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      12-13-2010, 01:13 PM   #1
Alpine tourist
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2011 X3 F25 owner first impressions

Hi there,

I received my F25 on 26 November - the first retail customer at my garage - and have been having fun ever since.

2.0d, auto and $ of options (no packages yet in CH).

First impressions:

Positive
- better built
- handles & rides well
- bigger size allows family transportation
- HUD graphics improved

Negatives
- cheap plastic trim on bottom half of interior
- expensive to spec to a decent level
- 2.0d is noisy on the outside (but OK inside)
- media adaptor for USB 'skips' occasionally

Overall, the 5 series is still a better car, and you need to adapt from running a 6 cylinder petrol (not as smooth or as much power - our comparison is probably unfair - an E60 530i and Z4 3.0i).

Anyway, it offers everything you need for a family car - big enough for your family 'stuff', small enough so your spouse can park it. Economy is good - and the auto is a must have.

In the last weeks the car has been to Klosters and is fine in the snow, plus down to Greece for a pre-Xmas run. A total of 3000 km :-)
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      12-13-2010, 02:06 PM   #2
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Thanks for feedback, looks good (ordered same alloys) what mpg you running at?

Any shots of the interior (please)

Agree from my test drive the auto transmission is good

Keep the posts coming whilst we wait for our X3's
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      12-13-2010, 02:22 PM   #3
Alpine tourist
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The car can easily make 50 mpg if you are gentle, still manages 40 mpg with a heavy load and driven 'enthusiastically'.

I also noticed it is sensitive to the wind strength / direction - Greece had wind force B8-9 by the time I left on Saturday - good stability, just drinks more juice.
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      12-13-2010, 02:27 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alpine tourist View Post
The car can easily make 50 mpg if you are gentle, still manages 40 mpg with a heavy load and driven 'enthusiastically'.
I will be happy with 40mpg, I get mid 40's from my manual 2.0d E60

Sounds like you have given it a good run and no doubt you had fun in the snow!
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      12-13-2010, 02:32 PM   #5
Alpine tourist
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In snow & ice the traction is perfect .... with winter tyres. Cost > GBP 1000, but a must have (i) for CH rules and (ii) to get to / from Klosters each weekend.

Actually, I briefly drove the car in fresh snow in summer tyres and was positively surprised - however the winter's are night & day better.
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      12-13-2010, 02:38 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alpine tourist View Post
In snow & ice the traction is perfect .... with winter tyres. Cost > GBP 1000, but a must have (i) for CH rules and (ii) to get to / from Klosters each weekend.
We dont get real snow in the east midlands, UK (maybe a couple of inches 1 or 2 days each year) so I would struggle to justify winter tyres.
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      12-13-2010, 03:41 PM   #7
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Thanks for the pictures and the review. Looks very nice and what a nice backdrop too - will struggle to match that taking pictures of mine in Berkshire! MPG sounds promising too. Already agree on the expensive options but expected this from BMW compared to some other manufacturers, and I also thought it was a noisy from the outside, although I thought that was partly down to it being in an underground car park!

Great to see more photos as I'm running out of stuff to look at and still have 2 months to wait
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      12-13-2010, 05:06 PM   #8
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What is the bolt pattern on your wheels? I am trying to buy aftermarket wheels and the BMW dealer here is telling me the bolt pattern is 5x125 whereas pretty much every BMW has had a 5x120 bolt pattern.
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      12-14-2010, 12:20 AM   #9
Alpine tourist
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Bolt pattern: not sure (standard BMW, but I can check size).

For those interested in the lighting: the LEDs with the Xenons look cool (and the dynamic Xenons are very effective), and the light package is useful (lights on door handles, puddle lights and the door bins are lit).

Sorry for the photo quality (iPhone)
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      12-15-2010, 08:32 AM   #10
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If you could measure the distance in mm between the lugs that would be most awesome and appreciated.

Carl.
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      12-15-2010, 01:07 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by darskiczd View Post
If you could measure the distance in mm between the lugs that would be most awesome and appreciated.

Carl.
Ask your local dealer to confrim to avoid expensive mistakes!!!
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      12-15-2010, 02:55 PM   #12
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It's a lovely SUV you got there... btw the rims rock!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SCOTT26 View Post
BMW have tapped into this by mirroring typical BMW dynamics and steering communication within the new UKL cars.
You mean massive body roll, a steering system that is not connected to the front wheels, and the engine note played through the speaker system?!?!?!?!
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      12-15-2010, 03:33 PM   #13
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Alpine tourist

Have you got the Oyster or Beige interior leather? And what trim did you go for sienna, wave wood, aluminium or matt silver
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      12-15-2010, 03:45 PM   #14
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looks very nice. congrats on the purchase
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      12-15-2010, 03:56 PM   #15
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congrats. good color choice. enjoy~
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      12-15-2010, 03:57 PM   #16
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got any pics from the front?
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      12-15-2010, 07:41 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BIMMER UK 76 View Post
Ask your local dealer to confrim to avoid expensive mistakes!!!
My dealer is reporting 5x125 bolt pattern. But this doesn't make sense. BMW's have been 5x120 forever. Why would BMW change the bolt pattern for one model now? I am waiting for a demo/showroom model to show up before I commit to any winter wheels, but that could be a while.
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      12-15-2010, 07:52 PM   #18
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thanks for sharing.nice!!! love the door handle lights(entry lights) congrats on your new car!-BTW are the tires RFTs?
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      12-16-2010, 12:12 AM   #19
Alpine tourist
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Yes, Nokian winter 18' RFTs. BTW the ride on standard suspension is my biggest (positive) surprise.
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      12-16-2010, 12:16 AM   #20
Alpine tourist
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Interior question:

Beige leather with brushed aluminium trim.

The mats are black rubber for winter (pointless to try and clean beige from the snow, salt etc), and the beige velour mats for summer.
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      12-16-2010, 07:49 AM   #21
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Quote:
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Beige leather with brushed aluminium trim
I originally ordered this spec (beige/alu) but the dealer talked me out of it

Went with Oyster/Sienna Wood in the end
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      12-16-2010, 10:40 AM   #22
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IN for some interior shots
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