Picked up a 12 wash-voucher (Does not expire) on a Christmas deal at one of the best washing locations in Washington.

BHPian mobike008 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

TLC for BMW X3M40i

Post the Portland trip, Blau Rakete became dirty so I decided to show some "TLC" to this beast.

Picked up a 12 wash-voucher (Does not expire) on a Christmas deal at one of the best washing locations in Washington.

They also offer free vacuum post the wash for their customers.

It's a rigorous wash process including the under-body and tire cleaning and blow dry the car (no manual intervention anywhere in the process).

This is an almost 3-year old car ( actually, a few weeks shy of 3-years) and after a wash, it just looks like Day 1 when I picked her up all gleaming from the showroom in Washington D.C.

I love this washing station..

Powerful free vacuum- Sucks out the dirt effectively.

A clean interior is a "God's Place".

3-Years down the line with zero care. The interiors have hold up pretty good. BMW quality is really good. Don't you think?

Gosh. I love this angle. Looks every bit mean that she is.

P.S : Click pictures for full resolution. Wish it was sunny so the true color pops out.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

On the highway the composure for an SUV is absolutely brilliant! Up and down the ghats the car grips like a leech on the corners.

BHPian CEF_Beasts recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Had driven to Lonavla yesterday, the car has completed 2750kms since the last update.

On the way from Mumbai, had stopped at the McDonalds, just after the Kalamboli (Kamothe) Toll Plaza, and at the entrance they have a huge ramp where a few cars can park as well, at first I thought the ramp is pretty normal, but it was really deceiving and steep. I noticed a slight slip in the front right tyre on some gravel while going up the ramp and immediately I could feel the AWD system give a slight push by transferring the power to the left front tyre.

On the highway the composure for an SUV is absolutely brilliant! Up and down the ghats the car grips like a leech on the corners. In Comfort mode on the undulations the car bounces often, Sports mode arrests the bounce completely.

Had gone to Mapro Garden in Lonavla, to try their Strawberry Cream + ice-cream. It’s one of the best I have tried after a long time, will definitely visit again.

Filled up XP95 for the first time on the way back and there is a very distinct difference in the way the car responds. The fuel efficiency also went up to a high 14.4 kmpl after refuelling and driving on the expressway, according to the MID and the range reached a new high of 802kms (briefly 804kms) on a tankful.

Captured the sun setting between the buildings after entering Powai.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The only option according to the BMW dealer seems to be to change the entire front seat leather.

BHPian aravindrn recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi,

I have a BMW X3 2.0d. The car was bought in June 2016 and is currently been driven around 56,000 km. I have some leather wear and tear on the right door handle and a small tear in the leather in the driver's seat. The official estimates are nearly Rs 17,000 + taxes at Navnit to change the front door handle completely along with the armrest and the only option for the seat seems to be to change the entire front seat leather. Could someone point to any vendors in Bangalore who can help with these issues?

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

BMW will definitely change the door handles under warranty. I got all 4 replaced under the extended warranty and paid about 30% (because of the age of my car). They covered 70% (check this post for more details).

The leather upholstery might be a challenge, but possible depending on your relationship with the service advisor. Write to BMW directly too. It's appalling to see this on a 6-year old car. Even in my 5-Series, the headrest leather was repaired (at my cost).

Here's what BHPian androdev had to say on the matter:

Door handle damage is a common issue with that generation of BMWs and I posted my experience along with the contact details here. Highly recommended.

No idea about the leather seat. It's a tough one I think?

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The X3 facelift is available in two variants: SportX Plus and M Sport.

BMW has announced the launch of the 2022 X3 facelift. The SUV is available in two variants: SportX Plus and M Sport; priced at Rs. 59.90 lakh and Rs. 65.90 lakh (ex-showroom), respectively.

The 2022 BMW X3 comes with restyled LED headlamp units and a slightly larger kidney grille at the front. The SUV also gets reworked front and rear bumpers and new LED taillights. The M Sport variant gets larger air inlets finished in high-gloss black and air curtains. It also gets a sportier rear bumper and 19-inch alloy wheels. However, BMW is offering 20-inch M alloy wheels to early-bird customers.

Inside, the X3 gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment head-unit with gesture control and a digital instrument cluster. The SUV comes with the latest generation of BMW's iDrive connected technology.

2022 BMW X3 facelift feature highlights:

• Sports steering wheel
• Panoramic sunroof
• Puddle lamps
• Ambient lighting
• 3-zone automatic climate control
• Adaptive suspension
• Wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay

The BMW X3 is available with a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine that produces 244 BHP @ 5,200 rpm and 350 Nm @ 1,450-4,800 rpm. The engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system.

