2012 BMW X3: What's It Like to Live With?

What do you want to know about?

• Introduction
• Seeing Red
• Ramp Travel Index
• IIHS Rating
• What Do You Want?
• Cold Comfort
• Whoooosh Hiss
• Family Resemblance
• How It Compares
• Bluetooth Screaming
• The American Solution
• The 6-4 Question
• Back-Up Camera Personalization
• 2012 BMW X3's Handy Rear Lock Feature That the A8 May/May Not Have
• I Don't Trust the Guide
• You Stay Here While I Go Over There
• Long Day in the Desert
• Now That's a Nice Screen
• Meh
• Just Because
• What Is That?
• Caution: Filling May Be Hot
• Silent Connection
• No Need for Additional Sport
• Bullseye for the Bimmer
• Do the Lights Make a Difference?
• Interior Video Tour
• A Taste of L.A.
• Rear Cupholders
• All-American?
• Bump it Up
• Fob Logic
• IL Track Tested: 2012 BMW X3 vs. 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
• More Motor Than You'll Ever Need
• Rear Defroster Hits a Bull's Eye
• The Run Flats are Fine
• A Little Haulin'
• Custom Order is Better Than Netflix
• Tighten Up
• Mega Millions Car
• Will You Ever Use These Cargo Rails?
• Would It Be Any Different With RWD?
• Owner's Manual Hit Parade
• From a Passenger's POV
• Not Easy For Me To Get In
• 600-Mile Road Trip
• 600-Mile Road Trip, Pt. 2
• 600-Mile Road Trip, Pt. 3
• Does the Dog Fit?
• Zero Range and Too Much Gas
• Checking the Oil
• 7,000 Miles To Go
• Wastegate Rattle
• Are These Still Recognizable?
• Great Interior Design, Wrong Interior Color
• Interior Color Counterpoint
• Tuning the Driving Dynamics Control
• Low Profile Tires Take Their Toll
• M I Crazy?
• The Driver's Choice (Begrudgingly)
• I Could Get Used To This
• Enjoying The Manual Shifting Mode (With Video)
• Child Safety Seat Fitment Test
• Not Enough Juice?
• How Does It Compare To An '08 X3?
• I'd Pick It For A Road Trip
• Like Bacon, N55 Makes Everything Better
• Not Its Best Feature
• Why SUVs are Popular
• Keyless Hates Me
• 10,000 Miles
• I <3 Thigh Support
• Should We?
• Ouch!
• Subpar AC in Triple Digits
• Oh No, a Red Exclamation Point
• Another Warning
• At the Wedding of the Century
• Three Thousand Miles Later
• Hillhold Comes in Handy
• Excuse for Pretty Pictures
• Visiting the Volcanoes
• First Service Lesson
• Good Headlights, But Aimed Low
• Oh, Yes, It Has Passing Power
• Before the Oil Change
• Road Trip Fuel Economy
• Courtesy Lights
• Couple Notes on Luggage
• Is the Nav System Any Good? Plus, Bonus Photos from the Road
• Fifteen K and OK
• It Fits My Life
• Stopped Playing My iPod
• The Ahhh Moment
• I Can't Hear You
• Flip Flop
• The Box
• More News From Cargo Land
• Rear Side Sunshades
• Magic Transmission
• No Beeps
• Beware of Lightning
• These Pedals are too Close
• Linear
• Packed
• Seat Review
• A Look Underneath
• Convenient Cubby
• Sleeper Cabin
• Extended Sun Visors Needed
• Uniquely Quick
• Skip A Lease Payment, On the House
• 2012 BMW X3 xDrive35i versus the xDrive28i
• After the Storm
• Perfect for Glamping?
• A Few Miles Off-Road
• 2012 BMW X3 vs 2013 Bmw X3 xDrive28i
• That '70s Show
• Shortcut?
• Frills for Passenger, Too
• Comfort Access Keyless Entry
• 20,000 Miles Behind Us
• Likes and Dislikes
• Easy Off Display
• Intangibles
• Best Approach Lighting in the Business
• Best Six-Cylinder in the Class
• Tire Pressure Warning
• Hauls a 12-ft. Christmas Tree
• Power To Please
• Not So Smart Sport Mode
• Lost Without Google
• Dog Report
• Wearing Well
• Tire Wear
• Hot CDs
• Home Storage in Cargo Area
• Will the Dogs Fit?
• The Rise of the Compact SUV
• Getting Into the Door Bins
• Wrap-Up

Introduction

Brake brake brake. Downshift downshift. Turn in slowly, power on and, whoa, countersteer? Countersteer! Stay in it! Stay in it! Weee!

Exiting a tight corner in our new long-term 2012 BMW X3 xDrive35i, we can't help but suspect that BMW is still thinking "Ultimate Driving Machine" and not "Joy." The all-new-for-2011 crossover may have an improved ride and better interior materials, but on this twisty stretch of tarmac we're hanging with a Lotus Elise, and that powerless old chap doesn't know what to do with a grocery-getter sliding around in his rearview.

During our 12-month and 20,000-mile long-term test of this 2012 BMW X3 xDrive35i there will be plenty of time to test the utility, function, ride quality, fuel economy and family-friendliness; for this moment, though, we're happy to be in Sport+ in a CUV that allows the driver to make the decisions.

What We Got
There are two distinct flavors of the 2012 BMW X3: xDrive28i and xDrive35i. Both come with BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive system, Servtronic power steering, Bluetooth, iDrive, iPod adapter and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The difference, then, comes down to displacement. The xDrive28i comes with the adequate but soon-to-be-phased-out naturally aspirated 3.0-liter inline-6. It makes 240 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque and we had no interest in this future collector's item.

Instead, we opted for the xDrive35i and its turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6. This motor twists out 300 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. Not only is this significantly more powerful than the non-turbo version, but it manages better fuel economy to boot, with EPA numbers of 19 city/26 highway mpg and a combined rating of 21 mpg.

Besides a power difference, there's obviously a price to pay as well. The xDrive35i starts at $42,700 — $5,600 more than the xDrive28i. From there we added the Sport Activity package for $1,750. It adds 19-inch alloy wheels, the nice supportive sport seats, anthracite headliner, a sport steering wheel with paddles and a sport automatic transmission. We balanced that with the $700 Cold Weather package that heats the steering wheel and front seats and gives a split-folding rear seat.

The Premium package was next. It weights up the sticker to the tune of $3,450 and includes a power tailgate, universal garage door opener, auto-dimming mirrors, lumbar support, storage package and ambience lighting. For $3,200 we got the Technology package, too, with its rearview camera, park distance control, navigation with real-time traffic, Bluetooth audio and BMW assist. A $550 paint color, satellite radio and BMW Apps make up the rest of the charges.

Including destination and delivery, our new 2012 BMW xDrive35i carries a sticker price of $53,845. There was no room to negotiate, however, as BMW loaned us the vehicle for the test.

Why We Got It
It took awhile for compact luxury SUVs to catch on. At first they were looked down upon as entry-level price busters that allowed less well-heeled buyers to get in a luxury brand without paying too much. But then big SUVs suddenly went out of style while small, more fuel-efficient utilities started to look like smart buys. The X3 was there to capitalize, along with the Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLK.

In 2011, the BMW X3 underwent a full redesign. It softened some of the previous X3's harder edges, like its overly stiff ride quality and less-than-impressive interior. The 2011 X3 managed to fix both of those problems while still straddling the line between a sporty drive and a comfortable ride.

In our first drive of the 2012 BMW X3 xDrive35i, we concluded that the new made-in-the-USA X3 was more grown up, more refined and, despite being bigger, still held a valuable spot between the X1 and the X5.

The 2012 X3 promises more space, more power, better fuel economy and a better ride. But will it hold up to our expectations? Follow along on our Long-Term Road test blog for the next 12 months as we put 20,000 miles on our new X3 xDrive35i.

Current Odometer: 1,585
Best Fuel Economy: 21.5
Worst Fuel Economy: 18.0
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 20.4

The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.

Seeing Red

Photo by Kurt Niebuhr

In general, I'm pretty boring when it comes to car interiors. I like basic black, which may explain why I gravitate towards Audi cabins. Our new long-term BMW X3, however, is pretty far from basic.

Red leather. To me, red leather belongs in a silver roadster; preferably a vintage Porsche of some sort. But in an SUV?

I have to admit, I really like it in our X3. Combined with the coarse-grained wood trim (BMW calls it Fineline Sienna wood trim, the leather is Nevada Chestnut), is incredibly attractive to me. But how could a basic-black kind of guy fall for such a brazen palette?

Well, one of my favorite cars is the original M Coupe. An Imola Red 1999 M Coupe once occupied my driveway and it had a red and black interior. Perhaps it's just my fondness for that car that is spilling over into the X3. But I still don't think I'd order this color combination if I were putting up my money.

Would you?

Ramp Travel Index

Our 2012 BMW X3 is eligible for the RTI ramp treatment because it is equipped with AWD and is SUV-shaped. If that's not enough acronyms for you, get a job with the DOD (Department of Defense). When I worked there some years ago I had access to a government/military acronym dictionary that was 3 inches think, containing many 3-layer nested sub-acronyms and initialisms. And yes, "fubar" was in there. Not sure about "RTFM." Had to be, right?

But I digress.

This photo above depicts the upper limit reached by our 2012 X3. The lower valance cleared easily at the bottom but as the suspension compressed it came into very slight contact with the cheese grater that is out ramp's traction surface. No little plastic shavings were produced, however.

All she wrote.

