New Lease Options

[mwbbmw]

Hey all, I'm about to release an X3 . . . sooner or later depending on whether or not I'm able to get out of my current one a little early.

Anyhow, what I'm wondering is if there are any options you have in your X3 that you wouldn't go without. I'm looking anywhere from a "stripped down" model to "fully loaded" with sport and premium packages, etc. I've got the leatherette in my 3 series and it has worn quite well (I find I prefer that over many other vehicles leather seats) but I'm just not sure.

Also, has anybody driven both a sport and non-sport package version? The ride in my non-sport X3 is solid - almost jarring at times. Does the sport package tune some of that out? I hope to drive them this weekend, I just wanted to hear what others thought.

[Eric5273]

I test drove the X3 a couple of months ago, but I ended up getting a X5. What I found is that the sport package on the X3 has an extremely stiff ride, almost like a sports car and not like a SUV at all. I found the non-sport version more to my liking. On my X5, I did get the sport package, and the X5 with sport package is actually softer than the X3 without the sport package. But I'm sure some of that has to do with it being a larger & heavier vehicle as well.

I would suggest you drive both versions before you decide. Also, they are offering excellent lease deals on the X5 now because they are redesigning it soon. The reason I mention this is that I originally walked into my BMW dealer to look at the X3 because I thought the X5 was out of my price range. But it ended up that I could afford a X5 3.0 with several options (sport package, xenon, premium package, navagation) , and the price was only about $70/month more than a fully loaded X3.

My observations after driving both the X3 & X5: while the X3 is a bit faster due to it being lighter and having the same engine, the X5 has a much smoother ride and better brakes. Comparing the non-sport X3 to the sport X5, the X5 handles better. As I mentioned above, the X3 sport is just way too harsh so I did not even consider that.

As far as "must have" options, I really love the panaramic sunroof (similar on both models). I cannot really think of anything else that is "must have". The rest is just personal preference.

[davipt]

Hello. Here's how we choose our X3 (due around August):

Engine: 2.0d - diesel for sure for Europe/Germany/Portugal, and the 2.0/150HP has plenty of power and binary.
Colour: silver grey (the darkest one), with light grey interiours (non-leather), standard lightgrey roof and titan finishing (alluminium option looks like snake skin). The darker possible on the outside (but less than black), and the lighter possible on the inside

Must extras:
- panorama sunroof (it's unbeliavable!)
- aux connector (it's an extra !) (either aux or ipod, not both at the same time, thus we opted for aux)
- alluminium foot step - the original plastic one doesn't support a person, so better get the alluminium re-inforced option
- white blinking lights

Nice to have extras:
- Navi pro (if you do buy navi, buy the pro. the business isn't worth the money, better buy some tomtom or equivalent)
- adaptative xenons, rain sensor, light washers, and all other "cheap" innovation items

To avoid extras:
- leather - don't like the smell, and the sensatec was only available on black and beige
- heated seats (only needed for leather seats)
- sports seats (not much difference in the X3)
- heated steering wheel (come on?! what is this for?)
- sports package - the car is already fun enough, and the painted bumpers aren't worth the money for this package

[Rick in Prescott]

I wouldn't go without Bluetooth, which means I'd go with the Premium package. I wouldn't go without the sport package. The suspension is perfect and I really like the steering wheel, seats and solid body color trim. I would also have sirius pre-wire (75.00). I don't find the sport susp. to be at all bouncy but you really need to drive both for 30 minutes on all types of road surface to see which one you like.
We have premium / Sport / Heated seats /Step / Sirius Prewire / I added the Sirius Reciever, the phone cradle and had the windows tinted. I would of liked to have had Nav but there were none to be found and I didn't want to wait. A striped car will most likely detract from the resale price. IMHO I think you aught to buy at least a mid optioned X3. Most if not all of them will be that way at the dealer. they will have a few fully loaded ones for people that want it all.

[jaaX3]

If anything, the suspension has been tweeked and slightly upgraded over the few years the X3 has been out. As far as stuff you gotta have: bluetooth, panoramic sunroof (it really does make a difference, and it's super cool), seat warmers, Sirius ready (don't pay the dealer to install it, it's easy enough to do it yourself), make sure to get a 2006+ for the body colored bumpers, and the sport package adds some nice visual features (steering wheel, rims, etc.). The X3 was also the first car we had NAV on. I wasn't going to get it in the first place, but then we found a car we liked that had it. Let me just say I will never have a car without NAV, ever. Also, I think tinted windows are still an option. Another thing (if you have a garage) is the universal mirror. It comes with a compass and garage door buttons. Make sure to get the premium package; the amenities it comes with are worth it.

[mwbbmw]

Well, somehow I did it. I was able to end the lease on my 2.5 a little early and get a new 3.0 in its place. I ended up going with the Highland Green w/ Beige leather interior, premium & cold weather package, etc. (see details in signature below). They had several colors with the exact same options but I opted for the green because I have only seen 2 of that color on the road - and as it turns out, my brother just last week picked up a gray metallic w/ black leather interior (my other choice at the dealership) and we would have had matching X3s! Not that I would mind that too much but I'd rather be a little different. Now I need to look at installing the aux input (refering to prior posts) and look at getting a hitch put on for a bike rack.