About the BMW X3
@4MN7N purchased this BMW X3 used for $11,000 (including all on-road costs) in 2022. @4MN7N would buy this car again because: “Fuel economy, practicality, and affordability are not usually the three words that someone would use when describing a BMW or any other luxury-oriented German vehicle for that matter. The BMW X3 xDrive20d is quite possibly one of the best hidden gems in the modern secondhand market.
While you could secure a higher mileage Volkswagen Golf from the same era for roughly around the $12,000 mark, why bother when you can purchase an X3? “
How reliable has your car been? Tell us about any issues.
The car has been fantastically reliable so far requiring no additional work outside of its regularly scheduled servicing.
I will note however there was an issue regarding one of the cabin air filter housing drain holes. During regular scheduled servicing, the cabin filter housing drain holes are cleared of any debris to allow water that makes its way into the housing to make its way out into the atmosphere.
If one of your drain holes is clogged (like mine was), you will find water has made it’s way into your interior. I found this out the hard way by hopping in after a rainy day to find that my carpet was squelching and my interior smelt of wet dog.
Not exactly the most exciting of jobs, drying out my interior.
What do you think of the ownership experience with your car?
The ownership experience has been fantastic. This car is my daily driver and as a result, most of my time spent behind the wheel is either to and from work or to meet up with friends.
The main reason that I bought this car is that I wanted a good mixture of practicality, fuel economy, and creature comforts. This 2009 BMW X3 is able to deliver all of these characteristics at the price point of a used Mitsubishi Mirage.
Are you happy with the price and features of your car?
Absolutely! For $11,000 I have found it is hard to come by a car in the same mileage bracket and condition this X3 is in. While $11,000 isn’t necessarily an extremely budget-friendly option for everybody, I believe it is a realistically affordable price, especially for the luxuries of leather seats, cruise control, automatic headlights and wipers, interior ambient lighting, memory seating, and Bluetooth connectivity.
What do you think of the performance and economy of your car?
The N47 2.0L turbo diesel engine that propels this car does a fantastic job of moving a vehicle of this size with such force. Yet it also maintains fantastic fuel economy! Currently I am able to average approximately 1100km of range for every 67L of diesel I pump into the tank.
This comes out to approximately 6.0L per 100km of average fuel usage. Granted my driving is usually 75 per cent highway and 25 per cent city. This is still fantastic fuel economy for a car with some serious diesel grunt and torque, especially considering it’s an AWD.
While you aren’t necessarily pinned back in your seat when accelerating, it does pull hard enough that it is noticeable and satisfying.
What do you think of the technology in your car?
The technology is fantastic for a car at this price point from 2009. As mentioned before the 2009 X3 I own has power memory seating, Bluetooth connectivity, parking sensors, automatic windshield wipers and headlights, tyre pressure monitoring, and interior ambient lighting. Not to mention an automatically dipping side mirror for when you enter into reverse.
The on-board computer is also fantastic for measuring fuel economy and setting service reminders.
The main show-stopper is the moonroof that is entirely electronically adjustable. Alongside having various positions and tilt functions, the moonroof also takes up almost the entire roof of the X3 and has an electronically adjustable sun-shade. Not a common feature for most cars for sure.
The only thing that the 2009 X3 feels as if it’s missing is a factory-built reverse camera system. Currently I have an aftermarket system installed which definitely reflects the quality of a 2009 reverse camera system. A BMW official reverse camera system would have been a much better fit for the vehicle.
What do you think of the ride comfort and handling of your car?
Comfort is fantastic for the price point and purpose of the vehicle. Unsurprisingly the 2001 BMW 525i I owned with an M Sport package was more comfortable than the X3. Granted, the leather seating and the suspension of the X3 still allow for a comfortable ride so long as you aren’t on a consistently uneven, jagged, or damaged road surface.
The handling of the car is unsurprisingly characteristic of a BMW from this era. The cars of this time BMW produced were extremely oriented toward being the ‘ultimate driving machine’ as its previous slogan would suggest.
As a result the steering is extremely responsive and sharp. Perhaps even slightly heavier than a conventional steering system. The suspension and balance of the car is also extremely predictable and balanced. The AWD system absolutely assists in the handling and power delivery of the X3.
Overall, you can’t expect Rolls-Royce levels of comfort from a 13-year-old, $11,000 German sports-luxury SUV, nor can you expect it to handle like a car built for time-attacks and hill-climbs. It does manage to find a surprisingly balanced mid-point between the two.
Do you have any additional comments about your car?
Ultimately, why pay $11,000 for a Mitsubishi Mirage or a Toyota Corolla when you could spend the money on a more practical, enjoyable, and more opulent BMW SUV?
Keyword: 2009 BMW X3 xDrive20d owner review