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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Jun 25, 2021 8:35:28 GMT
I've been busy with work recently so I didn't get the chance to flag up a purchase decision on a new car. I was recently contacted by Lloyd BMW in Newcastle offering to value my car and I was pleasantly surprised by what they offered. I bought the 320d Touring just over two years ago for £25k and since then have put on 32k miles. I've looked after it and they offered just over £19k for it. I thought this was not a bad deal and with a bit of prompting by the missus I went down to the dealership to talk to the (very attractive) sales woman. The problem was I'm still doing a good number of miles every day so a diesel was really my best option and the new 3 series wasn't doing it for me, nor the 4. I quite liked the 5 series but there seemed to be a bit of a shortage and no real offers. She asked if I'd considered an X3 as they had some pre-ordered stock coming in (there's a mild facelift coming for 2022) and they all had the digital dash and a couple of options, so did I want a test drive. Despite my initial reservations I took out a new 2.0d M Sport mild hybrid and to be honest, I really liked it. It's more refined than the 3, I do love the higher driving position (that's why I like the Cashcow so much) and the interior quality wise is now on a par with the 5 series. In short, I was sold. We did the deal, factored in a new car discount and I'm not paying much more per month than I was for the 320d. So here it is:  Picked it up last night. The options are a heated steering wheel and something else which I forget what. Glacier Silver, a colour I love. If I was going to change anything I'd maybe upgrade the wheels from 19" to 20" or 21" but it was another couple of grand so I wasn't inclined to do so. So I've joined the much hated SUV brigade and I am now open to abuse!  |
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Post by LandieMark on Jun 25, 2021 9:01:18 GMT
Nice, I have no issues with anyone wanting an SUV. It isn't massive in any case.
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Jun 25, 2021 9:10:57 GMT
Nice, I have no issues with anyone wanting an SUV. It isn't massive in any case. Cheers. I just need to get the bull bars fitted now. |
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Post by PG on Jun 25, 2021 9:17:35 GMT
Burn him!  Actually, comparing the X3 to the rest of the BMW offerings at the moment, it looks classy and understated. Enjoy it. And I like SUV's so no abuse from me. |
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Post by Tim on Jun 25, 2021 9:19:50 GMT
I think it works very well in silver, perhaps it hides the comedy grille better than a darker colour.
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Post by Big Blue on Jun 25, 2021 9:28:35 GMT
X3 is one of the better looking offerings from Munich at the moment. I have no issues with SUVs as we often get them as rentals and they make a lot of sense.
Expecting to see that Nurburgring sticker on the back, showing everyone you’ve put it through it’s paces to prove its sportiness.
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Post by racingteatray on Jun 25, 2021 9:31:06 GMT
Burn him! Actually, comparing the X3 to the rest of the BMW offerings at the moment, it looks classy and understated. Enjoy it. And I like SUV's so no abuse from me. This, in spades ^^. Looks very smart. If I wasn't tempted by a change of marque, an X3 M40i is probably all the car I need. What was the deal if I may be so bold/vulgar as to ask? |
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Jun 25, 2021 9:33:13 GMT
I think it works very well in silver, perhaps it hides the comedy grille better than a darker colour. Well I don’t think it could ever be described as a looker but as SUVs go I like it more than most (probably with the exception of the Jag F Pace). It also drives and handles much better than I expected - almost BMWish. The mild hybrid also seems to smooth out the stop start and give extra pep during acceleration. |
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Post by PetrolEd on Jun 25, 2021 9:57:45 GMT
No need to take too much flak, the X3 is a rose amongst thorns in much of the BMW range.
Like racing, make mine a X3 M40i in that nice blue they do.
Good to see a dealer doing their job and creating a sale out of a minor prospect by going through the motions.
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Post by Martin on Jun 25, 2021 10:18:36 GMT
As others have said, that's one of the last decent looking BMWs and you've got in just before they start to mess it up and the colour suits it. It's just missing a couple of cylinders, panoramic roof and voodoo headlights!
I had one for a couple of weeks in Croatia and liked it, it had loads of optional kit (HUD, memory seats, voodoo lights, HK speakers etc). I thought it was a lot closer to the 5 series than 3 in terms of refinement, ride and quality which is helped by the interior being mostly based on the 5 series and it had plenty of space and with the fatter profile tyres (I think they were the same wheels as yours) it was fine on some of the less well surfaced roads we had to travel on every day.
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Post by Martin on Jun 25, 2021 10:19:37 GMT
This is the hire car we had.  |
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Post by johnc on Jun 25, 2021 10:20:53 GMT
I too think the X3 is at the more attractive end of the BMW model line up and reckon it is a good choice. It will ride much better on the smaller wheels and handles much better too because it is more compliant. I don't think it will be as economical as your touring but I have a client with a 2.0D X Drive X4 and he averages around 40mpg so it's still pretty good and easily quick enough.
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Post by Blarno on Jun 25, 2021 11:10:54 GMT
Diesel hybrid? I wasn't aware such things existed.
