X3 3.0d experiences

Hi there,

I have just ordered the 3.0d for production in March.
I wondered if anyone could share their experiences with this car and its engine

Hi Palendre,

We have an X5 3.0D 6 speed Step, Sterling Grey with Truffle Brown Dakota leather. we have had it for 12 months now and it has 15,000km on the clock.

What can I say? We love the car. We had a Jeep Cherokee, before and they are light years apart. The best thing about it is the torque from the engine. On the highway it has the response to pass just about anything else on the road (V8s included), even when we have a full load.

The other cool thing is the range and fuel economy, we can achieve 1300kms on a tank of fuel. Which is great in Australia, where we regularly drive long distances to our place in the country. The diesel smokes a bit when you first start it up, but the BMW workshop Guys say that is normal.

Make sure you get PDC as it is a big thing to park in confined spaces and car parks, also the sound system upgrade, if you like your music. We also got side steps, sport steering wheel and Xenon headlights (which are amazing!).

My wife drives it most of the time and she handles it very well.

I will post a photo of it in the next day or so, if you are interested?

You will enjoy it, I am sure. What colour have you ordered?

Is this available in the lower 48 states, US?

If no...how can one go about getting one, short of acquiring one overseas?

I am an Aussie, but I am pretty sure that the Diesel X3 or X5 is NOT sold in the US market. Although they are manufactured in the US, so maybe you could go to the factory and beg for a diesel engine.

Something to do with your Diesel fuel standards. the sulphur content is too high and will shorten the life of the engines. It is a pity, as you are missing out the best Diesel engine in the world. in Australia, the Diesels are now making up 40% of all X5s sold.

Cheers

Originally Posted by AussieMarkF

I am an Aussie, but I am pretty sure that the Diesel X3 or X5 is NOT sold in the US market. Although they are manufactured in the US, so maybe you could go to the factory and beg for a diesel engine.

Something to do with your Diesel fuel standards. the sulphur content is too high and will shorten the life of the engines. It is a pity, as you are missing out the best Diesel engine in the world. in Australia, the Diesels are now making up 40% of all X5s sold.

Cheers

Being in the U.S. and controlled and censored by the corporate will... why are diesels better?

Originally Posted by bredi

Being in the U.S. and controlled and censored by the corporate will... why are diesels better?

369 lb-ft

Originally Posted by andy_thomas

369 lb-ft

Before chipping.

Originally Posted by bredi

Being in the U.S. and controlled and censored by the corporate will... why are diesels better?

Torque (turning force), economy (range), engine usually lasts longer (diesel is an oil and lubricates vs petrol has no lubricating properties) and no spark plugs/leads (servicing costs).

They are not "better", just different. We drive a mx5 (miata) and i'm glad thats not a diesel. But for SUV's, its a great engine, because of the weight and versatility of the vehicle. I'm sure the 4.4 and 4.8 v8's are fantastic engines and well suited to sports driving. The 3.0d is a great combination of sport, economy and power. You will find engines that do better in specific areas like power or torque or economy, the diesel does all the above at a high level.


my 2c's

Originally Posted by bredi

Being in the U.S. and controlled and censored by the corporate will... why are diesels better?

The X5 is assembled in South Carolina, USA. The X3 is assembled in Austria.

Originally Posted by AussieMarkF

Something to do with your Diesel fuel standards. the sulphur content is too high and will shorten the life of the engines. It is a pity, as you are missing out the best Diesel engine in the world. in Australia, the Diesels are now making up 40% of all X5s sold.

Cheers

The fuel standards are part of the problem, but emission standards are the bigger issue.

Low sulfur fuels will be required in the US in 2006, to support tighter emissions standards for heavy trucks that will go into effect in 2007.

However, that is not the main problem. The US has significantly tighter emission standards for particulate matter for passenger cars, making it harder to bring diesels to the US.

There are some emissions technologies that may make this possible, but this adds cost.

Europe is actively subsidizing diesel engines and diesel fuel as a way of achieving compliance with the Kyoto Treaty, since better gas milage equates to lower CO2 emissions. The market is now over 40% diesel and climbing.

The EPA and CARB are more concerned about smog than greenhouse gas.

Hope this helps...

i'am about to buy an x3 30 d and would like to get some info about road-drive, sorry if it's not fully correct but dunno how to say that, I meant on the road, is quite like the X5 or is a bit harder when the road is nt completely new or smooth ??
brgds