[reillyrocks]

Hello, I am new here and now I find myself looking for an X3 m-sport 2011-2014 after a year of being convinced i was going to own a 2014-2016 SQ5. I've owned Audis so many times and a Mercedes but never a BMW. I know this will come as no surprise to some here but I am forced to abandon my pursuit of the SQ5. My problem is that I can no longer justify the outrageous prices and shortcomings of the SQ5 when compared to the F25 35i M-sport. The 2011-2014 X3 35i M-sport can cost sometimes half the price of the SQ5. With a tune I can get within tenths of a second and match the SQ5 on the butt dyno. I am soo torn to leave my Audi membership behind but I am convinced that the F25 X3 35i m-sport is the bargain of the century. I am looking forward to driving one and then very likely finding one to suit my tastes. I am wondering if anyone else here was an Audi or SQ5 expatriate and is happy with choosing this gen X3 m-sport. I'd be excited to hear from anyone with comments on ownership ups and downs or even regrets or warnings and advice. Right now the selection and value seems to be highest in the well equipped and maintained 2012-2013 family. I'm reluctant to jump on a first year 2011.

[TheCoolX3]

Originally Posted by reillyrocks

Hello, I am new here and now I find myself looking for an X3 m-sport 2011-2014 after a year of being convinced i was going to own a 2014-2016 SQ5. I've owned Audis so many times and a Mercedes but never a BMW. I know this will come as no surprise to some here but I am forced to abandon my pursuit of the SQ5. My problem is that I can no longer justify the outrageous prices and shortcomings of the SQ5 when compared to the F25 35i M-sport. The 2011-2014 X3 35i M-sport can cost sometimes half the price of the SQ5. With a tune I can get within tenths of a second and match the SQ5 on the butt dyno. I am soo torn to leave my Audi membership behind but I am convinced that the F25 X3 35i m-sport is the bargain of the century. I am looking forward to driving one and then very likely finding one to suit my tastes. I am wondering if anyone else here was an Audi or SQ5 expatriate and is happy with choosing this gen X3 m-sport. I'd be excited to hear from anyone with comments on ownership ups and downs or even regrets or warnings and advice. Right now the selection and value seems to be highest in the well equipped and maintained 2012-2013 family. I'm reluctant to jump on a first year 2011.

I was between a new SQ5 new Macan and my X3 35i. I think that i'm posting on an X3 forum says it all!

[Riick]

There's a lot of things about 2014's and under that are technologically depreciated. For example... BMW Connected Apps. 2014 and under do not work anymore due to the cell radio in the car using a frequency ATT doesn't broadcast anymore. To update the car costs around $1500 to put the new hardware in.

If I had to buy another M Sport? 2015+ only. There's a LOT of technological changes in the 15s and newer that make it worth spending a little more on.

[CMW@BMW]

I own a 2011 M Sport X3 35I Xdrive.

might be the finest car i have ever owned. yes, had to replace the w/p and a few other repairs, however performance un-matched... good fuel economy, excellent handling, looks good. Very proud to own this car, never feel out classed, no matter the gathering....

[rota92]

We do not have a 35i, but I can say after almost five years of ownership of a 2014 M-sport 28i that my wife finally sees the shortcomings of the vehicle and we're looking to get her into an Audi to match the rest of our garage.

Some of this is due to ours being a 2014, with some of the worst "technology" I've ever experienced in a newer vehicle. We also have 108K on it, and it's starting to nickel and dime us. I'm trying to get it safely to spring and then we'll go shopping.

[malicem3]

Originally Posted by rota92

We do not have a 35i, but I can say after almost five years of ownership of a 2014 M-sport 28i that my wife finally sees the shortcomings of the vehicle and we're looking to get her into an Audi to match the rest of our garage.

Some of this is due to ours being a 2014, with some of the worst "technology" I've ever experienced in a newer vehicle. We also have 108K on it, and it's starting to nickel and dime us. I'm trying to get it safely to spring and then we'll go shopping.

Care to elaborate on the "worst technology." If you're seriously comparing a 108k mile 2014 BMW to a new Audi, then don't bother.

[Riick]

Originally Posted by malicem3

Care to elaborate on the "worst technology." If you're seriously comparing a 108k mile 2014 BMW to a new Audi, then don't bother.

lol

Technology is dependant on what package your BMW has. If you're fully optioned out, a 2014 X3 would be on par with some higher end 2018 vehicles. All my M sport is missing is HUD and active cruise control. I wish I had ACC but I have everything else.