Handling-focused stabilizer bars and a moderate amount of suspension travel doesn't add up to all that much articulation. This is still a soft-roader, but the X3 did hike its left front almost 50 percent higher than the Juke.

Twelve and three-sixteenths of lift translates to 35.63 inches of progress up the ramp. Dividing this by the X3's 110.6-inch wheelbase and multiplying by 1,000 brings boils down to an RTI value of 322.

How does this measure up to other vehicles? We haven't tested many, so the RTI leaderboard is rather short. We have lots of gaps to fill in. At present the X3 is one up from the bottom of the list.

Everything shown above is an unmodified stock vehicle. We're keeping track of our Jeep modifications separately.

This finishing order makes sense considering the relative off-road mission and reputation — not to mention hardware — of each vehicle. The Toyota and Lexus lead the list in wheel lift thanks to KDSS, but our unmodified base Jeep sneaks up amongst them on the strength of its short wheelbase.

IIHS Rating

The BMW X3 was rated a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It achieved the highest rating in all categories, which includes front, side, rollover, and rear tests. To achieve this rating a vehicle must also offer standard electronic stability control.

The IIHS classifies the X3 as a midsize luxury SUV. Other top picks in this category are the Acura MDX, Audi Q5, Cadillac SRX, Infiniti EX35, Lexus RX, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKX, Mercedes GLK, Mercedes M-Class, Volvo XC60 and Volvo XC90.

It's a pretty safe segment. Do you own any cars on this list?

What Do You Want?

Judging from all the comments on the intro blog post for our new 2012 BMW X3, sounds like a lot of you are already bored by this long-term trial before it even began. "I literally could not care less. I tried to care less and failed," said commenter mkboyardee, which made me giggle but also made me wonder, what could we possibly cover that would interest you?

I mean, you have no interest in hearing how much I liked driving the X3 over the weekend? That I loved the way it handled and how much power it has? How I'd gladly pick it as my road trip vehicle, rush-hour savior, dog-toting mobile? And, oh, don't get me started on those fab seat heaters.

So out of curiosity, what would you like to see us blog about on our X3?

Cold Comfort

Something's wrong with our new X3's climate control. Judging from the temperature setting shown, you'd think that I was slow-roasting myself on the way home. Not so.

Update: The car is fine. I'm broken.

I usually have automatic climate control systems set to 74 degrees. About three blocks from the office last night, the vents were still blowing cold. I figured that the temperature sensor was wonky, so I turned up the heat. Still cold.

Then I took it out of automatic mode. Nope, still cold. Finally, I turned it all the way up to its maximum of 84 degrees. Finally, I heard a mechanism move behind the dash and warm air poured forth. But if I turned it down to 83 degrees, it went right back to cold. I also tried turning off the AC, but that just made things a little swampy inside.

So there's problem number one, just a week into the long-term test. Let's hope things remain as minor as this.

Update: I went down to ensure that the thumb dial is in fact, the culprit. It is. I honestly can't see how this feature is useful, but there it is. Thanks to all who corrected me and for not calling me a mouth-breathing troglodyte.

Whoooosh Hiss

There's something about hearing a turbo under acceleration that just makes me smile. My first experience with this was in a 2005 Subaru WRX STi. The whoosh and hiss absolutely did it for me. But in every modern BMW with a turbo, those sounds have been absent. Maybe that's a good thing, since I suppose most BMW owners wouldn't find it as appealing as I do. But it's there, you just have to listen for it.

I was running a quick errand yesterday with the windows down. I needed to accelerate rather briskly at one point and there it was. A very faint and high-pitched turbo whoosh, followed by an equally faint hiss between gears. That brought a smile to my face.

It's completely undetectable if the stereo is on, even on the lowest volume setting. Because of this, I have a feeling I'll be driving windows down and silent more often than not.

Family Resemblance

I had a deja vu moment as I got into our BMW X3 yesterday. The key fob felt familiar, but it was bigger and chunkier in my hand. The seat's excellent lumbar adjustments were at my fingertips as always, but as I settled in, I sure had a whole lot loftier vista than usual. The iDrive was right where it belonged, but it was a mere island in the Fineline Sienna wood-trimmed console. I couldn't initially find the USB port — it was lurking under a phone tray. Phone pairing was a snap — just like always.

What the heck, you ask, is she talking about?

Well, now that I've spent six weeks in my new car, the gorgeous Montego Blue 2011 BMW 328i coupe you see here, it was a blast to compare it to its hulkier SUV cousin. The X3 is a fine ride, and my friends who own an earlier version were digitally salivating when I sent them a picture. But the 328i is my Goldilocks car: It's just right.

I'll be writing about my shopping and buying experience soon in Readers Rides. But for those of you who wanted to know what I got, here it is. I couldn't be happier.

How It Compares

I remember our 2005 BMW X3 well. It was in the pre-LTRTB era. On a weekend trip I drove it to Santa Barbara and back to Los Angeles with three passengers. The previous X3 had a very — and I mean VERY — stiff suspension. As the driver, I enjoyed the stiff ride but rear passengers felt every bump on the road. This new 2012 X3 is not soft by any means, but noticeably less harsh. I also found it easier to climb in and out and it feels roomier.

A lot of you are asking why we got this vehicle, no one could possibly be interested in the X3. Well, since inception the BMW X3 has sold over 600,000 units worldwide, leading this segment. So somebody cares. I know I do. This is exactly the type of vehicle I would consider purchasing. I would cross-shop it with my new crush, the 2013 Acura RDX and my old flame, the Audi A4 wagon.

I pulled out a few specs for comparison between our two long-termers seven years apart.

Bluetooth Screaming

Normally, Bluetooth streaming audio is my last choice for audio sources. There are plenty of cars I've driven that have this feature, and most of them sacrifice some sound quality for convenience. Not our BMW X3, though.

I've been using Zee Avi's Concrete Wall and Smokescreen by Willis as test songs lately. Both have really strong bass with lingering highs, which for me, is an important component of a sound system's capabilities. Both were crystal clear through the iPod cable, but to my surprise, they sounded equally great via Bluetooth streaming.

A lot of times with Bluetooth, the bass starts to fall apart or the highs get scratchy; then there are the occasional signal cutouts. In our X3, none of these issues surfaced. The only problem I experienced was a random bout of unresponsive buttons. Twice on my drive home, the skip track buttons failed to work. I worked around this by switching sources and back, which seemed to reset it.

I'll still be using the iPod cable, since it charges my phone and allows for searching for songs, but the Bluetooth streaming is certainly a worthy substitute if the cable is missing.

The American Solution

It's a long way to here from Germany, but the 2012 BMW X3 shows that the guys there finally know the way. Remember when they were so lost, we thought they'd never get here with the right kind of sport-utility?

Like the very first BMW X5, which was a spectacular hot rod, but had a passenger cabin smaller than a BMW 5 series wagon and a tendency to find a ditch whenever it snowed.

Or the first Mercedes-Benz ML, which was (please don't tell anyone), a minivan concept until sport-utilities got popular in the middle of its development cycle so it got dressed up in SUV clothes.

Or the first Porsche Cayenne, which had a dual-range transfer case because those well-meaning engineers at Weissach R&D were sure that every American really wanted to drive his $70,000 SUV with the $3,000 pearlescent paint option to the top of some pillar of red rock in Moab, Utah.

Instead the new BMW X3 is exactly what Americans have wanted all along, an all-weather wagon with a little room to spread out inside. It's quiet, nice and yet speedy, and so far it doesn't seem like it'll find the ditch when it snows.

It's understandable that the Germans didn't realize that we need a specialized vehicle for this sort of all-weather mobility, since they drive in weather even more fraught than ours in plain old cars. But that's just how we are in America, and it's so far from Germany that you need a pretty big set of binoculars to figure out what's happening from Munich or Stuttgart.

The 6-4 Question

Just today, BMW announced that it would start using its new "N20" turbocharged four cylinder engine as the base offering in the X3. You might have heard of this engine. It first came out in the Z4, then moved to the 5 Series and now stands as the base engine in the all-important 3 Series.

Why just this week, we put the 328i on the dyno and it cranked out a solid 240 horsepower and 257 pound-feet of torque — at the wheels. Clearly, BMW is being more than a little conservative with the rating of the N20.

With that in mind, though, it seems like a good fit for the X3. Our 3.0-liter, inline six is rated at 300-hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. That's another conservative rating, so figure a little more on top of that. But does this vehicle really need that much power for daily driving? Hard to tell until we get one to test, but I'm guessing the X3 would get along just fine with the turbo four.

Back-Up Camera Personalization

Our long-term 2012 BMW X3 xDrive35i (say that 5x fast) has a fancy-pants back-up camera system. Fancy, in that you can personalize several of the settings throught the iDrive controller.

The back-up camera is part of the Technology Package that will debit your checking account
by $3,200(!!).

On the jump I provide two epic vids.

Check out what you can personalize on the back-up cam...

With the iDrive controller you can:

1. Switch from back-up camera to top view (very useful for tight parallel parking)
2. Vary brightness
3. Increase/decrease contrast
4. Show pathway and turning circle lines (you may or may not find them useful)
5. Obstacle marking, with a small square with a color that matches the parking sonar warning, show in the Top View pic on the right of the screen. As I got closer to the ladder both the obstacle dectection square and the parking sonar color would turn yellow, then red

Pathway lines help the driver estimate the space required when parking (on a level road) and is dependent on the steering angle. Turning circle lines show the course of the smallest possible turning circle (on a level road.)

The videos are similar. The first one shows the obstacle detection in action, while the clearer second video does not.

