[Smithy2014]

Its as though the X3 was released last week rather than 2 years ago.

I was stuck between Deep Sea Blue and Space Grey and wanted to see the Ivory leather in the flesh as photos dont always look like they do in real life. Anyway went to my local dealer and they had 1 Space Grey in the showroom but nothing else (couldnt even offer a test drive as there wasnt another one), the next dealer was exactly the same - 1 in the showroom and no demo's or used for sale. Third dealer I went to didnt even have a showroom X3! Fourth dealer didnt have one in the showroom but luckily a black one with Ivory leather had just arrived for a customer so that ticked the box for the interior. Fourth dealer I tried (about 40 mile away also didnt have a showroom X3 but had 3 used ones - one of which was in space grey so that confirmed my colour choice. I came home and searched BMW Approved Used and Autotrader and the nearest Deep Sea Blue was 150 miles away! (although I did see the colour on a 6 series but prefered the Space Grey)

Also in over 3 weeks of purposely looking for an X3 on the road I havent seen a single one - something which I dont mind as when I get mine I think I will be quite exclusive on the road but to answer my question - why are they so hard to find??

[halfalife]

Where do you live ?

[MattUK]

See quite a lot of them on the road, admittedly you don't seem to find many of them in dealerships when I've been in.. can't hurt resales then

[philtrick123]

It seems that all UK X3's are built to order. I'm not aware of UK dealers ordering 'stock' X3's.
On top of that the X3 owners probably are not trading in; what would they change to that's a better SUV?
I'm in the second year of a two year finance and I'm already planning to keep the X3 for longer.

[cooldude00]

i see plenty of X3s around where I'm nowadays... hardly feels special anymore compared to 2 yrs ago when they were scarce!

[ianfp]

I was talking to a sales guy in my local dealership on Friday and he told me that if they get an X3 traded in, they have customers available to sell them to immediately. So they never have any in stock. They had a new X3 1.8D in the showroom and that was it.

I saw a Deep Sea blue a few weeks ago and although I really like the colour, I think I prefer the Space Grey! Good choice!

[plymjack]

Im on a 4 year finance deal - and will be keeping it unless they offer me a better package.
My local dealer has told me the X3s are hard to get and they offer no deals on them as they are in hight demand.
When we ordered ours in march 12 we only saw one other on the motorway until we picked it up in May 12, since then we do see them just about every time we take a road trip up the M5 so they are a lot more around.

[skansa]

placed my order 2 weeks ago for Mineral Silver X3 30d SE and all the trimmings.

Delivery expected week before Xmas!!

[skansa]

and to OP, my local dealer didnt have an X3 as well. They said we can look at an X5 if we want to

[clivem2]

The dealers will probaly wait for the X3 LCI before getting fresh demo X3s. BTW I don't see many X3s around South Manchester.

[The X Men]

Over here in the Northeast US, the X3 is very common. I see maybe at least 2 or 3 on the road everyday. I guess the are as common as the Ford Fiesta over in UK.

[plymjack]

Originally Posted by The X Men

Over here in the Northeast US, the X3 is very common. I see maybe at least 2 or 3 on the road everyday. I guess the are as common as the Ford Fiesta over in UK.

lol.... the Fiesta is long gone...lol

[Yeltzer]

I've seen quite a few in the Midlands, including a 63 plate on the M5 south about an hour ago!

[Yeltzer]

I've seen quite a few in the Midlands, including a 63 plate on the M5 south about an hour ago!

[MattUK]

Hmmm maybe time to trade up then

[buze]

I don't see many of them either; I commute around the m25 etc, and I see perhaps 1 a week. I saw one sunday (deep blue) but in berkshire at least, they are not popular...

I ever saw ONE other in sparkling bronze, in 13k miles.

[lorien]

Originally Posted by skansa

placed my order 2 weeks ago for Mineral Silver X3 30d SE and all the trimmings.

Delivery expected week before Xmas!!

I placed an order on 9th Sept, and was told delivery would be end of Nov/early December - since then I've been advised that it's likely to February 2014 - would be interested to know if your delivery date is still this year.

At the time of placing the order, all orders already on the system were showing as Feb delivery, but the dealer contacted BMW who assured him that it would be this year, but so far no change - I've got a car to P/Ex and obviously the value will be a lot less in Feb next year than Nov this....

[philtrick123]

Originally Posted by lorien

I placed an order on 9th Sept, and was told delivery would be end of Nov/early December - since then I've been advised that it's likely to February 2014 - would be interested to know if your delivery date is still this year.

At the time of placing the order, all orders already on the system were showing as Feb delivery, but the dealer contacted BMW who assured him that it would be this year, but so far no change - I've got a car to P/Ex and obviously the value will be a lot less in Feb next year than Nov this....

Looks like lead times have gone back up for UK deliveries. They did come down to 12 weeks at one point.

[Smithy2014]

Mine was ordered 1st October and I have been given a date of end of February for delivery. A couple of dealers I spoke to advised 4 to 5 months from order so I would suspect its unlikely yours will arrive November / December. If the supplying dealer advised that date when you ordered it may be worth your while informing them of your predicament as they may be able to help. I had a similar issue with BMW some years ago where a delivery was delayed and they provided a 3 series as a courtesy car until mine arrived.

[cc3]

One of the few BMW 's in the UK that holds its value reasonably well. Why because they only build to order and don't flood the market like they do with 1 and 3 series. 1 series depreciation is seriously bad

[mike333]

Originally Posted by Smithy2014

Mine was ordered 1st October and I have been given a date of end of February for delivery. A couple of dealers I spoke to advised 4 to 5 months from order so I would suspect its unlikely yours will arrive November / December. If the supplying dealer advised that date when you ordered it may be worth your while informing them of your predicament as they may be able to help. I had a similar issue with BMW some years ago where a delivery was delayed and they provided a 3 series as a courtesy car until mine arrived.

I understand that may be longer waiting times for the 30D engine.

[lorien]

Originally Posted by Smithy2014

Mine was ordered 1st October and I have been given a date of end of February for delivery.

I suppose it's not worth hoping that the delay is due to LCI?