Does the Mercedes R-Class Have a Porpoise, Oops...
Green
Trucks
Luxury
Family
Brand
Muscle
See more sites from  HighGear  M E D I A  >>
Compare this car to others like it Try our car compare tool now

2008 BMW X3-Series Bottom Line

September 30, 2009

By Marty Padgett's avatar Marty Padgett, Executive EditorMarty Padgett

TheCarConnection.com's editors read the latest reviews on the new 2008 BMW X3 to write this comprehensive review. Our car experts also drove the 2008 BMW X3 in Germany and in the U.S., to be able to deliver our definitive opinion on the car, to compare it with other cars in the class, and to help you decide which vehicle is right for you.

Likes:

  • Upgraded power
  • Available manual transmission
  • Revamped interior styling
  • Standard all-wheel drive
  • Panoramic sunroof

Dislikes:

  • Choppy styling
  • Tight second-row seating
  • Handling more SUV than crossover

Buying Tips:


The 2008 BMW X3 competes in a market segment with lots of new entries on the way. You should have some bargaining power on sticker price later in the year, when new Mercedes and Audi crossovers go on sale. We're not fans of the BMW navigation system, but we think the optional rear side airbags are worth the upcharge, particularly if you carry people young and old in the back on a regular basis.

The 2008 BMW X3 is a far cry from the original X3 that went on sale in 2004. BMW's first stab at a compact crossover felt harsh and unrefined, and its interior was far below the usual BMW standards of quality.

With the 2007 model year, BMW made major upgrades to the X3, and the changes are all for the better. For starters, BMW transplanted a new powertrain under its hood. The major infusion of power comes from a standard 3.0-liter, inline six-cylinder engine producing 260 horsepower. A six-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive are standard equipment, while a six-speed Steptronic automatic is available as a no-cost option. Handling and ride are still biased toward the SUV end of the spectrum, but the harsh, jittery ride has been toned down.

The interior of the 2008 BMW X3 carries the new style introduced in 2007. There's more storage, the plastics are of a higher quality than those in the first X3, and overall, the styling is more like BMW's own 3-Series cars, with a bit of wood trim on the panels. A little more cargo room has been allocated, but the BMW X3's interior is still a bit tight for adults, particularly in the second row.

New features include a panorama-style roof, heated front and second-row seats, available heated steering wheel (cold weather package), side impact and curtain airbags, stability and traction control, park assist, and Bluetooth wireless technology. Second-row, side impact airbags are available optionally. The NHTSA has not yet tested the new BMW X3, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives it "good" ratings for front and side impact protection and calls it a Top Safety Pick.

Other Choices:

If you like the 2008 BMW X3, also consider:

Reason Why:

Even the most refined vehicle in this class, the Acura RDX, suffers a bit from a choppy ride and a slightly off-base, zippy turbocharged engine. The Land Rover LR2 has a more subdued V-6 engine, more rear-seat room, and more off-road credibility, along with a busy interior. The Mercedes-Benz GLK and Audi Q5 are unknown quantities, but they're worth a look later this year when they go on sale for the first time.

The Bottom Line:

The 2008 BMW X3 gets much-needed improvements to its ride and its interior, but it's still more rugged--though not as refined--as the Acura RDX.

