[buckeyesi]

My wife and I took delivery of our X3 February 4 at the Performance Center. I had done PCD on my 335i back in 2008 so I was familiar with what to expect. The weather wasn't the greatest, it rained the whole time we were there, but it was still fun!

We flew out of Chicago Midway the evening prior to the delivery but ended up missing our connection in Atlanta because of a combination of a 20 min delay leaving Chicago and having to wait on the tarmac in Atlanta because a plane was still at our arrival gate. Thankfully, we made standby on the last flight to Greenville-Spartanburg. I would've had to rent a car and drive otherwise. Unfortunately, that meant we got in at 11pm and missed our complimentary dinner. However, they did have a deli tray waiting for us in our room. The next morning, we made sure to take advantage of the free breakfast!

On to the fun stuff! We arrived at the Performance Center and went to the classroom with our instructors. After the talk, the whole group got into their respective cars. We had several 3 series cars, 5 series sedans, a 5 series GT, and a couple X5 diesels. They didn't have any X3s available for some reason so we got one of the X5s to drive. The group was split in half and my half went to the slalom course first.

I was amazed at how well the X5 handled and how much power/performance the diesel engine had, a testament to BMW engineering! The X5 handled the slalom course very well, in the wet no less Just a little bit of body roll and a slight bit of slip from the tires. I wonder how well it would've gripped on a dry track? After a driver change we did the course again.

The two groups then swapped positions and my half went to the ABS braking exercise. After that, we all met up at the skidpad. They would only allow us to take 335s out on the skidpad so everyone had to wait for a turn in one of 4 available.

While I was waiting I noticed a car out on the track with a pretty agressive exhaust note. My eyes were drawn to the paint color and instantly I knew what it was. The 1M! I believe they had an M school going on at the same time as I saw a bunch of M5s and M3s out on the track. I'm not sure if the 1M was just out testing or if it was the instructor. I barely had time to take a pic before it disappeared to the other side of the track.


After the skidpad, we all went back inside. My half took off for the factory tour in a caravan of X5s while the other half of the group had their deliveries. I would've liked to have seen the X3 assembly hall but the tour only encompasses the main assembly area. It was cool to see how BMWs are made. Afterwards, we made it back to the Performance Center where we did the offroad course, then went inside for lunch.

After lunch, the instructors took us on a hot lap in M5s! I sat in the back seat so I really felt those g's while the instructor was drifting all over the place! I actually felt a little bit uneasy in the stomach but managed to hold it together; I knew I shouldn't have ate so much right before!

We then took delivery of our X3. It was nice to finally be able to drive off in a car that we had ordered just 5 weeks prior. Too bad it was raining so as soon as we pulled out it was wet and dirty for the rest of the weekend.

We ended up staying in Greenville one extra night so as to have a fresh start driving in the morning. I ordered a winter tire/wheel package from Tire Rack and had them ship to an installer in Greenville so I had those installed the next morning before we left.

We left Saturday morning for a stopover in Columbus, Ohio (I previously lived there and still have friends there) and drove through The Tail of the Dragon in the Smoky Mountains. We stayed in Columbus Saturday night and hit the road again for Chicago Sunday evening. It was a long trip but worth it. By the time we got home we had put almost 1100 miles on the X3, basically the whole break-in period.

I highly recommend PCD for anyone who has never done it. Just try to do it during warmer weather when the drive home is more scenic. The fall is a good time when you can see the leaves changing colors through the mountains. I'm attempting to post some pics, hopefully this works.

[sfax]

Sounds great. Would love to pick up my new X3 this way and drive her back through Smoky Mountains to break her in. Unfortunately, it will be a 5 mile trip through heavy traffic, probably in the rain, and with no M5 hot lap!

Congrats and I hope you enjoy your new X3. Please post some pics when you get chance...

[thefreeze]

Nice car! You must have felt bad to de-install these nice 19" wheels so short after the delivery.

Nice pics of the Smoky Mountains too. I'm driving from Atlanta to Orlando in July through the Smokys - Charleston and then south.

[sfax]

Only just seen the other pics. Only saw the first pic first time for some reason. Very nice indeed. Enjoy!

