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Yet another useless SUV
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Teddy Field on February 21, 2009 | Has worked on a 2009 BMW X3
The BMW X3 is proof that there's an SUV for every taste. So if you have more money than sense, then step right up and get the keys to your new X3.
What is this thing supposed to be? What we have here is BMW's attempt at a small, sporty ute for young, active people. But what we got instead is a little truck that's as useless on road, as it is off road.
Why is it so bad? Well, instead of shock absorbers, BMW used rocks. On even the smoothest pavement, the X3 can find a grain of sand, run over it and send a searing jolt down your spine, spill your hot coffee on you and make you hit your head on the roof. It takes the X3 a mere second to inflict all this misery. Just imagine trying to drive this thing down a rough dirt road. You'd have to stop after only a few feet, call a cab and go check into a pain clinic. The ride is Really that bone-jarring.
If you're fool enough to stray from the pavement, you'll get stuck so fast it'll make your head spin. That is, if you don't hit your head on the roof and give yourself a concussion first. It's astounding that BMW got this one so wrong. The X5 is useless off road, but at least it can cruise the mall parking lot with dignity. The X3 can't even do that! As a practical 'lifestyle vehicle', it has plenty of cargo room...but there's so little legroom in the back that those seats are only comfortable for...a midget with no legs?
Power is adequate, but using all that power could send you to the chiropractor. Add the Sport package with its even stiffer suspension and you'll really hate life. It's really quite amazing how bad this truck is considering it's based on the 3-Series chassis. Even the AWD system's strengths on road are eclipsed by the ride.
If you have to have a BMW SUV, get a used X5. It's much easier to live with and there's a lot more interior room.
2009 BMW X3
- Overall
- Value
- Comfort
- Performance
- Styling
- Reliability
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BMW X3 NIGHTMARE on September 17, 2009
OMG! Why did I not find your review 4 weeks ago? I am now the furious, uncomfortable, bone-jarred, bone-headed (apparently) owner of this BMW X3 with a bag of rocks for suspensions for the tasty price of more than $40 grand...really.
This is what happens. Drive down at residential speed down a residential road. The road ahead is smooth to the eye. There are no speed bumps, manhole covers, train tracks...none of the usual suspects. All of a sudden this BMW X3 starts to bounce...sometimes it bucks...mostly it bounces this way and that way and down the street at times.
It is unpredictable. Sometimes you can go along and think (as in during the test drive) how nice the ride is and how fine things are. Comfortable car, great handling, great brakes, good sized engine with plenty of power....ok....sign me up bub.
One day into this nightmare scenario you get the bouncy, bucking, ridiculous ride...on a flat road at low speed. Sometimes you get the stuttering, jerky transmission as well. That's a treat...the two big problems TOGETHER AS ONE.
This is a nightmare. Why is BMW producing X3's like this? Do they not drive them before handing over the keys to the unsuspecting?
This is an INSULT to its customer base.
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BMW X3 NIGHTMARE on October 4, 2009
The BMW X3 nightmare continues. Brand new 2009 now it waits, waits, waits to find something (a gear? a clue? who knows?) while going uphill. No acceleration...no acceleration..boom, acceleration!
What a ***.
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BMW X3 NIGHTMARE on October 23, 2009
The suspension was supposed to have been fixed in 2005 and 2007 Dude. Why don't you do your research.
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BMW X3 NIGHTMARE on October 30, 2009
BMW X3: it keeps getting worse.
Just to add insults for your buying and driving pleasure, the joke is that the BMW X3 was designed to do all of these things according to the dealer.
- the AWD in the X3 causes it to have loud cabin noise, significantly louder than a regular 3 series on which is it based. Did you know that?
- the AWD in the X3 causes it to have bouncy, rough riding. Did you know that?
- the sometimes heart-thumping lack of acceleration is designed to be that way. Who cares if you can't accelerate fast enough to avoid on coming traffic? Drive it in SD stupid.
- the hard deceleration is also designed in that way. Who cares if you stop short with a thud? Keep tapping the accelerator so that the car doesn't do this. Don't you know that stupid?
The X3 has all sorts of fun quirks, weirdnesses and unexpected behaviors. It is up to you, stupid buyer and stupid driver, to adjust your driving to suit the X3.
Didn't you know that? Where was that in the brochure? Oh, that's right, there are no brochures.
Convenient.