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Post by Martin on Jun 25, 2021 11:34:18 GMT
Diesel hybrid? I wasn't aware such things existed. Mild hybrid (MHT in BMW speak), it's a 48V starter/generator with something like 7-8KW / 10hp boost and is on the 2.0 and 3.0 engines now. |
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Post by Tim on Jun 25, 2021 11:46:51 GMT
Diesel hybrid? I wasn't aware such things existed. Mild hybrid (MHT in BMW speak), it's a 48V starter/generator with something like 7-8KW / 10hp boost and is on the 2.0 and 3.0 engines now. Is this similar to the battery part on BMW's economy swingometer? I'll ask Martin because he's a nerd, er, I mean he's vastly knowledgeable about things. |
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Post by Martin on Jun 25, 2021 11:54:32 GMT
Mild hybrid (MHT in BMW speak), it's a 48V starter/generator with something like 7-8KW / 10hp boost and is on the 2.0 and 3.0 engines now. Is this similar to the battery part on BMW's economy swingometer? I'll ask Martin because he's a nerd, er, I mean he's vastly knowledgeable about things. It's a bit technical for me. It will charge in the same way, but it's a 48V system that can deploy a small amount of power to help with stop/start (it will coast to a stop and start more smoothly) and a plug a bit of the gap you get when the turbo starts to spool up. The economy swingometer / EfficientDynamics is just a more efficient way of charging the 12V battery than relying on the alternator alone which uses power. |
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Post by Tim on Jun 25, 2021 11:57:18 GMT
Is this similar to the battery part on BMW's economy swingometer? I'll ask Martin because he's a nerd, er, I mean he's vastly knowledgeable about things. It's a bit technical for me. It will charge in the same way, but it's a 48V system that can deploy a small amount of power to help with stop/start (it will coast to a stop and start more smoothly) and a plug a bit of the gap you get when the turbo starts to spool up. The economy swingometer / EfficientDynamics is just a more efficient way of charging the 12V battery than relying on the alternator alone which uses power. Thanks Martin, I knew I could rely on you |
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Post by Big Blue on Jun 25, 2021 12:04:22 GMT
Diesel hybrid? I wasn't aware such things existed. Mercedes E Class estate. |
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Post by Martin on Jun 25, 2021 12:11:34 GMT
Diesel hybrid? I wasn't aware such things existed. Mercedes E Class estate. Yes, along with C Class / GLC and I think there was a diesel hybrid V60 and Q7 |
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Post by Big Blue on Jun 25, 2021 12:15:23 GMT
I only knew because they rapidly fell off my list of possibilities because of it.
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Post by Martin on Jun 25, 2021 12:21:08 GMT
I only knew because they rapidly fell off my list of possibilities because of it. Why am I not surprised?! They still offer the petrol hybrid E300e don't they or is that engine only in the saloon? |
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Post by Big Blue on Jun 25, 2021 12:40:55 GMT
Saloon only.
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Post by Roadrunner on Jun 25, 2021 15:01:45 GMT
That looks good and you have probably avoided a visual abomination by getting in before the, er, 'face-lift '.
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Post by racingteatray on Jun 25, 2021 17:13:07 GMT
Yes, someone at BMW clearly associates facelifts with Jocelyn Wildenstein - google her if you dare.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2021 17:24:18 GMT
To quote a gif image, "Where's the brain bleach"?
"Jocelyn Wildenstein". Just to be clear.
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Post by Martin on Jun 25, 2021 17:46:22 GMT
They can’t help themselves…..  |
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Post by ChrisM on Jun 25, 2021 19:34:25 GMT
To me, the X3 is enormous and somewhat ugly, something to do with the shape and size of the windows in the rear pillars. When I'm in the Fiesta, the bottom of the windows of an X3 is almost level with the internal roofline of the Ford. The interior of the X1 is supposed to be little different in terms of space from the X3, despite the exterior being a lot smaller.
However, if you like the X3, that's great
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Post by Martin on Jun 25, 2021 19:38:35 GMT
To me, the X3 is enormous and somewhat ugly, something to do with the shape and size of the windows in the rear pillars. When I'm in the Fiesta, the bottom of the windows of an X3 is almost level with the internal roofline of the Ford. The interior of the X1 is supposed to be little different in terms of space from the X3, despite the exterior being a lot smaller. However, if you like the X3, that's great Enormous? It’s barely any bigger than a Kuga! |
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Post by ChrisM on Jun 25, 2021 21:12:08 GMT
Kuga:
4541 long x 2086 wide (incl mirrors) x 1749 high
X3:
4726 long x 2089 wide (incl mirrors) x 1676 high
I knew it was significantly longer then the Kuga but I have my suspicions about the height
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Post by Martin on Jun 25, 2021 21:16:31 GMT
Kuga: 4541 long x 2086 wide (incl mirrors) x 1749 high X3: 4726 long x 2089 wide (incl mirrors) x 1676 high I knew it was significantly longer then the Kuga but I have my suspicions about the height So, they are same width, the X3 is lower and I certainly wouldn’t say 7” is enormous….. |
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