[djnemo]

Thank you all for the the thoughtful feedback. Obviously asking this question in a BMW forum will involve a certain amount of bias, but this is a great help. I am thinking the back up camera would be the only option I'd really need, but I can add it myself for around $500.

[Portimao318]

What about Park Distance Control ? This works great and might be cheaper than a camera maybe.

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/insights/t...e_control.html

The signal turns from yellow to green and red (means too close) and it starts to beep when too close.

[morphomeman]

The BMW package has both a camera and park distance control. I have had a stand-alone camera on other cars (it will soon be mandatory) and it is really inadequate. I especially appreciate the distance control getting into and out of our garage at home, which is pretty tight.
Adding non-OEM equipment after the fact is always more costly, because you have to figure in the cost of labor, plus the loss in value that results from tinkering with the car, no matter how much money you pour into it. And unless you have a mechanic that knows exactly what they are doing with a BMW, there is a good chance that they will botch the job.
My advice: order the PDC package if nothing else. You will not regret the small cost.
Personally, I would never buy a car without seat memory, because my wife and I are very different in height. Getting the setting right is not worth the savings in cost.

[MichiganMike]

I would add upgraded headlights (Xenon or LED) to my must have options. The performance of the halogen headlights standard on the X3 28i is unacceptable to me.

[atomic]

I would not get a X3 without any options. I hAd a pretty basic X3 rental when my car was in the body shop. The seats were made of some crappy material. I would get at least leather, navigation and keyless entry push button start, and 4 wheel drive. You should be able to get a good enough discount to get down to 40k if you shop around.

[atomic]

Originally Posted by MichiganMike

I would add upgraded headlights (Xenon or LED) to my must have options. The performance of the halogen headlights standard on the X3 28i is unacceptable to me.

I would say of all the options on my car the Xenon lighting is the most useless to me. I would have skipped that option if I had to do it over.

[Peter_R]

Originally Posted by MichiganMike

I would add upgraded headlights (Xenon or LED) to my must have options. The performance of the halogen headlights standard on the X3 28i is unacceptable to me.

In my opinion,this is one of the "must have options". In fact on UK forums the Halogen headlights (lack of Xenons) is the most complained about feature.

[droftrah]

Originally Posted by Peter_R

In my opinion,this is one of the "must have options". In fact on UK forums the Halogen headlights (lack of Xenons) is the most complained about feature.

I agree. Premium pack and PDC are also what I believe to be necessary packages. Beyond that tech is a close 2nd. I'm also a fan of the upgraded audio packages on cars but thats personal preference.

As for comparing the escape to the X3... They are not comparable, escape is a much smaller car and feels very different to drive (I drive Fords for work). It also has some odd ergonomic quirks, like the left footrest is extremely close and it gives you an office chair like driving position. The escape is also on its way out, it's been on the market since 2008 or something as the Kuga in Europe. I would consider the new Edge over an Escape, much better quality, much more comfortable, and it feels much more comparable to the X3

[plymjack]

Originally Posted by Peter_R

In my opinion,this is one of the "must have options". In fact on UK forums the Halogen headlights (lack of Xenons) is the most complained about feature.

No complaints from us.... they work fine, yes the Xenons "look" nice but the performance of the halogens is entirely acceptable.

[plymjack]

Originally Posted by atomic

I would say of all the options on my car the Xenon lighting is the most useless to me. I would have skipped that option if I had to do it over.

Not useless but the most over-rated option by far.... indeed...

[Barbera335]

Originally Posted by plymjack

Not useless but the most over-rated option by far.... indeed...

+1 On these comments. I will also add it is much cheaper to replace the bulbs on a halogen car and forgoing the adaptive and leveling functions creates a much simpler and more reliable headlamp system. Also, should I need to replace the housing due to sun fading, damage, etc the housing is a quarter of the price of a Xenon/LED housing. Halogen for me.

