Hello from Aust, another new x3 owner!!

[blaCkwinD]

G'dday all. I am a proud x3 owner, previous car: Audi a4 1.8T and a3.
Got this x3 about over 2mths, its DEC 2006 X3 (MY07) sport package with 24k km on it, and black. I have alot of fun driving it through inster-state. The car handle very well, specially when it overtaking at 140km/hr and very stable.

But i do find the brake is very soft (compare to what i used to drive).

There is something i want to ask x3 owner (since this is my first bmw). lets say from 80km comes to a stop, reducing from 80km to 50km, then i can feel the car's gear change to lower and the car feels abit jerky. and from 40km to 0 it soft off rough braking.... Is it normal? Other than that i feel like i make the right choice.


Thanks

[AzNMpower32]

:xoutpost: G'day to you as well.

As for the soft brake pedal feel, it may be time for a brake fluid flush. This is to be done every two years from the date of manufacture, regardless of kilometres. Moisture gets absorbed into the brake fluid, and over time can lead to a soft brake pedal or worse, corrosion in the brake lines.

As for the rough downshifts, it is normal to feel a *slight* nudge while braking, due to the torque converter characteristics. What model do you have? In North America, there have been problems with the transmission software with severe hesistation and a very rough downshift, but I don't know how bad your downshifts are.

[trapdoor]

I took mine back three times because compared to my E46 I thought the brakes were way too soft. I also had this thing where if you held it hard on the footbrake that the pedal would slowly sink to the floor and if you kept it on, to the pedal stop. Dealer claimed it was all normal and within spec.

Last year I had to do the fluid change (icon came up on the cluster) and after it was done I no longer get the pedal sinking thing, but the brakes are still too soft for my liking, though I reckon I've adapted to it. I still worry that if I have to stamp the brakes to do an e-stop, it won't pull up as fast as I'd like.

As for the auto downshifting, it sometimes can be harsh, though I have found it better since the software update but it certainly isn't perfect. Again, miles away from what I had in my E46 (and supposedly the same gearbox), but I tend to find harsh up-shifts between 2 and 3 when accellerating hard - sometimes feels like you've been hit from behind it's that harsh. Again, dealer can find no issues...

[blaCkwinD]

AzNMPower32: yep. may be just be that hasn't got the feel of it yet.
But what trapdoor said is exactly what i feel like "sometimes feels like you've been hit from behind it's that harsh" very rough to come at a stop. We got X5 standard 2.5i but nice and simple. Maybe next service will get them to check it, and i might also change the brake fluid.

Here some pics (haven't had time to take any recent picture yet).









Still deciding on Runningboard (What we call Sidestep) and maybe 20"wheel (at the moment it 18" original)

Enjoy

[AzNMpower32]

The OEM running boards cannot be installed on the M-sport vehicle since it has the aerodynamic package.

For your transmission problem, if it's that harsh, that's not normal. At your next service (or earlier, if you cant stand it), ask them to check the Progman version, essentially the software version, to make sure it has the latest transmission software. Otherwise, ask them to reset the Adaptive Transmission Control.

[blaCkwinD]

Yep that what i was looking, In audi i can reset the THL (Throttle alignment) myself so the car will learn the way i drive.

Sometime i feel just fine but sometime just abit harsh, might have to wait for the next service.
Can you reset the Adaptive Transmission Control yourself? or does it need to hook up to computer to reset?

thanks