[tangonauta99]

Greetings everyone,

I am in the process of getting a 2020 x3 to complement my current 2015 328 xdrive. Does anyone know of a place like Audi's Silvercar where I can rent an X3 in the Chicago area? I'd like to really test drive the car for a couple of days prior to committing to buying it. Primary concern is seat comfort for 3+ hr highway drives and going over potholes. The 328 is killing my back!

Many thanks in advance!

Tangonauta99

[sinbad4]

Don't get the vented front seats!

[Climb Mode]

Originally Posted by tangonauta99

Greetings everyone,

I am in the process of getting a 2020 x3 to complement my current 2015 328 xdrive. Does anyone know of a place like Audi's Silvercar where I can rent an X3 in the Chicago area? I'd like to really test drive the car for a couple of days prior to committing to buying it. Primary concern is seat comfort for 3+ hr highway drives and going over potholes. The 328 is killing my back!

Many thanks in advance!

Tangonauta99

No direct answer for to your question about renting, but I can say this: I drove an F30 340 for 3 years, thought the comfort was just OK. Moving into the X3 has been a HUGE increase in overall seat/general driving comfort.

[Crypto2k3]

Originally Posted by tangonauta99

Greetings everyone,

I am in the process of getting a 2020 x3 to complement my current 2015 328 xdrive. Does anyone know of a place like Audi's Silvercar where I can rent an X3 in the Chicago area? I'd like to really test drive the car for a couple of days prior to committing to buying it. Primary concern is seat comfort for 3+ hr highway drives and going over potholes. The 328 is killing my back!

Many thanks in advance!

Tangonauta99

I believe one of the big car rental places (like hertz- can't remember which) at O'Hare rents them.

[Swampman]

Get the Adaptive Suspension option. I doubt a rental would have it but this makes a huge difference on ride comfort.

[tangonauta99]

All,

many thanks for your feedback.

@sinbad4 - I read about the difference in seat comfort between non-ventilated and ventilated seats. I lived without them for many years. I can easily skip them.

@Crypto2k3 - Sixt claims to have them, however they can't guarantee them. I read many reviews of bait and switch. I will try others.

@Climb Mode - thanks for the insight! It felt that way when I tested the X3 on all terrains.

@Swampman - I'm getting the x30i M sports line with whatever driving handling options I can find. AKAIK it comes with standard suspension. The m40i has the adaptive suspension. Unfortunately, the M40i is too loud for me. I like quiet cars. A Macan is a potential alternative.

tangonauta99

[sinbad4]

Originally Posted by tangonauta99

All,

@Swampman - I'm getting the x30i M sports line with whatever driving handling options I can find. AKAIK it comes with standard suspension. The m40i has the adaptive suspension. Unfortunately, the M40i is too loud for me. I like quiet cars. A Macan is a potential alternative.

I have driven numerous X3s in the past 18 months. The M40i is really a different car. The inline 6 is much quieter. The 2020 muffled the louder pops and farts.. and now features in dash control to make quiet in all modes.

If $$ is tight, you can get a nice X30i, but if you can swing it, the M40i w/ Adaptive suspension is a special car.

[TX3M]

Try Turo, I just did a search in Chicago and here's what came up:

There's a nice X3 M40i available to rent!

https://turo.com/en-us/search?badges...10%3A00&type=9

[tangonauta99]

Originally Posted by TX3M

Try Turo, I just did a search in Chicago and here's what came up:

There's a nice X3 M40i available to rent!

https://turo.com/en-us/search?badges...10%3A00&type=9

Many thanks!!!! I'll reach out to them. I may get persuaded into a M series now....

[TX3M]

Originally Posted by tangonauta99

Many thanks!!!! I'll reach out to them. I may get persuaded into a M series now....

I have driven several X3 30i's as loaner vehicles. Very nice, but the M40i is a real beast compared to it.

Also, as someone else mentioned the 2020 is supposedly quieter than the 2018 and 2019, less cracks and pops from the exhaust (I have not driven one so I don't know). To hear how loud the 2020's exhaust is - When you test drive a 2020, put it in "Sport Plus", accelerate hard and then quickly lift off the throttle completely. Do this several times. Whatever you hear is as loud as that vehicle's exhaust will get (you'll hear lots of pops and cracks from a 2018 or 2019, the 2020 should be quieter) so you'll know if it's too loud for you. Don't worry about the loud exhaust at start-up, that subsides as soon as you start driving. Good luck!

[tangonauta99]

Originally Posted by TX3M

I have driven several X3 30i's as loaner vehicles. Very nice, but the M40i is a real beast compared to it.

Also, as someone else mentioned the 2020 is supposedly quieter than the 2018 and 2019, less cracks and pops from the exhaust (I have not driven one so I don't know). To hear how loud the 2020's exhaust is - When you test drive a 2020, put it in "Sport Plus", accelerate hard and then quickly lift off the throttle completely. Do this several times. Whatever you hear is as loud as that vehicle's exhaust will get (you'll hear lots of pops and cracks from a 2018 or 2019, the 2020 should be quieter) so you'll know if it's too loud for you. Don't worry about the loud exhaust at start-up, that subsides as soon as you start driving. Good luck!

Here is an update - First, many thanks for all your guidance. I rented the the x3 m40i listed in Turo. Great car. Handles great! Now...., the gurgling, cracks and pops are not for me. It's a matter of taste. It's fine at idle. While driving I find them bearable in comfort mode. Annoying in sports mode. I also went to a dealership to try the 2020 version. It is indeed more quiet in all respects. The least I want heads turning in my direction with all the cracking and popping. Yet, it's a tough call...

[docal]

Originally Posted by Swampman

Get the Adaptive Suspension option. I doubt a rental would have it but this makes a huge difference on ride comfort.

What about 20" tires and rims for handling and comfort. Look great but don't want to compromise ride quality just for that.

[tangonauta99]

Originally Posted by sinbad4

I have driven numerous X3s in the past 18 months. The M40i is really a different car. The inline 6 is much quieter. The 2020 muffled the louder pops and farts.. and now features in dash control to make quiet in all modes.

If $$ is tight, you can get a nice X30i, but if you can swing it, the M40i w/ Adaptive suspension is a special car.

I can swing the M40i w/adaptive. I will try to test drive one tomorrow. To give you an idea, sometimes I take my g/f's 2014 Rav 4 for long trips. It beats my '15 328 xdrive when it comes to drive comfort! Out of curiosity, do you know if the suspension in all X3 lines are the same from factory, before any options? For some reason, a regular X3 felt softer than the M40i. Can you please post a picture of the dash control to make quiet in all modes.

many thanks!