What do you think? Is all this useful, or not really?

2012 BMW X3's Handy Rear Lock Feature That the A8 May/May Not Have

I really like this feature in our 2012 BMW X3; that you can just hit that lock button which will not only lower and close the liftgate for you, but will also lock up the car. I like it because I don't have to dig out the key fob in my Bermuda Triangle of a purse to secure the car. And it's especially appreciated when my hands are already occupied with groceries or the like and I can't reach the key fob.

Out of curiosity, I checked out other long-termers that had that automatic-closing tailgate feature to see if they offered the same locking convenience. Turns out the Nissan Quest doesn't but I think our Audi A8L does. The reason I'm not sure is because sometimes when I hit that Close Tailgate button the Audi will make that sharp, high-pitched beep that the car is locked but it won't do this every time.

I tried hitting the button and walking a little bit aways. Nope. I then tried just standing there til the lid closed. Nope. And then another time when I wasn't thinking about it, it did lock the car. Heh?

I checked the Audi's manual to see if it would clarify how you can lock the car by just hitting that close button but all it said was "Press the button in the rear lid. The rear lid moves to the closed position by itself and soft close locks it automatically." M'kay. What am I missing?

I Don't Trust the Guide

Now that rear view backup cameras are all the rage these days, nearly every manufacturer is trying to come up with its own twist on the idea. In the case of our X3, BMW provides these handy guide lines that show the immediate space behind the vehicle if you back straight up and yet another set of guidelines that depict where it will end up if you crank the wheel one way or the other.

I have no idea how the vehicle calculates this, nor do I do I know if they're at all accurate. The one thing I do know is that I don't really trust them much. If I was planning to back up into the carport space above there's no way I would assume that the red line is correct. Instead, I would go slow, look over shoulder, adjust my line as I went in and largely ignore whatever the guide on the screen said.

Maybe I'm just paranoid, or distrustful of technology. Either way, there's no doubt I'm going to turn around and look for myself. Other drivers might not feel the same way and find these guide invaluable. I have yet to meet one, though, and doubt I ever will.

You Stay Here While I Go Over There

Sorry, 2012 BMW X3. You'll have to wait here. No, you haven't done anything wrong. It's just that, well, I've never driven one of THOSE before and I don't know when I'll get another chance.

Thanks for carrying me out to Auto Club Speedway, and all — and my helmet. You've earned a break. Why not chill out and cool down? I'll find you some nice shade.

Wait, what? No, I didn't know I was going to need it. I just carry it along sometimes. Relax. I'll be gone no more than an hour...or four. Promise.

Long Day in the Desert

This is one of the better and more established roads our 2012 BMW X3 traversed this past Saturday.

As some of you know, one of my hobbies is a geeky GPS-based activity called geocaching. A group of eleven of us piled into three vehicles and headed out into the undeveloped triangle of open desert between highway 395, highway 58 and Interstate 15 for a day of short hikes split up by miles and miles of driving on faint tracks that barely register on aerial photographs and satellite images. Our plan was to visit 300 caches.

Along the way we encountered sand, rocks, and the three w's of the desert: washboard, washouts and whoop-de-doos. But at least this area's very sparse rainfall and a tendency for high winds keeps the size of the plants in this area down to where the paint wasn't at much risk — if I was careful.

The roads were more like unimproved rally tracks than true off-roading, so the BMW X3 was actually more in its element than the solid axle truck-based SUVs driven by the others. The low unsprung mass of 4-wheel independent suspension allowed Team BMW to ride the bumps without any washboard fatigue, and relatively wide tires provided decent floatation when crossing brief stretches of sand. As for the X-drive system, it was entirely seamless throughout.

Red represents and example of where we drove; blue where we hiked. I'm guessing the X3 dirtied itself over 75 miles of dirt, sand and rocks over a period of 6 hours, give or take.

Not surprisingly, that tank's mpg, which I isolated by refilling as soon as possible after returning to civilization with some 135 miles on the clock, ranks as the X3's worst so far at 15.3 mpg.

What's the payoff aside from a day out with friends? Maybe you'll find a big ammo can. Could be a 35mm film cannister. Anything waterproof and critter-proof, really. Some are easy to find, others are pure evil. In all cases there's a log to sign. Sometimes there's swag to trade.

If nothing else geocaching is an incentive to get up off the couch and get outside, oftentimes to an out-of-the-way someplace that maybe you didn't realize you could get to before.

I'm in because there's always a car and often a hike involved, two things I enjoy. And it's sort of an outdoor multiplayer videogame that uses a handheld GPS unit or your favorite smartphone instead of a controller.

I've got other trips planned to grab more remote caches higher up in the mountains, and for those I'll take our 2012 Jeep Wrangler. On this route, at least, the BMW X3 did just fine.

Now That's a Nice Screen

As I mentioned yesterday, our Mazda 3 has one of my least favorite map screens. Our 2012 BMW X3's is my current favorite in our fleet. The screen has rich color, the picture is large enough to show more than the half block I happen to be on, and it has plenty of room to show street names even when zoomed pretty far out. It also offers nice perspective and can be customized to your viewing preferences.

Our X3 costs twice the price of our Mazda 3, so you naturally get twice the screen.

Meh

(An appropriate gear for any 3-Series.)

That's how I thought I'd feel after driving our X3 for the first time. Last time I drove one, more than a year ago, it was nice and steady and competent. And totally forgettable. Actually, I take that back. The X3 was pretty memorable for its inebriated throttle response and the subtlety of its Efficient Dynamics initiative (only a sticker on each rear window and the blue/red fill gauge monitoring my eco habits every time I lifted off-throttle).

I wanted to be underwhelmed - especially after driving the new F30 sedan and soaking up the new turbo-four and revised chassis.

Coming out of that car, the X3 seems somewhat irrelevant. A nice SUV for work and weekends, but not one you think about after locking the doors. You can say the same about many crossovers, but the X3 costs more to think less about it.

But you can't hate the X3. I mean, you can. But that just makes you some grumpy funk. When the six-cylinder sucks down, spools up and sends its valves into a frenzy, you smile. Or with a little speed underneath, you grab a left paddle to sling around slower traffic, and the 3.0-liter simply wonders if that's all you need. And something's happened to the throttle lag; either it's gone, or I've adapted. Maybe I forgot to drive it outside of Sport.

And it's all comfortable and quiet, visible and solid. Not quite luxury, not by the evolving benchmarks or by what awaits further up-class anyway. But premium. There's better out there, sure, and why not aspire to it? But the X3 is a nice scotch you could probably enjoy the rest of your days, without much pining for whatever else you're missing.

You get all that with the new 3 Series, too. The new turbo-four doesn't disappoint and its improved efficiency promises even more mainstream appeal. Ditto that when the turbo-four finds its way into the base X3. So who buys the X3 then? Cyclists? Local chefs? Dog owners? People who want a 3 Series with a bigger trunk? Poser One-Percenters who can't bear closer proximity to the rabble and scrub?

We must have some X3 owners on the blog. Weigh in.

Just Because

While loading some bags into the cargo area of our longterm 2012 BMW X3, I took a quick scan of its various features. Elastic strap thingie, stationary tiedown anchors, sliding tiedown anchors, flip-down grocery bag hooks, watertight well (lower right), AC 12v power outlet.

Wait, doesn't this thing have run-flats?

Run-flat tires means no need to power an on-board inflator.

Well, maybe that outlet has some other specific German purpose.

Curiosity piqued, I R'd TFM for enlightenment, and... it's there just because. Maybe to power your margarita blender for those off-road expeditions arduous trips to Macy's. You know, tie that sucker down to the floor anchors — a proper blender is hefty, being powered by a weedwacker engine — hold the glasses with the strap and keep the ice in that watertight bin?

Turns out it's one of four such outlets in our X3, too — there's also one by the front cupholders, one in the console bin and one in the second row.

And now you know.

What Is That?

Sorry for the above blurry photo of my friend Matt and his girlfriend playing with our long-term 2012 BMW X3's center armrest. But I had to capture the moment when tech-savvy, 20-something Matt couldn't figure out that this was a mobile phone dock. I mean, he uses an iPad as his store's cash register!

"Yeah, we felt like monkeys taking it apart and putting it back together and taking it apart again. But we couldn't figure out what it is. What is it?"

OK, I wasn't exactly sure either til I broke open the owner's manual. I mean, most every car I've been in has had either a USB port or an aux. So I was really surprised when I found...

Wait, is that a candy bar cell phone?

Yup, sure is! Well no wonder Matt couldn't figure it out. Didn't know those still existed. Fortunately our X3 also comes with a USB/iPod port, which is also located in the center armrest, underneath the candy bar docking station.

Can't help but wonder how many BMW owners still own such a phone. Is it wrong to assume they'd be early adopters?

Caution: Filling May Be Hot

After popping the X3's hood to check the oil (before realizing it has an electronic oil level monitor), this warning showed up both within the instrument cluster and on the navi's monitor. The boxed-in area where an internal combustion engine resides can be hot? Who knew?

Next thing you know, you'll see warnings on coffee cups cautioning java junkies that indeed that beverage is hot...

Kidding aside, it's nice to know that BMW cares.

Silent Connection

I mentioned before in a Fiat 500 post that I really dislike it when cars' Bluetooth systems ask you to record a name for your phone. Kind of a tedious process. Plus who, besides reality stars, likes the sound of their own voice?

That's why I have to tip my hat to cars, like our 2012 BMW X3, that automatically detect your phone's name when you connect it. See? The technology is there.

