Test Drive: BMW X3 3.0sd (E83) - 2008 - "New Cars Collection"

For a volume-seller, when it was launched in 2004, the BMW X3 probably got off to the worst start for a Bavarian model in the last 50 years. Almost every automotive magazine editor complained about the car in one way or another. First, being just slightly smaller than the first generation X5, people were expecting the same range of options that were on its larger brother. They didn't get them. The X3 didn't even have “Angel Eyes” daytime running lights, which is a real turn-off if you're a BMW fan.

The rather small option list wasn't the only thing that bugged people about it. Most of them complained about not being able to classify the X3. It wasn't a sporty and luxurious SUV (OK, OK, SAV) like the X5, but it wasn't a jacked-up 3 Series Touring with all-wheel-drive either, even though most of the mechanicals of the X3 are shared with the E46 3 Series. OK, so it wasn't very good in off-road territory but it didn't excel on the road either. Some people called it one of the ugliest BMWs ever (and were probably right if you ask some of us) so as a first wrap-up we could all say that BMW didn't played its cards right with the X3.

Well, time proved almost every automotive journalist wrong and the X3 even began outselling much cheaper compact SUVs such as the Toyota RAV4, with over 100.000 units sold each year. X3's success convinced even arch-rivals from Audi and Mercedes-Benz, who took turns in launching their own competitors in this segment. As time passed, BMW realized it had to keep its small(ish) crossover SUV updated, therefore the Bavarian engineers were put to work for the facelift model. Among the changes suffered in 2007 was the upgraded options list, which now includes the long waited for “Angel Eyes” and a new range of engines. The model we tested is the top-of-the-range 3.0sd, almost fully equipped and also having the Motorsport package.

Let's face it, the evil-hobbit look of the X3 isn't quite the most appealing thing on four wheels out there. BMW designers somehow acknowledged customer feedback and completely redesigned the front bumper to look more elegant but at the same time more menacing. The model we tested was also equipped with the Motorsport Technik package, so the X3 lost all its exterior black bits and confronted us with an angrier look.

Mary's Opinion

Leaving away my contagious enthusiasm for Deutshen Wagen and all things made in the Bundesrepublik Deutschland, the BMW X3 looks like a German noodles salad with almost all ingredients included. Some oil for reserve might be needed as it seems this condiment evaporates before you actually start feeling the taste of the delicious meal. However, those who favor pepper in their lives will discover it in the X3's large variety. Read more >>

The plastic-is-fantastic interior of the phase-one BMW X3 was sadly carried on the facelift model as well, albeit the build-quality seems to have improved. First thing you notice when you enter a BMW X3 cabin is the button clutter on the center console, reminiscent of the fact this 2008 car is still based on the E46 3 Series platform, which is older than some of our readers.

After a few seconds/minutes of acquaintance, everything seems to be specifically designed with the comfort of the driver in mind, starting with the slightly tilted center console. The car we tested was pretty much full-spec. Even though it was equipped with the M-technik sports package, the front seats weren't Motorsport embedded, but comfort ones. Sure, they were comfortable but the lateral and lumbar support was somehow below expectations, especially since we're talking about a BMW here.

As compact it is on the outside (for an SUV), the interior size doesn't excel either. The legroom is just fine if your height is below 180 cm (6 feet), but the shoulder and headroom don't seem to be designed from a big fellow's perspective. The interior design is very '90s Germanic, with dark plastic buttons on the center console and on the doors, and a very Teutonic less-is-more atmosphere, even though there's a lot of switches and buttons to push everywhere.

The luggage compartment volume (480 liters, or 17 cuFT for you Yanks) is enough to carry enough supplies for its occupants, especially in the case they travel the Indian way, light. Sure, the rear seat can recline (in a 60/40 ratio) in order to provide a flat surface which starts in the trunk and ends behind the front seats, but who's going to actually do that in an X3, really? On the plus side (from an interior volume perspective), the (micro) spare wheel sits outside the cabin or trunk, Range Rover style.