[Lotus7]

buckeyesi,

Sounds like you had a great time. You may recall that we ordered our respective X3's the same day back in December. Our red one arrived in Chicago on Saturday 2/05 and we picked it up on Monday 2/07. Only have about 75 miles on it so far, so you have a big head start. So far both the wife and me are happy with the car and are becoming familiar with all the bells and whistles. Picking it up at the dealer was a 2.5 hour experience between all the paperwork, sales pitches and explanations of the various extended warrantees and then the control walk-trough from the CA. Fortunately, from reading the on-line owner's manual, and the help of this forum, I knew more about the operation of the X3 than the CA. Our PCD consisted of a mile trip around the dealer's neighborhood at less then 40 mph.

What winter wheel/tire package did you wind up with and how do they feel?

Best of luck with your new toy. If you see a red one with 18 inch wheels, on the streets of Chicago, please wave.

[bluesmachine]

How about some real owner pics of that V. Red?

The board would love to see it!

[Nahoa]

Sounds like a good time. Congrats on your new car and the cool experience!!

[Brutus1]

Nice one buckeyesi! We were there at the PCD on Monday and thankfully dodged the rain all day but did get it on the way home. We too went through the Smoky's and had a nice trip home.

[buckeyesi]

It was a good time, despite the weather! I ended up getting Dunlop Wintersport 3D runflats (wife is primary driver) on Enkei EKM3's. Seeing the Enkei's in person, I think they would look better on a smaller car, like the 3er but that's what I get for only being able to see a side profile online. One issue I ran into was that since Tire Rack didn't have info on the new X3 yet I took a risk and ordered the TPM sensors for the 2010 X3. Apparently, BMW recently changed the frequency their sensors operate on so I had to get new ones installed once I got home to Chicago.

I'll keep an eye out for you, Lotus7. So far, I have not seen a single F25 X3 on the road yet.

Originally Posted by Lotus7

buckeyesi,

Sounds like you had a great time. You may recall that we ordered our respective X3's the same day back in December. Our red one arrived in Chicago on Saturday 2/05 and we picked it up on Monday 2/07. Only have about 75 miles on it so far, so you have a big head start. So far both the wife and me are happy with the car and are becoming familiar with all the bells and whistles. Picking it up at the dealer was a 2.5 hour experience between all the paperwork, sales pitches and explanations of the various extended warrantees and then the control walk-trough from the CA. Fortunately, from reading the on-line owner's manual, and the help of this forum, I knew more about the operation of the X3 than the CA. Our PCD consisted of a mile trip around the dealer's neighborhood at less then 40 mph.

What winter wheel/tire package did you wind up with and how do they feel?

Best of luck with your new toy. If you see a red one with 18 inch wheels, on the streets of Chicago, please wave.

[perto]

I have ordered a new X3 but I gone buy a set of non BMW winter wheels, can you (buckeyesi) explain the TPM sensors a little more exactly can I install them on other brand rims ore what?

[Diver]

OP, thank you for sharing. Sorry about the Atlanta airport, but it happens to be the worst one in the US for delays. As for Chicago, you have my sympathy. I go up there regularly and it has one brutal winter.

I think it is a masterful marketing idea to provide customers with this sort of experience. A 5 week delivery time is amazing. These are the kinds of things it is going to take to take a chunk of RX 350 sales away from Lexus. The RX 350 is very well equipped for the price, but it drives like a marshmallow.

I am often amazed by the fact that my 3400 pound 135i has the same N55 engine that is the base power plant in the two and a half ton X5. The diesel has tremendous low end thump which I noticed when driving a 335d loaner.

[Park2670]

Congratulations on the new X3. And we are all very jealous of the PCD!

[UdubBadger]

Sweet, what dealership did you use to set it all up if you don't mind my asking?

[positiveions]

sweeet.... nice ride and congrats. thanks for sharing

[PsychoSlug]

Thanks for sharing. The X3 is on my short list for purchase this year. I'm thinking about either a May or September PCD pick-up. I appreciate the photos and trip description.

Maybe I'll see you around Chicago. Haven't seen the new X3 on the road yet.

[buckeyesi]

Originally Posted by UdubBadger

Sweet, what dealership did you use to set it all up if you don't mind my asking?

I went through Laurel BMW of Westmont. I moved to Chicago last April and in my search for a new dealership to service my M3 they came up highly recommended so now they are my regular dealership. I live about a mile from Perillo but I've heard so many horror stories about them I'm glad to make the drive to a reputable shop.

