[djnemo]

Thinking of joining the X3 club. My budget is $40k USD max so I am looking at either a loaded Ford Escape/Kia Sportage type of car, or a 2016 X3 with no options. My question- is a no option X3 still a worthwhile buy without the lumbar support/leather/rear view camera?

[Peter_R]

You are asking this question on a BMW X3 forum?

[honeybadgerch]

It really depends on what you want. If you can live and be happy with a bare bones X3, because you genuinely don't want or need those features, and love the vehicle without them, then go for it!

However, if your driving experience/overall level of vehicle satisfaction would be complimented or completed by having those features, it would be advisable to take the money and get an optioned out Ford or Kia.

I would consider the following: Are you really willing to stick with a bare bones BMW for years, where every time you sit in the cabin you think about how nice it WOULD be to have those features, longing for them?

OR

Would you derive more satisfaction and overall utility from a Ford or KIA over the same timeframe with the options, the comfort etc.. that you can get for the same money.

Other considerations:

The maintenance costs (while often exaggerated by people) are somewhat more on a BMW. You must be able to accept and go along with this reality. With a Ford or KIA, your maintenance will be lower (generally) because of the nature of the vehicles.

Resale: the market for bare bones, last generation models (assuming you keep the F25 until the G01 comes out) is tough. Buyers of used vehicles capitalize on the feature laden vehicles on the market. As such, you might find it tough to resell the vehicle in the future.

Mods/Add-ons: You might find yourself desperately wanting the RVC in the X3. I can attest to it's practicality and functionality, given the limited rear visibility to is inherent to the nature of the platform. Should you one day opt for these add-ons, you will find yourself sinking money and time into them, with little or no gained value on the vehicle. Resale of modified NON-OEM add-ons on vehicles often causes buyers to shy away, due to their non ingratiated nature.

I would seriously consider weighing these points and deciding what is the right option for you.

[plymjack]

Hi - we have a relatively basic 2.0D X3 - and it is the best car we have had by far. We did look at the alternatives but given we were keeping the car (5 years min) we wanted the best we could have.

The drive of the X3 is far better then anything we had previously had. We have electric seats only as we both drive and im 6ft and my wife is 5ft! (so seat adjustment is electric!)
We did not get sports seats because wife found the hard to get out of. Rear parking sensors work just fine for us. and this is our first car with leather which is nice but not a deal beaker if it was not.

So if you like the drive then I would seriously consider it - if you are going to keep the car then the other points made are valid but only on resale.

Even in its basic form it is still an X3 and a great car.

[Flipflop99]

Hello. I would agree with plymjack. We have only lumbar support (as wife has a bad back), auto, SP glass and metallic paint as options and the car feels very good quality and expensive in comparison to ford & honda cars I drive at work. If you plan to keep the car for a while and enjoy the quality of the build, then go for it. I think the BMW will retain far more of its value at resale time than any loaded ford or Kia vehicle so go with your heart and not your head. Good luck!

[Portimao318]

go for a loaded Kia ! But dont put your keys on the counter in a club...... or buy a BMW key-ring and attach it to your Kia keys.....

Do you really think that a basic X3 is much less a car than a loaded one ? The Munich guys deliver "Freude am fahren" (joy to drive) in every BMW product, even in the cheapest basic 1-series.

[Peter_R]

There is only one way. Drive each vehicle and then sit back and give it a great deal of thought and then make your decision.

In several months time, you do not want to be driving around in a fully loaded KIA and looking at every X3 that goes past and thinking to yourself..."I wish I had bought one of them".

Remember when it comes to resale you get very little money back on OPTIONS or EXTRAS.

Just my view you understand.

[Portimao318]

Originally Posted by Peter_R

There is only one way. Drive each vehicle and then sit back and give it a great deal of thought and then make your decision.

I dont agree completely. You sometimes dont get to feel a car in just a short testdrive.

A car can grow on you in time. My X3 did.

[Peter_R]

Originally Posted by Endre2

I dont agree completely. You sometimes dont get to feel a car in just a short testdrive.

A car can grow on you in time. My X3 did.

Where did I say short test drive? I specifically made sure I did not say that.

In every case when I have purchased a new car, I have always had a car for at least 24 hours.

[Portimao318]

But you also did NOT say that you meant to take it on a 24 hour testdrive.....

anyway, I bought my X3 from the brochure, without one meter of testdrive. No regrets so far.

[morphomeman]

Good point about options. Lease or buy, you pay for them. The full cost is built into the lease (one reason not to lease a fully optioned vehicle) and if you buy, whenever you sell, the options are worth very little (one reason to hold onto a car if you buy it: you lose less on the options the longer you hold onto it).
So the lesson is that you get the greatest value for money either way by buying a stripper.
Now, do you get the same pleasure? Probably not. But pleasure seldom comes free.