TheCarConnection.com's editors read the latest reviews on the new 2008 BMW X3 to write this comprehensive review. Our car experts also drove the 2008 BMW X3 in Germany and in the U.S., to be able to deliver our definitive opinion on the car, to compare it with other cars in the class, and to help you decide which vehicle is right for you. Likes:Upgraded powerAvailable manual transmissionRevamped interior stylingStandard all-wheel drivePanoramic sunroofDislikes:Choppy stylingTight second-row seatingHandling more SUV than crossoverBuying Tips: The 2008 BMW X3 competes in a market segment with lots of new entries on the way. You should have some bargaining power on sticker price later in the year, when new Mercedes and Audi crossovers go on sale. We're not fans of the BMW navigation system, but we think the optional rear side airbags are worth the upcharge, particularly if you carry people young and old in the back on a regular basis. The 2008 BMW X3 is a far cry from the original X3 that went on sale in 2004. BMW's first stab at a compact crossover felt harsh and unrefined, and its interior was far below the usual BMW standards of quality. With the 2007 model year, BMW made major upgrades to the X3, and the changes are all for the better. For starters, BMW transplanted a new powertrain under its hood. The major infusion of power comes from a standard 3.0-liter, inline six-cylinder engine producing 260 horsepower. A six-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive are standard equipment, while a six-speed Steptronic automatic is available as a no-cost option. Handling and ride are still biased toward the SUV end of the spectrum, but the harsh, jittery ride has been toned down. The interior of the 2008 BMW X3 carries the new style introduced in 2007. There's more storage, the plastics are of a higher quality than those in the first X3, and overall, the styling is more like BMW's own 3-Series cars, with a bit of wood trim on the panels. A little more cargo room has been allocated, but the BMW X3's interior is still a bit tight for adults, particularly in the second row. New features include a panorama-style roof, heated front and second-row seats, available heated steering wheel (cold weather package), side impact and curtain airbags, stability and traction control, park assist, and Bluetooth wireless technology. Second-row, side impact airbags are available optionally. The NHTSA has not yet tested the new BMW X3, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives it "good" ratings for front and side impact protection and calls it a Top Safety Pick. Other Choices:If you like the 2008 BMW X3, also consider:Acura RDXLand Rover LR2Mercedes-Benz GLKAudi Q5Reason Why:Even the most refined vehicle in this class, the Acura RDX, suffers a bit from a choppy ride and a slightly off-base, zippy turbocharged engine. The Land Rover LR2 has a more subdued V-6 engine, more rear-seat room, and more off-road credibility, along with a busy interior. The Mercedes-Benz GLK and Audi Q5 are unknown quantities, but they're worth a look later this year when they go on sale for the first time. The Bottom Line:The 2008 BMW X3 gets much-needed improvements to its ride and its interior, but it's still more rugged--though not as refined--as the Acura RDX. TheCarConnection.com's editors read the latest reviews on the new 2008 BMW X3 to write this comprehensive review. Our car experts also drove the 2008 BMW X3 in Germany and in the U.S., to be able to deliver our definitive opinion on the car, to compare it with other cars in the class, and ...

Other Choices:

Even the most refined vehicle in this class, the Acura RDX, suffers a bit from a choppy ride and a slightly off-base, zippy turbocharged engine. The Land Rover LR2 has a more subdued V-6 engine, more rear-seat room, and more off-road credibility, along with a busy interior. The Mercedes-Benz GLK and Audi Q5 are unknown quantities, but they're worth a look later this year when they go on sale for the first time.

Next Steps:

Check Insurance Rates

for the 2008 BMW X3-Series

Check Financing Rates

for the 2008 BMW X3-Series

Check Local Classifieds

for a 2008 BMW X3-Series near you

See the BMW X3-Series in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2001

Comments (3 total)