Any sane person who buys an SUV (as SAV/crossoverish the X3 is) clearly doesn't expect a vehicle designed for the city. Unlike some other larger-than-life SUVs, the X3 isn't THAT out of place on busy streets. Sure, we could have used a few inches trimmed from the length as well as width, but the truth is the X3 is not bigger than a medium-sized European station wagon. Plus, the front and rear parking sensors are a perfect addition on the options list.

Even though it has a modern common-rail diesel with intelligent sequential turbocharging, the weight of the X3 30sd (1850 kg or 4078 pounds unladen) comes as a big minus to the fuel consumption, which can reach 16-17 liters per 100 kilometers (14-15 mpg) on a daily basis if you do your errands in a city with lots of stop-and-go traffic. The very few moments of light traffic you encounter are more than enough to massage your back with gentle pushes of the accelerator pedal, since the torque of the three-liter engine can move mountains.

The all round visibility should be good for a vehicle that's taller than most... but it isn't, especially to the rear. BMW designers have somehow won over the engineers and the third (fourth, if you count the one from the rear doors) lateral window curves upwards minimizing the view and maximizing your blind spots. Also, the rear window sits pretty high on the hatch. A big thank you thus goes to the parking sensors.

On the whole, the X3 clearly wasn't made for Metropolis, but it won't push you towards suicide if you have to drive it on a regular basis on busy streets. Sure, the fuel consumption is a bit on the high side and the all-round visibility isn't quite what you would expect from an SUV/crossover but, if you look at it from a more positive view, those 286 hp and the 580 Nm (427.8 lb-ft) have to have their thirst quenched somehow (although we would have preferred they drank less).

Contrary to what you would expect, the X3 3.0sd is a pretty good long journey partner. Highspeed highway bursts of sheer torque can open the mouths of the casual passenger... and keep them that way from 2000 to close to 5000 rpm (if you keep the six-speed automatic in Sport mode), which you have to admit is a rather high number for an oil burner. The noise insulation is adequate although you might want to watch the weight of your right foot, so as to keep the wind-induced decibels out. The X3 has a drag coefficient of 0.35, which is more than good, but it still has a non-aerodynamic hatchback profile, which is bound to directly act on your ear's comfort at high speeds.

Sir May B. Bach's Opinion

I have avoided the SUV frenzy as much as I could... ahem... until Land Rover equipped the Range with a decent interior. Since that moment, every SUV... ahem... I drive is automatically compared with my British Racing Green Supercharged Range. You have really insulted my intelligence by giving me this... ahem... what is it exactly? A BMW X3? Read more >>

One of the big minuses of the first X3 were the kidney-punishing ride induced by the somewhat sporty settings of the suspension and of course, the runflat tires. BMW took notice of this, so the facelift brought new changes for the car's behavior from this point of view, mainly by removing the runflat idea, instead equipping the X3 with your average “bicycle” spare wheel, which has a maximum speed of 80 km/h (50 mph) and is located underneath the car, just beneath the trunk. Even though the facelift model has a very improved suspension comfort, the car's jerkiness when passing over rougher roads or tram lines is still there.

The interior decibel level is well contained, and the comfort features list is long enough for the year we live in. The car we tested was equipped with heated seats all around (yes, even in the back), heated steering wheel for those cold winter mornings, front electrically adjusted seats (which we would have liked better if they were Motorsport Technik ones), automatic climate control and a very nice panoramic sunroof. On the whole, the facelifted X3 didn't transform in a puffy British GT overnight, but it doesn't play as near as many games with your spine when going over paved roads. Also, we're not exactly hardcore critics in the sound area, but the Harman-Kardon hi-fi audio system is (literally) music to every audiophile's ears.

From the technical point of view, the X3 3.0sd is typically German. The 3 liter inline six oil burner has won a good array of awards so far and for good reason. The sequential arrangement of the two turbochargers is genius in keeping that nerve inducing lag as non-intruding as possible.

