I like it, might get one.
It would look good in the garage next to the MINI.

 

>I kinda like it!
>>I would never get one myself, and I am frequently guilty of SUV bashing, but if you have to go SUV, at least the X3 would appear to be more reasonable. I would assume being small it would handle better, and thus be more deserving of the name 'Sport' Utility Vehicle. Most so-called 'SUVs' have nothing sporting to them whatsoever, they are really only utility trucks, no matter what their owners want to believe.
>>The X3 being small and presumably more sporting, I would also assume that it would do much better in the active safety department, and thus be a much safer vehicle than the large utilitarian trucks.
>>

Couldn't have said it better myself. BMW obviously has to make money hence the two SUVs - but they're atleast doing it the right way (as opposed to the horrible M class). The vehicles are car based and briming with active safety. I doubt I'd ever want one (as long as the 3 series wagon is available) but I think they'll sell very well.

 

A beefy 3-series with AWD or 4WD? More cargo room? Not too big, some (limited" off-road or soft-road? Count me in.

Actually, I had been looking at the Freelander at one point, but couldn't get past the uninspired, cheap interior, and the gas mileage was awful. If what I know of the 3-series carries over in any way, this might be a nice compliment to my MCS. I am (eventually) looking for something more practical for bad weather, fishing trips, etc. This might be it.

Anyone have more info? (I haven't seen anything official on pricing, for instance)

And yeah, it's a little small, but since when does size matter?

 

One more thing...I heard that this has a little tailgate (a la the Volvo XC90). You can't tell from these pics, but that would be great...

OK, maybe I'm just a little weird, but I love tailgates...

 

Yep....you are just a little weird.

 

So true... :smile:

Anyone ever see the "tailgate" style boot door on the old Minis? (of course you have, you're on MCO...) While I love the "minivan" style rear door of our cars...super useful...I think a little (mini) tailgate would be great. Something to put some drinks on, sit on, etc.

Whoa. Went off-topic there. I like the X3. OK, we're back.

 

screw the x3, we need to see the 1series!
i could care less about another suv!

 

>>So true... :smile:
>>
>>Anyone ever see the "tailgate" style boot door on the old Minis? (of course you have, you're on MCO...) While I love the "minivan" style rear door of our cars...super useful...I think a little (mini) tailgate would be great. Something to put some drinks on, sit on, etc.
>>


Just wait - you'll see one next year on a new MINI :smile:

 

>>>>So true... :smile:
>>>>
>>>>Anyone ever see the "tailgate" style boot door on the old Minis? (of course you have, you're on MCO...) While I love the "minivan" style rear door of our cars...super useful...I think a little (mini) tailgate would be great. Something to put some drinks on, sit on, etc.
>>>>
>>
>>
>>Just wait - you'll see one next year on a new MINI :smile:

I know...I think. Just after I posted it, it seemed like a solution to a certain problem they might face with a certain new variant...hmmm...maybe an X3 and a certain new MINI style would replace my current car...

 

give me a 4.6 x5, and i am set

 

Sorry folks, there has to be an SUV in my garage.

Try carrying 2 kayaks, 2 mountain bikes, a weeks worth of backpacking gear and an 80 lb dog in a MINI! Unlike a lot of folks, we actually use the high ground clearance, cargo space and 4 wheel drive of our SUV.

The problem is, the roads that lead to these wonderful outdoor playgrounds are twisty and made for the MINI, but I am stuck driving a ill handling ute :???:

We will be looking to replace mt wifes Ford Escape in the next couple of years. We will certainly go to the BMW dealer to check out the X3. I am glad the companies are making vehicles like the X5, X3, XC90 and Cayenne that can drive well on the roads and handle the offroad too. Eventually folks will demand the active safety these luxo-utes provide in all SUV's and we will all be better off.

 

>> it's only supposed to be slightly smaller than the X5, kinda how the Lincoln Aviator is only slightly smaller than the Navigator. >>

It also has more cargo room the the X5. Maybe that is Yao Ming in the front :smile:

 

>>We will be looking to replace mt wifes Ford Escape in the next couple of years. We will certainly go to the BMW dealer to check out the X3. I am glad the companies are making vehicles like the X5, X3, XC90 and Cayenne that can drive well on the roads and handle the offroad too. Eventually folks will demand the active safety these luxo-utes provide in all SUV's and we will all be better off.
>>

I agree with what you're saying in general about safer SUVs being a good thing for the people that are convinced that they need them, but I don't think there's any way that anyone is better off with the Cayenne on the road.

A tall, 5000 lb vehicle with that kind of torque and speed (plus the kind of ego likely to be sitting behind the wheel) should be terrifying to anyone who drives a small car. I don't care WHAT kind of brakes and handling it has. Plus it gets less than 12 mpg in mixed driving, so everyone loses, except for people driving Navigators and Land Cruisers, who now have yet another vehicle to point to that's worse for the environment than what they're driving.

_________________


Borla exhaust, Moss intake, Magnecor

 

I sat in one of these today at the dealership. I must say I'm pretty impressed. It's nowhere near as visually offensive as the X5 is Cleaner lines, a nice compact shape. Cool interior.

Huge plus for the Extera-ripped-off inside the trunk bike rack.

 

I'm going to have some time this afternoon while my new tires are being put on. There is a BMW dealer across the street, so maybe I'll go snap some pics.

Dave :smile:

 

Please do. The pics in this thread have disappeared.

 

I like it. I've been eyeing the release and maybe it'll replace my wife's CRV.

 

 

your fav. pic of the day is mine too!
i can't wait to see the 1 series....i said it earlier in this thread months back, and i'm still waiting! bring on the auto show circuit in '04!!!!

 

I crawled around in an X3 a couple of weeks ago and I have to say I was very surprised it was really that small inside. My 3 series touring (or sportwagon if you prefer :smile easily has more usable cargo space. Granted the interior is slightly less tall but I can't see using that X3 advantage very often.

The amazing thing is that it's essentially the same size as the X5 when measuring cargo space..

 

Gabe,

I was similarly surprised at how small it was in there. It reminded me a lot of the VW Golf in terms of interior size / boot space.

The X3 was nicer looking in person than I was expecting though.

Dave

 

Did, so fit a bike in the trunk on their internal rack? From the way you guys are talking , boot seems really small.

 

I'm sure you could get a bike in there, but I don't think you'll be able to able to leave your seatpost at it's full height.

Do you have any pics of the internal bike rack?

 

I picked up an issue of BMW Magazine at the dealership, and they had a whole section about the X3. They talked about the internal bike rack, but no photos.