The X3 facelift is expected to be offered with petrol and diesel engine options.

BMW dealerships across India have started accepting pre-bookings for the X3 facelift. Customers who pre-book the car will get 20-inch M alloys worth Rs. 2 lakh for free.

The 2022 BMW X3 gets a revised exterior with redesigned LED headlamps and a slightly larger kidney grille. The SUV also gets reworked front and rear bumpers and new LED taillights.

On the inside, the updated X3 comes equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a digital instrument cluster of the same size. The car gets the latest-generation iDrive connected technology, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The X3 facelift is expected to be offered with two engine options. The outgoing model has a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine that produces 248 BHP and 350 Nm as well as a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder diesel engine that makes 188 BHP and 400 Nm. Both engines are paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system.

After checking out multiple cars like the Toyota Fortuner 4WD AT, Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 & BMW X1, we finally went ahead with the X3 30i.

BHPian CEF_Beasts recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

It all starts with a DREAM

A little background - we have a '14 EcoSport, Fortuner and a '17 Creta. EcoSport and Fortuner are manuals meanwhile the Creta is an automatic. Since the Creta was our first automatic, we got totally bowled over by the convenience an automatic offers in Mumbai’s maniac traffic. So decided the next car also needs to be an automatic.

The selection process

It all started in 2020 when the itch to upgrade to a new car was planted into my parents' minds by me.

A few requirements set by us:

• An SUV, no sedan at all.
• Automatic is an absolute must.
• Needs to have a minimum of 6 airbags (none of our current cars had it).
• Petrol preferably but diesel was also in the mix.
• An AWD/4WD as much as possible.
• Should have more than the 171hp, benchmark set by our Fortuner in our garage.
• Chauffeur-friendly on weekdays so a decent backseat, and a delight to drive on weekends, so a must-have combination of both things.

With India grappling with the Covid pandemic in 2020, it was decided to best shift the car buying decision to the next year. The initial months of 2021, till February, were alright but once the 2nd wave hit we just said, forget a car at this time and keep ourselves and those around us safe. Topmost priority at that moment of time.

Even before the new car was decided or even shortlisted, it was the Fortuner (it being a diesel and the manual being cumbersome in traffic) which was always shown the exit door. Read on to know what exactly happened!

Shortlisted cars

• Toyota Fortuner
• Toyota Innova Crysta
• BMW X1
• Mercedes-Benz GLA 35 AMG
• Mercedes-Benz GLC
• BMW X3

Fortuner

Owning the Fortuner already, this was the natural upgrade. Once you own a Toyota, moving to another brand is really tough. I was waiting eagerly for the Fortuner facelift to be launched in India. It was finally launched on 6th Jan 2021. I was following it for months and it got the power and torque bump that was needed and a few more essential features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Please bear with me because all along the Innova Crysta will also make an appearance.

Now, like everyone knows when the Fortuner was launched in January and we were hit by the 2nd wave. It meant neither did dealers have any display cars, forget test drives, nor did they confirm a precise delivery date. It was a long wait to finally get a test drive and display cars.

When we finally took a test drive, I was seriously impressed by it. The added oomph was immediately noticeable and the NVH much better than the pre-facelift 2016-21 Fortuner, forget our '14 Fortuner which feels like a truck!

Legender was immediately rejected by me, the reason being the regular Fortuner had the more butch looks and it had the much-needed 4WD which the Legender didn’t get. (Why Toyota why?! Only India doesn’t get the 4WD Legender) Also, the regular 4WD Fortuner had a few more useful features like the Hill-descent control, 11-speaker JBL sound system and the choice to select the interior colour. The Legender may have more features like a wireless phone charger, virtual swipe boot opening and ambient lighting, but I have never given weightage to such features in our car buying decisions. Also, the roof on the Legender has been wrapped by some matt stuff, which would definitely not stand the test of time, while other markets get a painted black roof!

Innova Crysta

Meanwhile like I said the Innova Crysta comes into the picture. Before the Fortuner, we had a '05 Innova Petrol, so the attachment to an Innova will always be there and this is the only reason it will pop up every now and then. But there is a major reason the Innova was rejected by us, it was something as trivial as the seating layout. The Innova’s variant, gearbox and seating options are best known to Toyota only! For some reason, Toyota thought the Innova ZX with 7 airbags didn’t need a bench seat, and this was the only reason it got rejected every time it came into our decision making. My parents were fine with the GX AT 8 seater Innova but I just couldn’t look at its interior and those manual AC knobs. I wanted the ZX AT only. Period. The 8 seater gives a lot of flexibility so it was a must, we were even ready to exchange our Fortuner for an Innova ZX AT, if only it had 8 seats. The VX AT 8 seater could’ve solved the problem to a large extent but they do not make this combination.

