Jonathon N. 
2016 BMW X3 SUV xDrive28i 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
MY SEVENTH BMW AND LEAST FAVORITE
 I’m a 7-time BMW owner.  All 3-Series vehicles until now.  The X3.The X3 (I have a 2016 X3 AWD Gas) is my first South Carolina built BMW away from the 3-Series and the first non-German built BMW I have owned.  I learning to live with this non-luxury truck with its optional safety (by optional I mean sub-par headlights, no fender turn signals  and Goodyear run-flats).What a difference…  The anemic 4-cyclinder engine tries to move some 5,000 pounds around.  It struggles on hills (almost sounds diesel-like) but if you put the vehicle into what BMW calls the SPORTS MODE, performance will improve greatly because it cancels out (or re-directs) several short-throw gears on the transmission and the engine is married to the gearbox in a much faster pace (you will consume an extra 21% of fuel though).  The transmission is electronic.  I love it!  Responsive, fast, understanding of your needs and quick to the change by your demands.  Kudos to BMW for this system of near perfection and this same system really shows off its talent when used on the 3-series newer sedans or coupes (I’ve had loaners in the past).The parking brake is an electronic tab function.  Hold a TAB to place your X3 in the parking brake mode. BMW’s are usually like a train on rails.  Trains follow tracks.  You don’t drive or steer a train.  Trains are precise and follow a pattern.  Most BMW’s give you that same feeling of total control and responsibility.  The road is safely yours and if you get into a situation a BMW will get you out of it with plenty of power and precision steering.  Except for the X3 4-cylinder version.The X3 is a shoebox on wheels.  BMW has compromised safety where safety is now OPTIONAL instead of standard.  Be it cheap and yellowish basic headlights to turn signal indicators (side body panels) missing because you bought the wrong model.  Rim/Tire sizes being too small.  Backup camera or braking safety features all optional.  Simple safety no longer part of BMW standards.  Safety only available for sale.Expect cheap plastic seats called SENSA-TEC on entry level models (sometimes called Leatherette) that are miserable in comfort.  You’ll have to purchase the essential SPORT PACKAGE to get decent seats in leather and secured in comfort.  The rears are even worse making most park benches a luxury compared to the rear seats on a 2016 X3.Tires on the X3 are also downgraded to Goodyear’s (pending the model/version/year).  However, many cars on the dealers lot had Bridgestone’s (owned by Firestone) tires.  Pirelli’s should be on the X3 or a good second choice would be Michelin’s.  Once again, BMW downgrading the X3 to truck status.Ride quality is average.  We had to take off the ‘FRED FLINTSTONE’ Goodyear run flats and upgrade to the Michelin’s to get a better interstate ride.  It’s like turbulence over Florida sometimes with you sitting in the last row of the airplane. The X3 is stumpy, short and fairly boxy looking (whereas the X5 has a far classier look to it).  It bumps and it pulls and it fights the road when accomplishing interstate driving.Braking is average.  Not the soft and exact stopping that a BMW 3-series will give you but plan ahead and control your stop before you need to.  5000 lbs. is a lot a shoebox to stop.The Panoramic Sunroof is a must-have option and excellent in design.  It’s massive!  Back seat passengers especially benefit and it is a great distraction to the discomfort of those Spirit Airlines last row seats.  One of the better options available on the BMW X3.This is the most disappointing BMW I have owned to date.  Yet in fairness, my last BMW was a 335is convertible and now this is a totally, almost non-BMW truck experience.  We did a test drive of the RAV-4 before deciding on the X3 but when compared, the Toyota RAV 4 exceeded all handling and safety features when compared to the BMW X3 when factoring in price and reliability.  On the other hand, BMW paint and fit and finish was superior to Toyota’s cheaper paint and gel coating.   In just six (6) weeks, our rear hatch latch has broken off (it’s plastic instead of metal), we’ve changed out the bad tires, the driver’s side door won’t stay open, when opened (you have to walk it out into position) and of great concern is we had to accelerate this weekend to change lanes on an interstate and nothing happened.  Gas petal depressed fully.  No response.  Of major concern and to be looked at later this week.I’d never purchase another X3 BMW at any price.  Not a real German built BMW.  In fact, not the feeling of a BMW at all… If you decide on a X3, add the essential packages so that you’ll have the basic safety items now marketed only as options.  Going with the 35i X3 will provide for superior engine performance and adding a SPORTS PACKAGE above all will change the experience from rental car performance to some personal pride of ownership.