Only thing that would make the X3's system even better is if it, like the Fiat, didn't have a limited number of slots to fill. But I'm sure that's an issue families wouldn't take umbrage with.

For a compelling video on how easy it is to connect an iPhone, hit the jump. Personally, I like that BMW has owner's manual videos.

No Need for Additional Sport

Our X3 is equipped with BMW's Driving Dynamics Control (DDC) system which bundles various adjustments together into driver selectable normal, sport and sport+ modes.

There's only one real problem with the system — it's not really needed. Driving around in "normal" mode I never once felt the need to sporty things up a little. This X3 is very much a 3 Series on stilts, so it turns, accelerates and stops like a small sport sedan.

I've generally been of the opinion that a well-tuned suspension/transmission/throttle setup shouldn't really need or even offer adjustments. Just get it right and leave it there. There are instances where it's nice to soften the ride up a little or quicken up the shift speed on the transmission, but it's often very subtle. I tried the Sport and Sport+ modes on our X3 and didn't find them much better than the "normal" mode. Maybe if we had the Dynamic Handling Package it would be different, but I doubt it.

Bullseye for the Bimmer

I noticed this defroster detail on the X3. Usually, the defroster's heating elements (the orange lines) run horizontally across the rear window. As you can see, the X3's are arranged in concentric fashion, echoing the sweep of the wiper. Although it may not make much difference from a strictly functional perspective, aesthetically it's a nice touch.

Do the Lights Make a Difference?

You may have noticed a greater number of new vehicles with odd looking headlights. It's a trend that BMW largely started awhile back with its corona ring design, quickly followed up by Audi and its LEDs. Now, just about vehicle has some signature light cue up front, some more interesting than others.

Our X3 has BMW's latest take on headlight design and it's slightly more complicated version of its traditional design. The lights themselves work well and they don't look half bad when they're glowing eerily after you hit the unlock button.

Made me wonder, though, how much the average buyer really cares. Do they really notice? Would they prefer to save the money as long as they could see well at night? Is this whole fancy light fad something that will fade away as quickly as it came about?

Hard to tell as this point, although as LEDs become more flexible, the designs are only going to get more complicated. So much for changing a bulb in front of the auto parts store.

Interior Video Tour

Here's a look inside the 2012 BMW X3. The leather color that I mention is officially called Nevada Chestnut.

Sorry about my weak-sounding voice. Video after the jump...

A Taste of L.A.

Ever wonder what it's like to live in Los Angeles? Here's a taste of rush hour traffic.

Ho hum.

Rear Cupholders

adavis2493 asked about the rear cupholders in the BMW X3. When you lower the center console in the rear seat, you can access two pop-up cupholders. There are no cupholders in the back of the front center console. So, if you have a third passenger who is sitting in the middle, you are out of luck.

All-American?

BMW Manufacturing Co in Spartanburg, SC, produced its first vehicle, a 318i, on September, 8, 1994. BMW has since produced over 2 million vehicles and has invested over $5 billion at that U.S. plant.

Our long-term 2012 BMW X3 was built in the Spartanburg plant, along with the X5 and X6 SUVs (Z4 production was moved from Spartanburg in August 2008.) In fact, all X3s — regardless of the country for which they're destined — are built in Spartanburg. Additionally, the new X3 was designed in California.

So, considering all the recent fuss about Chrysler and the Clint Eastwood Superbowl ad, does that make the new X3 an American car? Does that even matter to you?

Hit the jump for the video, BMW X3: Defying Logic

Bump it Up

While engaging in a rare driving condition recently (an open freeway in L.A.) I engaged the X3's cruise control. This is when I noticed the cruise's bump up/down feature. I know some other luxury brands offer this feature and it comes in handy, especially when traveling on freeways where the speed limit can fluctuate between 65 and 70.

The X3's cruise speed up/down button (rocker switch on left wheel spoke) works like an auto down/up power window switch. Push it lightly and you can adjust the speed by one or more mph, depending on how long you hold it there. Press it briefly and beyond the initial travel (through the "click") and the preset speed automatically moves up or down to the next multiple of 5mph.

Fob Logic

When you have a new car, it takes a little while to get used to its system of icons and symbols. On the key fob for the 2011 BMW 328i coupe that I bought in December, the lock button is the BMW symbol. It says "lock" just above it. The unlock button is the silver square with the arrow. Easy enough, once you've used it daily. But my husband, who only occasionally drives the car, hasn't quite got it down yet. He fumbles a bit every time he locks the car.

When I drove our long-term X3 last night, I noticed that the fob is slightly different. It doesn't rely on words to describe the button functions. There's a lock icon next to the BMW symbol. And there's an unlock icon on the silver rectangle above it. If you're a looker and not a feeler when it comes to key fobs, it makes a lot more sense.

IL Track Tested: 2012 BMW X3 vs. 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

With a starting price of $43,595, our 2012 BMW X3 xDrive35i is a nice way to make a statement. The BMW says, "I'm here. I put a high priority on style and function."

But what about a car that just puts a high priority on style? You know, a car that was designed with influence from Posh Spice? A car that just might be redundantly named the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque. With its rising beltline, smallish cargo hold and the ability to be had in a two-door body style, the Evoque's practicality (or lack thereof) makes our X3 feel like an Enclave.

And yet even if the Range Rover has a leg up off the beaten path, both promise slick moves at your neighborhood test track. In a straight line, it's hard to imagine our BMW X3 xDrive35i with its 300-horsepower turbocharged inline-6 losing to the Evoque and its 240-horse turbocharged inline-4. But what about braking and our handling tests? Read on.

Vehicle: 2012 BMW X3 xDrive35i

Odometer: 3,694
Date: 03/06/2012
Driver: Chris Walton
Base price: $42,700
Price as tested: $53,845

Specifications:
Drive Type: Front-engine, all-wheel drive
Transmission Type: Eight-speed automatic
Engine Type: Longitudinal, turbocharged, direct-injected inline-6
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 2,979/182
Redline (rpm): 7,000
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 300 @ 5,800
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 300 @ 1,300
Brake Type (front): 12.9-inch ventilated discs with single-piston sliding calipers
Brake Type (rear): 13.0-inch ventilated discs with single-piston sliding calipers
Suspension Type(front): Independent MacPherson struts, coil springs, stabilizer bar
Suspension Type (rear): Independent MacPherson struts, coil springs, stabilizer bar
Tire Size (front): 245/45R19 (102V) M+S
Tire Size (rear): 245/45R19 (102V) M+S
Tire Brand: Goodyear
Tire Model: Eagle LS2
Tire Type: All-season, run-flat
As tested Curb Weight (lb): 4,225

Test Results:

Acceleration
0-30 (sec): 2.1 (2.5 w/TC on)
0-45 (sec): 3.7 (4.1 w/TC on)
0-60 (sec): 5.8 (6.3 w/TC on)
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 5.5 (5.8 w/TC on)
0-75 (sec): 8.3 (8.9 w/TC on)
1/4-Mile (sec @ mph): 14.1 @ 97.0 (14.4 @ 96.9 w/TC on)

Braking:
30-0 (ft): 31
60-0 (ft): 123

Handling
Slalom (mph): 64.4 dynamic mode ( 63.0 w/TC on)
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): 0.80 dynamic ( 0.78 w/TC on)

Db @ Idle: 41.6
Db @ Full Throttle: 73.7
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 64.7

Acceleration: Holy guacamole! This was an utter surprise to me because I hadn't looked at the ungainly badge on the side of the X3 (xDrive35i). Strong AWD launch, but then at 4,000 rpm the afterburners light and the X3 really comes alive. Default/first run in Drive + Normal mode; subsequent in Sport Drive + Sport Plus. The close-ratio gearset keeps the engine in the sweet spot after each velvety upshift (with spark retard or some such) exactly at (or slightly over) redline. Holds a gear past redline (to 7,300 rpm) and also performs matched-rev downshifts.

Braking: Medium-travel medium-firm pedal never wavered. Moderate-to-light dive, straight and steady with slight increase in distance in middle runs that disappeared by the last.

Handling:

Skid pad: Dynamic-mode (non-defeat) ESC was virtually nonexistent on the skid pad, allowing the X3 to pile on gentle-yet-terminal understeer at the limit. Good balance and tractability but no chance of rotation. Steering goes light as understeer builds (as it should). Slight difference with ESC on, where it imperceptibly bled throttle.

Slalom: Again, dynamic-mode ESC is rather lenient unless yaw and steering are crossed for too long. If this happens, the run is scrapped anyway, so it's really an "Oh sh*t" safety net. Good front-end bite and quick to react in transitions. Very trustworthy so I was able to coax some lift-throttle rotation to snub understeer when approaching the limit. With ESC on, it used the brakes sparingly to maintain smooth arcs between cones but wouldn't allow lift-stab-lift-stab. Remarkable speed and agility for something this size.