Toyota must not know this but there are several people who want an 8 seater with 7 airbags and if they have so much problem, just keep the 8-seater as a made-to-order for the ZX trim. This is coming from a 15-year Toyota customer, take note of this Toyota India, you lost a potential customer.

Anyways, enough of the Innova rejection, let’s jump to July 2021. Now before we move on let’s introduce the mighty German Trio. In 2014 when we were looking at the Fortuner, the Audi Q3 was looked at very seriously and it was the seed that was sown in my father’s mind in 2013-14 itself! Back then we just decided to just get the Fortuner because of its size advantage and Toyota’s service quality that we were associated with over the Audi Q3. The Q3’s interior space was little more than our EcoSport’s back then and was simply rejected.

Ze Germans

So we decided this time around, let’s look at the German Trio before buying a new car. Poor Audi since then has discontinued the Q3, Q5 and Q7. What a waste of an opportunity by Audi India! They have the best quality interior even if they are a bit plain-Jane.

Anyways, that left us with Mercedes-Benz and BMW. And once a BMW enters the discussion, BHPians know where the discussion heads!

July 2021 was spent in car showrooms quite literally! We were fully vaccinated and there was nothing more to do since I had a college break.

X1 and X3

It was the beginning of July, precisely Sunday the 3rd, when we decided to head to the BMW dealer. Landed over at Infinity Worli and saw the X3 and X1 in flesh. Wrote it in this order because it was the X3 we sat in first and then the X1. The X3 didn’t really feel like a massive upgrade over the X1 in terms of space. So we thought the X1 is not that bad. The SA gave the price list and discounts on both of them and the X1 was a serious contender. Didn’t test drive either at this time. X1 was around 45L after discounts while the X3 was around 69L after discounts without BSI or BRI.

GLC

Anyways, the next day being a Sunday we thought let’s head over to Mercedes-Benz to check out the GLC. We reached Auto Hanger Prabhadevi without calling and found out they didn’t have a GLC on display or as a test drive car! So they told us to visit their Andheri branch. Once we reached the Andheri branch, we saw the GLC in flesh. The SA brought out a test drive 220d GLC, and we took a test drive just to get a feel of it but we wanted the 200. The ride quality of the GLC is really good and the interior, just by the look, feel really upmarket! Came back to the showroom, sat down with the SA and discussed the pricing. With discounts and no extended warranty or service packs, he was giving a 3L discount on the OTR costs. It was coming to around 67L after discounts.

GLA 35 AMG

Meanwhile what caught my dad’s eye was a Denim Blue GLA35 AMG standing in the corner of the showroom. He was really impressed by the colour and it wasn’t too loud like a true-blue AMG. Since it was a fresh launch the OTR was 70L. The rear seat has improved tremendously over the previous Gen GLA. It looked like a solid package.

So this is what I took out of this, the GLC has been downgraded since launch. The 200 Petrol is an RWD with 190PS whereas when it was launched there was the 300 4Matic version with close to 250PS and was an AWD. So why not consider the GLA35 AMG instead, at a similar price. The GLC had got updated a few months back with a 360deg camera, front massaging seats and a fully digital instrument cluster. The GLC had a 2-3 month waiting period for the Brilliant Blue that the SA said was only available now out of the two blues which are listed on the brochure, the other being the more popular Cavansite Blue.

Another set of showroom visits

Toyota

For the next few weeks every weekend, we would head to the showrooms to look at different cars. In between I thought instead of spending so much money on a luxury car, why not buy a cheaper car like the Tata Safari and replace our EcoSport with it? I played with the idea a lot, watched lots of videos on it and thought not a bad package but my parents were completely against the Tata due to the constant niggles which they knew from before itself, I didn’t say a word on the niggles. Even I thought let the Safari pass on, will consider it some other time when maybe we’re replacing our Creta and the niggles are completely removed.

