Second Hand Sense:BMW X3 FOR: Build quality. Boot space AGAINST: Price. Some fittings do not come up to expected BMW standards. Harsh ride.
The BMW X3 reminds one of a Range Rover in some ways: it carries a luxury badge, costs quite a lot of money and it has technology that the average driver will almost never use nor understand. For instance, its xDrive four-wheel-drive system transfers power to whatever wheel might need it in the event of slippage, and its hill descent system will allow the car to be driven down very steep inclines with near-perfect poise and control.
However, the X3 won't find itself in difficulties too often. It might be a capable enough off-roader, but its actual function in life is confined to the suburbs and the school run. It is a niche lifestyle vehicle that cashes in on the appeal of four-wheel-drives, while managing to look less intimidating than its bigger and bulkier sibling, the X5.
It is not a workhorse in the same way as the Land Rover Freelander, nor is it the first choice of those who pull horseboxes. In short, it is a suburban car for those who eschew the car in favour of the image of the four-wheel-drive.
The X3 has not been a huge success. Perhaps it is a tad too close to the X5 and not quite macho enough for others. Its price is also a deterrent. Ultimately, however, it may be that its function is simply too vague and its novelty too limited. What you get with an X3 is a somewhat uninteresting car with a firm ride, limited rear accommodation, significant running costs; the bottom line may be that it is not an X5 and thus does not have the same impact.
It comes with a choice of engines, but the 2.0-litre diesel has been the main choice here. You can also have a 2.0-litre petrol and then a choice of 2.5- and 3.0-litre petrol and diesels. The X3 is a heavy car and the smaller engines can feel very limited, so the 2.5-litre diesel probably makes the best sense. The car handles very well and the overall driving experience is good, but that rather harsh ride can be very irritating after a while. The diesel engine is impressive, but with the smaller engines you feel a need for extra power a lot of the time.
Parts of the interior have been widely criticised as being well below premium brand quality, with plastic bits that don't quite fit the BMW image. But overall there is a quality feeling about the X3, and things like its driving position make for a pleasant experience. That hidden safety technology and the obvious safety benefits of multiple airbags are also reassuring.
The X3 is not actually all that much shorter than the X5, but it is narrower. It is a much more manageable vehicle in town than the bigger car and it is a lot easier to manoeuvre around a car park. The boot is also very generous and is actually bigger than the X5, which is a bit of a surprise.
The car enjoys the usual BMW standards of build and is generally reliable. It does not have a Euro NCAP crash test profile, but BMWs of recent years have all done well in their tests.
A 2004 model with a 2.5-litre petrol engine, 43,000 kilometres on the clock and with alloys, air conditioning, multiple airbags, traction control, central locking electrics is on offer for €27,000. A 2005 model with the 2.0-litre diesel engine, lots of extras and 88,000 kilometres on the clock is on offer for €37,995. As I said, the prices are not cheap and you could buy an awful lot of new car with that kind of money.