New to the BMW World

Jamie82 · 08-04-2016, 04:04 AM

Hi all,

Having read through a number of threads on here it seems a lot of you have been BMW owners and enthusiasts for a number of years, so my excitement might be of little interest to you! However, my car history is: Fiesta, Civic, Qashqai and Octavia so to say I'm excited to join the ranks is an understatement! My old man had a 7 series for a couple of years back in the late 80s, and it was a beauty, so he's as excited as me (despite him being an A5 driver these days!).

Nothing fancy, just a "soft" step onto the BMW ladder (used 2011 X3 20d SE, manual, 60k miles). But really enjoyed the test drive, and am collecting this afternoon. Just wanted to share my newbie enthusiasm, and if you have any advice, tips, hints, suggestions or things to look out for/be aware of, then please let me know!

Thanks all,

Jamie

CESIUM · 08-04-2016, 05:52 AM

Awesome Jamie. Welcome to the fold. They truely are beautiful machines. I'm hooked for life I'm sure.

Enjoy your new ride!

Peter_R · 08-04-2016, 06:03 AM

Yes Welcome to the forum. There is a lot of good information posted on here....also some banter.

Enjoy the lively banter. Be advised there is no such thing as a silly question. You might of course get some silly answers because some forum member's first language is not English.

Andy_o · 08-04-2016, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamie82

Hi all,

Having read through a number of threads on here it seems a lot of you have been BMW owners and enthusiasts for a number of years, so my excitement might be of little interest to you! However, my car history is: Fiesta, Civic, Qashqai and Octavia so to say I'm excited to join the ranks is an understatement! My old man had a 7 series for a couple of years back in the late 80s, and it was a beauty, so he's as excited as me (despite him being an A5 driver these days!).

Nothing fancy, just a "soft" step onto the BMW ladder (used 2011 X3 20d SE, manual, 60k miles). But really enjoyed the test drive, and am collecting this afternoon. Just wanted to share my newbie enthusiasm, and if you have any advice, tips, hints, suggestions or things to look out for/be aware of, then please let me know!

Thanks all,

Jamie

Good move and welcome to what is probably the best all round car BMW currently make

I'm sure you'll love it

Jamie82 · 08-04-2016, 06:32 AM

Thanks for the warm welcome guys. I've got an emotional goodbye coming up with my trusty old Octavia, and then I'm lucky enough to have a 35 mile drive home by motorway and A roads in my X3

plymjack · 08-04-2016, 08:55 AM

Welcome, post a pic - like you we can here as newbies but are not a bit old...lol

Jamie82 · 08-04-2016, 01:51 PM

Best I could manage without crossing the road for now:

Portimao318 · 08-04-2016, 02:26 PM

Well jamie, I see you got the colour right ! Beautiful choice ! Many happy miles with it.

Andy_o · 08-04-2016, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamie82

Best I could manage without crossing the road for now:

Feel the love for Red

Jamie82 · 08-04-2016, 05:19 PM

Got my first issue already haha! "Dipped right beam failure". Is this likely to be something a bit more sinister than just replacing a bulb? Forgive my ignorance.

Portimao318 · 08-04-2016, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamie82

Got my first issue already haha! "Dipped right beam failure". Is this likely to be something a bit more sinister than just replacing a bulb? Forgive my ignorance.

Go back to the dealer where you bought it. He should fix it of course.

Jamie82 · 08-05-2016, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Endre2

Go back to the dealer where you bought it. He should fix it of course.

Cheers Endre. Yeah I'm planning to take it in this afternoon, was just wondering if it's a common issue or if it's likely to just be a bulb. I'm reluctant to get my clumsy hands on there to investigate it myself when I've only just bought the car :/

Jamie82 · 08-05-2016, 03:37 AM

Also just wanted to ask a quick question to more experienced owners - I'm going to be covering around 20k miles a year, on a car that has nigh on 60k miles (full BMW service history, 7 services). Do you think I should be looking to service it twice a year? One full service and one oil and filter change? I know there have been timing chain issues, but mine was built in June 2011 so wasn't sure if that puts it in the "timing chain should be ok" bracket.

Cheers.

Peter_R · 08-05-2016, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamie82

Got my first issue already haha! "Dipped right beam failure". Is this likely to be something a bit more sinister than just replacing a bulb? Forgive my ignorance.

Has it got Xenon's or Halogen H7 Bulbs? If Halogen H7 then you can fix it yourself if you a long way from the dealer. If you are close then perhaps a quick trip to the dealer just in case there is a more complex fault such as wiring. If it is Xenon lights then definitely a visit to the dealer because the shutter motor might have a problem and would need attention.

Jamie82 · 08-05-2016, 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_R

Has it got Xenon's or Halogen H7 Bulbs? If Halogen H7 then you can fix it yourself if you a long way from the dealer. If you are close then perhaps a quick trip to the dealer just in case there is a more complex fault such as wiring. If it is Xenon lights then definitely a visit to the dealer because the shutter motor might have a problem and would need attention.

Thanks Peter. It's only Halogen H7s. The dealer is around 25 miles away, so it's not too onerous to head over there. I'll go and see them rather than do it myself just in case it's more than just a bulb failure. I've dropped a call in to them and waiting to hear back from the after sales team.

plymjack · 08-05-2016, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamie82

Also just wanted to ask a quick question to more experienced owners - I'm going to be covering around 20k miles a year, on a car that has nigh on 60k miles (full BMW service history, 7 services). Do you think I should be looking to service it twice a year? One full service and one oil and filter change? I know there have been timing chain issues, but mine was built in June 2011 so wasn't sure if that puts it in the "timing chain should be ok" bracket.

Cheers.

