Hey Fellas! New!!!

Hey guys just wanted to drop a line and say whats up. Back to BMW's. Had a long break in between. Owned a 1987 325iS back in high school (2001-05) and I just traded in my A3 for this 2006 X3!!





What I traded, 2007 A3. Amazing car.





Also, may be a dumb question, but why does the bumper on this one look different than some of the others? Like why are my fogs mounted really low and the others are mounted up higher? I also noticed my bumpers are color matched where others arent? If you guys have any info (I'm sure you do) please let me know on model differences and stuff. Thanks again and I'm stoked to be an X3 owner.

DD, nice car -- the A3 also was available here as a diesel! That one I wouldn't have given up for an X3. Always loved the A3 service loaners I got -- but they were just a tad too low for my old bod to bend into and out of. Enjoy your bimmer.

Thanks! Yeah I needed the AWD. Tried and tried and tried to find an AWD 3.2 A3 but to no avail... Had to stick with the german engineering and got this. I like it. Didn't want a sedan, wanted an SUV or wagon. Looks like I got an SAV, or so BMW calls it. Haha. Hey also, does anyone know if I have DSC in my X3? I have the business CD head unit but I dont know what else to look for. Looking to integrate my iPhone5 to play music. Thanks for your help!

Originally Posted by DanDanAttack

Thanks! Yeah I needed the AWD. Tried and tried and tried to find an AWD 3.2 A3 but to no avail... Had to stick with the german engineering and got this. I like it. Didn't want a sedan, wanted an SUV or wagon. Looks like I got an SAV, or so BMW calls it. Haha. Hey also, does anyone know if I have DSC in my X3? I have the business CD head unit but I dont know what else to look for. Looking to integrate my iPhone5 to play music. Thanks for your help!

Congrats on the car
You may want to look at a mediabridge or aux input for your Iphone needs.

Originally Posted by DanDanAttack

... Also, may be a dumb question, but why does the bumper on this one look different than some of the others? Like why are my fogs mounted really low and the others are mounted up higher? I also noticed my bumpers are color matched where others arent...?

Welcome!

I don't know whether the '06 came that way standard, or if you've got that model year's equivalent of the Sport Package? But yours has the same monochrome "aerodynamic package" bumper trim as subsequent (2007-2010) X3's equipped with the Sport Package. My '07 has the Sport Package, and if you look closely at the photo of mine (below), you'll also see the side 'ground effect' trim that was apparently omitted from the '06.

Oh ok. Nice! Thanks for the info. Looks like I have the 2 piece fenders as well. I noticed you don't have that inner black fender closest to the wheel like I do.

Welcome!
Nice X3! you'll love it.

Originally Posted by DanDanAttack

Oh ok. Nice! Thanks for the info. Looks like I have the 2 piece fenders as well. I noticed you don't have that inner black fender closest to the wheel like I do.

No worries!

You must have the standard wheel well trim, whereas the later Sport Package X3's have a body-color (perhaps even a flared?) trim piece that kind-of blends in with the rest of the "aerodynamic package." It's harder to see in my signature photo, but it probably just replaces the standard, black wheel well trim.

Originally Posted by X3-terrestrial

Welcome!
Nice X3! you'll love it.

Love it? Psshhh I already do!! I think its a pretty unique vehicle and I'm excited to own one!

Originally Posted by timfitz63

No worries!

You must have the standard wheel well trim, whereas the later Sport Package X3's have a body-color (perhaps even a flared?) trim piece that kind-of blends in with the rest of the "aerodynamic package." It's harder to see in my signature photo, but it probably just replaces the standard, black wheel well trim.

Ah ok. Either way, I like how yours is color matched. But for some reason I do like my rocker panels. Kind of looks like a little bit of body protection because they stick out a bit to protect the paint perhaps...

Ok another question without starting a whole new thread. How do I know if I have Digital Signal Processing (DSP)? Looking into getting the MediaBridge so I can play my iPod in teh X3. Thanks in advance!

Does your car have navigation? Is so you will see a menu option for DSP settings on the main 16:9 screen.

For cars without nav I am not sure if DSP was available and if it was how to access it from the business HU.

Originally Posted by x3brian

Does your car have navigation? Is so you will see a menu option for DSP settings on the main 16:9 screen.

For cars without nav I am not sure if DSP was available and if it was how to access it from the business HU.

No I dont have the navi, just the business HU. Hmm... Thanks for the response though!

Originally Posted by DanDanAttack

Ah ok. Either way, I like how yours is color matched. But for some reason I do like my rocker panels. Kind of looks like a little bit of body protection because they stick out a bit to protect the paint perhaps...

There is that. The paint on those parts can get a bit chewed up from rocks and such...

Another question that may or may not have already been answered in this forum but I couldn't find an exact answer. Does anyone know the maximum, well minimum (want to push wheels out), offset I can have without hitting body work when turning?

Originally Posted by DanDanAttack

Another question that may or may not have already been answered in this forum but I couldn't find an exact answer. Does anyone know the maximum, well minimum (want to push wheels out), offset I can have without hitting body work when turning?

So.... you need the AWD, but want to push the wheel size? Presumably you're looking for AWD for winter type taction in the hills. The two seem to be somewhat contridictory in regards to winter traction.

Originally Posted by ghpup

So.... you need the AWD, but want to push the wheel size? Presumably you're looking for AWD for winter type taction in the hills. The two seem to be somewhat contridictory in regards to winter traction.

Yeah you are not reading the questions right. Offset. Not wheel diameter...

I think what ghpup was getting at was stock X3 wheels have a fairly high positive offset, and the usual reason for going with a lower offset is to accommodate wider wheels and fatter tires for offroad, or just for the look .

(As the stock 8" wide wheel mounting is pushed in as it were, the only way a fatter wheel is going to fit right is if it has lower offset so that the extra width is biased more to the outside.)

But that's maybe not what you are interested in doing as he points out that narrower wheels/tires could provide the best snow traction.

Is there any other good reason for wanting to run with a much lower offset? Wider track with stock 8" wide rims? Outguessing the BMW engineers on cornering capability?

Don't think anyone on this forum has specifically experimented on offset - they just go with a much reduced one because that's the way the big used M wheels they bought are.

I'm running a 35 offset on my winter setup and really like the look. I'll post a photo later. It really fills out the wheel well and looks more flush. I'm running 225/65r17 tires with no rubbing. Not sure I would go any less than a 30 offset. FWIW most e90 BMW wheels have around a 35 offset.

So another question. Or observation. Do I have the HIFI system?

http://www.rubmw.ru/vincode/eng/

This decoder thing says that I have the HIFI system installed. Not really sure how to distinguish if I have that or not. I have the Business CD head unit also.