[Peter_R]

Originally Posted by Barbera335

+1 On these comments. I will also add it is much cheaper to replace the bulbs on a halogen car and forgoing the adaptive and leveling functions creates a much simpler and more reliable headlamp system. Also, should I need to replace the housing due to sun fading, damage, etc the housing is a quarter of the price of a Xenon/LED housing. Halogen for me.

Well, like it or not Halogens are considered as candles by many users in the UK. Some try to kid themselves that they are adequate. Well that is about all they are, but to be honest they are considered useless in country lanes in the UK and can be very tiring if you have to use them for any length of time. I made a mistake over 4 years ago and forgot to specify them on my F31 320d and regretted it for 2 years before selling it on. You only have to ask UK dealers what is asked for and you will find they are specified as adaptive Xenons by most users.

When I traded the F31 320d in for my 10 month old xDrive 30d MSport the first thing I asked the dealer was if it had Xenons and he said it is unusual not to have them on the X3.

In my view after driving for some years (see above Halogen candles on my F31 320d) the BMW adaptive Xenons are the most comfortable on the eyes and easiest systems to drive with. Once you have pressed the button and have the blue adaptive light on you can forget them and concentrate on driving. They are a great safety asset to the car.

From my understanding you cannot get Adaptive Xenons in the US. If you read the following thread, you will find they have to accept standard Xenons that do NOT swivel when you go round corners.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=929114

[MichiganMike]

I appreciate headlights in Europe may be different than those approved by the US DOT.

In US tests of headlights by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the halogen headlights in the BMW 2 series were rated poor. Even Xenon headlights with high beam assist on the BMW 2 series were rated marginal, but the Xenon headlights with or without high beam assist demonstrated better lighting at greater distances than the halogen headlights. The halogen headlights on the BMW 3 series were reported to be at the bottom of the IIHS tests. Your experience with the X3 may be different.

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/veh...oor-coupe/2016

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/sr/statusreport/article/51/3/1

[droftrah]

Originally Posted by Peter_R

.

From my understanding you cannot get Adaptive Xenons in the US. If you read the following thread, you will find they have to accept standard Xenons that do NOT swivel when you go round corners.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=929114

Adaptive xenons in US do have the auto leveling and corner swiveling function, only when the switch is in the A position though. If the headlights are turned on manually they only auto level they don't corner.

[Peter_R]

Originally Posted by ch35iM

Adaptive xenons in US do have the auto leveling and corner swiveling function, only when the switch is in the A position though. If the headlights are turned on manually they only auto level they don't corner.

Hummmm....I will have to try that. Did not know that there was a difference between the settings.

[Andy_o]

I think that the X3 is one of those very few cars that is more than a sum of its parts

I think it is probably the best all round car that Bmw currently makes

I've driven no end of cars through work and to be honest I've found very few that just do everything I ask of it so competently

It may be a little boring but by god it is one hell of a competent car

Re the xenons .. I have the adaptive ones with built in witchcraft and they are truly amazing

But then again I do drive a lot at very odd times and on unlit country roads

I'll accept that city dwellers that rarely drive at night or in the sticks probably would be wasting money on them .. But they do transform the look of the car and come with LED rears

I've driven the Kia, the Hyundai, the ford and they just aren't as special in my mind

[kevink1]

To me, a lot depends on whether it is an extra vehicle, or an only vehicle. My X3 is my only vehicle, and I figured I would be upset with myself if I didn't get some of the extra options. Unfortunately, you also end up buying some you don't really care about too. Adding over $14K in my case over the base model.

But, if I was to buy a second vehicle to drive, such as a 3 series, I think I could get mostly a stripped model for that. Have the X3 when want more features. I drove a 3 series a couple times as loaners, and the only thing they really missed that I have is the satellite radio and the nav. But I could live without these by using SiriusXM on the phone, and maps on the phone

[Portimao318]

How was it possible that I have been driving in cars for the past 30 years without Xenon ??
Never knew that I could not see in the dark.....

