the swirl flaps do, apart from flap  ), is removing them an MOT failure ?

[jagr]

[quote="Super_M"]
What do the swirl flaps do, apart from flap  ), is removing them an MOT failure ?
[/quote]

Swirl flaps are small butterfly valves fitted to the intake manifold just before the cylinder head intake ports of many modern automotive diesel engines, including those from Audi, BMW, Vauxhall and Alfa Romeo. The flaps are smaller than the intake runners and therefore allow air to pass around them even when "closed".

http://www.swirlflaps.co.uk/what-are-swirl-flaps.html

No they are not an MOT failure

[kjb1]

08 onwards disels are sensible tax brackets


Sent from my iPhone

[Super_M]

Is it best practice to remove the flaps or blank them off or is it 1 and the same ?

Have you driven the 3.0l single turbo by comparison to the twin turbo SD model ?

[X5Sport]

Normal process is to remove them and fit blanks.  You need to leave the control rods and actuator in place and working or the car thinks the system has failed.

Twin turbo has a much faster response to throttle than the single, and more torque. 

[jagr]

[quote="Super_M"]
Is it best practice to remove the flaps or blank them off or is it 1 and the same ?

Have you driven the 3.0l single turbo by comparison to the twin turbo SD model ?
[/quote]

It is the same. When removing you fit blanking plates.

Yes, the single turbo is a very good engine.
I had a 2.0d 150bhp X3 before buying this and was very pleased with how it performed. It wasn't fast but was adequate for the vehicle I wanted and if it hadn't been stolen I wouldn't have changed it.

When searching last year I test drove the later 2.0d 177bhp and was very impressed at how smooth it was but really wanted a straight six so test drove a couple of 3.0 and if I could have found one in the right condition, mileage, spec and 1/2 owners I would have bought one.

I couldn't so went to view the 3.0sd and just had to have it because it was awesome and only 1 owner and 52k miles.

As you are coming from a range rover the 2.0d would probably be very underpowered for you but don't dismiss the single turbo.

[Super_M]

Is there much difference between 2008 and 2009 models ?

(e.g. its not a face-lift year or got an extra gadget etc)

[jagr]

[quote="Super_M"]
Is there much difference between 2008 and 2009 models ?

(e.g. its not a face-lift year or got an extra gadget etc)
[/quote]

Just road tax cost.

If that matters to you check with the DVLA for actual cost as one 3.0d I looked at was a '58 (registered Jan 2009) and that was £490 yet a '57 SD was £290.
It is not the date they are registered but the date they are built.

The only way I knew whether it was a late 2007 build was the front seat headrests.
On mine they are one piece and on the later ones they appear 2 piece.

Early:
http://assets.suredone.com/1838/media-p ... ck-oem.jpg

Late:
http://image.trucktrend.com/f/10733987/ ... t_view.jpg

[Super_M]

Ok thanks, after being severely sodomised by the Rangey, cheaper road tax is preferred at the moment, until the bank account has had healing time.

The day of purchase is drawing closer now 

Are all SD's M Sport's ?

I hear the ride is horrid in M Sport and SE is a better ride, right now I know nothing about this breed of motor
(other than what you guys have mentioned already).