I got an X3 3.0 as a loaner and I really like it...

Is that ok? Do I need to seek professional help? Am I supposed to feel this way?

I love the big ole panarama roof, and the car feels very roomy and airy to me.

Its a step but I can deal with that for a day or 2.

I will check the sticker when I head out to lunch but it appears to be just a base 3.0i. I wonder if this will be my wife's next vehicle? I wouldn't mind getting her out of that FWD Maxima...

I had the 2.5L X3 loaner and I thought it was a blast to drive. You don't feel like you're in an SAV/SUV because it handles like a car. Very sporty.....I was impressed. The panorama roof is really a great option! You're not crazy.

I like them too. I brokered a deal last year with BMW for our state mountainbike series, and took a drive then in a 6 speed manual 3.0. Later, I did the BMW Performance Driving travelling show in step 3.0's and was amazed how well they handled for a SUV. Our second session was in a driving rain, and what little slippage occurred was very predictable. My impressions are IF you can rationalize having a SUV in the first place, the X3 seems to be a better overall package than the X5.

I took my 330cic in for my first annual service this week and got ... a Nissan Sentra

Which dealer in L.A. gives actual BMW loaners? I went to Nick Alexander. And had to fight to get the stinkin' POS rental.

--J

Yeah I'd like an X3 for a loaner sometime so I can check out the ride.

Originally Posted by JonathanIT

I took my 330cic in for my first annual service this week and got ... a Nissan Sentra [...] And had to fight to get the stinkin' POS rental.

Sounds familiar. The 2 times I've needed a loaner car from the dealer I've gotten... a Ford Taurus.

Originally Posted by JonathanIT

I took my 330cic in for my first annual service this week and got ... a Nissan Sentra

Which dealer in L.A. gives actual BMW loaners? I went to Nick Alexander. And had to fight to get the stinkin' POS rental.

--J

That's funny. I was just impressed the other week when Nick Alexander's flat bed truck dropped of an E60 525 loaner for my neighbor's Mini which was being taken in for service. I thought they were better than my dealer (in the Valley, cough) who stuck my wife with a POS Bright Blue PT Cruiser.

I've never even been offered a loaner, let alone gotten a BMW for one.

It's even more fun with the 6-speed.

Originally Posted by JonathanIT

I took my 330cic in for my first annual service this week and got ... a Nissan Sentra

Which dealer in L.A. gives actual BMW loaners? I went to Nick Alexander. And had to fight to get the stinkin' POS rental.

--J

BMW of Austin advertises BMW loaners for the life of your vehicle. I usually get a stripped 325 or occasionally a 330 but I was pleasantly suprised at the X3 today.

I had an X5 and I loved it... I loved the way it drove, despite it being huge.... And the X3 is nice and nimble, too...You definitely aren't crazy!
My dealer practically always gives me a fairly well-equipped X3 2.5. Once we got a 325ci, and once a 325xi. Oh, and once we got a Suburban .... You could watch the gas guage dropping on the 45-mile ride home.

Originally Posted by Kaz

I've never even been offered a loaner, let alone gotten a BMW for one.

I took mine in, in December for the SES light.. I didn't even buy it at the dealership.. First thing out of the guy's mouth: "You want a loaner?".. Uhh... sure..

Got an X3 3.0.. I didn't even look to see what engine it had.. figured that out within the first 100 yards out of the lot..

I like it a lot... If I would go for it, the wife would trade in the 325i right now..

Taylor here in Augusta, GA gives out BMW loaners.. mostly 325's, but they have some other stuff too..

Originally Posted by JonathanIT

I took my 330cic in for my first annual service this week and got ... a Nissan Sentra

Which dealer in L.A. gives actual BMW loaners? I went to Nick Alexander. And had to fight to get the stinkin' POS rental.

--J

Most dealer loaner policies hinge on if you bought the car from them and if you make an appointment. Bob Smith has been very good to me (sounds like the old SNL skit)... I have bought 3 cars from them after all... Right now I am driving a 3.0 X3 loaner while my wifes 2.5 X3 is in for service. The loaner is pretty much equipped the same as my wifes car except for the lack of xenons (BTW, the adaptive lights are the single most surprisingly pleasing option. EVER.)...HOWEVER, I just don't like the 3.0 as much as the 2.5... power is better but the ride is worse

Hope the sentra was at least an SE-R

I had an X3 2.5 for a loaner...very nice. The handling was crisp and the gearing made good use of the power that it had. Pretty peppy...it did not seem to run out of steam until 70mph or so.

That prompted me to consider an X3 3.0 as a stablemate to the M3...which led me to the Infiniti FX. The X3's are nice but when you factor in value (what you get for your money) coupled with less precise handling but more ooomph, either variant of the FX beats it hands down.

However, in the end, we decided that we did not a truck...why get something that will spend at least 90% of its time running on dry roads with no cargo and only one occupant? So we got another M3.

Originally Posted by LA525iT

That's funny. I was just impressed the other week when Nick Alexander's flat bed truck dropped of an E60 525 loaner for my neighbor's Mini which was being taken in for service. I thought they were better than my dealer (in the Valley, cough) who stuck my wife with a POS Bright Blue PT Cruiser.

Originally Posted by bluegarvis

Most dealer loaner policies hinge on if you bought the car from them and if you make an appointment.

Hey, WTF?? I DID buy my car at Nick Alexander and I waited over two weeks for an appointment... I think I'm getting shafted. I remember them telling me about the flatbed pick-up, but I never knew they had BMW loaners hidden somwhere...

--J.