Like this, we reached the penultimate week of July. All showroom visits till now were done by my dad and me. This time we took my mom as well and headed back to the Toyota, Mercedes-Benz and BMW showrooms. It was Saturday the 24th we headed to Lakozy Toyota first and saw the Fortuner in flesh again. Like every non-car person, my mom was instantly attracted to the Legender, but I was firm that I wanted the 4WD if we go for it. While the Fortuner’s chamois interior that I wanted was a bit off. The interior colour looked funny when the exterior colour picked was Sparkling Black Crystal Shine. So my mom told me the black will look good with the black exterior colour chosen, but it was not sunny at that time and the test drive car standing outside in the exact same exterior and interior colours was already hot inside with the black interior. Also for some reason, the black interior makes the cabin feel less wide than it really was. Again like I said earlier, my mom liked the dual-tone interior of the Legender more than either black or chamois of the regular Fortuner. This became a big deterrent for the Fortuner. Toyota could have made us spend less by giving a Legender 4WD, but it’s missing in the range when again international models get it!

Meanwhile, the Innova again came into the picture, but in the end, it was out for the reason already mentioned before.

Mercedes-Benz

Next, we headed to the Mercedes-Benz showroom in Andheri and this time a Cavansite Blue GLC was standing on the showroom floor and the colour seriously impressed all of us! Although for reasons best known to Mercedes-Benz they have discontinued this colour on the GLC. The SA was quoting a waiting period of 4-5 months for the colour without any guarantee that it will remain in production. The other Brilliant Blue didn’t really excite us. We never buy white or black cars, the Fortuner was an exception because the Sparkling Black Crystal shine was a dark blue just the way we wanted and not a full black. My dad didn’t want the silver so that left us with the Brilliant Blue and Hyacinth Red. Red was out by my mom, reason being it was too bright and would get unwanted attention. Saw a black GLA35 AMG that we had initially liked but outside in the open, it looked really small and would easily get lost in the crowd. Space this time looked small, maybe because we had a look at the GLC first and then GLA, last time it was in the opposite way, hence must have found the space good. Even the SA was telling us no point in spending 70 on the GLA35, rather look at the regular GLAs if you really want it. This way the GLA was out.

BMW

The next day, on the 25th, we headed to the BMW showroom with my mom this time around. Looked at both the X1 and X3. The SA explained everything that the X3 had and its pros. The X1 although a good package in terms of space, doesn’t feel like a premium car for some reason. The interior, quality although good, has no major talking point other than the badge. Not many features, felt dated, was an FWD with 190PS. The real BMW range starts from the X3, even the SA said the same thing. I thought rather than spending 45-46Lakh on an X1, we would be better off with the Fortuner.

(Although I must mention BMW has done a brilliant job on the front-fascia of the X1, from far it’s very easy to mistake it for one of the bigger X SAVs. And I have been witnessing several new X1s in Mumbai ever since launch and the new front look has clicked with buyers big-time! My dad has often mistaken the X1 for the X3, it's only when you see it from the side that you realise it’s smaller. This is a big advantage for us, reason being we don’t like attention and it’s good to an extent for us that the X1 looks similar to the X3 from the front.)

Meanwhile, before the penultimate week had started we had got our Fortuner evaluated by BMW, the price they gave was much lower than what we had expected. Even Toyota had quoted only 1 Lakh more than what BMW was offering. We thought to ourselves if we buy a 5 seater, then we must keep a 7 seater when needed since even my grandparents stay in Mumbai and those 7 seats are a boon. So we thought why not remove the EcoSport, anyways Ford’s future in India seems bleak and with no new car launched by them till now, it was best decided to sell our EcoSport. The offer BMW gave for the EcoSport was up to our expectations. We decided to book the X3 30i in the next few days, since we wanted the delivery on 30th August; Janmashtami.

On 1st August we headed to the other BMW dealer in Mumbai and thought let’s see the price he gives. We told the SA at Navnit clearly we’re carrying our cheque book with us, give us a good price we will book the car with you. He told us an OTR figure of 71L, meanwhile the Worli dealer was giving us a revised 69.5L offer on the phone itself. We clearly went with the original dealer we had talked to, i.e., Infinity.

Reason for choosing the X3

It finally boiled down to the final 3 - Fortuner 4WD AT, GLC 200 and X3 30i.

Really wanted the 2021 Fortuner, but already owning one, it was best decided to retain our current Fortuner and move over to a different brand. Compared to our 2014 Fortuner, I completely agree the 2021 Fortuner is a big leap in terms of everything, but giving away our well-maintained Fortuner didn't feel right at the moment.

Like I had said earlier, the GLC200 has a brilliant interior and that 64 colour ambient lighting makes it feel like a very premium place to be in. But the lack of an AWD and only 190PS in the Petrol engine didn’t excite me. Deep inside my heart, I wanted a BMW, features were not what I needed, it was the Sheer Driving Pleasure I was after, the BMW gave that in bountiful. Also, somehow I can't fathom the rear quarter look of the GLC. After a month of going around looking at different cars, a Phytonic Blue BMW X3 30i Luxury Line with Mocha interior was booked on the 1st of August. They had an option of either Blue or White exterior colours in the 30i. We selected the last Phytonic Blue 30i with BMW India according to BMW’s inventory website. BSI+ was selected for 5yrs/60,000 kms and BRI for 5yrs/200,000 kms and the deal was done by giving the booking amount to Infinity BMW.

