Re: BMW X3 20d vs 30i dilemma Hello Guys,
Happy to announce that our X3 30i was delivered last Friday.
My heartiest thanks to @ Sumain, who updated me and introduced me to the dealer at a critical time, other-wise it was not possible to get the car now.
I was in touch with Bird from May, for this car. But last moment they did not receive my calls or Whats App msgs. Also, discount offered was better in Lucknow. When Bird realized business is gone, they started jumping, calling us. I think they took me for granted.
Car was booked on 27th Oct, at time of booking, only 3-4 30i was left at Chennai plant. I was lucky to get my interior/exterior colour choice. Excellent experience from Dealer Speed Motorwagen Lucknow, like never before. They booked the car even before I paid the booking amount, just to make sure that I get the car of my choice (as only one car was left of my choice at the plant). Once again, they registered the car (temp) before I completed full payment. Never had such a homely treatment from a dealer, a complete departure from aristocratic, mechanical attitude. Car arrived at dealers stock-yard on 12th Nov. I got delayed in home coming. As requested by me, car was kept at showroom stock yard. Initial odometer reading was 4 km.
Got accessories worth 85K from them and got BMW freebies: Display key case, M-key chain, card holder.
After a small puja arranged by the dealer, we embarked on a 545 km drive (nothing can be so satisfying than this) back to home (Gurugram) same night, via ALE, JEW, Vrindavan & NH 19. My wife wanted our car to pass over “Dev-Bhumi” while coming home. Due to engine break-in periods, I am yet to find out her full potentials, but here are some quick facts / initial observation about the car.
• I am yet to explore all settings, features of the car. There are many, I think.
• On a cold start, engine clatter is there (not like diesel), but with-in 2-3 minutes it settles down to acceptable limits. Nothing is audible from inside. Wind noise, tire noise kept at minimum. Only when you push the car a bit, a nice petrol growl is audible faintly. I read somewhere, Bridgestone made a special tire for X3, named ‘ALENZA’.
• In ALE, I kept varying speed, maxing out 90-100 for first one hour, 120 for second hour & 130 for 3rd hour. Fuel efficiency was 12.4 kmpl. I think this is quite astonishing, given ARAI fig of 13.3. After reaching home, over-all it was 12.2 kmpl for the complete journey.
• I am driving with comfort mode till I cross break-in periods. It was very difficult for us (me & wife both was driving) to restrict her with-in 2500 rpm. Slightest dab on the pedal, it crosses 2000 rpm. Engine is very responsive & free revving. Max torque available from as low as 1450 rpm, this means car is ready to pull at any time. Once again ZF combo is flawless, as if it is reading our minds. I did not experience the sluggishness of 6GT with this one. Reason? May be torque (X3: 1450 vs 6GT: 1550) or may be four-wheel drive of X3 vs rear wheel drive with heavy rear weight of 6GT.
• Overall cabin ambiance is excellent, with leather draped panels all around. Very easy to find a perfect driving position. Good all-round view from drivers’ point of view.
• Vernasca leather is far ahead in terms of rich/smoothness than earlier Dakota leather on this segment of BMW cars.
• Gone are the days of BMW’s hard steering wheels. Now it is made of much more smoother, softer leather with proper thumb/finger contours, nice to hold. Even I dropped the plan to replace the steering with my M-Sport Steering from GT. But I would have liked little more responsive horn pad, it requires a firm push to blow.
• Steering is accurate with good feed-back, weighs up nicely with speed. But at higher speed, you can make out artificially induced weight of the steering. Nothing to complain, far better than other Germans.
• Predictable & progressive bite from brakes, inspires confidence in driving. But I have experienced better brakes on 6GT while TD in June. Saying so, no way you need to stand on the brakes to stop the car. Nothing to complain here too.
• Considering it’s a Luxury Line (no sport seats), front seat side bolstering is excellent and far better than my earlier 3GT.
• Park assistance gets activated whenever you are surrounded by the cars, obstructions. Yet to try-out auto-parking feature.
• L-A-R-G-E Panoramic roof, it goes beyond rear occupant’s head, makes cabin airy for long journeys.
• My iPhone got smoothly integrated with the car along with the car play. I was using my phone’s G-Map on idrive navigation page.
• Excellent suspension, body control in comfort mode (yet to explore sport mode). You can make out something is working very hard on our Indian roads to keep you comfortable. But if you drive enthusiastically over large bumps or broken roads, you will be rewarded with side-wise body roll, again in a controlled manner, pulling her back in position.
• Disappointed with the inside rear-view mirror, giving too much glare compared to out-side ones. On my GT, it had a small sensor, and performance was excellent. But these mirrors are having some kind of coated layer, not that effective at all.
• Ingress-egress for the rear is little twisting due to less opening of the rear doors and intruding rear wheel arch. They are not designed to open as wide as the front doors.
• On the day of delivery, woke up early (0445 hrs), to catch a flight to Lucknow with family. Two hours of delay at airport due to fog injected anxiety among us. Then had a small get together with a friend followed by lunch at Lucknow. Took delivery around 1600 hrs, and we started off by 1730 from dealership towards home. Basically, I was bit tired after whole days of action. Couple of tea-break alert popped up on idrive while on ALE & on JEW. It means, she is watching you & your drive very carefully. A nice touch for a long-distance traveler like me. I am yet to find out how it is working.
• Headlight / fog light combo is more than sufficient, can adjust her-self with oncoming lights of traffic.
Coming week-end we will be off to Kolkata with her and back by mid-Jan. Hopefully I will be able to provide much more detailed information with some pictures. Lets have some opening pictures till then.
Brdgs,
Sail |