I have been a Mercedes driver for 20 years, both sedans and the ML. I was seriously looking for another Benz but found them a bit more money than I wanted to spend and the mpg was a bit poor. I tried the Acura MDX and RDX, the MBZ ML350. I found they either had only fair gas mileage or unacceptable ride/noise. I drove the X3 and found it to be a real nice ride, the mpg is about 15% better than the others, and the performance is impressive. This small SUV is more like a high end sports car with AWD. Love it.
The 2007 X3 is a tidy package that stands out in the luxury midsize SUV class, a formidable opponent to the Acura MDX among others. It promises reasonable fuel efficiency, an upgraded engine, satisfactory passenger space, legendary handling, and an astonishing panorama via the standard oversized sunroof. Sadly, this particular BMW does not deliver on initial build quality expectations. In this owner's experience, repairs have been performed on a near-monthly basis, beginning only weeks after initial ownership. The vehicle is assembled by Magna Steyr in Austria. Be ready to expect, at the least, noisy lifters (repaired with a complete cylinder head exchange), a rattling sunroof (the bane of the X3), and incessant rear cargo cover squeaking (persistent despite replacement of the entire cover). With the 2007 X3, BMW falls short of their reputation, with overall shoddy interior craftsmanship, an area in which squeaks, rattles and groans abound. Oh, and did I mention that the heat no longer works via the dashboard vents? In summary, while BMW provides incredible handling and engineering, the X3 falls short in the quality department, particularly when the astounding asking price is taken into consideration. More reliable and rewarding alternatives would include the Acura MDX or similar vehicles (i.e. Land Rover).
It is everything you would expect from a BMW. Luxury, performance, handling, but in a package that allows you to haul larger items from time to time. You can pick up that carpet, upholstered chair, barbecue grill without having to borrow a friend's pick-up truck. And buying a used X3 does wonders for the pocketbook, but gave me the impression of being brand new. CarMax made sure that it was problem free.
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This price does not include tax, title, and tags. Additional fees may also apply depending on the state of purchase.