Comparing three year olds... X3 vs. 330xi

[Drum]

As y'all know, I have been driving the crap out of my "new" 2005 X3 and spending a lot of time second-guessing and triple-guessing our choice and comparing it against everything else in the world. You folks know the drill, I'm guessing.

Anyway, I was lingering recently at my indy mechanic's (who also sells super clean BMWs) and took notice of a nice little 2005 330xi on the lot. Since I was waiting for some work on my 5, I asked my guy for a plate and took it for an extended ride around the same area that I have been running the X3 for these last few weeks of ownership.

First off, these two vehicles appear nearly identical inside. If you avert your eyes from the windows, thus preventing from gauging your relative altitude, it is very difficult to tell the difference between except for one obvious detail, the location of the window buttons. In the 3-series, per usual I guess, the window buttons are arranged on either side of the gear shift whereas the X3's are on the door.

Aside from that and the height, these vehicles were practically identical. Both had similar options including sport suspensions and six speed manual transmissions. Same year, same engine, of course, and I believe, the same version of BMW's Xdrive system. They even shared the same color wood trim. Upon closer examination, I think the leather(?) of the dashboard and doors was of superior quality in the 330xi compared with that of the X3. Seats were slightly more plush also. That said, I think I like the seats of the X3 better for their firmness and possibly more rugged leather.

Drive-wise, the 330xi is pretty near perfect, as far as a novice like myself can comprehend at least. It is sure-footed as a cat, corners like a dream and has slightly less thirst for the gas without any perceivable decline in performance. The gearing is slightly higher than the X3 allowing more range in lower gears and lower engine speeds around town. The engine is a perfectly trained caged tiger and the driver is the guy with the whip in hand.

In short, the 330xi was absolutely everything that I have come to expect from BMW vehicles. Sublime perfection multiplied.

So... what's the difference and which one do I like better?

Well, trying to set aside the natural Human tendency to justify and rationalize one's own plight for the best is not easy, but for me, I like the X3 better overall.

The difference is the X3's LACK of perfection, if that makes any sense at all. What I mean is this; the 330is is essentially the perfect tool for doing what it is designed to do, i.e. straddle the line between sportscar and snow car. So good is it that you are libel not even to notice that you have transitioned from a dry road to a snowy road (I admit I have never driven either of these in the snow, btw).

The X3 is as impractical as a bumble bee or a goose or something. I predict that it will be great as a snow car, to be sure. It is no less sure-footed than the 330xis nor is it any less of a cornering beast. It IS however, somewhat impractical in the same way that all enormous P/U's and SUV's are unless the are being used specifically for their special purpose, ie. large hauling.

I will admit to being a snow lover and anticipating a snowy ride in the same way I did sledding as a kid. I am also, I have now discovered an American SUV lover. I loved the bulletproof illusion that came from my old Jeep Cherokee (also a manual) and the high revs, head shaking and rough ride that I am getting from my impractical SUV are really making me smile in that inwardly pleased self-destructive way of Americans with their gas guzzlers.

Sadly, to me the very competent and perfect 330xi came across as pretty boring when compared to the X3. It is probably better for most purposes than the X3 unless you are in a band or something. But make mine an SUV!

If I want highway gobbling perfection, I will slide into the the 540i. The X3 is just more fun for general bombing around.

Cheers,
D

[xx3]

i think the 05' 330xi actually has the older BMW 4 wheel drive system which is a permanent torque split instead of the variable torque split in the X3.

If I recall correctly the first time the 3 series got Xdrive was in the 2006 model (E90).

[AzNMpower32]

Oh dear, if you think the E46 330xi is boring, then you'd better stay away from the E90s.

Now that I'm at home, I switch between the '06 325i sport and my X3. I try to drive the latter a bit less due to the obvious fuel consumption, but I'm not warming up to the 3 at all. Aside from its many "issues" (nothing to do with the driving capability actually), the 325i is amazingly dull. It fails to speak to me at all. Whenever I carve up a mountain road in the X3, my heart is beating hard with excitement at the end. In the 3, sure I can go much faster........but I probably fell asleep halfway around the first bend.