Vehicle: 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

Odometer: 788
Date: 11/22/2011
Driver: Mike Monticello
Base price: $41,145
Price as tested: $59,670

Specifications:
Drive Type: Front-engine, all-wheel drive
Transmission Type: Six-speed automatic
Engine Type: Transverse turbocharged, direct-injected inline-4
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 1,999/122
Redline (rpm): 6,850
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 240 @ 5,500
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 251 @ 1,750
Brake Type (front): 11.8-inch ventilated discs with single-piston sliding calipers
Brake Type (rear): 11.9-inch ventilated discs with single-piston sliding calipers
Suspension Type(front): Independent MacPherson struts, stabilizer bar
Suspension Type (rear): Independent MacPherson struts, stabilizer bar
Tire Size (front): 245/45R20 (99V)
Tire Size (rear): 245/45R20 (99V)
Tire Brand: Michelin
Tire Model: Latitude Sport
Tire Type: Asymmetrical summer
As tested Curb Weight (lb): 4,015

Test Results:

Acceleration
0-30 (sec): 2.7 (3.1 w/TC on)
0-45 (sec): 4.8 (5.2 w/TC on)
0-60 (sec): 7.4 (7.7 w/TC on)
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 7.1 (7.3 w/TC on)
0-75 (sec): 11.0 (11.2 w/TC on)
1/4-Mile (sec @ mph): 15.5 @ 89.8 (15.7 @ 89.8 w/TC on)

Braking:
30-0 (ft): 29
60-0 (ft): 118

Handling
Slalom (mph): 62.9 dynamic mode ( 62.4 w/TC on)
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): 0.83 dynamic ( 0.79 w/TC on)

Db @ Idle: 43.8
Db @ Full Throttle: 73.4
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 64.1

Acceleration: Definite turbo lag off the line, and the brakes aren't strong enough to hold the Evoque in place for proper power braking at launch. Once to 3,000 rpm the engine feels quite strong. Some lag with each upshift. Shifts are quick but a bit abrupt. Manual shifting via steering wheel paddles (no console lever, just a knob). Sort of blips the throttle on manual downshifts. Will not hold gears to limiter.

Braking: The Evoque's first stop of 118 feet is actually pretty good considering it weighs 4,000 pounds. But by just the third stop the brakes were smoking heavily, and by the fourth stop we called it quits. For that, it gets a Poor rating.

Handling:

Skid pad: Good feel from the steering and reasonable grip from the tires. Chassis is responsive. There's a major difference here between ESC on and off (unlike in the slalom, where they felt the same). With it "off" the system didn't jump in at all. With it on, it massively cut the throttle to the point you could just keep your right foot planted.

Slalom: A real shame that the ESC system cannot be defeated, even in "DSC off" mode. The Evoque has surprisingly quick steering and a competent chassis with good damping, but if you get at all aggressive with it around the cones it cuts the throttle and adds brakes. It's counter-intuitive to have such quick steering, then right after you turn in, the stability system freaks out and cuts all your speed. Let this thing breathe and it would put up a respectable time.

More Motor Than You'll Ever Need

By now, you might have read the track test battle between our long-term X3 and the new Range Rover Evoque. It's a pretty stark reminder that no matter how sporty you look, it doesn't matter much unless you have an engine to back it up.

The turbocharged 3.0-liter in our X3 may not look like much, but I'm continually amazed by how much power this straight six doles out. I mean, the X3 isn't just strong off the line and all that, it's downright fast. Whether you're on getting on the highway or making a pass on a two-lane, this X3 moves out. Combined with a suspension that makes it feel like a 3 Series sedan, this X3 starts to make a pretty good case for itself and a better alternative to the traditional sedan.

Rear Defroster Hits a Bull's Eye

It wasn't until I fired up the BMW X3's rear defroster this morning that I noticed its unusual shape. Approximately 10 seconds later, the center of the bull's eye was entirely clear, and the heat began to radiate toward the outer edges.

Later, when I sat down to write this post I read John DiPietro's earlier post on the same topic. Most commenters assumed the defroster wires were set in the round design for aethetics only. But after watching it in action this morning, I definitely think it's more than just a big target for bird poop.

The Run Flats are Fine

We've never been big fans of run flat tires. They're a nice idea in theory, but in practice they mostly just ride poorly compared to their traditional counterparts.

Our X3 has them so I expected to be annoyed after a few hundred miles behind the wheel. Instead, I barely notice them. They ride firm yet not overly harsh. I haven't even come close to pushing the X3 to its limits yest, so I can't comment on their sheer grip. In a vehicle like this, however, I can't imagine threshold traction is an issue worth worrying about.

On another note, the wheels that came as part of the optional Sport Activity package look great. They're definitely a step up from the odd-looking stockers. Then again, they're not quite as awesome as the M Double Spoke wheels that are available as an accessory package, a $6,300 accessory package. Ouch.

A Little Haulin'

Some argue that the BMW X3 isn't that much bigger the 3 Series sedan, but I dare say it was easier to toss these moving boxes into the small SUV's cargo hold than it would have been to wedge them into the trunk of a sedan.

With the second-row seats folded down, the X3 becomes quite capable.

Custom Order is Better Than Netflix

The fact that our long-term 2012 BMW X3, like every X3 — regardless of which country for which it's destined — is built in Spartanburg, SC, means that no European delivery program exists. BMW buyers who custom order a X3 could visit the SC plant to pick-up, but you would not be allowed on the shop floor — of course — to watch your X3 get built.

BMW has installed cameras on the Spartanburg assembly line. What good is that to you?
With your custom ordered X3, you'll get a personalized video of your car being built.
It's better than Netflix (and a lot more expensive.)

Hit the jump to see some highlights of an X3 build (note the VIN in lower right of some of the frames.) The video is like a short version of How It's Made or Ultimate Factories on cable, and shows some advanced assembly procedures including panoramic moonroof install, tilting assembly carrier, and marriage of body and powertrain. It's amazing!

Although it would be an experience of a lifetime, European delivery may not be achievable for many of us, due to time and expense. But visiting Spartanburg is not out of reach.

Tell us about your European (or Spartanburg) delivery experience — with any make of car.

Tighten Up

Here's a feature I can see getting more use as gas prices climb. You want to sharpen the X3's steering and damper settings without tightening the throttle. Sport up the tall cross-utility-performance thing's ride manners without wasting milliliters of the costly fluid to an eager foot. Easy enough. Tap the Sport button, configure preferences, done. Good like Archie Bell and the Drells.

The chassis adjustment is actually noticeable at speed. Select the box and you can feel the suspension squat a bit and the steering get a little thicker. Kinda cool. Makes a boring freeway commute a little more stimulating (next time, canyon roads). Maybe I can coordinate a semi-controlled test around here: drain one tank in Normal mode, one tank in Sport (and/or another on Sport+) and see what we really lose in MPG.

Mega Millions Car

I've been fantasizing about winning the Mega Millions lottery. On my way to work this morning I was driving the BMW X3 and thinking about how many cars I would buy.

Because my lifestyle would change so drastically, I would need several cars to fulfill my needs. I decided the BMW X3 would be a good choice for travelling between my penthouse in New York City and my family's home in South Jersey.

Other cars that would fit nicely into my multicar garage: Nissan GT-R, Audi R8, a used Acura RL, Mustang GT, Porsche 911 Turbo and maybe one of those bullet-proof Benzes. I would also want a big pickup truck to ship to my farmhouse in Italy but I haven't decided which one yet, perhaps a Raptor. Many of these vehicles have been in our fleet.

What cars would you buy? Start with our past and present long-term fleet and then add on any other dream cars.

Will You Ever Use These Cargo Rails?

Seriously? Are you going to use these fancy cargo compartment rails? They seem like a hassle with little payoff. And dirt, debris, and who-knows-what could fall in there and jam them.

I checked the BMW accessory site, and the depicted use is pretty lame, like strapping down a toy car. I would think you're just going to toss it in there and block it with something else. And a strap to keep a suitcase from sliding around? I didn't realize this was an issue.

Another staffer said he has used used them for a bike and a tool box, using motorcycle tie-downs. And also with luggage, but not using the $177 BMW luggage compartment lashing straps.

Do any of you use these cargo rails? What do the rest of you think?

Would It Be Any Different With RWD?

After considerable seat time, I recently proclaimed that the X3 is a legit alternative to the 3 Series sedan. It drives like one, goes like one (ok, almost like one) and it's not bad looking either.

The one major difference between the two is the X3's standard all-wheel drive. BMW has done a remarkable job of maintaining the X3's steering and handling characteristics for a vehicle with power being routed through the front wheels. Granted, it not always that much power, but it's still something to contend with.

Made me wonder how good this vehicle would be with a pure rear-wheel drive setup? It would save a little weight, give it sharper steering and improve the mileage. Then again, without AWD, would anyone buy it? Probably not. And that's just one of the problems with SUVs.

Owner's Manual Hit Parade

As I was downloading an owner's manual at the BMW USA site recently, I noticed that a bit of mousing across the screen opens pop-up windows that purport to tell you the popular topics for each BMW vehicle's manual. That seemed cool, until I realized that the topics don't vary much from car to car, and they don't change from day to day. So these do not appear to be real rankings of the info owners are checking out. Pity.

But wouldn't it be cool if they were? Counting down to No. 1 on the owner's manual hit parade, what would you expect to find as the five most popular topics? And would they they vary from vehicle to vehicle?

From a Passenger's POV

This weekend we drove the long-term 2012 BMW X3 up to Mammoth Lakes in Central California. Editor JayKav did all of the driving so I'll leave those impressions, plus trip fuel economy, to him. But here's what a front-seat and backseat passenger think of the compact SUV over 600 miles.

Front-seat passenger (me): In terms of seat comfort, honestly I didn't find it especially comfortable. The taut seat leather doesn't have much give so it's kind of hard to sit on for a long period of time. And the side bolsters get in the way of relaxing arms, as they do in most cars equipped with them. Maybe it was just problematic for someone of my stature where the bolsters fall just so, pushing the upper arms forward. And naturally, this is fine for a driver who has both hands on the steering wheel, but for someone who just wants to lie back, it wasn't the best as I kept trying to find a comfortable way to sit.