  1. By Kevin Monroe #1, Posted: 10/11/2009

    The X3 is a disaster. Please read this letter I wrote to a Benz dealer when he contacted about having hired my prior BMW salesman.
    Avoid this car.
    Dear Ted,
    I am sorry to hear that Peter Hill has left BMW and moved over to MB. I have been counting the days until the lease on the BMW X3 he sold me is up, so I could caustically spill my guts to him about why I dislike this auto so much. Nothing personal here, mind you. I just hate the car, not Peter. Nevertheless, just to vent 15 months of pent up frustration, I would like to list a few of the things I hate about the X3. Perhaps Peter can use this letter to help perk up his MB Sport Ute sales at the expense of BMW. To appreciate my grief you should know in advance that I am an avid biker and photographer.
    1. The sensors that surround the car that detect a "close" objects are nothing but an annoyance. Guess what happens every time I turn on the ignition with my bike on the back of the car >>>>ALARM!!!
    Guess what happens every time I turn on the ignition in my small garage or any garage where someone has parked close to me or where I am close to the front wall >>>ALARM!!
    Guess what happens every time I put the car in reverse>>>> ALARM ( god forbid I should miss-judge a parallel park and have to back up 2 or 3 times).
    2. Congrats to the German engineer who designed the weight sensor in the front seats. He must have worked with Metler balances in his prior occupation, since they are designed to detect a human the size of my liver. Guess what happens when I place my 7 pound camera on the passenger seat without buckling the seatbelt...you got it>>>> ALARM! Try a textbook...OOPS>>>>ALARM! Get the picture? I basically have to drive all the time with the passenger seatbelt fastened, whether there is a passenger or not.
    3. This is the first car I have owned (and the last) that has a seatbelt alarm that will wail into infinity should you decide for whatever personal reason that you just don't want to wear a fucking seat belt (for instance...to drive from the Kroger over to the Radio Shack in the same strip mall). Who's car is this anyway.... mine or the government's? A brief alarm is annoying enough. One that never stops..... Gestapo.
    4. The double moon roof is poorly designed and when fully opened with the other windows closed, creates a middle ear pressure gradient that is debilitating at speeds exceeding 45mph. Even if only half opened, the pressure gradient is annoying at 60mph and intolerable at 70mph.
    5. Placement of the universal door lock in the central dashboard renders it completely useless. It will not lock the doors with the door open and thus is worthless when trying to exit the car. Essentially, it requires the driver to have a free hand to active the door lock with the car key, once you are out of the car... Hey BMW, the Japanese beat you hands down on this little ergonomic blunder. Don't mess with perfection.....Put it on the door like everybody else... duh!
    6. Poor placement of the iPod storage bin... an afterthought that is inconvenient and didn't account for the unsightly wire leading from the port. Also, a $45K car should be able to change tracks on the iPOD without an upgrade package ( see $20K Japanese cars).
    7. Gas milage stays consistently at the lowest end of the EPA range listed on the sticker... has never attained more than 20mpg, even at 55mph on interstate, with cruise control activated.... had my lease been up, I would have turned it in as a clunker.
    Any positives related to this car are far outweighed by the above. The various alarms are a constant reminder of how much I hate this vehicle, Maybe I should save this email to just hand to Peter's replacement at BMW, so I don't have to explain it all verbally.
    Good Luck to Peter and MB,
    Sincerely,
    Kevin Monroe

  2. By jenny #2, Posted: 10/29/2009

    why would you pay that much money on a lease for the x3 with all the options anyways? Its a tiny SUV with the bmw engine, but isnt supposed to have awesome options..thats what the x5 is for. It was made for a person that wants a chaeper suv with the bmw name/engine/steering.

  3. By BMWX3 #3, Posted: 10/30/2009

    The BMW X3. The WORST car I have ever driven much less owned. This car is an absolutely dangerous disaster.
    1. The X3 has a terrible ride. It is so bouncy, bucking, swaying, rocking that it can actually make the driver seasick. According to the dealer this is caused by the AWD. Hands up if that makes any sense to anyone. My vote is for the suspension.
    2. The AT, a continuation of the 2007 GM6 AT problems will intermittently fail to accelerate for a few seconds when you need to make a turn or when you simply want to speed up. Step on the gas..nothing. Press harder...nothing. Press harder...boom you are off like a rocket!
    The AT also downshifts so hard when you take your foot off the brake that it decelerates going DOWNHILL. It decelerates so hard and so unexpectedly at times that it is already slowing down hard as you are braking leading to a really hard and short stop. Surprise!
    According to the dealer, this is standard and normal and designed to work this way. Hands up if this makes any sense to anyone.
    3. The road noise is so loud you can hear it above the radio. It grinds so hard that it vibrates through the pedal and sometimes up through the steering column. According to the dealer, the noise is also due to the AWD. Oh, why not.
    4. Windows fog up instantly for no apparent reason. Try becoming instantly blind while driving. That means no visibility out the front, out the back or out the sides in an instant. Surprise!
    Feature for feature the X3 is the most expensive car in its class. It does not come with standard leather, it does not come with standard bluetooth, it has a poor standard radio system, etc.
    It does have a nice pano roof but now the question is...where is the moisture fogging the windows coming from anyway?
    What a horrible new car buying experience this thing has been. Just awful.

Post a comment

Post anonymously, or
(Required)
(Required - will not be published, sold or shared)
(Optional - your 'posted by' name will link to the URL)

Remember Me?

I have read TheCarConnection.com's privacy policy