I wrote a review about a 335i I had earlier this week in the Premier Section. An engineering marvel it was. But I wouldn't buy one.

[Drum]

We are in much the same boat on this one, AZM.
While it the technical superiority and utility of a 3-series clearly outstrips the X3 (perhaps with the exception of traction/handling without the Xdrive), but everything feels more dramatic and interesting in the X3 by comparison.

I think it is possible that this reaction will wear off when I am finally over the novelty of the X3 in terms of driving experience, but I will have to keep y'all posted on that.

D

[AzNMpower32]

Originally Posted by Drum

We are in much the same boat on this one, AZM.
While it the technical superiority and utility of a 3-series clearly outstrips the X3 (perhaps with the exception of traction/handling without the Xdrive), but everything feels more dramatic and interesting in the X3 by comparison.

I think it is possible that this reaction will wear off when I am finally over the novelty of the X3 in terms of driving experience, but I will have to keep y'all posted on that.

D

Oh trust me, the driving experience novelty doesn't wear off. We've had ours since 9/04 and it's got 61000mi on the clock. Once in awhile, I get tired of the relatively heavy fuel consumption. And the occasional window rattle. Or the fact that I wish it had 150 extra horses. But whenever I hit some nice roads and drive the X3 like it was designed to be driven, I forget any of my dislikes, as I burn though like, 20 litres of fuel for the next 30min.

If the various small flaws in the X3 start annoying you, or if you do get tired of the novelty factor, simply find a deserted curvy road and drive it like a racetrack. I guarantee all your quibbles and complaints will go out the window.

[Drum]

Had a great drive today in the X3. Clear, smooth and winding back roads between here and Bangor, Pa..

When I can get myself in the right frame of mind to forget about the fossils I'm burning, that is really a fun car to drive!

One thing I am noticing... I have been bracing myself for sharp curves and even turns in a way that is completely unnecessary in this vehicle. Perhaps it is my (sole) prior SUV experience with a '91 Jeep Cherokee that made me think that I needed to lean forward and in to the corners.
Sure, the bouncy ride can be somewhat reminiscent of my old Jeep, but the cornering and handling is pure BMW through and through.

On this ride, I really had to force myself to sit back into the seat and just drive the car around the bends. After a few dozen turns, my body finally realized that I did not have to climb up the sides of the cockpit like I was sailing a catamaran.

Such a nice driver's seat and the reliable feeling that this car has in the tight turns is finally letting my use the whole thing.

Cheers,
D

[Meiac09]

I compared two year olds, a X3 ZSP with Step and my 325xi ZSP with a stick.
I thought the X3 was fun to toss around on 128, I wouldn't have been disappointed if I had ended up with it (except the $4.20 a gallon). However, when properly equipped*, the 3er can be a hoot. The E46 330xi and E83 X3 comparo isn't really fair, they're technically the same car, but IMO, you can't really lose. Unless you get a 6AT.


* freude am fahren package, MSRP -$1275, Clutch Pedal, CDV, 6 gear shifter, leather boot

[AzNMpower32]

Originally Posted by Drum

When I can get myself in the right frame of mind to forget about the fossils I'm burning, that is really a fun car to drive!

One thing I am noticing... I have been bracing myself for sharp curves and even turns in a way that is completely unnecessary in this vehicle. Perhaps it is my (sole) prior SUV experience with a '91 Jeep Cherokee that made me think that I needed to lean forward and in to the corners.
Sure, the bouncy ride can be somewhat reminiscent of my old Jeep, but the cornering and handling is pure BMW through and through.

I think there's a reason for that. I don't know how the suspension is set up on the '05+ X3s, but on the '04s, the suspension was tuned a bit odd.

There's like, 3 "layers" to the suspension travel, but most folks wouldn't know all three unless you pushed the vehicle hard (like you and I). Around town, the ride is initially too choppy, as it bucks and responds to every road imperfection larger than a dime. As you push harder, towards ~50% of the handling capability, the suspension feels a tad soft. The vehicle rolls a bit and instinctively you get a bit spooked and start to brace yourself. In fact, most drivers give up at this point, a bit afraid to push on.

