Need advice on possible X3 purchase
 

I test drove an 05 with a sport package and one without. The ride is incredibly smoother in the one without the sport package. My sales guy said it has a portion to do with the bigger tires, 18" wheels. He said he is willing to swap them out with the 17" wheels that come on the other x3.
What do you guys think? Do you think it'll ride smoother or should I wait to get one without a sport package?

It is a matter of preference. I had an '04 non-sport and the ride I felt was a bit rougher than it needed to be which obviously became evident over rough surfaces. My '06 non-sport rides much smoother but not quite as smooth as perhaps it could. A friend has an '05 I've driven and to me rides about the same as my '04. I think I remember hearing that the '06 saw a revamp of the springs leading to a bit smoother ride.

BUT sport packages are sweet and handle much better through twisties, braking, etc. It also depends on where you live. Rough roads means you will feel each and every bump and rock. It also depends on what your weather is like. If snow/ice are not a major issue the sport w/ lower prof. tires mean more opportunities for grins. Finally, as for swapping wheels/tires between the two it would change a bit but not to the point I think it would make a huge difference as I believe part of the tuning of the suspension has to do with wheel/tire combos.

That's my $0.02 worth . . .

Buy the sport package. It's more than a set of 18's. It's a set of great sport seats, different shocks and struts, steering wheel, even a throatier exhaust note. You'll get used to the firmness of the ride. Once you do, you'll love it.
Just getting ready to head back to AZ from CA, in 30 minutes. I look forward to every mile in the X3. Enjoy yours

Actually the 05s have a smoother suspension than the 04s. The standard suspension is the same on 05s and 06s. Sport will make your ride stiffer, you may like it at first and regret later or simply like it. It all depends on what you're looking for. I've read a few posts of people who have sport and wish they had the standard suspension. Some people have sport and can't live without it. Test drive again and see.

BMW says this on their web site:
"Sport suspension consists of stiffer springs and anti-roll bars. While these features improve the sporty handling of the X3, they can also create a firmer ride, which may not be acceptable for all customers."

I personally have the standard suspension and already find it a bit too stiff. Again do more test drives and see.

a bit more information would be helpful if you want advice. will this be your daily commute vehicle? do you travel over rough or smooth roads most of the time? more highway or city roads? will you frequently be driving with spouse, children, or elderly individuals - if so, what type of ride will they be comfortable with? are you comparing the X3 to any other vehicle - if so, which ones and what did you think of the ride in those?

the sport package is definitely not for you if you're looking for a plush, luxurious ride (check out a Lexus RX instead, from what i hear). if you like to and have the opportunity to safely drive a little faster on fun roads fairly often, the sport package would be great for you. what are you looking for?

I live in New England where the roads are HORRIBLE. I have not for a moment regretted getting the SP. The ride in my brother in law's Murano is significantly HARSHER than my sport package, to the extent that the back wheels actually BANG over medium sized bumps..

To me the answer depends on your personal driving priorities. Keep in mind that any sport package on any car will ride more firmly than a non-sport package.

That being said how you plan to use the car should guide your decision. My wife and I drove both before buying and both of us preferred the greater sense of control from the Sport. Since I use my X3 for auto-x and track days there really was no serious debate as to whether or not I got the Sport package.

I have friends that I have put in X3's who drive very sedately. For those people I recommend not getting Sport.

I totally agree with Rick about the vastly superior sport seats. To me those alone are worth the extra money.

The 17" wheels would help some. I would be curious to hear how much of a difference they actually make. Anything you could do to reduce unsprung weight would help. Theoretically a big brake kit with lighter calipers and rotors should help ride quality too. Finding a light weight wheel (in either 17 or 18" size) and tire would help more than just going with the OEM 17" wheel/tire combo.

Let us know what you decide! Good luck!