I did like the fact that as a passenger, I can plug in destinations into the nav system even while the car is moving. Especially crucial when there's no phone signal to access Yelp and you need to find the nearest rest stop.

And since the driver and I tend to disagree on what's a comfortable temperature, dual climate controls were greatly appreciated.

Overall the ride was smooth and quiet.

Backseat passenger: My friend Esther shared the backseat with a couple of snowboards poking in from the cargo area but had nothing but nice things to say about her experience back there. "The seatback is at the right angle to be comfortable. Usually backseats that don't adjust tend to be too upright for me," she said. And since she's 5'4" she enjoyed plenty of legroom and even stuck her big purse in the footwell.

Having rear controls was also nice as she could adjust fan speed and temperature via the handy dandy dials located behind the front center console.

But she ended up storing her small water bottle in the door bin instead of the fold-down armrest with the cupholders, for more elbow room.

Not Easy For Me To Get In

It's not easy for me to slide into the BMW X3's driver seat. You all know by now that I'm only 5'4" in height so I usually have the seat adjusted pretty far forward. I also need the steering wheel to be lower so my arms can comfortably and safely reach.

Combine that with the generous side bolsters on the seat cushions and I have an awkward time stepping up into the X3. It's probably not an issue for taller chaps. And I could push the seat back when I get out so that it is easier to get in.

But I just thought I'd mention it. If any of you or your wives are on the shorter side, this may bother you.

And by the way, those seats are not that tomato red color in person.

600-Mile Road Trip

Last weekend's snowboarding trip in Mammoth Lakes, CA, gave me my first prolonged seat time in our longterm 2012 BMW X3.

First off, like Ed said, it's got ample power for virtually any circumstance. 

Passing? No problem. The X3's ample power was especially nice on the single-lane portions of Rt. 395, where a line of timidly-driven cars always stacks up behind a semi going 5 under the limit. 

Altitude? Pfft, whatevs. Even at 7000 feet, the thing doesn't even feel the thin air — it makes its own atmosphere!

About the only time I could 'catch the engine out' was when I'd roll back into the throttle right after some engine braking. There's a tiny pause before it picks back up again. Nothing like the throttle lag in our old (and normally aspirated!) 528i, but since it's my job to notice these things, I do. Anyway, the point is that this turbo engine has really good boost response. I'll bet most drivers wouldn't even realize it was turbocharged... aside from the slab o' torque it delivers.

More from this trip later.

600-Mile Road Trip, Pt. 2

Two snowboards, three occupants, snow gear, bags, beer, food — everything needed for last weekend's snowboarding trip all fit into our longterm 2012 BMW X3 with ease. We folded down the far-right backseat for the 'boards — that way, the backseat occupant had as much space as possible. No roof rack. Fine by me since roof racks leave your pricey gear conspicuously on display. (Oh, and pardon the grainy image above, please.)

As for the ride quality, some thoughts — it's firmly damped. Not harsh. It has very good control. I seems to have limited suspension travel, so on broken, nasty pavement it loses some composure. However, it makes great use of the travel it does have. Within those bounds it's sharp and nimble without being punishing.

Summary: Great roadtrip vehicle. Would drive again.

600-Mile Road Trip, Pt. 3

By the end of my snowboarding road trip in our longterm 2012 BMW X3, a bit more than 600 miles had been covered. Most of the trip entailed 80-mph cruising and a modest payload. There was a climb to more than 7000 feet in altitude (and then back down). Traffic was light while en route, though there was the usual L.A. nonsense upon departure and arrival.

Fuel economy for the trip penciled out to...

21.2 mpg

That's a tick over the EPA combined number of 21 mpg. Considering the travel conditions of the trip, does this result meet your expectations?

Does the Dog Fit?

Yes he does. Bandit, my 65 pound, 11 year old mutt, does fit quite nicely in the back of our long-term 2012 BMW X3. He seemed happy back there both to and from the local dog park. And the X3's rear bumper is low enough that he could jump in and out on his own.

Zero Range and Too Much Gas

Yesterday in the interest of research I drove our X3 until its trip computer said it was out of fuel range. At 56 miles to go, the car began to tell me to stop for fuel, but it continued to count down the range as I drove. And it counted all the way down...5,4,3,2,1 and then the ---- you see on the instrument cluster in the photo above.

At that moment I immediately pulled into a gas station and filled the BMW's tank. That's when things got wierd.

It took 17.979 gallons of 91. Now according to BMW the X3 has a 17.7 gallon tank. So I scratched my head and checked the X3's fuel log. Sure enough it had taken more than 17 gallons more than a few times. Didn't seem right. So I emailed BMW for an explanation. Honestly, I thought the response was going to be something like, "Oops we screwed up. the tank is really 19.7 gallons. Sorry about that."

Instead the response was, "There are a lot of potential explanations. One could be manufacturing tolerances. It's possible that the tank in the X3 you guys are driving is slightly larger than the indicated 17.7 gallons, based on manufacturing tolerances. It's possible that the amount of fuel that comes up the fill tube varies from fill-to-fill. I've been told that fuel volume as indicated on the pump is taken at a benchmark ambient temperature for calibration purposes so if you are putting fuel in the tank below that benchmark threshold, you're actually getting less fuel per indicated gallon than you think, so it could look like you are putting more fuel in the tank."

This is a strange one. I put gas in dozens and dozens of cars a year. Seems unusual to me that BMW's manufacturing tolerances would vary as radically as to add atleast a gallon or three to the size of its gas tank. Also, considering we're in Los Angeles, which isn't really known for its temperature swings, I'm not sure I'm buying that either.

The fill tube seems plausible I guess, but just as unlikely. Again, I've never run into this before. Have any of you?

Checking the Oil

This past Monday I checked the X3's engine oil level. Took just a few seconds from the comfort of the BMW's driver's seat. A click here and a click there with the vehicle's iDrive dial and the SUV's computer told me the "Engine oil level OK". 

Then I checked our records. To date we have added zero oil to the BMW's turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six. Not a drop in nearly 7,000 miles of driving.

7,000 Miles To Go

As you can see, according to our X3's iDrive system, the BMW is in good health. The computer also tells us that the crossover will need an oil change after another 7,000 miles of driving or in December of 2013, whichever comes first. 

Considering we've already driven the X3 7,000 miles in just three months, we'll probably be changing its oil sometime this summer.

Wastegate Rattle

At least, that's what I think is causing our longterm 2012 BMW X3's cold start rattle. There's a muted buzzy rattling sound in the background that gradually fades away within fifteen seconds or so after a cold start.

To my ears this is textbook wastegate rattle. Cars that have vacuum-actuated or electronic wastegate actuators hold the 'gates open during a cold start in order to rapidly put some fire in the catalyst bricks, thereby reducing emissions. The open valve then dangles freely and makes the jingling noise until it expands and takes up the clearance. Our longterm Kia Optima Turbo did the same thing.

In general this issue is benign and falls into the 'annoyance' category, rather than the harbinger of an actual serious problem, but not always. We'll have it looked into at the next service.

Are These Still Recognizable?

When BMW first came out with its unique ringed headlights, or angel eyes as some referred to them, they were a unique styling element. You could see them from down the street and they immediately said "BMW" even before you could make out the badge or twin-kidney grille.

But now, everybody is in on the overly-styled headlight game. Audi's were recognizable for a time, but strips of LEDs have become standard equipment on half a dozen models so even that monopoly is done. Made me wonder if anybody still recognizes the BMW's rings anymore or are they just another dated technology at this point. I still think they look sharp, especially compared to the overly glittery look of most LEDs.

Great Interior Design, Wrong Interior Color

The interior of our X3 is is hard to fault in terms of its ergonomics, ease of use and overall build quality. I looked, and looked again, and couldn't find any signs of cost cutting. Yeah, I know, an SUV that costs this much shouldn't have signs of cost cutting, but some do.

These seats are as good as the ones in our A8 that costs twice as much, and note the thickness of that steering wheel. It feels great in your hands even if the steering isn't quite as direct as a 3 Series sedan.

About the only thing that would make this interior better is a pair of black seats. Who ordered those anyway? Oh, the boss, that's right. Maybe they're not so bad.

Interior Color Counterpoint

With all due respect to the esteemed editor, I disagree with his disagreement with our X3's interior color. In this world where every car comes in four shades of gray, two whites, two blacks, a beige and maybe a token dark red you'll never find on a dealer lot, it's refreshing any time there's a pop of color on display.

Just the other day I was driving a BMW 650i Convertible with an all black interior. It was dour and felt in no way special despite its elevated price point. Contrast that with our BMW X3 King Ranch interior, which feels richer due to its mix of colors, textures and materials. The color is distinctive, I love the contrast stitching and the Chestnut Red, which is actually darker than the picture above shows, is much less gaudy than the brighter Imola Red of our old M3.

Frankly, I'm for anything in a car these days that brings in some color. Even a Furious Fuchsia Challenger is looking good right about now. Having said all that, however, I must also say that I'm not a big fan of our exterior/interior color combination. Brown with canyon red is just a little too, well, King Ranch for my tastes. I don't think it works. So brown good, red good, but not so much together.

Still, I'd rather have it than be like every old Joe on the street with gray out, black in.

Tuning the Driving Dynamics Control

I've been driving our long-term X3 quite a bit and I'm a fan. Sure the new Range Rover Evoque is better looking, but from behind the wheel the X3 kicks sand all over the Rover.

BMW equips every X3 xDrive35i, including ours, with its Driving Dynamics Control system. With a couple of buttons on the crossover's console you can dial in the cars feel more to your liking.

