X3 takes its first swim ;)

lbjgh · 06-03-2013, 10:07 AM

Well I had an opportunity to drive my SAV like a SUV the other day.

I guess I could have walked the 1.5kms to where I needed to get but I figured "what the hell" I drive a 4x4.

The water was about 8" deep and I didn't know if the road surface was going to be mud or firmly packed gravel. I disabled the traction control just in case I had to go like hell in a hurry. luckily no problem.

I was also able to try the hill descent control for the first time... that was cool too.

philtrick123 · 06-03-2013, 12:18 PM

GULP!!! I presume you had a good idea on how deep the water was before you entered it. Not knowing the driving surface under the water sounds a bit risky as well. I've had a couple of friends who have wrecked their engines driving through water- water sucked into the engine then compressed.

scotta2 · 06-03-2013, 12:30 PM

Yeah, I know someone who went through some fairly minor flooding in a 3 series and suffered irreparable engine damage. But given the X3's credentials I would have thought that the engine air intake would be set higher than a normal road going variant. That combined with the higher wheelbase should be enough to cope with a few inches of water. Mind you, I think I might have bottled out and walked!

richard in NC · 06-03-2013, 12:37 PM

The X3 is driven through 20" deep water at the BMW Performance Center every day. Still risky not knowing the depth or road surface.

lbjgh · 06-03-2013, 03:26 PM

That's what I figured too... It would have sucked if i wrecked my car though. DOH.

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard in NC

The X3 is driven through 20" deep water at the BMW Performance Center every day. Still risky not knowing the depth or road surface.

yeahOK · 06-03-2013, 04:15 PM

Judging by the picture it looks shallow enough that you can see the actual depth. You could always reverse it if things they dicey!

The X Men · 06-03-2013, 05:26 PM

According to page 141 of the 2013 X3 owner's manual, the maximum safe fording depth is 19.6 inches and at this height no
faster than walking speed:

"Driving through water
Drive though calm water only if it is not deeper
than 19.6 inches/50 cm, and at this height no
faster than walking speed.
Adhere to water depth and speed limitations
Do not exceed this water depth and walking
speed; otherwise, the vehicle's engine, the electrical
systems and the transmission may be
damaged."

Fargo13 · 06-03-2013, 08:31 PM

Yea.... I wouldn't risk it in any water over 19.4 inches.

06-03-2013, 10:07 AM	#1
lbjgh Lieutenant Colonel 104 Rep 1,511 Posts Drives: 2013 AW X3 M-Sport Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North of Toronto iTrader: (0)	X3 takes its first swim ;) Well I had an opportunity to drive my SAV like a SUV the other day. I guess I could have walked the 1.5kms to where I needed to get but I figured "what the hell" I drive a 4x4. The water was about 8" deep and I didn't know if the road surface was going to be mud or firmly packed gravel. I disabled the traction control just in case I had to go like hell in a hurry. luckily no problem. I was also able to try the hill descent control for the first time... that was cool too. Attached Images __________________ 2013, AW, xDrive35i, M Sport Package, Technology Package, Dynamic Comfort Package, Premium Package, 3M Clear Bra, Euro foglight switch, a few coded fixes
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06-03-2013, 12:18 PM	#2
philtrick123 Lieutenant 44 Rep 469 Posts Drives: TBA Join Date: May 2012 Location: Maidenhead iTrader: (0)	GULP!!! I presume you had a good idea on how deep the water was before you entered it. Not knowing the driving surface under the water sounds a bit risky as well. I've had a couple of friends who have wrecked their engines driving through water- water sucked into the engine then compressed.
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06-03-2013, 12:30 PM	#3
scotta2 Private First Class 5 Rep 110 Posts Drives: MY2013 F25 X3 M Sport Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Falkirk UK iTrader: (0)	Yeah, I know someone who went through some fairly minor flooding in a 3 series and suffered irreparable engine damage. But given the X3's credentials I would have thought that the engine air intake would be set higher than a normal road going variant. That combined with the higher wheelbase should be enough to cope with a few inches of water. Mind you, I think I might have bottled out and walked! __________________ MY 2013 X3 M Sport 2.0D Auto, Media Package, Xenons Deep Sea Blue with 19" Alloys.
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06-03-2013, 12:37 PM	#4
richard in NC Colonel 1229 Rep 2,602 Posts Drives: 2009 Z4 35i Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (0)	The X3 is driven through 20" deep water at the BMW Performance Center every day. Still risky not knowing the depth or road surface.
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06-03-2013, 04:15 PM	#6
yeahOK New Member 0 Rep 11 Posts Drives: 2004 330i ZHP Join Date: May 2013 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	Judging by the picture it looks shallow enough that you can see the actual depth. You could always reverse it if things they dicey!
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06-03-2013, 05:26 PM	#7
The X Men Colonel 99 Rep 2,323 Posts Drives: 2013 X3 35i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	According to page 141 of the 2013 X3 owner's manual, the maximum safe fording depth is 19.6 inches and at this height no faster than walking speed: "Driving through water Drive though calm water only if it is not deeper than 19.6 inches/50 cm, and at this height no faster than walking speed. Adhere to water depth and speed limitations Do not exceed this water depth and walking speed; otherwise, the vehicle's engine, the electrical systems and the transmission may be damaged."
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06-03-2013, 08:31 PM	#8
Fargo13 New Member 0 Rep 22 Posts Drives: 2011 328i Join Date: May 2013 Location: Kennesaw, Georgia iTrader: (0)	Yea.... I wouldn't risk it in any water over 19.4 inches.
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