[shoman24v]

Hey all, just picked up (in February) our first modern BMW from Roseville BMW. I have been driving BMW's since I was 20. My first BMW was an E36 I had for about 14 years before selling it, had an E46 330i that I just sold on Bring a Trailer, and currently drive a 2000 528iTA.

With our new baby, I decided it was time for us to get a newer car, wife had a Nissan Rogue with about 100k and I only put 17k miles on my E46 after having it 3 years. We sold both cars and used the money to find this 2017 F25 X3!

Overall, I am pretty happy with the car. The N20 motor definitely has some power, though it is much different than the inline six I have been used to for so many years. Been driving manual transmissions all my life, and the ZF 8 speed is amazing. My biggest gripe would be the electric steering is Camry like compared to my E39.

The car spec'd with Alpine white over Ivory White Nevada Leather, M-Sport, Driver Assistance Plus, and the Lighting Package. The only packages I wish it had additionally were LED headlamps, Comfort Access, maybe the Cold Weather Package for rear seat heating, and adaptive cruise - but that option seems really hard to find on cars.

I am very much a DIY person when it has come to my BMWs over the years. It does seem this car is a bit more compilated, but I'm hoping to learn as I go. Really happy it is not an XDrive - mainly because we don't need it here in CA and to me, it is just something to maintain that can fail and be expensive to fix.

In the upcoming future, when I have time, I plan on ditching the 0w20 oil that it came with for the Liqui Moly Special Tech LL 5w30 I bought, replace the plugs, and do a transmission fluid flush.

Anyway, here are some photos when I picked it up!








And a more recent one:

[evilchargerfan]

looking good, and welcome aboard!


just curious, how much did the e46 sell for on BAT?

[shoman24v]

Originally Posted by evilchargerfan

looking good, and welcome aboard!


just curious, how much did the e46 sell for on BAT?

Thanks, loving the car so far!

$6,100. A little low in my opinion since the car had over $4,000 in new parts over my ownership. Based off past sales, people were paying $7k for cars with little to no maintenance, so I expected close to that. But, it went live just as the coronavirus stuff started happening. Made me question whether spending over a grand replacing the headlight lenses and suspension just before the sale was worth it.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2002-bmw-330i-10/

[pdubq]

Beautiful X3! Congratulations and welcome!

[bpwj76]

Very nice spec! Love the interior!

[Phil Devtec]

Nice looking car! I've always been partial to white vehicles. Very nice.

[383vett]

Congrats!

[pungo]

Congrats!!!
The M-Sport looks great in Alpine.
What type of headlights do you get if they aren't LED?

[shoman24v]

Originally Posted by pungo

Congrats!!!
The M-Sport looks great in Alpine.
What type of headlights do you get if they aren't LED?

This has the xenons, which is completely fine, but if I was to be picky, I'd want the LEDs

[RedRaiderDavid]

Nice! I have similar color interior in my black X3 35i. I was iffy about it from the start being such a contrast to the black interior in my 335 but it's grown on me.

[shoman24v]

Originally Posted by RedRaiderDavid

Nice! I have similar color interior in my black X3 35i. I was iffy about it from the start being such a contrast to the black interior in my 335 but it's grown on me.

I was hesitant about it too. But, once I saw it in person, that changed my mind. It's a gorgeous interior that provides some great contrast against the black.

[shoman24v]

My first round of maintenance items came in

[Wgosma]

Your white car looks great!

I caught your comment about the steering; I drove E39 M-Sport cars w/5 spd manuals for 12 years before I bought used 2012 F25 28i just 2 years ago- can't compare steering feel- it's night/day different.

Enjoy your car, just very nice inside and out-

[Lgold]

I just bought a similar white 2017 X3 with M Sport. I've only had it for a few days and it's been great to drive. It's my first BMW, so I'm a real novice! I hope to learn a bunch by being part of this group.

Can you tell me why you're changing the oil to the Liqui Moly and to the Laser Iridium plugs?

[shoman24v]

Originally Posted by Lgold

I just bought a similar white 2017 X3 with M Sport. I've only had it for a few days and it's been great to drive. It's my first BMW, so I'm a real novice! I hope to learn a bunch by being part of this group.

Can you tell me why you're changing the oil to the Liqui Moly and to the Laser Iridium plugs?

0w20 is thin IMO. It's for fuel economy and not really for performance.

These should be the same plugs as the BMW branded plugs. I have not installed them yet though. Car has just under 36k.

[JaeP]

I’d add the Dinan sport chip and it becomes a different car....super fun.

[thenew3]

Looks nice.

I don't think LED were an option on the F25. At least when we ordered my wife's X3 (2016) bi-xenon were the upgraded lights, which we have and is very bright.

[shoman24v]

Originally Posted by JaeP

I’d add the Dinan sport chip and it becomes a different car....super fun.

I bet, it's my wifes car. I have an E39 528i Touring that I drive, so we probably won't be doing any mods lol. I'm pretty happy with the power of the N20 though.

Originally Posted by thenew3

Looks nice.

I don't think LED were an option on the F25. At least when we ordered my wife's X3 (2016) bi-xenon were the upgraded lights, which we have and is very bright.

F25 did get the LED headlights as an option, but I think it was additional to the lighting package. Not to many cars have them. We have the xenon, and in my opinion, that should be the default for these cars. Even my 20 year old E39 has xenons lol.

[Vikingstaff]

Car looks great. Congratulations and enjoy!

[pungo]

Originally Posted by shoman24v

We have the xenon, and in my opinion, that should be the default for these cars. Even my 20 year old E39 has xenons lol.

Xenons on the E39 were an option, Halogen H7 were standard, just like the X3. Maybe certain model E39 included Xenons, like all X3 35i get Xenons as standard.

It's a shame so my people with a F25 are stuck with Halogens. I drove one and they were extremely poor, my mountain bike lights are way brighter LOL.

[shoman24v]

Originally Posted by pungo

Xenons on the E39 were an option, Halogen H7 were standard, just like the X3. Maybe certain model E39 included Xenons, like all X3 35i get Xenons as standard.

It's a shame so my people with a F25 are stuck with Halogens. I drove one and they were extremely poor, my mountain bike lights are way brighter LOL.

It was more that it was an option 20 years ago lol. A $500 option at that, which mine have. They're great for a car of that age! Your comment about F25 halogens are hilarious

[scostu]

Originally Posted by pungo

Xenons on the E39 were an option, Halogen H7 were standard, just like the X3. Maybe certain model E39 included Xenons, like all X3 35i get Xenons as standard.

It's a shame so my people with a F25 are stuck with Halogens. I drove one and they were extremely poor, my mountain bike lights are way brighter LOL.

I don't understand why BMW doesn't make HID's standard across all models and upgrade to LED/Laser???!!!


BMW halogens are ...............

The standard headlights on the 2016 BMW 3 Series are the worst of any brand in the world. If you do buy a 3 Series, get the upgraded LED curve-adaptive system with high-beam assist. But even then, they are only rated as marginal. For the full IIHS headlight study go here.

https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/mor...rginal-or-poor

https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle...017#headlights