[Peter_R]

Originally Posted by ch35iM

Adaptive xenons in US do have the auto leveling and corner swiveling function, only when the switch is in the A position though. If the headlights are turned on manually they only auto level they don't corner.

Tested this in the UK last night and it is exactly the same on my X3 xDrive30d M Sport. I had not noticed the difference because I never switch them on manually, leaving them in the A position all the time.

[plymjack]

Originally Posted by Peter_R

Well, like it or not Halogens are considered as candles by many users in the UK. Some try to kid themselves that they are adequate. Well that is about all they are, but to be honest they are considered useless in country lanes in the UK and can be very tiring if you have to use them for any length of time. You only have to ask UK dealers what is asked for and you will find they are specified as adaptive Xenons by most users.


In my view after driving for some years the BMW adaptive Xenons are the most comfortable on the eyes and easiest systems to drive with. Once you have pressed the button and have the blue adaptive light on you can forget them and concentrate on driving. They are a great safety asset to the car.

[/url]

The may well be bettter and more confortable then halogens, but "candles"!
Of course dealers push them £££ - and yes one day all cars will have them - when we purchased our X3 it would have cost another £ 1200 (3% of purchase price!) now they are down to £600 (£1.5%) then yes we may have them next time - then we can drive down those country lanes again!!

[Andy_o]

Originally Posted by Peter_R

Well, like it or not Halogens are considered as candles by many users in the UK. Some try to kid themselves that they are adequate. Well that is about all they are, but to be honest they are considered useless in country lanes in the UK and can be very tiring if you have to use them for any length of time. I made a mistake over 4 years ago and forgot to specify them on my F31 320d and regretted it for 2 years before selling it on. You only have to ask UK dealers what is asked for and you will find they are specified as adaptive Xenons by most users.

When I traded the F31 320d in for my 10 month old xDrive 30d MSport the first thing I asked the dealer was if it had Xenons and he said it is unusual not to have them on the X3.

In my view after driving for some years (see above Halogen candles on my F31 320d) the BMW adaptive Xenons are the most comfortable on the eyes and easiest systems to drive with. Once you have pressed the button and have the blue adaptive light on you can forget them and concentrate on driving. They are a great safety asset to the car.

From my understanding you cannot get Adaptive Xenons in the US. If you read the following thread, you will find they have to accept standard Xenons that do NOT swivel when you go round corners.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=929114

"When I traded the F31 320d in for my 10 month old xDrive 30d MSport the first thing I asked the dealer was if it had Xenons and he said it is unusual not to have them on the X3."


Have to say in my part of the U.K. X3's with xenons seem very rare

Most seem to be White Msports with no options.

See quite a few on my travels hardly ever see any with upgraded lights

Very few 30/35d's

[Peter_R]

Andy_o

It must be to do with the part of the country you live in and perhaps the level of disposable income. I live in a village in Oxfordshire that is only 12 miles from the BMW Mini plant and because of that we have a community with many working there in one capacity or another. These people tend to drive BMWs because they get good discounts one way or another and accordingly we see many BMWs sitting on the people's drives.

There are four X3s within one mile of me and two within 200 yards and they are all Space Grey. They are all MSport and 63 plate onwards having Angel Eyes that denotes the upgraded lights.

It is all down to your priorities. In my view you reduce the impact of the cost of Xenons by negotiation or by subtle changes to your desired specification when doing the deal. Also many people just do not realise the difference between visibility of one lighting system over the other until it is too late to change the build specification.

Anyway, gone are the days that you are a captive audience when you need to purchase locally. If you cannot do a deal that suits you locally, then you tell the dealer you are going elsewhere. Around 3 years ago, I met a BMW acquaintance on another forum who lived in Aberdeen. He did a deal with Coopers of Croydon (I think) and stayed with me overnight during the collection of the car. He saved £1500 and that sort of money could get him desirables or essentials that suited him.