Test drive brand new BMW X
 

I kept getting calls from BMW airbag people.
Been putting it off for months. I finally brought the 4.6 Into the
dealership.

They offered a loaner car, so I said yes. They had a brand new X3.
I live in Dallas Ft.Worth area, but the kids live in Lubbock Texas.
That’s about 300 miles away.
So, what a better way to try this new fangled X out.
Loaded up the 3 dogs and the wife and off into the sunset we go.

The car is very quiet, comfortable and easy to handle.
Visibility is very good and it is roomy. I was surprised by the very good power
band, yet no growl of the engine. I opened the hood and I think there was an
inline silky smooth legendary 6 cylinder under the sea of plastic covers.

Twin turbos accompanied the engine but I didn’t find an inter cooler.

The Idrive system is very annoying. It reminds me of some Mellenial dumb-@ss
idea on how cool it is. Actually, it’s not cool, it’s very distracting and combersome to navigate through.
I would be very pleased if there were a big red “OFF” button.

The most disappointing issue is the MPG.
at highway speeds, it evened out at 24.5 MPG.
AT that mileage I would much prefer my E53 V8 powered beast.

I can easily see that when my E39 and E53 retire, so will my interest in this
brand of vehicle.
Sadly, I am losing faith in the “old school” BMW brand.
It’s more of a mobile gadget platform than a comfortable performance machine.

I know exactly how you feel about the brand. Too many vehicles trying to chase that last customer without realizing how they had lost us traditional BMW enthusiasts. I already know that my E53 and E86 are the last BMWs in my garage because we just bought a 2018 Audi S3. I was trying to find a replacement for the E53 a few months ago, but couldn't find a damn thing in BMW's line up that appeals to me. Then just finally said F'it and went a totally different route. We decided to add the S3 to the line up instead of finding a replacing for the E53...so the E53 will be sticking around for a little more longer.

Even the ///M division products don't seem all that special/impressive anymore - a price to pay for ///Marketing it on every vehicle :dunno:

Almost exactly the same dimensions as the e53. Weight, powerplant differ, and trim/electronics. I like iDrive, much better than a touch screen. But there’s nothing like the e53 beast!

I went from the e53 to 2013 E70 with the turbo six and its a mixed experience.

Mine was a forced move and I wasn't shopping for one for myself. I was perfectly happy with the e53. But the airbag recall and the electric water pump with the possibility of instant, random and warning less failure scared the wife. So she got my E53 and I got stuck with the E70.

Its growing on me though. I bought a new water pump to proactively change to be on the safe side. Buying new tires for it next week too.

The strange joystick shifter takes some getting used to. Its fun to play with but its also kind of pointless. I mean I can pull up and instantly be in park and out to check the mail in the E53 in 2 seconds. The E70 requires stopping, pushing the "p" button, waiting 3 seconds or more for it to get around to going to park and then I can check the mail. Its a useless hassle. Also Im worried its going to break off if Im not careful with it. Doesn't install confidence. But again its cool looking.

The blinker stalk took some getting used to. It doesn't "click" when you turn on the blinkers. It doesn't seem to be mechanical at all actually. Its more like a momentary switch that tells the car to turn on the blinkers. Just feels like its broke all the time when your used to that solid feedback of turning on the blinkers. Its the same feeling that normal blinker stalks given when they fail.

The highbeam switch has the same issue to me too. Feels broke or that it isn't working when you go from high to lowbeam.

Again I am getting used to it being the new norm so its not a big deal now but it drove me nuts to start with.

The cruise control is on the other side of the coin. While I really hated the stalk in place of steering wheel buttons for the cruise everything else about it is awesome. The led effect the light does going around the outside of the speedometer to where you set the cruise is just to cool. The led being green when the cruise is on and amber when its off and still showing where its set speed wise is perfect. The center showing digitally what you set the cruise to when you engage it and then disappearing is perfect.

Idrive I resisted but its grown on me. I did the ssd drive upgrade to it and it works. The stereo is awesome if your into rap music. The dual subwoofers hit HARD. But it lacks stereo separation and clarity that the E53 has. The Seicane sounds a bunch better everywhere except on the super low bass. Bass wise the E70 wins hands down.

Ride quality wise the E53 drive better. Performance wise the 8 speed automatic in the E70 wins hands down. Awesome transmission. Its weird seeing the rpms at 1100 rpm most of the time. Even at 55 mph its between 1100 and 1300 rpm.

Power wise the 3.0 non turbo in the E53 seems much more powerful and faster in town. Its not of course but the E53's pedal is FAR more sensitive than the E70's turbo charged setup. When you get on the E70 though you find out fast it will smoke the E53. But to be honest for most drivers that stay in towns you will think the E53 is faster.

I'll compare more if anyone is interested just felt Im getting a little long winded :)

Oh I test drove the F15 too. But to me its just an E70 with a different idrive.

The difference going from the e53 to the e70 was very striking but the e70 to the f15? Just an idrive revision to me.

That's great feedback


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Good Review, and I agree...
We drove X3 in the hunt for replacing my CEO's 7 yr old Hyundai Tucson.

The X3 was 'nice' but literally as 'big' in outside dimensions/feel as our 17 yr old E53 X5, and while she loves that car on our many trips, she was not looking for that size car for her daily errand/trip driving.

She settled on S Drive X1, which ain't my Fave car as I have noted, but she likes it. ;)

The I Drive in her X1, same as in the X3, is a step in, step in, step out fookin nightmare, imo. It has layered tasks that a simple freakin knob would do in a NY Second, not minutes of eyes off the road fiddling.

Even two sessions with the BMW Dlr 'genius' leave us checking our notes and scratching our heads when we get home from the tutorial...maybe it is just a Geezer affliction.

Our friends have a '17 X3 and they like, though they noted the so-so mpg...fwiw, my CEO's '17 X1 does 30+ on trips and has averaged 27 in 7600 miles of use, not that mpg is high on our concern list.

GL, mD