[Jan van Zyl]

Hello to all - my 2.0D is now nearing 16 000km/10 000 miles. Fantastic vehicle - but 2 recommendations to BMW: When switching gear lever to "DS" - I personally would prefer to immediately see which gear I'm in. At the moment it first shows "DS" and you need to flick once up/down to see the gear number (with the resultant often not required shift) Secondly - the *black plastic overflow/reservoir tank in the engine bay for the radiator - not user friendly to check the water level. Would be so much easier with a transparent white plastic tank - as found in so many other vehicles.

Observations: From overnight standstill, at ambient temperature 14 deg C/57 deg F, driving straight onto highway and cruise @ 110km/h or 70mph - takes exactly 18 minutes for oil to reach optimum working temperature. Also - when using heater only - takes a bit longer to get hot air streaming from vents - compared to a petrol-/gasoline vehicle. These 2 observations to be expected with diesel vehicle - and not mentioned as criticism.

Recommendations for future models: As cellphones and MP3 players can be plugged in via USB and offer a display on the iDrive screen - I think it would be nice to plug in a handheld GPS in a similar way: these are generally much cheaper, can be moved from one vehicle to another and also carried with you when you are on foot in a foreign city or town.

*I do appreciate the "Efficient Dynamics" concept: the space below the rear cargo floor seems to be ideal for an auxiliary battery pack - should BMW move the hybrid route (whether in diesel and/or gasoline models) This would integrate well with the use of solar panels on the roof (ala Fisker) at least (and maybe the hood also) - which would take strain off the engine (and ultimately fuel) to keep the battery pack charged.

So let's see what the future brings...

[Yeltzer]

Any other X3's in Namibia?!

[Jan van Zyl]

Yes - xDrive20i, 30d and 35i. Unfortunately not yet the 28i - neither the 35d. 500ppm diesel the norm here - although in South Africa 50ppm diesel relatively freely available - but more expensive of course. X5 available in 30d and 40d - last one is really the 35d. Even although it prefers the ULSD - there are actually a few in Namibia. Sales lady told me the maintenance schedule is altered a bit to cope with 500ppm diesel though. Price difference between X3 20d and 30d quite hefty - and BMW probably thinks 35d will be too expensive altogether. X1 is available in 28i (N20) and 23d form - the latter same capacity as 20d but with double turbo's (ala 30d vs 35d). Now if they could put the 23d in the X3, add the newly announced "Performance Pack" developed by BMW, add a 5 second "overboost" for overtaking as well as say a 40kW ancillary electric motor - you may have a naughty little SAV out there...

[Bimar]

Thanks for feedback, how has car behaved with 500ppm diesel? What oil change interval do u do to cater for the lower quality diesel?

[Jan van Zyl]

From the day of receiving the vehicle it would register 14 500km as the 1'st service interval. This gradually decreased to 14 000km and then 12 500km - when it indeed received 1'st service - which consisted of an oil- and filter change as well as a pollen filter change. During 1'st year we spent 1 month on holiday in Western Cape - where I filled up only with 50ppm diesel. No change in performance and/or consumption noted. I do think the shorter service interval is due to the lower quality fuel. In general though the vehicle performs exceptionally well - with almost zero smoke emissions - even whilst observing other 20d f25's pulling away from traffic lights for instance. I would like to hear from Australian, UK and European and other countries what the service intervals are on their diesel F25's - both 4- and 6-cylinder engines. Regards.

[plymjack]

I agree it would be good to see your gear - but I guess its more of a distraction. We had a manual X1 on loan ad that "assists" you by advising when to change gear. It works really well.

[Rich4]

Originally Posted by Jan van Zyl

From the day of receiving the vehicle it would register 14 500km as the 1'st service interval. This gradually decreased to 14 000km and then 12 500km - when it indeed received 1'st service - which consisted of an oil- and filter change as well as a pollen filter change. During 1'st year we spent 1 month on holiday in Western Cape - where I filled up only with 50ppm diesel. No change in performance and/or consumption noted. I do think the shorter service interval is due to the lower quality fuel. In general though the vehicle performs exceptionally well - with almost zero smoke emissions - even whilst observing other 20d f25's pulling away from traffic lights for instance. I would like to hear from Australian, UK and European and other countries what the service intervals are on their diesel F25's - both 4- and 6-cylinder engines. Regards.

In UK first Service on 2.0D set at 18,000 miles (29,000kms). Just got back last month after a couple of months and 5k driving in SA and Western Cape in those fantastic conditions, on highways at least, with so little traffic compared to congested UK.

[Jan van Zyl]

Originally Posted by Rich4

In UK first Service on 2.0D set at 18,000 miles (29,000kms). Just got back last month after a couple of months and 5k driving in SA and Western Cape in those fantastic conditions, on highways at least, with so little traffic compared to congested UK.

Thank you. I would gather that ULSD is the norm in the UK. This may then imply longer service intervals. When I received the vehicle after the 1'st service - it again stated 2'nd service after the next 14 000 km.

[Rich4]

I guess its not surprising you have shorter service intervals in view of the harsher conditions - heat, dust etc. I seem to recall my dealer saying it will also be set at 18k for the second service. It would be interesting to know what they use in Aussie.

[KF]

Hi All

February 2012 X3 30D

We have just returned from a trip up through the middle of Australia and across to the west coast. Total distance nearly 14,000km.

Have travelled in three months ownership a total of 19283 kilometres and used 1495 lires since new so averaging 7.75 l/100km. Best of 6.8 l/100km.

No oil change yet, last time I looked had 6000 to run to service.

More than 60% of the Dunlop Maxx GT tyre tread gone.

[Jan van Zyl]

Originally Posted by KF

Hi All

February 2012 X3 30D

We have just returned from a trip up through the middle of Australia and across to the west coast. Total distance nearly 14,000km.

Have travelled in three months ownership a total of 19283 kilometres and used 1495 lires since new so averaging 7.75 l/100km. Best of 6.8 l/100km.

No oil change yet, last time I looked had 6000 to run to service.

More than 60% of the Dunlop Maxx GT tyre tread gone.

What fantastic fuel consumption for the 30d! My average for the 20d is 7.55l/100km - since Day 1. I would gather that Australia has good access to ULSD - and that would explain the longer service interval/s. Also on the similar Dunlop tyres - can't really say how much remains - possibly 2/3's?? Impressed with them though - both in wet and dry, warm and cold conditions. Thank you for the feedback.