So finally here is the beauty - our Blue Bolt, a 2021 BMW X3 30i, took delivery on the auspicious day of Janmashtami.

Pros

• Spacious 5-seater.
• Powerful and potent 250hp motor.
• Panoramic Sunroof is huge.
• Excellent body control, minimal body roll.
• Hushed cabin, stellar NVH.
• ZF 8-speed gearbox is a gem, shifts when you need and is really quick.
• On a tankful shows around 720km range in comfort mode, that too in Mumbai traffic, for a petrol!

Cons

• Misses out on a knee airbag which competitors get.
• 19-inch wheels make the ride a bit stiff on sharp potholes. Are 245/50/R19s, wish BMW had chosen 55 section instead. Mercedes-Benz GLC gets 235/55/R19s. SportX trim gets 18 inchers but there was neither stock of the SportX nor the colour we wanted.
• No keyless entry for a car so expensive!
• No ventilated seat option for the front passengers.
• No 360deg camera which the international models get as standard.
• No sport seats for the Luxury Line, hence no extendable thigh support. The GLC and X4 get extendable thigh supports.
• Default Auto-start stop on is pretty irritating.
• BMW’s Live Cockpit although legible in the day and loaded with info like maps, simply lacks the finesse of something like Mercedes-Benz’s or Audi’s, maybe it could also be something to do with the colours used by BMW?
• Realised the rear seat squab is too short, it’s not bad but could have been much better.
• Auto-headlights are very sensitive.

Niggles so far

• Frequent disconnection while using Wireless Apple Carplay.
• Wireless charger is quite slow in charging a device.

Now, the LCI is already out in the international market, but I really didn’t like the front look and those 3D style rear tail-lights are a joke. In terms of changes to the interior, they are limited to the new 12.2-inch touchscreen and reshaped central AC Vents. Other than that everything is pretty much the same. It should be landing in the next 2-3 months on Indian shores, I didn’t want to wait and there would surely be a price hike. We had already stretched on our budget, and couldn’t extend it any further.

Exterior

The car when viewed head-on (the Active Air Stream Kidney Grills are closed at the moment).

The Bridgestone Alenza Run-Flat 245/50/R19 tyre.

The 'Welcome Carpet' when the car is unlocked with pocket lights on all door handles.

The fully Adaptive LED headlights with auto high-beam assist (cornering light can be seen at the inner corner towards the grill).

Active Air Stream Kidney Grill is open here.

LED taillights.

Taillights with the twin round exhausts.

Continue reading CEF_Beasts' ownership review for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

I am very happy to report that the car has aged superbly. It does not look and feel like a 5 year old car.

BHPian Santoshbhat recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

So the X3 moves into the long term section with this update. Can't believe it's been 5 years since we brought the car home. I am very happy to report that the car has aged superbly. It does not look and feel like a 5 year old car. Of all the cars we've owned, this one feels the least 'old' at the 5 year mark. All I need to do is wash the car down and vacuum the interiors and it feels like it's come straight out of the showroom! I get the car detailed once a year at 3M. After every wash the white car really shines! Except for a few chips on the bonnet (result of fast highway drives), the exterior paint looks awesome for a 5 year old car.

The covid induced lockdowns meant that between March 2020 to March 2021, the X3 saw its lowest annual running. The X3 has been running fine. There have been few small updates and few events worth reporting. Read on to find out.

Battery replacement

I had mentioned a battery drain problem caused by the remote key. The entire key + immobilizer + antenna set were replaced under warranty and the issue was resolved completely. I had pushed for battery replacement as well at the time, but after charging fully, the battery passed all their tests and that was that.

Some time during December, we were slated to drive to our native. I was getting a brake pad replacement warning rather prematurely and took the car in to have it looked at. Turned out the brake pad wear sensor was hit by a flying pebble or something. Since it was the last month of warranty, I casually asked the SA to test the battery again. And this time it failed one of their tests although the battery seemed absolutely fine and never showed any signs of being on its last days. They said that they could change it under warranty, but they needed to keep the car to run a few more tests to convince HQ. I had already made travel plans and the worst part was that I was slated to return after warranty expiry . The technician said that it wasn't charging fully and it could be risky to drive out of town. First trip planned after months of being under lockdown! I had no heart to tell my family to travel all cramped up in the GTI. My kids really enjoy the drives in the X3 and it would be cruel to tell them that the X3 wasn't coming. So I decided to take a chance and went ahead with the week long trip with jumper cables packed in the boot as a safety net.