Lou Cheeka's Opinion

Finally, a German car! Deutsche uber alles! Did I mention I love German engineering, especially anything coming from Bavaria? Everything from Hitler to German beer and sour krauts is A OK on the list consisting of my favorite things in the whole wide world. This BMW X3 is almost perfect for me from a number of reasons. Read more >>

For a car based on a platform which was designed last century (the E46 3 Series appeared in 1998), the list of gadgets found on the facelift X3 is pretty modern, albeit not at the level of a luxo-barge. Still, the array of useful toys that were to be found on our X3 3.0sd test car was rather sufficient. The front and rear parking sensors are very helpful in the city, considering the rear visibility isn't quite top notch. The heated seats and steering wheel are not a snobby option at all when you live in an area with tempered climate and dreadful winters, while the on-board computer is full of helpful information about the different states of the car.

Whether you want to calculate your average fuel consumption (except for the real time one) or the amount of kilometers until the required maintenance check, the high mounted tilting display can give you the desired information in a pretty fashionable way, since whenever you're not using it it can disappear out of sight at the touch of a button. Also, in case you're not going to be only one driving the X3, the car's mirrors, seats and steering wheel (all of them electrically adjustable) can have up to three memorized positions so you don't have to readjust them every time you jump into the car after your petite wife has driven it.

Technically, when speaking about the safe factor of an SUV, stuff like the increased weight and height versus a regular family sedan are spoken about in a very positive note. The X3 3.0sd is also pretty heavy (1850 kg or 4078 lbs), even though it is based on a medium-sized sedan, which should come in handy when crashing into your average Volkswagen Golf. Apart from this, the facelift X3 has six airbags fitted as standard (two dual-stage ones in the front, two front side and two front and rear head airbags), while our test car also had the optional rear side ones.

As for the active safety systems, BMW has equipped the X3 3.0sd with DSC (Dynamic Stability Control), which includes the HDC ( Hill Descent Control) and the TSC (Trailer Stability Control), rain sensors and lights sensors for the headlights (with tilting features for the curves). Also, the tire puncture warning system can be very useful in case you're randomly attacked by terrorists with nails on the road to work. The X3 was awarded four stars by the EuroNCAP institute for safety, while the American IIHS gave it a “Good” score on everything except for the safety cage, which only received an acceptable rating. On the whole, the X3 is among the safest cars in its class.

With no exaggeration, probably the best feature to be liked (if not even loved) about the BMW X3 3.0sd resides under the hood. The sequentially turbocharged three-liter diesel develops 286 hp (that's about 95 hp per liter!) and 580 Nm (427.8 lb-ft) of torque available from just 1750 rpm. If that wasn't enough to get you startled about this car, also take into account that its engine suffers from one of the least noticeable lag in the world of turbodiesels. Sure, everytime you press the “pedal to the metal” and you're below a certain rpm level (let's say, 1300-1400 rpm), there's bound to be some late responsiveness, but nothing to give you headaches like in most other turbodiesels.

Apart from the obvious high price tag, the worst part about a BMW X3 3.0sd (or any X3 for that matter) has GOT to be its exterior design. Sure, BMW fans might feel that we're just jerking their chains, but we don't think there's a sane person in this world who would say that the X3 is a handsome automobile. It has somewhat of a practicality ring to it (remember, we're only talking design-wise here), but all the details are mixed up and just plain unattractive. The only elements you can add to make it more bearable are some nice wheels and probably a good color-coded paint job.

The ugly thing about driving a performance diesel (yes, we're well aware how these two words sound together) is that you're expecting something that isn't quite there. You're expecting it to be slow (hey, it's an oil burner, right?) but the X3 3.0sd is exactly the opposite, and you're also waiting for some good mileage (again, it's a freaking diesel, right?), which the 3.0sd doesn't deliver. It's not going to make a lot of room in your wallet compared to a gasoline model with similar specifications, but it still drinks more than you would expect from a three-liter diesel.