X3...help!

[iiyama]

Hello all!
I'm after some advise on X3's as I know very little about them. Pretty much decided on a diesel and it will have to be an auto.

What are the less obvious things I should be looking for? We will be looking for cars of around 2005 age to get in under the thieving DVLA jump in RFL. Have found one but have yet to look at it as its a bit of a way from us. Car is on a 55 plate and apparently has FSH but not all receipts.

Advert shows that this work has been done over the last services:-
08.05.2014 - New BMW OSF suspension arm and ball joint
28.08.2013 - Full service and MOT 57,964 miles
18.05.2011 - Full service, new brake pads front & rear plus new OSF wheel bearing.

I'm a little put of by the OSF work, should I be?

Car has done around 7k a year since 2010.

So feed me info guys and gals!

Cheers,

Ian

[AW8]

2005 model year cars got the slightly improved softer suspension.

SE likely to be more comfortable to live with on UK pothole roads but drive a few SE and M Sport with differnt wheels etc. It will also help if you drive nice ones even if more than your budget - that way you will be able to differentiate between cheap rubbish cars and well priced good ones.

I would probably go for a 2.0d manual.

Watch out for swirl flap issues on the diesels and consider swirl flap delete work An indy called PMW can advise how to best proceed post car purchase.

[X5Sport]

The suspension issue should not be a concern.  BMW tend to sell it as a complete unit so if one ball joint or bush goes, the whole arm gets replaced.  Our 2005 3 series is the same.

Richard

[iiyama]

Thanks guys. Are high mileage cars to be avoided?

[jagr]

I bought my X3 2.0d last year and would whole heartedly recommend one to everyone.

I get 30-33mpg local town driving and 39-41mpg combined.

If you are looking at '05 models and want a diesel auto it will have to be a 3.0d, auto 2.0d didn't come out till late '07.

If you are a ok with a toolset budget around (2.0d):

£40 oil breather
£20 swirl flap blanks
£30 diesel filter

As long as history is good, high mileage on a BMW diesel shouldn't concern you.

[AW8]

High mileage in itself not a concern on most vehicles if well maintained albeit you have to consider the higher the mileage the greater wear and tear on non consumes me items.

Two issues re high milers of any make/model to consider.......firstly I is not unknown for cads with relatively high miles indicated to still have been clocked so check Hpi mots and other history. Secondly don't pay over the top for a car with higher mileage - I have seen cars with high mileage advertised just a few hindered less than cars with many less miles on odometer.

[iiyama]

Would love a 2.0d but not sure we are going to find one of those with the budget we have, (absolute max of £10k but ideally somewhat less then this. Because of budget we have also been looking at X5's, again diesel auto's. However the X3 appeals more due to being a little smaller but having a slightly bigger boot).

If we go toward the max budget then a sunroof is also a must.

I have a full tool kit and I'm not scared of using it, (built my car, the X3/X5 would be mainly for the Mrs.), so changing bits and pieces out wouldn't be a problem.

Prices do seem to vary wildly and I'm yet to get m head around them to be honest! Found this one:-

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

Also this:-

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

And this:-

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/ ... 02/2255748

And:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-55-BMW-X ... 1312290123

Also:-

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

The latter looks to be a nice car but to be honest I'm not really interested in all the TV stuff fitted!

I'm having real trouble finding anything local though, (Southampton/Portsmouth), so that I can get her into one for a drive!

[shadrack]

i dont think the 20d x3 will be afected by the ved changes in 06, the 30d will probly be but check first as its not all 4x4s its just some of the more guzzling ones

[iiyama]

2.0d is not available pre 07. 3.0d crosses  the tax hike threshold, so some are £270 but the latter mk1's are £475ish

[shadrack]

surely a 10k budget will get an 07 plate x3

[AW8]

[quote="iiyama"]
2.0d is not available pre 07.........[/quote]

Not so sure re 2.0d not being available until 2007..........The 150 hp 2.0d was available from late 2004 - it's the  177hp 2.0d that wasn't available until late 2007

[iiyama]

In that case I stand corrected sir! Learning curve is a little vertical at the moment I have to admit.

As for getting an '07 2.0d for budget, I would be more than happy for you to point me in the direction of three or four cars my friend!

I've been looking for about two-three weeks now and have yet to find an 07 for anything like budget. The one in the link above is a 05, (maybe a 55), 3.0d with below average miles and a private sale, has an asking price of just below budget!

Moreover an Autotrader search using a max cost of £12k returns nothing on a national basis. To be fair though we are looking for an automatic car with a sunroof so obviously this reduces the number of cars somewhat!

While I think of it, is there anywhere I can look to see the service schedules of X3's and X5's?

[AW8]

No problem.

Just to clarify I wasn't indicating a 177hp car would be in budget - merely touching on the rough dates for each engine.

I will let a diesel owner clarify the service schedules as they changed sone years back and differ from petrol slightly.

You can call bmw customer services albeit on a premium rate number to get details of services and work they have done. You will need reg and possibly vin numbers. The number is on their site or in the buyers guide on here for E53 X5.

[Horizon]

I would go for an X5 any day of the week. The X3 is just a toy . ( in my opinion )
I've read all the problems people have had with them on BMW Land and they seem to out weigh the X5 by far.
They have loads of turbo problems, they are very fussy on un star marked tyres causing error codes.
And the early ones look dull as dishwater.
On the panoramic sunroof option, these can be a can of worms as well. If I had one I would be cringing everytime I went to close it. When it goes wrong its a very expensive piece of kit to put right.
As said, before the X3 fans out there bay for my blood, this is my opinion only, as the OP asked for people's opinions , I have given mine.

[iiyama]

All opinions greatly received!

Are the early 3.0d X3's turbo'ed? Thought they were the same engine as in the X5?

Care to clarify what you mean by toy? Obviously the car is a bit smaller then then X5 but I'm keen to hear all opinions from all directions....even if they are not exactly what I want to read.

Star marked tyres. Please elaborate. Are these common to only X3's or BMW in general?

Agree about the early looks of the X3. Much prefer the MKII but I'm not prepared to spend that much money.

When it comes to cars I can sort of find my way around. At the end of the day I built my car so I know one end of a spanner from the other and can diagnose most electrical issues too. Not to worried about a roof going wrong, how hard can it be to fix? Mind you on a top end car like an X5 I'm a little distressed to hear that something as simple as a sunroof has issues......

@ AW8, the reference to younger car pricing was to the post above yours by Shadrack. Sorry for the ambiguity.