Well you got a great car for doing that sort of mileage in... I would have thought you might get away with 1 service a year. Loving the colour too..

poiuytre111 · 08-05-2016, 07:16 AM

Buy an oil pump and change it yourself every 6 months / 10k.
Although the later cars apparently have better guides, it is essentially the same chain and layout and you would regret not doing it if you were to get noisy chains or worse later on.

Jamie82 · 08-05-2016, 10:22 AM

Thanks to both of you.

hproberts · 08-07-2016, 08:07 PM

New here too. Hoping to gain some knowledge I didn't have and get a few ideas.

Pinewood · 08-11-2016, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamie82

Best I could manage without crossing the road for now:

Nice colour and welcome. 20k a year will pass very easily in an X3. I would either do it yourself or find and Indy to change the oil every 10k.

08-04-2016, 04:04 AM	#1
Jamie82 New Member 1 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2011 X3 20d Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Birmingham iTrader: (0)	New to the BMW World Hi all, Having read through a number of threads on here it seems a lot of you have been BMW owners and enthusiasts for a number of years, so my excitement might be of little interest to you! However, my car history is: Fiesta, Civic, Qashqai and Octavia so to say I'm excited to join the ranks is an understatement! My old man had a 7 series for a couple of years back in the late 80s, and it was a beauty, so he's as excited as me (despite him being an A5 driver these days!). Nothing fancy, just a "soft" step onto the BMW ladder (used 2011 X3 20d SE, manual, 60k miles). But really enjoyed the test drive, and am collecting this afternoon. Just wanted to share my newbie enthusiasm, and if you have any advice, tips, hints, suggestions or things to look out for/be aware of, then please let me know! Thanks all, Jamie
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08-04-2016, 05:52 AM	#2
CESIUM Private First Class 8 Rep 122 Posts Drives: '18 X30i Msport, Carbon/Oyster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Ontario iTrader: (0)	Awesome Jamie. Welcome to the fold. They truely are beautiful machines. I'm hooked for life I'm sure. Enjoy your new ride!
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08-04-2016, 06:03 AM	#3
Peter_R Air Vice Marshall 256 Rep 1,639 Posts Drives: X1 LCI xDrive 2.0i M Sport Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Somewhere in Blighty (UK) iTrader: (0)	Yes Welcome to the forum. There is a lot of good information posted on here....also some banter. Enjoy the lively banter. Be advised there is no such thing as a silly question. You might of course get some silly answers because some forum member's first language is not English. __________________ 2007 BMW 325d M Sport remapped (E91). 2012 BMW 320d Sport (F31). 2013 BMW X3 xDrive 30d M Sport (F25). 2020 BMW X1 xDrive 2.0i MSport (F48). 2022 MB EQB 300 4MATIC AMG Line Premium
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08-04-2016, 06:32 AM	#5
Jamie82 New Member 1 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2011 X3 20d Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Birmingham iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the warm welcome guys. I've got an emotional goodbye coming up with my trusty old Octavia, and then I'm lucky enough to have a 35 mile drive home by motorway and A roads in my X3
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-04-2016, 08:55 AM	#6
plymjack Nuclear Chief of the Watch 120 Rep 637 Posts Drives: X3 (F25) 2.0D, i3 BEV Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Plymouth, UK iTrader: (0)	Welcome, post a pic - like you we can here as newbies but are not a bit old...lol __________________ BMW i3 (BEV) 2014. . Capparis White. . Park Assist, Comfort Access, Enhanced USB BMW X3 (F25) xDrive20d SE 2017. . . . Oyster Leather . . 8 Speed Servotronic. .RFTs. . Electric Seats Canon 70D 500mm, 85mm, 40mm, 24mm Sony QX10 & GoPro Hero 3
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08-04-2016, 01:51 PM	#7
Jamie82 New Member 1 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2011 X3 20d Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Birmingham iTrader: (0)	Best I could manage without crossing the road for now:
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08-04-2016, 02:26 PM	#8
Portimao318 First Lieutenant 61 Rep 333 Posts Drives: BMW 318i Touring MSport Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Europe-NL iTrader: (0)	Well jamie, I see you got the colour right ! Beautiful choice ! Many happy miles with it. __________________ 2022 318i Touring MSport Portimao blue
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08-04-2016, 05:19 PM	#10
Jamie82 New Member 1 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2011 X3 20d Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Birmingham iTrader: (0)	Got my first issue already haha! "Dipped right beam failure". Is this likely to be something a bit more sinister than just replacing a bulb? Forgive my ignorance.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-05-2016, 03:37 AM	#13
Jamie82 New Member 1 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2011 X3 20d Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Birmingham iTrader: (0)	Also just wanted to ask a quick question to more experienced owners - I'm going to be covering around 20k miles a year, on a car that has nigh on 60k miles (full BMW service history, 7 services). Do you think I should be looking to service it twice a year? One full service and one oil and filter change? I know there have been timing chain issues, but mine was built in June 2011 so wasn't sure if that puts it in the "timing chain should be ok" bracket. Cheers.
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08-05-2016, 07:16 AM	#17
poiuytre111 Private 17 Rep 61 Posts Drives: 2014 X3 sdrive 1.8 & E81 120D Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Amersham iTrader: (0)	Buy an oil pump and change it yourself every 6 months / 10k. Although the later cars apparently have better guides, it is essentially the same chain and layout and you would regret not doing it if you were to get noisy chains or worse later on.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-05-2016, 10:22 AM	#18
Jamie82 New Member 1 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2011 X3 20d Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Birmingham iTrader: (0)	Thanks to both of you.
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08-07-2016, 08:07 PM	#19
hproberts Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 2015 X3 M Sport Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: CO iTrader: (0)	New here too. Hoping to gain some knowledge I didn't have and get a few ideas.
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