BMW says, "With the push of a button, increase the level of driving pleasure from COMFORT to NORMAL, NORMAL to SPORT and SPORT + in seconds. Almost immediately, the engine responds more spontaneously to the accelerator, releasing a high, revving roar, before quickly changing gear and tightening the steering and chassis.

Current settings are clearly displayed below the speedometer, and in SPORT mode, the drive train and chassis settings can be quickly and individually configured using the iDrive Controller for more dynamic driving on sand, gravel, or deep and packed snow."

Honestly, I'm not a fan of these systems. Most default to NORMAL with every twist of the key, so you have to reset it every time you get in the car. Plus, I still think all the engineers would be better off focusing on one perfect tune than having to figure out so many variations.

Whatever, they are here to stay.

Recently I reported on the similar system in our Audi A8, and how I like that car set up. In the X3 I like the quicker response of the Sport setting for the drivetrain, but not the BMW's steering. I still prefer the steering in the Normal setting.

Our X3's suspension settings are not adjustable.

Low Profile Tires Take Their Toll

I like the way the latest X3 looks. It's sharp without looking like it's trying too hard. I kind of like the Mercedes GLK, too, but I can't help but look at it and think that it really wants to be something else.

It helps that our X3 has a set of seriously low-profile tires. I mean, look at those things, they're rubber bands. The downside to going low-pro is usually the ride quality, yet our X3 still has a decent ride for my tastes. I figured it would loosen up a little as it got older, but it still feels like it's wound pretty tight. Occasionally it's annoying, but most of the time it feels precise, responsive and sedan-like. It might be a little firm for some, but I'm still good with it.

M I Crazy?

I like bonkers SUVs. Our new Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 reminded me how much. Like an infected carrier, I brought this pathogen over to our BMW X3 last night. I present to you, the BMW X3 M.

With Photoshop booted-up, I lowered a Euro-spec X3 with the optional M Sport package. I also added a hood bulge (poorly) grew the wheels and made them dark.

But this is all cosmetic. In my head, I'm dropping the 555-hp V8 from the X5 M under the hood. With the shorter wheelbase and lower ride height than the X5, I think the X3 M would be a riot to drive. I also contend that it'll be cooler than a "sport" wagon, yet deliver all of the convenience and utility associated with wagons.

On my wishlist, I'd like a sport exhaust button and center diff that can be adjusted to send all power to the rear wheels. You know, a hoondial.

What do you think?

The Driver's Choice (Begrudgingly)

While driving our BMW X3 last night, I came to the conclusion that I quite begrudgingly would pick it if I wanted a compact luxury SUV. This despite the fact that it has a bloated pig face, I don't like iDrive and BMW's adjustable drive settings drive me up the flippin' wall. Thinking about it just sort of bugs me.

But then the driving position with its truly brilliant seats fits me just perfectly. They even have adjustable bolsters. The steering wheel comes out just far enough, it's the perfect shape and it feels good in my hands. The pedals are placed perfectly for left-foot braking, a skill that's not only useful when on a track but also to mitigate ankle discomfort caused by constantly fanning my foot between the accelerator and brake.

Then there's the transmission's manual mode. Normally, I never use paddle shifters or the +/- gate in automatic cars, yet I do in BMWs. There's a nice resistance to the shifters themselves, but more importantly, BMW has built in just a little harshness to the shift and throttle engagement to make the process feel a little more like the real thing. You actually feel that your action directly caused a mechanical action. Even some dual-clutch automanuals don't do this.

And of course, there's also the responsive steering, (relatively) nimble handling and the turbocharged inline-6 that blows everything else in the class away. Of course, it's also the only engine in the class that possesses that sort of power and is subsequently extremely expensive relative its competitors.

In total, it's the driver's choice. And as much as I prefer the looks, COMAND, lack of adjustable drive settings and just the general Mercedesness of the GLK350, I know I'd end up siding with all those little things that make life interesting when behind the wheel. That's the X3. Damn it.

I Could Get Used To This

The small crossover segment (Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, et al) is one of the most popular out there. It's not hard to figure out why: these things work out really well for a broad specturm of buyers. Trouble is, few, if any, are something you'd actually lust to own.

The BMW X3 comes close, though. I doubt I'd ever spend my days dreaming about one and spending hours on the BMW configurator. But geez, this thing is really nice, and certainly more desirable than a mainstream crossover. Like others have written before, it's pretty much a 335i on stilts. Very nice interior, high-end features, useful cargo area, pretty sharp handling and, the kicker, a cracking turbo inline-6 paired to a responsive eight-speed auto.

OK, yes, our tester costs $53,000. Innumerable other cars come to mind for that price. But as small crossovers go, I'd be very happy with this one.

Enjoying The Manual Shifting Mode (With Video)

Most automatic transmissions these days come with a manual shift mode. But it's pretty rare for me to use it frequently on anything other than a sport-oriented car. One exception has been our X3, though. I find myself using the shift paddles fairly often. Not because I have to, but because it's just fun to do so. (They're included in the optional Sport Activity package).

Like James wrote recently, they have a nice feel to them and bring about some pretty quick upshifts and rev-matched downshifts. This eight-speed auto might not be a dual-clutch automated gearbox, but it's very enjoyable nonetheless. (It also helps that BMW has revised its throttle response software on its new vehicles to greatly reduce that infamous sluggish throttle tip-in we encountered the past couple years.)

A quick video of clicking through a few upshifts and downshifts follows after the jump.

Child Safety Seat Fitment Test

Since I have two small children, I'm often wrestling child safety seats into various long-term vehicles. This month's test: our BMW X3. How does our petite Bavarian handle the latest supersized safety seats?

BMW versus Britax, read on.

First up was the easy test, the Recaro booster pictured above. It fits in just about every back seat just fine. Other than having to move the head restraint up a little for clearance (which is very normal), there certainly weren't any issues here.

Next was the Britax Marathon seat, which can be installed in either a rear-facing or forward-facing position. I did forward facing first, since that's the lesser challenging of the two. Again, no real problems. The X3's rear head restraints can be removed, making it easy to get a flush fitting against the seat back and connect the tether anchor behind the rear seat.

The X3's seat cushion angle didn't quite align with the seat's; there was a gap at the back of the child seat base, meaning there was extra pressure from the child seat at the front. But this is fairly common and can vary based on safety seat design.

I was using the LATCH anchors here to secure the seat. More than a few cars are trickier than expected due to overly firm padding (makes it hard to push the buckles in) or just hard-to-find anchors. But that wasn't the case with the X3; had no issues connecting the buckle (regular or upside down). As with most vehicles, there are only LATCH points for the outboard positions; you'll need to use the seatbelt for center positioning.*

Next was the Marathon seat, rear facing. How well this works depends purely on rear leg room. Going in, I figured the X3 would have a bit of a problem; after all, our Explorer pretty much failed this test considering how big it is. But to my surprise, the X3 squeaked by, handling the seat without requiring me to adjust the driver seat, which was positioned for me (5-foot 10-inches). (Note that I had the front head restraint moved up for me; lowered, it would have been trickier.)

I also installed my Britax Companion reverse-facing infant seat. It's pretty much the same kind of test as the rear-facing Marathon, but it does contact the front seat in a different place. This was an even tighter fit than the Marathon, but it did again work out — barely. There wasn't any clearance left, and the driver seat couldn't be moved back any further.

Overall, though, I thought the X3 did quite well here considering it's a small luxury crossover, something not immediately associated with family duty.

*There's been commentary from mmmodem on a couple of my previous posts about installing an infant-oriented (rear-facing) seat in the outboard position, the argument being that the safety seat should be placed in the center position in the interest of maximum safety for the youngest (and most vunerable) occupant. I won't disagree with that. However, for these posts, I'm trying to replicate the way I suspect the typical owner is going to be installing his or her child safety seats and demonstrate any potential fitment issues that might come up.

Not Enough Juice?

My co-worker Carroll sent me a couple links (here and here) to some forum chatter about the new X3's battery. Specifically, some owners are finding that their X3s' batteries are becoming drained or severely discharged when the vehicle's not in constant use.

Bad batch of batteries? Some sort of electrical design flub? So far we haven't encountered any problems. Interestingly, I did find this BMW battery log sheet in the X3's cargo hold where the battery is. Nothing is filled out on it.

How Does It Compare To An '08 X3?

Of fortuitous coincidence, I happen to have a first-generation BMW X3 on hand. (It's my wife's car.) Since I've been driving our long-term X3, it seemed only natural to compare the two and see where the differences lie.

A little background reading on the first-generation X3, should you want it: The X3 debuted for 2004 and lasted until 2010. In reviews of the time, the X3 typically earned praise for its sharp handling (it was related to the "E46" 3 Series) but took a lot of flak for its harsh ride and disappointing interior materials. For the '07 refresh, BMW introduced a number of changes, including an upgraded interior, a retuned suspension and more power (a 260-hp 3.0-liter inline-6). You could get a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic (five-speed previous to '07), and all-wheel drive was standard.

My wife's X3 is a 2008 with 45,000 miles on it. She's owned it since December of last year as a certified pre-owned model. Major options include the Premium package (leather seating), the Sport package (firmer suspension, sport seats, full body-color exterior) and the 19-inch wheels (available only with the Sport package).