If your BMW doesn't have a lot of options? Your 2014 BMW is technologically ghetto compared to a modern Hyundai.

BMW does make luxury cars, but the X3 isn't one of them. Keep that in mind when comparing it to one. The X3 is just a run of the mill bog standard SAV no different than a Porsche Macan.

[m3bs]

I might have what you are looking for. 2012 M-sport with all packages including DHP, Space Gray, 62K miles. New X5 on the way late next month. Not exactly convenient to Milwaulkee, though....

[subieworx]

I have a 14 x3 m sport and love it. I have driven many SUV's and for the money this one is hard to beat. Bought it recently with 40k miles fully loaded for 20k.

[rota92]

Originally Posted by malicem3

Care to elaborate on the "worst technology." If you're seriously comparing a 108k mile 2014 BMW to a new Audi, then don't bother.

Sure.

It was a fully optioned 2014. The voice control navigation sucks. The bluetooth has never worked well. The bluetooth music streaming took forever to connect, and the song information never changed. It was always frozen on the first song. The memory seats were intermittent. The LED drivers in the tail lights failed. (Easy fix thanks to this forum) iDrive was still what I would consider clunky software/user interface wise.

I could go on.

We signed paperwork on a 2019 VW Tiguan last night. I'm very pleased. My wife will miss the BMW I'm sure, but I won't miss the headaches and lack of value for the dollar. It did some things wonderfully, but it hasn't been an overall great experience for us.

[malicem3]

Originally Posted by rota92

Sure.

It was a fully optioned 2014. The voice control navigation sucks. The bluetooth has never worked well. The bluetooth music streaming took forever to connect, and the song information never changed. It was always frozen on the first song. The memory seats were intermittent. The LED drivers in the tail lights failed. (Easy fix thanks to this forum) iDrive was still what I would consider clunky software/user interface wise.

I could go on.

We signed paperwork on a 2019 VW Tiguan last night. I'm very pleased. My wife will miss the BMW I'm sure, but I won't miss the headaches and lack of value for the dollar. It did some things wonderfully, but it hasn't been an overall great experience for us.

Voice Nav - Agreed
Bluetooth - Perhaps it's your phone? I've had 2 F25's and neither had those issues.
LED Tails - Agreed

Enjoy the Tiguan. The redesign is much better than the out going model. What other cars did you look into?

[Riick]

My 2013 X3 works flawless with bluetooth audio streaming to my Iphone XR. Connects instantly and song info changes.

Recently I started connecting via. USB instead. Charge the phone, stream audio, and instantly send addresses to the navigation via the BMW app is pretty awesome. Spotify is directly integrated with iDrive. I'm considering spending the $1000 to upgrade my car's combox to LTE so I can get back the full functionality of ConnectedDrive wirelessly.

[rota92]

Originally Posted by malicem3

Voice Nav - Agreed
Bluetooth - Perhaps it's your phone? I've had 2 F25's and neither had those issues.
LED Tails - Agreed

Enjoy the Tiguan. The redesign is much better than the out going model. What other cars did you look into?

We have had several phones over the course of ownership. They all did the same thing and work perfect with all our other cars. An unhelpful dealer didn't help the case of course.

I didn't know much about the new Tiguan until the Audi dealer didn't have anything of interest to us. Went next door to VW and was impressed enough to hop into one.

We looked at Jeep GC's, Q5's, Highlander and the Subaru Ascent. The Tiguan needs another engine worth of power, but it will do for the time being lol

Originally Posted by Riick

My 2013 X3 works flawless with bluetooth audio streaming to my Iphone XR. Connects instantly and song info changes.

I'm jelly.

[Riick]

Don't be jelly, don't buy a ghetto phone and be upset it doesn't work.

I don't know why you bought a Tiguan, it's the complete opposite of an X3. Terribly underpowered, heavy, no corning ability what so ever, horrible fuel consumption. Probably the worst small SUV on the road today. A KIA Sportage is better.

[m3bs]

I’ve had some of the same issues with my X3, but wound up ordering a new X5 anyway. I wanted to like the Tiguan, as my daily driver is a Golf R. I liked the size and design, but it was really lacking in the driving experience as noted by Riick above. VW knows how to do it based on my experience with the R, but for some reason chose not to.