Advice on a Potential Purchase?
 

I am looking to buy a 2007/8 X3 with MANUAL transmission. Not easy, I know. Well I finally located one at a dealer about 200 miles from me, and it's not white (I don't like white cars). Details are:

2007 X3 3.0si
Titan Silver. Met.
Grey leather
Premium package
Sport package
6-speed manual
Cold Weather Package
Xenons
CPO through 5/13
36.5k miles
Nav. (whatever)

So now the $25,000 question: What's It Worth???

Seriously, I'd appreciate any current owners opinions about this potential purchase. The market is Eastern PA/NE NJ, if you're familiar with local price variations. (They're asking about $28k).

28K would be on par for what you've listed, assuming it's coming off a BMW dealership lot ( you said it's CPO). Would be nice if they shaved a grand off the price though. Check autotrader.com for comparable prices and you'll be all set.

BTW, we LOVE our '07 x3 3.0si automatic (... was a little apprehensive, but rolled the dice on the auto tranny, and things have turned out great. ).
Best wishes on your purchase!

We've got a 2007 3.0si with a manual transmission. I do like white cars ;)

Build looks good, but make sure you are comfortable with the sport package. I wouldn't order a sport package on an X3, as I find the ride too harsh. An X3 without sport package is firmer riding than an X5 with sport IMO. The ride did improve a lot over the years, and the 2007 is way ahead of earlier models, but just make sure you are comfortable with it.

Don't sweat if it has nav or not, it isn't worth paying for.

I checked stock in Canada just to see how many 2007 X3 3.0si vehicles are out there, CPO, on dealer lots. I found 162, only one of which is a manual. Incidentally, that vehicle (black, no premium, no sport, no Xenon, leatherette, 47,000 miles) is listed at $31,700. Consider yourself lucky.

You may want to do the CDV clutch delay valve delete on the X3 after you get it. It wasn't as pronounced a difference as with earlier BMW vehicles, but I noticed a positive difference driving it with the modified CDV.

Good luck with it.

Thanks, I appreciate the info. It is CPO but it's not coming off a BMW lot. How? Last owner bought it CPO from BMW. This time it's coming from the same overall dealership but for some reason it's in their Audi showroom (the Carfax was a big help). According to them, the CPO is still in effect through 05/2013.

Hooray, another manual tranny owner! I need to test drive a sport package example. I did drive a non-sport and didn't think twice, it felt like my non-sport 3 series, just fine.

I've heard the nav can be kind of crap but it's got it so whatever. But I also read that the non-sport 07 ride was harsh, and I know that not how I feel, so I guess I just have to try it out for myself.

Wow, that sounds like great info on the CDV mod. Now I'm wondering whether I should look into that on my 2000 323i, as it shifts rough occasionally. Probably completely unrelated.

I couldn't stand driving an M Sport model when I test drove one, and I found the 2005 standard model to be harsh, but the 2007 had the LCI improvements, and rode much better IMO.

Have you experienced the CDV delete differences before? It is really when starting off, and the 1-2 shift, when the clutch engagement is dampened to reduce driveline shocks. It makes it hard to drive smoothly in some circumstances. I have done the mod to all my MT BMW vehicles, except the 535. That one doesn't have any delay lag on clutch engagement, so I didn't bother.

Go to http://www.zeckhausenracing.com/ Look up BMW, your model, and see the details on the CDV.

What are CDV delete differences? I'll have to pay attention to it now that I'm aware. I don't think I get lags, but I've often noticed while starting out and from 1st to 2nd odd, slightly unnatural feeling in the transfer, so perhaps it is that. Another thing I notice often (especially in cold) is first thing in the morning and at a stop with the clucth pedal disengaged and in neutral when the light turns green it's tough to get it in first (I usually have to put it down to second first, and then it goes in). The delay isn't long, but just that extra second or two that occasionally gets me the inpatient horn beep from behind. ;)

The clutch is hydraulically actuated. When you press the clutch pedal it pumps fluid to move the clutch pressure plate out, and when you release the clutch pedal the fluid flows back, as the pressure plate engages the clutch disk.

The Clutch Delay Valve (CDV) is a one way flow restrictor in the line between the clutch master cylinder and the slave cylinder. When you press the pedal, it has no effect. When you release the pedal, the fluid return flow is restricted, so the clutch engages more slowly. That is designed to reduce the driveline shocks. The problem is that if you are tuned in to when the clutch should engage, you may notice that the take up isn't smooth, essentially because the clutch is engaging at a point in time other than when you expect it to. This is all worse in the lower two gears, and not noticeable in the higher gears. It only effects clutch engagement, and has no impact when driving otherwise.

You can just take the CDV out, but then it is obviously altered from stock and some prefer not to get into that discussion with their dealer. If you get a modified 'machined' CDV the guts have been taken out of it, so it has no effect, but it looks stock.

Your unnatural shifting feeling is likely the CDV. Getting it into first is not connected to the CDV.

Thanks for the info!