First impressions

[bmw5]

Hello to everyone,
I have been writing and surfing on this forum but not as an X owner.This time i am a happy owner of an X3 2,5si and i have covered 1000 kilometers.The car is very good,handles great,is potent with a lot of torgue(at 2500rpm i get 120km/h),very quite at high speeds(120 km/h).So far the obc shows a combined consumption of 15-15,5 littres/100 km,not bad for mostly using the car in traffic.I cant wait to try it on highways.I am still breaking in the engine so i dont push it much,i have set a 4000 rev limit.What i dont like so much is the interior,not as lavish as i would have expected for its money.I quess you cant have it all.The color is monaco blue with beige interior,leather upholstery and has auto seats,antidazzling in/out mirrors,auto lights.The only options i have chosen were the active lights and the auto gearbox,which by the way are great.I still havent figured out how the auto wipers work but in due time i will learn my car.
Yesterday while driving at 120 km/h i heard a trembling,a noise and sensed a loss of power.Additionaly the engine yellow light came on.I stopped,phoned the bmw mobile assistance who gave me instructions, i switched off the engine and turned the motor back on.The yellow light had gone but later i reved the engine with the manual mode up to 4000 and again the light came on.I searched yesterday the forum with the keywords "air flow meter" i found some results but i could not fully understand the jargon,hence my poor english.Today i visited the workshop and i was told that there is a problem from factory with the coil(or manifold is the jargon,not sure?) on the fifth cylinder and they will replace it with a new part which was ordered and will be in Greece in a week.My thoughts were poor gas quality.I use the 100 octanes gas for better perfomace as i was told by the dealer.The only problem is that in some gas stations the 100 octane gas is mixed with additives that harm the engine,it is a cheat to consumers because you pay something that it is not.Other than that i am in love with my car and i strongly feel that is fine machinary utterly justifying the moto "ultimate driving machine" wishing the roads wont end.Thank you BMW for all the thrill.

[dragonii]

Hi,

While you were deciding which engine to choose, did you consider the 3.0si ? Did you have the opportunity to try it out and if so, what were your impressions ?

I'm hesitating between the two. I'm a little affraid that the 2.5 is a bit underpowered for the weight of the X3 while the 3.0si is heavily taxed here in Belgium...

[bmw5]

I didnt test drive either of the two models because they did not have a 3 or 2,5 car available for a test drive but a 2 littre model which i did not drive because there was not a point in doing so.I did not consider the 3 litter engine because it is very expensive here and heavily taxed.I dont believe the 2,5 lacks in power.If you are considering the 3 littre engine why dont you choose the new X5?In Greece at least prices are simular and it is a brand new and better car.While waiting today at the workshop i went to the showroom and saw the X5,better in every aspect and more beautiful in reality than in photos.

[dragonii]

Well, I saw it too at the dealer but it didn't give me that feeling ''I must have it". Inside, not impressive and I feel it's too big for my needs.

[bmw5]

My car is now fixed.The coil(or manifold?) on the fifth cylinder was changed but after a quick test drive with the mechanic the yellow engine light lit again after pressing the engine at 5000 rpms.The car was connected again and the computer suggested the spark plug on the fifth cylinder to be changed as well.The spark plug didnt function properly because of bad fuel quality,the 100 octane was mixed with water or diesel.The mechanics,because something happened and the engine wouldnt start,connected with BMW AG Germany and directions were given on line by German mechanics!After that the engine started,i and the mechanic took the car again for a quick test drive and everything was ok.It is quite amazing the technology BMW has with servicing,finding problems with the car.The computer gives directions to the mechanics what to do for troubleshooting,they have not any initiatives.
Lastly,some software updates were available and installed.
I was told to continue break in the engine for the frst 2000 kms and change the first oil at 4000 kms.

[BartG]

I know this is kind of off topic but I will ask it anyway. People talk about engine break in period's. When I was at the BMW performance center in SC all of the cars that they have there from Z4's to M5's are driven like race cars from the day they arrive. The Z4 M3 that I was driving had 650 miles on it when I got in it and I drove it on the auto-cross course in 2nd gear up into red line. When I was talking with the instructors they said that they get new cars every year and when they are done with the cars from the previous year they do about the equivalent of Inspection II on the cars and then sell them off to dealers as Performance Center Cars for sale back to the public. All of the instructors said they would not hesitate to purchase one of these cars. If this type of driving wouldn't turn away somebody that knows allot about these cars should we really worry about a break in period?

[Ishniknork]

BartG: On break-in,

Better safe than sorry I say. Besides the engine there is the rest of the car to break in. Trans, transfer case (on 4WD models), brakes, CV joints, differentials, wheel bearings, etc.

Personally, I don't think I would buy a used Performance Center car. I bought my X3 brand new so I would know it was broken in properly.

[bmw5]

The yellow engine light came on again!So,i am going to drain the reservoir tank from the gas,which is mixed with water or diesel.We pay 1,20 euros per littre for the 100 octane gas and the gas stations mix it with water!!They are going to destroy the engine .Do you have such problems with mixed gas in the US?I am certain you dont because you have laws you abide in.If you ever consider visiting Greece with your car reconsider it.

[bmw5]

The gearbox update has improved the changes and the consumption.
I read in a magazine (not from the manual yet) that at high speeds the 4 wheel drive is disengaged,so is the xdrive.
The other day i made a cold start and the car was making a weird noise (br,br,br) and was shaking.The check engine came on .At workshop i was told that the thermostate is broken and was sending the wrong information (and other technical jargon i cant explain in english) to the cpu and will be replaced.So disappointed with BMW.After replacing the engine due to a broken spring in the engine,now the thermostate makes me considere to sell the car.

[Karlbalmer]

bummer, bad luck on the particular car you got, I have seen this happen to both BMW car owners and BMW motorcycle owners, while the vast majority have little to no problems, one of the reasons I dont order vehs I test drive and buy the one I drove if I am happy with it.