Beamer SUV (SAV) - Good? Bad?

[TBow]

I'm still on my search for a new-to-me pickup, but I've also been keeping an eye open for a new-to-my-wife SUV. We currently have an '07 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the bride wants to stay in an awd SUV as she has quite a bit of driving to get to work, and winters can sometimes get pretty brutal around here. So for safety reasons, we're sticking with a SUV search for her.

I'd considered Honda CR-V or a Toyota RAV-4, but she just stuck her nose up at it. She likes KIA and Hyundai, but my immediate response was, "NO NO NO NO NO!".

So we just keep flipping back and forth as to what to get, all the while my poor old Jeep has surpassed 300,000 km and annual expenses to keep it going just seem to escalate. That's one reason why even if I get a used SUV, I'd like one with some manufacturer's warranty still on it.

Well last week the bride comes home all excited as she'd found a SUV that she liked. It was an '07 BMW X3 with still a little bit of warranty on it. We took it out for a test drive and got'ta say it wasn't too bad. Finally we'd found a buggy that we both could accept.....well at except for the price tag. That's why I was looking at 3 to 4 year old Beamers and not a new or 1 year old.

I went online and did a lot of research regarding prices and reliability. There appeared to be a software problem with the '07 X3 6-speed automatic transmissions, but would have to think that after 3 to 4 years they'd have that resolved by now. The nearest dealership is 80 km / 50 miles away, so any warranty work would require some travelling, but hey, it's a Beamer!

Anyone have anything good or bad to say about BMW, and in particular, the X3 SUV (or SAV as BMW calls them)?

Ya I know, it ain't a hunting buggy, but it is AWD, and if the bride ever goes on a shopping trip with her sister without the Beamer, I'm sure I could sneak it into the woods (just got'ta make sure I wash it off after). But I digress, first I gots'ta get one....maybe!

TBow

Edited September 22, 2010 by TBow

[redkneck]

They are a quality made vehicle. The M54 engines are solid as a rock. My wife got a 530i back in the spring, and so far has been a great car. Had a seat sensor go out that would have cost $1,100 to replace but thankfully was under a recall. They are top quality rides IMO.......

BUT... be aware that a repair cost for something minor can do serious damage to your wallet. If you are a do-it-yourselfer you can do a lot of things yourself. You could for instance have a leaking valve cover gasket and incur a 2K bill at the dealer. BMW will charge almost 20K to rebuild an engine for god's sake! An independent mechanic shop is the way you'll want to go for out-of-warranty work. Many of them have all the latest software flashes for much cheaper than the dealer for problems like the tranny issue you mentioned.

I'm not trying to scare you, they are a great vehicle. Just be aware that maintenance costs are higher and repairs can rip a hole in your pocketbook. Check into a CPO car that will get you as much warranty from BMW as possible, a lot of the aftermarket warranties are a joke.

john

Edited September 22, 2010 by redkneck

[TBow]

I'va had bad experiences with after-market warranties, and will never ever go that route again. Better off just puting the cash you would have paid, into an account and use it for any repairs that might come up.

I was looking at 2007s, but most BMW warranties are 80km / 4 year, and are just about to expire, so you're lucky if you manage 6 months on the manufacturer's warranty. That's why I was considering a 2008 to hopefully get 1-1/2 to 2 years warranty at least. Problem with that is, the more warranty, the more you pay at the sales end. A 6 year / 120 km warranty woud be great, but I have found few that have that option.

I was a little leary about so much software programming into the electronics, including the drive train, as few local yocal mechanic shops likely carry BMW updates, so that means a trip off to the dealership, and like you said, if it ain't covered under warranty or a recall, you better start looking for where you can sell your blood.

We took one for a test drive and liked it. The tranny issue hasn't been resolved to my liking yet, as info on the internet is sketchy at best.

TBow

[Shaun_300]

Not too sure Tbow, can't say I'd want to own one, that's for darn sure. Don't get me wrong, they're a nice vehicle and all, but the repairs are gonna be insanely priced once it gets out of warranty, and even the maintenance alone will be a lot more. And forget trying to even open the hood on one yourself to do anything to it other than check the oil and add washer fluid. I'd be sticking to something domestic if I were you. Take her for a spin in a Tahoe LTZ, Yukon Denali, Trailblazer SS or Cadillac Escalade, they are awesome vehicles! And the maintenance and repairs aren't pinned to the roof.

[redkneck]

If you really want a used BMW don't be afraid of it, just make sure you look over all the service records to get an idea of any issues. All maintenance is included to 50k, so you really don't have to worry about oil changes and things being done in a timely manner. The iDrive system monitors oil, brake wear, filters, and all that junk and tells the driver when to take it in. Do lots of reading and don't take any routine maintenance for granted. My oil and filter costs $60 but will last me 10-12K miles. Just replaced the back brakes when the car notified me and cost $60 at Advance Auto for parts. Most things are very affordable to do yourself. There are great forums out there, with some real pros that will bend over backwards to help you out. I didn't qualify for CPO, nor will I spend my money on extended warranties. They're great to own, but can bite you in the @$$ if you don't maintain them properly. Good luck.