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April 23, 2009
X3 owners posting on a couple of different BMW forums mention incidences where the ABS, brake and four-wheel drive system warning lights all come on at once while the car is being driven. Possible causes range from a bad wheel speed sensor (these work with the anti-lock braking and traction control systems) to a bad sensor in the all-wheel drive transfer case gearbox. Check these threads at XOutPost.com and RoadFly.com (one and two) for more information.
    2004 BMW X3 3.0i; photos by Grant Yoxon. Click image to enlarge |
Consumer Reports notes gives 2007 and 2008 X3s below-average marks in the publications “transmission – minor” category. This coincides with the year that BMW switched from a five- to a six-speed automatic transmission as the optional gearbox, and according to this thread at BimmerFest.com, is linked to bad transmission software programming. Symptoms are a failure for the transmission to “respond to throttle inputs or engage a lower gear,” and a tendency to downshift roughly in normal mode; the problems disappear when the manual shift mode is used.
Consumer Reports also notes a startling drop in quality in power equipment in newer models, and trouble with squeaks and rattles and body hardware in early models, which speaks to wear-and-tear issues.
Crash safety ratings are very good. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives all X3s its top-tier “good” rating in both frontal offset and side impact tests, and its performance earned the model the IIHS’ “Top Safety Pick” award for 2009.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) never tested the X3.
On the whole, the X3 comes through the wringer with surprisingly few serious issues, especially compared to its big brother, the X5. If you’re on a budget, look for an early version: the average asking price for 2004 X3s on AutoTrader.ca in Ontario is about $22,000, while 2005 models average out at about $23,000. These older examples should prove decently reliable given their reputation so far. If you have a little more money to spend, then choose a newer one being sold under BMW’s Certified Series banner, as these vehicles come with a 160,000 km warranty that offers some protection against the later models’ poorer reliability ratings.
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Pricing
Black Book Pricing (avg. retail) April 2009:
Online resources
Recalls
2004-2006: On certain vehicles, the front passenger seat occupant detection mat can fatigue during field usage depending on the seat configuration, vehicle geometry, manner and frequency of front passenger entry/exit. Over time micro cracks could develop in the side flanks of the mat, which could lead to a break of the conductive path and the system will recognize a failure and with exception of head protection system the front passenger air bag will be deactivated. The airbag On/Off lamp will be illuminated to make the occupants aware of the deactivation. Correction: The occupant detection mat will be granted a warranty extension of 10 years. Transport Canada Recall Number: 2004053; Units affected: 233
Crash test results
Used vehicle prices vary depending on factors such as general condition, odometer reading, usage history and options fitted. Always have a used vehicle checked by an experienced auto technician before you buy. For information on recalls, see Transport Canada’s web-site, www.tc.gc.ca, or the U.S. National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA)web-site, www.nhtsa.dot.gov. For information on vehicle service bulletins issued by the manufacturer, visit www.nhtsa.dot.gov. For information on consumer complaints about specific models, see www.lemonaidcars.com. |
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- Used Vehicle Review: Chevrolet Epica, 2004-2006
- Used Vehicle Review: Chevrolet Optra, 2004-2007
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