Item: Used BMW X3 2004 - 2011
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

When it was launched, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw">BMW</a> X3 was almost in a class of its own, but there are now many rivals to choose from. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/tiguan/estate/used-review/n938">Volkswagen Tiguan</a> offers similar space inside, albeit a smaller boot, but has a higher quality interior that’s more durable than the X3’s.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/freelander/4x4/used-review/n747">Land Rover Freelander</a> 2 was significantly better built than the first generation car but like the X3 it can be dogged with interior build quality issues. It rides far more comfortably, though, and its exterior design has aged better than the X3’s.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/santa-fe/4x4/used-review/n964">Hyundai Santa Fe</a> may not have the premium badge of the BMW, VW or Land Rover but in second-generation form it’s a fine car, well made and reliable, and with the bonus of seven seats and a five-year warranty.

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Unfortunately, the most popular engine choice in the X3, the 2.0-litre diesel, is proving to be the most troublesome. Swirl flaps in the inlet manifold can break off and be ingested into the engine on 2004-2006 models while those built after mid-2006 can suffer from timing chain failure. To make matters worse, the timing chain is located at the rear of the engine, making it time-consuming and expensive to replace.

Problems on the turbo diesels don’t stop there, though, as turbocharger failures are common on both the 2.0- and 3.0-litre units, mainly as a result of oil feed supply pipes becoming blocked over time. And as with all diesels equipped with a diesel particulate filter the X3 needs to be taken on a longer run from time to time so it can get hot enough to regenerate.

BMW has slipped in reliability ratings recently and in the JD Power 2016 UK Vehicle Dependability Study it scored well below average. In the What Car? Reliability Index, the X3 doesn’t score well either, with an overall poor rating; engine issues and axle and suspension problems causing the biggest headaches.

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Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, which costs more than £100,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has six in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

The X3 is a roomy 4x4 with an excellent blend of performance and driver appeal, but is hampered by a poor ride and build quality concerns

Used BMW X3 2004 - 2011

With several different petrol and diesel engines on offer there is a sizeable range of running costs for an X3, so it pays to do your research before buying. VED ranges from £185 for an xDrive18d to £500 for a 3.0i petrol model, with the best-selling 2.0d costing £270 for an early car (2004-2007) and £210 for a post 2007 example. The 3.0d and 3.0sd (latterly badged as an xDrive35d) both cost £295 a year to tax.

The permanent four-wheel drive of the X3 does blunt its economy somewhat, but the xDrive18d will return over 40mpg and the 2.0d isn’t far behind. However, note that choosing a car with an automatic gearbox will see that figure drop to closer to 35mpg.

Despite their more powerful six-cylinder diesel engines the 3.0d and 3.0sd will both average 30mpg, but the 2.5i and 3.0i petrol models are best avoided unless your annual mileage is low as both struggle to better 20mpg on a regular basis.

In terms of servicing BMW dealers have a fixed-price menu for the X3 2.0-litre diesel with an oil service costing £159, a major Inspection 1 service at £257 and the even more comprehensive Inspection 2 service at £443. For a petrol-engined 3.0i, those figures will be £199, £267 and £537 respectively.

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The X3 is a roomy 4x4 with an excellent blend of performance and driver appeal, but is hampered by a poor ride and build quality concerns

Prices start at £2500 for a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw">BMW</a> X3, but for this sort of figure, it will be a 2004-2005 2.5i petrol model with over 100,000 miles, or a 2.0d with close to 200,000 miles. It’s better to up your budget, therefore. The 2.0d is by far the most popular engine, and £7000 will buy an SE model with 70,000 miles while £8000 will buy a facelifted example. Last-of-the-line 2.0ds can still be bought from BMW main dealers with a 12-month warranty for £10,000-£12,000, depending on specification.

The larger-engined diesels, the 3.0d and the range-topping 3.0sd, cost upwards of £5000, although for that figure they will be tired and worn out. Up the budget to £7000 and an M Sport 3.0d with 60,000 miles will be available, while the range-topping 30sd with 40,000 miles will cost £10,500.

Prior to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw">BMW</a> X3’s facelift in 2006, six engines were offered: three diesels (2.0d, 3.0d and 3.0sd) and three petrols (2.0i, 2.5i and 3.0i). Several trim levels are available on top of the base model: SE, Sport and M Sport.