The trip went well without any issues. I was assured by my SA that warranty claim would not be denied since the complaint was lodged before warranty expiry. True to their word, they honoured the warranty claim and I got a new battery right at the 5 year mark. Hopefully, it'll last me the next 5 years. Talk about perfect timing . Battery costs a good 50k or so including labour and adaptation and what not.

Warranty claims

In the 5 years, the X3 has now had about 4 warranty claims

• Headlamp washer unit : Cost 7,500
• EGR valve : Cost 20,000
• Immobilizer + key set : Cost 80,000
• Battery : Cost 50,000

Total costs : 1,57,500

Amount spent for 5 year BRI (extended warranty) : 1,50,000

Good ROI I must say.

Service costs

I did not opt for BSI packs at the time of purchase as I felt they were exhorbitantly priced. I find BMW's service costs quite reasonable for a luxury brand. My total outgo in the 5 years has been about Rs. 2.60 lakhs excluding non BSI items like air fresheners, diesel additives, wash n wax etc...The asking price for a 5 year/ 60k km BSI plus was about 3.10 lakhs at the time. If you add interest cost to this, then the pack would have proven to be very expensive indeed. My usage is predominantly highway, so the brake pads easily last 25k kms or so. You wouldn't believe if I told you that I am still on the original wiper set and the service teams have never till date, felt the need to recommend a replacement!

I often read about confusion among first time BMW buyers about BSI/ BRI packs. BSI is a service pack and BRI is a warranty pack. For peace of mind, BRI is what one needs. This is like an insurance against part failures etc... Whereas BSI is just paying upfront for regular service. When BMW gives you the service pack , they factor in the maximum consumable replacements and add it in the costs. For example if you take a 60,000 kms pack, they make a list of items likely to be replaced in that period, taking the worst case scenario into account. Now after 5 years, if you end up doing only 40,000 kms, you are losing out and BMW gains. Or if you eat up your 60,000 kms in just 3 years, this also works out to BMW's advantage. I find it always best to pay as you go. BMW is a big corporate and they've got excellent systems in place to ensure that the service centre doesn't take the customer for a ride. The car decides most items that need to be serviced. Just follow this and you're good. Their service costs are quite reasonable as I said earlier. Having said that, BMW has rationalised BSI pricing and they are quite economical now. Maybe they had factored in massive depreciation in the Rupee in that 2015-18 period.

Here's the break up of service costs:

The car drives really well and has held up pretty well so far. Yes, there were a few breakdowns which luckily happened while the car was at base. These could have happened while touring and that could have been big trouble and maybe I would not be so forgiving. Can I give an overall reliability rating of 4 out of 5?

Overall I am a very satisfied customer. Happy with the product and happy with the after sales service. Warranty claims were handled professionally and smoothly and service experience has been very good overall.

The X3 is wonderful allrounder. Easy to drive in the city and enjoyable on the highways. The 30d engine is what makes it special. Cruising on the highway is pure bliss. The smooth and creamy engine note is very satisfying indeed. It can be blisteringly fast on the highway and make short work of long distances. X3 is a very agile SUV and you never feel like you are in a floaty SUV. With the adaptive suspension in sport mode, it almost feels like a sporty sedan. It is based on the 3 series touring after all. The X drive AWD gives it loads of grip. There is never any wheel spin and the car just shoots forward with ferocity when you mash the throttle, especially with the gear lever in sport mode with those trademark jolts on every upshift. Diesel economy is appreciated in times like these. The average kmpl has never fallen below 2 digits no matter how hard I drive.

Drive sedately and what you get is a very realistic 1,000 kms range.

Interiors have held up very well. I rarely park in the sun so I haven't been affected by the infamous BMW F series interior trim melting issues. No switchgear issues and no rattles as such. Only few creaks from the door rubber beadings for time to time. Rubbing some lubricants over them seems to solve this problem.

Coming to dislikes. The spare tyre on boot floor is a very common grouse among BMW owners. Only saving grace is that the boot is fairly large and square shaped. So the impact is not as bad as, say, the 5 or 3 series sedans.

The rear seat isn't really that comfortable or luxurious. This is mainly down to the hard seat cushions. Some BMW reviewers have called is 'as hard as a rock'. I don't think they are way off the mark with this description. The rear is spacious enough but the seats are kind of low. The hard cushions and slightly upright (unadjustable) backrest angle makes it an average back seat at best. The front seats are superb though. They are sport seats and different in the way they hug the occupier. They can cause trouble for someone who is generously proportioned though!

