Not what I expect from BMW
 

I know this is trivial, but this is bothering me for some reason. I took delivery of my 2006 X3 last friday. We were heading down to Zermot Switzerland when my wife wanted to look up something in the owners manual. That was when I noticed that the vehicle on the front of the manual is not a 2006 model but an earlier model with the black plastic bumpers. WTF? Is this just cheap marketing on BMWs part? I realize that nothing has changed between MY05 and MY06 other than the bumbers, but come on. Doesn't this seem like a cheap way out? I have owned 4 BMWs over the years and this is a first. Not what I expect from BMW.

I'd rather have a copy of the previous year manual (if nothing changed) then have a car company like BMW add to the cost of the vehicle because they had to print additional manuals. Remember that all costs get bumped to the consumer in some form or fashion.

Well, as long as the CAR itself is an '06, I don't know that I'd worry about it so much... if it makes you that uncomfortable, though, ask the dealer for a new manual.

Congrats on your new purchase, by the way! :thumbup:

Juan

They've probably gone with the same photo for all their world manuals, and since most X3's are produced with black bumpers, majority ruled... at least in the short term until they decide to produce a cover solely for the U.S. market.

The other thing that just occured to me, and maybe this makes more sense, is that with it being so early in the new model year they might not have the new manuals yet. That happened to me once about 10 years ago, and I was able to get a new manual a few months later from the dealer.

Like I said it was a trivial bitch. Just shocked me though, but you are right about the cost some how being pushed to the consumer.

Like was posted on the 'other' X3 message board, the 2.5L's are still generally plastic bumpers whereas the 3.0 has the painted bumpers to differentiate the 2 models....at least that's what it's like here in Canada. Hence, contrary to your dismay, the plastic bumpers have not been discontinued or otherwise eliminated.