All cars come with air conditioning, an alarm, central locking, front and rear electric windows and traction control. SE adds front fog lights, parking sensors and cruise control while Sport models feature sports seats and sport suspension. M Sport models are identified by colour-coded BMW M bumpers and larger alloy wheels.

Unless your budget is restricted, the facelifted X3 is a much better car as interior trim quality was improved and the engines are more economical. Shortly after the facelift, BMW changed its naming policy for the X3, with engine sizes being prefixed by ‘xDrive’. Thus, an X3 2.0d became an xDrive20d and the range-topping 3.0sd became the xDrive35d. The trim structure was also simplified, to SE and M Sport only.

While the 2.0-litre diesel looks to be the most sensible choice offering an excellent blend of performance and economy, we cannot fully recommend it due to the question mark over its reliability, and would instead opt for the 3.0-litre diesel. It is a little more expensive to buy, but you’ll usually get a better specification than the 2.0d and running costs are similar.

Our favourite BMW X3: xDrive30d SE

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all passengers</li> <li>Large boot with lots of clever storage solutions</li> <li>Good fuel economy and running costs</li> <li>All-round comfort</li> <li>High-quality interior finish</li></ul>

We define a large SUV as anything longer than 4.5 metres. These cars aren’t usually particularly cheap to buy or lease, so in return we expect a roomy cabin, a lengthy list of standard equipment and excellent cruising refinement. A few models in this class are two-wheel drive, but the vast majority have four-wheel drive for at least a modicum of off-road ability.

The Mazda CX-5 is firmly road-focused, but its 2.0-litre petrol engine is a strong, refined performer, making it looks good value for less than&nbsp;£25k. If you can stretch the budget a fair bit, the Audi Q5 provides a combination of comfort, driving prowess, quality and space that's hard to beat. Unlike some rivals, it can't be had with seven seats, though.

A more affordable, yet well-equipped alternative is the Peugeot 5008. It’s more than capable of coping with family life&nbsp;– and all versions have seven seats as standard.&nbsp;

Large SUV

As we’ve discussed, the X3’s interior has a reputation for being slightly less robust than one would normally experience with a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw">BMW</a>, so check that everything works and that the markings on the switches haven’t peeled off. On cars with satellite navigation, the electronically operated screen folds into the top of the dash and if this doesn’t work the only solution is a new unit, which is very expensive.

Examine the carpets to make sure they’re not wet as this will indicate either failed door seals or a sunroof drain problem (if fitted).

Most X3s have durable plastic bumpers but on the M Sport models these were colour-coded, so check for parking damage and any unsightly scrapes. Also check the alloy wheels for damage as they’re quite susceptible to kerbing and check the tyre make and condition. Tyres that are wearing unevenly may indicate a fault with driveshafts or the xDrive four-wheel drive system.

Check the tailgate closes properly and doesn’t rattle and ensure the rear wash wipe functions correctly.

BMW launched its first 4x4, the X5, to almost universal acclaim in 1999, so when a smaller X3 version was announced it was expected to be as accomplished as its bigger brother. In some respects it was, as it offers the same car-like handling and road holding as the X5. But in other areas it falls short.

While the X3 can boast exceptional driver appeal for a 4x4, it does suffer from an overly firm ride, and if larger wheels and sportier suspension are fitted it can be unacceptable on a family car. As such, we’d advise avoiding Sport and M Sport models, which come with these fitted as standard.

Externally, the X3 is smaller than an X5, but actually offers the same amount of space for passengers, and has a larger boot than its bigger brother. The same goes for the X3’s rivals, for while the likes of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/tiguan/estate/used-review/n938">Volkswagen Tiguan</a> provide similar passenger accommodation, they can’t match the X3’s boot space.

Where the X3 falls down in comparison to rivals such as the Tiguan is in the quality of the interior. Put simply, the materials don’t really have a premium feel, although ergonomically the X3 is up to <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw">BMW</a>’s usual high standard, and a facelift in 2006 did improve quality significantly.

The X3 features a range of petrol and diesel engines that are both powerful and economical, and provide a good match for its excellent handling and road holding.

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Used BMW X3 2004 - 2011 review

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Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used BMW X3 4x4?