[Peter_R]

Originally Posted by Endre2

But you also did NOT say that you meant to take it on a 24 hour testdrive.....

anyway, I bought my X3 from the brochure, without one meter of testdrive. No regrets so far.

From a brochure! You must be in love.

I did not need to say to take it for 24 hours. I said at least 24 hours. The time scale is irrelevant anyway. I drive a car for long enough (24 hours is normally long enough for my wife and myself) to make an informed judgement on how I will spend my money on a new car. That is since 1962 when I purchased my first one in Germany.

Do me a favour and stop picking holes in what time scale or not I test drive a car for.

Now back to the Original Posters question. I suggest you drive the car long enough to get a complete feel for it to see if you can live with it for a long time.

[Portimao318]

you stop picking, I would say. And dont you know what a smiley means ? (retorical, but Ill explain anyway . It means dont take it too seriously...).

[Peter_R]

[Peter_R]

Originally Posted by djnemo

I am looking at either a loaded Ford Escape/Kia Sportage type of car, or a 2016 X3 with no options. My question- is a no option X3 still a worthwhile buy without the lumbar support/leather/rear view camera?

Perhaps you should broaden your field? The Ford Escape and the Kia Sportage are classed as small SUVs. The BMW X3 is considered a larger SAV, so if you are looking for a BMW SAV (SUV) perhaps you should look at the new BMW X1. It is getting good reviews from some pundits.

Good luck with your search.

[Bimar]

Get the stock with at least a rear view camera the other options are livable without.

[TheBeast809]

Here is my 2 cents for what it might be worth.

I been driving BMWs for the past 15 years, I only drive the BMWs. everything else just feels wrong. a couple of months ago I decided I had to upgrade from a very fun 335i without xdrive(which in NY is a no no) to a SUV had a baby and found I can be the most overprotective papent ever!. although I wanted a x5 50I badly, my current financial situation didnt allow it.

so after several months of looking found a used 2015 x3 28i with xdrive base model with 25K mile with no options. No issues, 1 onwer, not accidents got it for 25,500 for a used car dealer. For me at the moment the deal made it woth giving up all the options, color, and anything else I really would want.

First thing I did, was take it to the Manhattan BMW dealer, and they gave me a new loaner with 400 miles on it. several options mine did not have like parking assist and rear view camera, oohhh and yea the big thing it was a 35I. I kept thingking the rear view camera really comes in handy, I should have gone for that. the bigger engine makes all the difference, which I already knew from the 335I wish I could afford paying the difference at the moment.

then I remember mine only cost 25.5K before tax and that puts a smile on my face.

In retrospect the only thing I would pay more for is the engine everything else you can live without if you are on a tight budget. Hope this brings some perspective.

all that said I think 40K is a big budget. specially if you are paying cash and not financing. there was a 2016 X5 with 11K miles on it no options I almost bought for 42K.

[Portimao318]

Originally Posted by X4guy

Get the stock with at least a rear view camera the other options are livable without.

If you can drive and park properly, you dont need a camera. I have driven 30 years without one, and never hit anything.... You really need no option at all. Obviously it is nicer and gives you more comfort, but you do not NEED it to get a smile on your face , driving an X3.

Dont pay more than you really want or can. Go for a basic one and you'll be fine.
Even a basic one has a nice radio, airconditioning, automatic transmission and so on. You really dont have to be ashamed driving it, and nobody can tell the difference anyway.

But this is just my humble opinion

[Bimar]

Originally Posted by Endre2

If you can drive and park properly, you dont need a camera. I have driven 30 years without one, and never hit anything.... You really need no option at all. Obviously it is nicer and gives you more comfort, but you do not NEED it to get a smile on your face , driving an X3.

Dont pay more than you really want or can. Go for a basic one and you'll be fine.
Even a basic one has a nice radio, airconditioning, automatic transmission and so on. You really dont have to be ashamed driving it, and nobody can tell the difference anyway.

But this is just my humble opinion

A rear view camera would help come resale, they are almost standard in most cars and one option people want on an suv.

[Peter_R]

Originally Posted by X4guy

A rear view camera would help come resale, they are almost standard in most cars and one option people want on an suv.

I agree. Definitely needed when my wife is driving.

[plymjack]

Originally Posted by TheBeast809

Here is my 2 cents for what it might be worth.

I been driving BMWs for the past 15 years, I only drive the BMWs. everything else just feels wrong.

I have been slowly coming to the same decision - had a few hire cars and others and every time I just get into the BMW (i3 or X3) it just seems to fit. My wife has never had any interest in cars before also really enjoys driving the X3.

Our local dealer always allows weekend test drives so we have also tried several other BMWs and really enjoy how the feel across them all works so well. So be sure to get a good test drive and then ENJOY.....

Re RVC - we have it on the i3 but to be honest the sensors work just as well....

[Portimao318]

Originally Posted by Peter_R

I agree. Definitely needed when my wife is driving.

Ah the wife. Thats a classic. But very true....

I believe my wife even has 4 cameras on her Juke !