BMW X3 2.0d as bad as the internet makes out?

A 1.2 Skoda Yeti is legal to tow what I need….

Petrol Yetis are 2wd, given you looking at 4×4’s, this may not be what you need

Petrol Yetis are 2wd, given you looking at 4×4’s, this may not be what you need

Only been looking at 4×4 for the towing capacity, I’ve managed with a Yaris so far. It’s only occasionally I have to get out of a wet field…

Apologies if it’s been done, but if it’s the one with swirl flaps, any BMW specialist should be able to change for blanking plates. Cost me £150, was about to fail apparently and I got 100,000 miles more before I sold it 🙂

Apologies if it’s been done, but if it’s the one with swirl flaps, any BMW specialist should be able to change for blanking plates. Cost me £150, was about to fail apparently and I got 100,000 miles more before I sold it

I’ve been looking at those, the X3 I’ve been looking at has the M47, so less fragile timing chain and swirl flaps which I was looking to do myself, seems a easy enough job, could do it in work to pass the time….The ones I’ve been looking at are between 80-100k so might be ready to go bang…I’ve seen plenty 56/07 plate ones doing the rounds down here.

I bought my wife a 3.0 petrol sport one of these not long ago and I like it. It’s a lot of car for the cash, it’s a quick and effortless cruiser, takes a lot of luggage and has been OK so far.

Ride is hard and hers is the hardest option by far but frankly it’s fine and it goes round corners without rolling too much which is nice.

It’s not cheap on fuel but we do bugger all miles so it’s OK. Key things are matching tyres to save the transfer box ours are 19’s and not inexpensive but its a big costly car so there’s that. Also rear springs rust and break on all models so check those too. Independent service on day one cost me 250 for transfer box oil, oil change & filters + adding an aux in lead. Full check and diagnostic showed no faults. I’m told the later M series diesel is the one to have not the N which is shit as has been said or buy a petrol six which is a lovely engine TBH. Also has a very good and super loud sound system

This thread has got me looking at X3s now, Mrs P has had some back trouble and lowering herself into the 3 series and hauling herself out again hasn’t been helping. Could get a similar age/spec/mileage X3 for not much more money. Hmmm.

Going to pop down look at one tomorrow, also a CRV, i40 and Yeti all being well…..

Let us know how you get on so I can stop Googling unbraked towing limits! Was just having a quick look at MINIs…

500kg on the Clubman 😉 1.6D is a N47 engine…

I know what my old man would say (41 years RAC)….Toyota or Honda…… just found the RAV4 like a bigger version of my Mk1 Yaris… if it was similar to my Mk3 Yaris inside I might have been more tempted.

Tried 2 X3’s today, both 07 plates with 91 and 91K on the clock.
The 1st hadn’t been drove in a while and smoked until warm which I didn’t like the sign off… but apart from that they road ok felt nice etc just the service history in the back of my head for both and their turbos….

CRV seems very dated inside more so then the RAV4.

i40 seemed best of the bunch tbh, nice inside and drove alright, nothing special but a lot of car for the money.

Nissan Qashqai, nice and comfy for long journeys, economical and tows well. I’ve got the 1.6 diesel AWD. 100% reliable so far but does have the odd rattle from trim etc.

Hmmm was all set to buy the I40 but been reading they get a problem with the dpf and diesel ends up in the oil…. Doesn’t sound good….

Hmmm was all set to buy the I40 but been reading they get a problem with the dpf and diesel ends up in the oil…. Doesn’t sound good….

Worth checking to see if it’s Euro 5 or 6 for emissions as the Euro 5 and less will probably be subjected to future restrictions on use in towns/cities.

All diesels with a dpf that aren’t given the chance to properly heat up and regenerate can experience problems, so if you frequently do sub-10 mile journies at speeds under 60mph a petrol car may be best. DPF’s regen at higher speeds so regular motorway work is needed to keep them clean.

Perhaps look at petrol i40’s? Otherwise I’d say you can’t go too far wrong with something like a Focus estate, which should handle well and be relatively easy to work on if you want to service it yourself.

Well done a bit of traveling today and looked at some cars on the boarder, got a deal on a RAV4.

Thanks for all the tips and advice, in the end went with the car I thought of first.

Worth checking to see if it’s Euro 5 or 6 for emissions as the Euro 5 and less will probably be subjected to future restrictions on use in towns/cities.

Try not to go to Cities if I can help it…. should be alright down here in west Cornwall.

I am also down in west Cornwall and I’m the very proud owner of an x3. Mine now has 175000 miles on the clock( have had from new) and I still love it. Lots of space, not too bad mileage and I like the way it handles.
I would recommend them to anyone
M