[ivanoski]

This is my new 2012 BMW F25 X3 in BLACK just as i picked it up from the dealer:



A little more details:
2.0 Diesel Engine
XDrive with 8 speed auto
Backup Camera
Standard audio and equipment
Black (non metallic)
Nevada leather interior (beige)
NO Sunroof

Owned it for almost a month.

Problems so far : None

Likes:
- The 2.0 Diesel engine is surprisingly frugal yet peppy, i test drove a 320i and was disappointed with the lackluster acceleration, but when i tried the diesel, it just JUMPS from a stop every time, amazing acceleration for such a small engine, diesel and heavy car. BMW cites it at 0-100km/h @ 8.5 seconds but it feels faster. SO much fun to drive. To all those haters saying this is not a drivers car are seriously mistaken, i have so much fun driving this thing. Great Torque.
- I like the steering wheel, I've read in forums that people felt disconnected from the road, i felt no such thing, steering feels heavy, precise and sporty, love it also.
- Suspension and ride height is firm but not uncomfortable, i would call it sporty, or at least it feels sporty to me, no problems going over potholes and water spots while driving around town (where i'm from roads are really bad). The car inspires confidence. Handling is great! Perfect City car.
- It just looks so bad ass in BLACK.
- I love the Xenon lights and especially the angel eyes, Cars here were only arriving with halogen but thankfully i managed to get the angel eyes on mine, ITS NOT A BMW if it doesn't have the angel lights i say.
- Idrive is great and intuitive, i don't know what everybody is bitching about.
- I love the fact its a BMW, my first

What i DON'T like:

- Compartment between seats is too small, nothing fits there.
- Black paint is surprisingly delicate.
- Diesel runs out of grunt when going really fast, but only above 140 km/h
- Standard audio sounds great, but max volume leaves you wanting for more volume. I wish it had more bass and MORE VOLUME.
- Turbo lag takes getting used to
- I have no Idea when Start/stop feature decides when it is a good time to use it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it is questionable. While in traffic not moving at all, it doesn't activate, but trying to merge into traffic, i stop, and it suddenly activates. Passengers find it disconcerting but I don't mind the somewhat harsh nature of the diesel. Also, after a while it turns itself back on again without me touching it (when it finally does work in traffic as advertised).
- Changing songs from steering wheel doesn't work with random song selection.
- Playing MP3's from the usb port is nice, but very basic. Can't create playlists, cant delete songs, can't select multiple folders to play.
- Windows go up and down too slowly for my taste.
- Light switch has 4 positions , default is 0 and to the right has two other options, the first one dims the Daytime running lights angel eyes, i wish they were on all the time full blast no matter what.
- Parts will be expensive.

Conclusion:

Love the car, the way it drives and the facts its a BMW, the complaints don't interfere with the driving experience and i would recommend this car.

[Dukat]

Thanks for the pros/cons.

Glad your enjoying it!

[andraxxx]

You are writing it's a 2012! Is it really???
Do you have pianoblack trim arount the air inlet grills?

[Bustofa]

Very helpful observations. Thanks for posting.

[AJWilson]

Congrats very nice motor

[sfax]

Not sure what you mean on DRLs. DRLs are always on when headlights or sidelights are off (unless you switch off DRLs on iDrive). The first click to the right is side lights. There is no default, just where you left the switch last time you used the car. Switch to the left is auto headlights (DRLs will be on when it's light)

Nice writeup. Agree on xenons and power

[ivanoski]

@andraxxx : It is registered as a 2012, VIN also says so, Chrome around the kidney grill, grill itself is matte black

@sfax : Yes but the first click to the right from 0, the DRL dim down

[greg2step]

if its a 2012, that would be the first one on this list. Congrats! i need to write a post like this w/ my thoughts - few more days i guess

[ivanoski]

Someone stole my valve caps already, motherfuckers

[sfax]

Originally Posted by ivanoski

@andraxxx : It is registered as a 2012, VIN also says so, Chrome around the kidney grill, grill itself is matte black

@sfax : Yes but the first click to the right from 0, the DRL dim down

First click from the right is side lights though which are also used for parking lights. I think if the DRLs weren't dimmed you'd have a flat battery if you left them whilst parked. Just keep the lights an auto. DRLs always on and bright until night comes and then on come the headlights

[sfax]

Originally Posted by ivanoski

Someone stole my valve caps already, motherfuckers

That sucks. Probably kids. I nearly got hold of one once nonchalantly taking them off a car (not mine) in quite a busy car park in broad daylight.

[ivanoski]

Originally Posted by sfax

First click from the right is side lights though which are also used for parking lights. I think if the DRLs weren't dimmed you'd have a flat battery if you left them whilst parked. Just keep the lights an auto. DRLs always on and bright until night comes and then on come the headlights

What are the parking lights for? I come from a honda accord and i have never heard of this feature, pardon my ignorance

[andraxxx]

Originally Posted by ivanoski

@andraxxx : It is registered as a 2012, VIN also says so, Chrome around the kidney grill, grill itself is matte black

@sfax : Yes but the first click to the right from 0, the DRL dim down

I didn't mean the kidney grill. Inside the car, around the inlet of the air condition and leftside around the light switch there is a glossy black trim (exept you have the standard silver trim). There you can see easily if you really have a 2012.

DRL: the first click to the right from 0 is parking light, which you usually use if it's dark. So it's simply logic that in a darker ambient light, it doesn't have to beam with full power!

[sfax]

Originally Posted by ivanoski

What are the parking lights for? I come from a honda accord and i have never heard of this feature, pardon my ignorance

For if you park on a dark road and don't want someone driving into you. You can use the indicator to only switch on left or right parking lights. Can be annoying if you accidentally turn on the parking lights during the day and don't realise

[AJWilson]

Originally Posted by ivanoski

Someone stole my valve caps already, motherfuckers

So this is a world wide disease, not limited to the UK

[LEDZEP]

Yes, black paint is a challenge and BMW's paint in general is terrible. I strongly recommend getting several coats of sealant on it, and keeping it well waxed - or you will have spider webs all over it.

[ivanoski]

soooooooo, the point is to leave the lights on in a parking garage? i still dont see the point to the one on the right of the 0 in the light switch.

@andraxxx

what glossy black trim?

this is part of the bill of sale, VIN concealed because i'm paranoid

The dealership told me it was a 2012 and legally it is also, that's great for resale
differences i noticed from the 2011 is the xenon lights came standard for some reason (the first x3 in the country to have them) , and not much else....

[Want the thrill]

From your picture, that isn't the 2012 black trim that is now standard. It should be shiny and not matte. The finish you have is what is in the 2011's. Strange.

[andraxxx]

It's not easy to see, i've tried to upload a picture of a 2012 interieur.
The glossy black comes along with all trim above standart silver automaticly!!!

[ivanoski]

how do you explain the bill of sale? According to the dealership and legally registered as a 2012. thus, its a 2012 ;-)

[Want the thrill]

[QUOTE=ivanoski;10480033]how do you explain the bill of sale? According to the dealership and legally registered as a 2012. thus, its a 2012 ;-)

You should tell them they installed the wrong trim then! What color is your headliner?

[ivanoski]

[QUOTE=Want the thrill;10480061]

Originally Posted by ivanoski

how do you explain the bill of sale? According to the dealership and legally registered as a 2012. thus, its a 2012 ;-)

You should tell them they installed the wrong trim then! What color is your headliner?

same beige as the nevada leather interior