The steering feels artificially weighted in sports mode and there is no custom mode where one can decouple the steering setting from the chassis setting in sport mode. It stiffens up in sports mode but loses feel and feedback somewhat. I'd have preferred if I could've retained the steering setting in comfort mode.

The switch to 19' BBS alloys and Yoko advan tyres has had a positive impact on ride and handling. The BBS alloys are super light weight and the car just feels more agile with them. The tyres have good grip and the X3 always feels like it is on rails. I am yet to experience wheelspin or a skid in this car till date.

The rear Yokos seem to be wearing out a bit faster than the fronts. Since they are staggered, I can't switch them to the front. In-fact at around 15,000 kms of life, I felt they won't last more than another 2,000 kms or so. I panicked, what with all the tyre import situation, and checked with Madhus if they had a set. They did not have Yoko, but they had a pair of Michelin Pilot Sport 4s in the 275/40/19 size. I picked them up and have stored them in my garage. Luckily the current tyres have survived and we are at 18000 kms life right now. I may be able to extend them upto 20,000 kms. Thereafter we'll have yokos in the front and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 at the rear. I would never do this (2 different makes of tyres on different axels) , but since this is a staggered setup, I think it should be OK. Pilot Sport 4 is not available in the 245/45/19 size for the front tyres btw.

Rear tyre at 18,000 km:

Front tyre at 18,000 km:

I am really happy I could pick the X3 in 30d and M port trim. Goodies like the sport seats and 16 speaker Harmon Kardon speaker system and the 30d engine don't make me yearn for a new car even after 5 years. All the new cars in the segment are down on power and high on price! All they seem to have is electronic gizmos. Touchscreens and digital dials don't excite me one bit.

Few small updates include a new number plate and black wrap for the roof. They gel well with the black wheels. I always thought I would remap the car at the 5 year mark. I have second thoughts now. The car is mighty quick as it is. I do a lot of highway trips and consciously feel I need to slow down. These days I start every drive with a resolve not to get into duels on the highway.

Few pictures from the X3 album

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The cabin in 30i was super silent throughout the drive but I heard some diesel clatter when he started the 20d showroom piece for me (this definitely was more noticeable after the petrol test drive).

BHPian senna recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Took a test drive of the 30i X3 SportX trim yesterday and was thoroughly impressed with the drive. The average fuel economy for the test drive (some 10-12 odd km) came out to around 11 kmpl. I found this to be good considering I drove in a mix of city and highway conditions and with some spirited bursts in sport mode as well.

The one thing which disappointed me was the lack of under-thigh support in the back seat. I am 5'8" and still felt the support to be a bit inadequate. Though I sat in the back when the car was stationary and for a very short duration. What opinion do you guys have on this?

Also, the dealer didn't have the vehicle in 20d guise for the test drive but had one in stock for sale. He also didn't have a 30i for sale but the test drive vehicle was a 30i. I have to buy the car this month and the confusion is ever increasing.

The cabin in 30i was super silent throughout the drive but I heard some diesel clatter when he started the 20d showroom piece for me (this definitely was more noticeable after the petrol test drive).

I was also shown the new 5 Series in the dealer's stockyard and really liked the car but discarding it due to the low ground clearance as I have to tackle some really bad roads once in a couple of months.

Here's what BHPian Sail had to say on the matter:

Hi senna,

Under thigh support is in really short supply in the X3. Rear is more pronounce. Rear passenger has to live with that. I am 6’2’’, for me, under thigh support at driver seat is also very short. But I never had any issues even after driving 27 hrs at a stretch.

Real world mileage will differ. In city drives, I get between 7.5-8.0 kmpl. On highways, about 11.0 kmpl. And on highways with spirited driving, occasional sport mode will bring mileage back to 10.5 kmpl. This is after spending 2.5 years with my 30i. Recently I poured in two bottles of Proctane EVO Octane booster during my return drive from Kolkata to Gurugram. Got mileage of around 12.4 kmpl. Matter is still under investigation. Will try same on the next trip too.

Generally, all BMWs comes with high diesel clatter. You have to live with that. For 30i, NVH level is excellent. However, after 10K on the odometer, there will be a slight increase in NVH. (I suspect due to tires).

Back then, I took test drive of 20d & did not like it, mainly due to late arrival of torque. Happy with 30i, though sudden power bump (from 1450 rpm) is a bit irritating in busy b2b traffic. My suggestion will be, TD other cars also in this segment before coming to conclusions.