But as you push the absolute limit of the vehicle, the suspension seems to firm up at the very end. This is what I think makes the X3 such a hoot to drive. At tire-squealing cornering speeds, the driver realises that the X3 is damn capable of handling itself, and all he's gotta do is point the vehicle in the right direction and keep the foot to the floor. If you're bold, the X3 lets you hang the tail out a bit, or perhaps does a 4-wheel drift if the road condition and driving is done just right. But you've got to keep your foot down and let the xDrive sort things out! (If you let up on the throttle, you end up overcompensating most of the time) It's like you have to pass thru a ring of fire in order to get to the core handling capabilities of the X3.

My favorite testing ground is 10-15mi outside of Charlottesville, VA. From a stop sign, you've got a straight downhill that allows full throttle to the top of 2nd (about 90km/h in my 2.5i). Then its hard on the brakes for a slow right 270-degree turn, more full throttle thru the upper end of 3rd (120km/h), hard on the brakes again for a sweeping 270-degree left, partial throttle thru a couple S curves in 3rd, and hard on the brakes one last time for a left over a narrow bridge. I can do the whole thing in reverse too, but its all uphill that way and um, the 2.5 litre has issues with that. If done properly, ABS will never kick in. If you think I'm a hooligan, clearly this is a popular road for drivers, judging by the fair amount of black tire marks all over the road!!

Just my 2 cents

[Drum]

I have definitely noticed some different responses from the suspension to road conditions that I would have thought were fairly similar otherwise. I had mostly attributed that to relative speed, but I am open to suggestions as I am largely a techno-peasent when it comes to most things automotive.

That said, I have been driving BMW's since 1980 and I know what I like and what feels good.

This X3 steers and handles like a gopher through a sewer pipe. I love the brakes and I love this gearbox. The seats are superb. I am done kibitzing about the gas mileage. A pal of mine just picked up a 2008 3-series coupe with Xdrive and he tells me that he cannot get better than an average of 20mpg with mixed driving. I told him maybe it will get better when he breaks it in.



Got into a minor "race" yesterday with a very clean looking, late model Audi A4. With about 1500 feet between stop lights, we wound it up... me cranking my engine up to almost 6000 in 2nd gear before a quick shift and they were a car length behind and we were cresting 80 mph.

This sort of stuff rarely happens when I am out in the 540i.

I am done second guessing my purchase.

I LOVE MY X3!

(and I am not even afraid to admit it.)

[AzNMpower32]

Originally Posted by Drum

A pal of mine just picked up a 2008 3-series coupe with Xdrive and he tells me that he cannot get better than an average of 20mpg with mixed driving. I told him maybe it will get better when he breaks it in.

I LOVE MY X3!

(and I am not even afraid to admit it.)

Tell your friend that fuel consumption will get better with mileage (over 10k miles). But he/she should learn smoother right foot control and smoother driving. I got 27mpg in a 335i loaner with 3k on the clock. My day's drive included: Beltway traffic, easy-cruise-control @ 110km/h, a friend having fun with the 306bhp , and AC-use. Thus, whoever claims EPA estimates for BMWs are too high, simply cannot control the throttle properly.

I filled up the X3 today with 2/3rds tank of premium. The mid-grade performance was getting to be annoying, and the weather has warmed up. Despite the $46.17 cost (ouch!), it was worth it. I had forgotten how responsive and eager the X3 is. I did a short stint on backroads, and then let a friend thrash it around curves. He was a bit shy, understandably, but was impressed by how crisp the throttle was, how the xDrive sorts everything out, and how he could point the X and mash the throttle without worry. I was literally at the side like an instructor, dictating "off. Brake a bit. Off the brakes, turn in........NOW FULL THROTTLE. YES NOW. GO FOR IT!" My god, the engine noise with the windows all down was intoxicating.

Sure we burned off 2 gallons of the fuel. But oh.....the fizz and excitement! Even from the pass. seat, it's still fun.

I will never buy an E90.