The order process with Laurel BMW went smoothly, including setting up PCD. They were willing to negotiate the price, too, which I found surprising considering the X3 is a new model.

One recommendation if you are looking to purchase soon, you may be able to get a considerable discount if you use a car buying service, like from Amex. There are some members on this board that got around $3000 off msrp.

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by buckeyesi

I went through Laurel BMW of Westmont. I moved to Chicago last April and in my search for a new dealership to service my M3 they came up highly recommended so now they are my regular dealership. I live about a mile from Perillo but I've heard so many horror stories about them I'm glad to make the drive to a reputable shop.

The order process with Laurel BMW went smoothly, including setting up PCD. They were willing to negotiate the price, too, which I found surprising considering the X3 is a new model.

One recommendation if you are looking to purchase soon, you may be able to get a considerable discount if you use a car buying service, like from Amex. There are some members on this board that got around $3000 off msrp.

Yeah I got my first BMW (08 328xi) through them and got a very mediocre deal from them on the terms of the lease. I wasn't too impressed with the sales department as my CA was helping both me and another couple. Took 3.5 hours and I didn't even test drive the car. The least he coulda done was pass me off to someone else for the paperwork and all that, he coulda still made 1/2 the commission. Anyway, I do know they are better than a lot of dealers in the area, Perillo is a fricking joke. I will say though, up until about a year ago I wouldn't have trusted anyone else with my car for service, Laurel's got some great guys back there but unfortunately the 2 mod friendly ones left so I had to find another one to go to.

[Tauvil]

I also live downtown but have been getting my car serviced at Laurel BMW Westmont for the past 6 years now and can say their service dpmt is second to none. Especially since they expanded a couple years back. Actually was there 30 minutes ago to tip off the tires (service light was on). Took 5 minutes but they still offered to wash my car for me. Love those guys!

Unfortunately, that's where the praise stops for me. Dealt with their sales dpmt on several occasions over the years and most recently while shopping the new X3. As always, their knowledge seemed a bit lacking and I can't see them ever putting their customers before their commission. Maybe I just haven't got the right sales guy/girl yet ... or maybe that's just sales.

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by Tauvil

I also live downtown but have been getting my car serviced at Laurel BMW Westmont for the past 6 years now and can say their service dpmt is second to none. Especially since they expanded a couple years back. Actually was there 30 minutes ago to tip off the tires (service light was on). Took 5 minutes but they still offered to wash my car for me. Love those guys!

Unfortunately, that's where the praise stops for me. Dealt with their sales dpmt on several occasions over the years and most recently while shopping the new X3. As always, their knowledge seemed a bit lacking and I can't see them ever putting their customers before their commission. Maybe I just haven't got the right sales guy/girl yet ... or maybe that's just sales.

nope thats about on par with everything I experienced and have heard from others too

[Wolf]

Hope you enjoy it... I liked the hotlaps in the m5! that 1M is jaw-dropping!

[vase330]

Just did PDC for a 2011.5 M3 competition package on the 10th. I have to say driving the snort off of some-one else's M car is the shinzle!! I loved the track event in the M3. The M5 took it to a whole other level. I did Euro-delivery of my 335 back 07, and to compare this is somewhat just as much fun, just way shorter. I drove 3 weeks 5 countries 4500 miles in Europe, and icing on that cake was driving at V-Max on the autobahn. Jealous we will never get that here, and our roads really really suck in comparison. Our drivers suck even worse. I was half hearted about going on the PDC, but my buddy convinced me its worth trying. I thought it would be cheezy at best, but I actually had a blast. Also got to do the X-cross part in addition to the M3 track. I came away impressed by those X5s even more. All the claims that they have no offroad ability are uneducated BS at best. It just depends on suspension and tires you get, in a very capable SUV that will handle anything you can throw at it, and still leave skid marks on many wannabe sports cars.

Now for the curious lack of X3s, they told us they are all spoken for 2 months out, so everything can can produce right now is already sold (to dealers or ordered by individual customers), so they have no fleet vehicles for maybe first half of the year. Next time I get an SUV, I am likely going to BMW, and if I do, PDC is a must. For the cars though, I prefer European delivery if I can swing the trip.

[buckeyesi]

Originally Posted by UdubBadger

nope thats about on par with everything I experienced and have heard from others too

What dealership would you recommend then? Knauz is too far. Fields or Patrick?