For X3, it will always be driver's delight. But, do check other aspects with family members.

Happy shopping.

Here's what BHPian androdev had to say on the matter:

Some drivers prefer high-revs + shift at high-revs type of driving offered by petrol engines. They tend to use paddle-shifts often to maintain high revs. They don't care about fuel efficiency. Others hate waiting to build up the revs and prefer high-torque + shift at low-rpms without ruining fuel economy.

Some drivers prefer the refinement of petrol cars and don't mind the low fuel efficiency. Others don't mind the compromise in refinement in favour of a better fuel efficiency. The difference in cabin-refinement is not so significant in luxury car segment.

Which type of driver are you?

Keep in mind that BMW's automatic transmission is one of the best in business and it does a very good job of ensuring all engines perform well in real-world driving. To really appreciate specific engines (30i, 20d, 30d), you will have to be someone with an acquired taste (high-revs, fuel-efficiency, torque-monster).

If you are a regular driver looking for a good premium SUV, you will do fine with any of the engines available. You can take your decision based on the price, colour preferences and options available, etc.

Here's what BHPian Turbanator had to say on the matter:

The width may not be a big issue but the overall position is not comfortable. If you want to get chauffeured, better sit in the front. Diesel will be noisy and is no longer the preferred fuel. NGT thing is real so it takes a big hit on depreciation all across the North now, especially for the vehicles registered in NCR. You should go ahead with Petrol without any second thoughts if your confusion is just between the engines.

Did you click the pictures of the new 5? Our roads are improving and 5 has a reasonable ground clearance. If you have the budget, do consider 530i.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

BMW has also unveiled the performance-oriented X3 M & X4 M variants as well.

The 2022 BMW X3 and X4 facelift SUVs have been globally unveiled. Both the SUVs now come with subtle design updates to their exterior and interior, along with a number of new features as well.

The updated lineup includes the more powerful X3 M and X4 M variants as well. BMW also offers both SUVs with the 'M Sport' package, which offers a more aggressive styling but are more affordable than the full-blown M models.

The 2022-iteration of the new BMW X3 and X4 models receive a new set of LED headlamps which are leaner than before. Both SUVs also feature a slightly larger kidney grille at the front, redesigned front and rear bumpers, standard 19-inch alloy wheels and a newly designed set of LED tail lights.

The BMW X3 M and X4 M models carry forward a more aggressive design. It comes with a more sporty-looking front bumper with large air intakes, offering better cooling capabilities. The performance variants of both SUVs also feature M-specific rear bumpers, along with many other sporty elements all around.

Inside, the BMW X3 and X4 facelifts receive a redesigned cabin layout. The SUVs feature large 12.3-inch screens for the infotainment display and the instrument cluster. Both, the X3 and X4 also feature the latest-generation BMW iDrive connected technology, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; among many others.

The two M models, on the other hand, come with sports seats with an illuminated M logo, premium leather upholstery, M-steering wheel with mounted controls, M-branded seat belts and lightweight 20-inch M alloy wheels (21-inch wheels offered as optional).

The 2022 BMW X3 and X4 models will, however, carry forward the same set of diesel and petrol engines from its outgoing model. All engine options will be paired to a standard 8-speed automatic transmission unit.

BMW has also stated that the X3 M40i, X3 M40d and all X4 variants will get an 8-speed Steptronic Sport transmission, paddle shifters, launch control and the xDrive all-wheel-drive system as standard.

The 2022 BMW X3 facelift images have been leaked ahead of unveil, revealing the updates and changes on the SUV.

The BMW X3 facelift SUV has been revealed via leaked images, just a month ahead of its official unveil. The images showcase all the updates and revisions made to the exterior of the SUV.

As seen from the spy images, the 2022 BMW X3 will come with an updated front fascia, featuring a revised 'kidney grille' which are now joined together at the centre. The upcoming X3 facelift also features an updated set of LED headlamps, while the front bumper design has also been revised.

The sides of the SUV now feature a newly designed set of alloy wheels, while the rear comes with an updated bumper with dual exhaust tips at either end. The three-dimensional LED tail lights have been retained from the outgoing model, but now features a dark tint which matches the gloss-black elements seen all around the SUV.

The leaked images do not reveal the interiors of the upcoming BMW X3 facelift. However, the SUV is expected to feature a number of subtle updates, along with plenty of new equipment.

The technical specifications of the 2022 BMW X3 will be announced during the SUV's unveil next month. Once introduced, the new X3 will continue to take on the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLC and the Audi Q5.

Source: Cochespias