Driving Impressions

The two X3s here are pretty representative of BMW's driving dynamics path for the past half decade. I'll sum it up this way: more power, less responsiveness. There's no question that our long-term X3, with its 300 turbocharged horses, is quicker. And I really do love this engine. It's just bonkers that you can pull a 0-60 time of 5.6 seconds in a small SUV. The eight-speed automatic with paddle shifters is nice, too. It shifts quicker than the older six-speed, has rev-matched downshifts and never seems intrusive. You even get better fuel economy with this powertrain: 19/26/21 for the 2012 X3, and 17/24/20 for the 2008 X3. (The '13 X3 with the new 2.0-liter turbo-4, incidentally, will get 21/28/24.)

Another new X3 advantage: ride quality. The first-gen X3 rode more comfortably after the '07 refresh, but most reviewers at the time said it was marginal. Yet my wife's '08 has not only the sport-tuned suspension but the 19-inch wheels as well. It's as stiff as the first-gen X3 got. (Yet my wife is not, as you might think, a car enthusiast. At the time of purchase, she merely liked the monochromatic exterior look of the Sport package plus the shiny 19s. Basically, she was willing to trade comfort for style.) Our '12 long-termer rides more comfortably, for sure.

But I will say this: reports of the first-gen's X3's crap ride quality are a little exaggerated in my opinion. Perhaps if all you did is drive on downtown LA or Detroit streets, you'd hate it. But even with this maximum attack X3, the ride is acceptable from a car enthusiast stand point. Plus, you get something out of it: impressively sharp handling and steering. I suppose that sounds a little silly — if that's what you care about, why buy a SUV? — but if you need the utility and can own only one car, it kind of works out. Around corners, the '08 X3 has more communicative steering and a more playful nature. It seems to have more grip, too, as it's currently fitted with Pirelli summer-spec tires.

Another '08 advantage: throttle response. There's no electronic adjustability here because it's just done right to start with.

Interior and Features

I like the interior of both X3s. From a quick observational standpoint, there's not a whole lot of difference. Interior room seems about the same, as does comfort and interior material quality. But there are two areas that the '12 is superior.

The first one is interior storage. There's just a lot more room to put your stuff in the '12. The '08 has just one cupholder, its door bins are small and it doesn't have a center stack cubby.

The other is electronic interfaces. The '08 has an auxiliary input jack and Bluetooth, so it's not completely stone age. But the Bluetooth microphone doesn't work very well, and I'm not sure if you can get satellite radio from the stock head unit. In contrast, the '12 has a sharp-looking display screen, an iPod interface, Bluetooth (with streaming audio), satellite radio navigation and an iDrive system that's vastly superior to what BMW was offering in '08. (My wife's X3 doesn't have navigation, thankfully. And in some ways, not having iDrive whatsoever is kind of nice.)

Summing it all up, it does seem that the 2012 X3 is superior in just about every fashion. It's certainly better thought out, with BMW's second-gen changes being nicely aimed at the majority of small luxury crossover shoppers. But my wife still seems pretty happy with her X3. And it cost a lot less than our $53,000 long-termer. I'll have some of her opinions on the subject later this week.

I'd Pick It For A Road Trip

Kelly's post today about going to the Grand Canyon with two adults and two "super chatty" 11-year-old girls got me thinking about our X3's road-trip abilities. Not sure how much gear Kelly is planning on taking, but it certainly seems feasible that the X3 would work out. There's enough rear seat legroom plus a decent-sized luggage area. Still, the JX or the Quest would unquestionably be more comfortable for all involved.

In other circumstances, though, I'd gladly take the X3 on a road trip. Jay used it back in April for a snowboarding trip and had only positive things to say. Really, seems like an ideal weekend ski/mountain trip vehicle for two adults and maybe two kids or friends in the back. With the X3, you get turbo power to neutralize elevation horsepower loss, all-wheel drive for wet-weather traction, sporty handling for cornering and an upscale interior and feature list to buff out the experience a little.

Best vehicle in the fleet right now for such a trip, I'd say. (Well, the JGC SRT8 would be cool, too.) All I need now is snow.

Like Bacon, N55 Makes Everything Better

Sure, we'll always pine for the high-revving, normally aspirated BMW M engines. You know, the one that are now nearly extinct. But if the N54/N55 turbo-6 is the consolation prize, I'll be OK with that. That's because there's just power everywhere — no lag, fat midrange and decent top-end pull — and pretty decent fuel economy. With it, the X3 is a step ahead of other small luxury crossovers out there.

To be honest though, writing about this engine in our X3 makes me miss our old 2008 135i.

Not Its Best Feature

This isn't the first time our X3's flimsy cell phone holder has been called out and it probably won't be the last. I say this mainly because the nearly useless holder (you need an adapter for your particular phone to actually make it work) is constantly in the way when you're trying to either store something in the console or plug in an adapter.

Sure, I get the fact that BMW was looking to create something a little more substantial for storing your cellphone while driving, but even if I had the adapter I doubt I would bother using it. There's also the fact that it's a cheap-feeling plastic lid is anything but sturdy. A definite misfire in an otherwise well thought out interior.

Why SUVs are Popular

I'm reminded of this every time I load up this X3 with random stuff like groceries. SUVs are easy. Most of the time, there's no "packing" involved, you just throw stuff in and it fits. And on small SUVs like the X3, the liftover height is minimal so most stuff can be slid in without a hitch.

Personally, I would always rather have a sedan because of the handling characteristics, but modern small SUVs like this X3 are hard to beat if you can live without that extra level of handling and control. In other words, 99% of most car buyers.

Keyless Hates Me

I love keyless entry. Love it. If I were new car shopping tomorrow I wouldn't look at a single vehicle without it. No truly keyless? Dealbreaker. "But it has a remote! You just need to press one button!" And dig through my stuff like a common pickpocket? No thanks.

The good news is that our $53,845 BMW X3 has "Comfort Access" keyless entry. The bad news is that it hates me.

Here's how the system is supposed to work:

Step one: Walk up to car
Step two: Place hand in door handle
Step three: Wait a fraction of a second
Step four: Pull handle.
Step five: Enter X3.

This works 1/4 of the time. Here's how it goes the rest of the time for me.

Step one: Walk up to car
Step two: Place hand in door handle
Step three: Wait a fraction of a second
Step four: Keep waiting
Step five: Ram hand in and out like one of those stupid Dyson hair dryers from the airport
Step six: Start randomly, furiously pulling on the handle.
Step seven: Repeat step five.
Step eight: Jam hand in and wait.
Step nine: Magic.
Step 10: Pull handle.
Step 11: Enter X3.

Once in, the start button works 100% of the time. Which is good. But then you have to get out and lock the car, which is bad. Back to the list:

Step one: exit car
Step two: close door
Step three: look for obvious, weather-sealed rubber button to press.
Step four: Remember there isn't one and rub finger over the textured area on the handle.
Step five: Think "Maybe this one you press and hold" and then press finger to handle.
Step six: Wait.
Seven: Rub again.
Eight: Press again.
Nine: Rub harder
Ten: Yell.
Eleven: Press very gently?
Twelve: Magic
Thirteen: Door locks.
Fourteen: Curse. (Repeat step fourteen every other step, actually.)

Now, I've seen Riswick work this system with great success, but no matter what I try, I can't get it to work the right way. I can work ATMs and my iPad, but this touch-based system traps me every time. Systems with a small exterior button that both locks and unlocks are far superior.

10,000 Miles

We introduced our Long Term 2012 BMW X3 on February 2, 2012. And now, on July 2nd, we've hit 10,000 miles. (Actually, this achievement happened on June 30th, but that doesn't sound as good.)

In these five months we've averaged 18.6 mpg and have had zero issues. The keyless still hates me, everyone loves the N55, the center console is full of antiques and it holds small and medium boxes quite well.

Not surprisingly, this is a popular one and 20,000 miles shouldn't be a problem.

I <3 Thigh Support

Over the past couple of weeks, in roughly four trips, I've put some 1,100 miles on our 2012 BMW X3 and the (manually) adjustable thigh support made it is relaxing and pleasant as possible.

Too many cars today have annoyingly short seats that make you feel like you're sitting on a step after about 20 minutes behind the wheel. This solution probably doesn't cost a ton (compared with electronic ones), but is worth every penny.

Should We?

That brownish crossover is our 2012 BMW X3. That silver missile next to it is a Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG.

The 2012 X3 is our long term car. The CL65 AMG is a car we're thinking about adding to our long term fleet. I drove out to Arizona this weekend to check it out. The CL's got a twin-turbo V12 that makes 604 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. It's the same motor that's still in the CL, S and G65 AMG. It cost $180,000 when new and now costs a little more than half of what our X3 does.

We've heard that maintenance is a nightmare and that it'll be a fortune to keep up. But then again, we heard that about our 308 and look how that ended. What say you, readers? Should we?

Ouch!

The other day Mike wrote about being able to manually adjust the thigh support in our BMW X3. To comfortably fit my shorter legs, I need the seat extender tucked all the way back in.

Last night, I couldn't get the plastic handle pictured above to move. I had to get out of the car and try it from a side angle. Then it finally shot back into the seat taking two of my fingers with it. I seriously thought I broke my finger tips. I almost fell to the ground in pain. It was like slamming my fingers in the door.

After the pain quieted down, I was able to determine that I did not break my fingers. But the nails on those two fingers almost lifted off.

It hurts to type this.

Subpar AC in Triple Digits

As you may have read, I was in Arizona this past weekend checking out a new potential Long Term car. On my way there the temperature hit triple-digits right around 11am and didn't drop below that until something like 8 pm.

During this time I stayed on the throttle keeping up with the notoriously quick Arizona traffic. The good news is that, despite keeping the AC on full blast, the BMW's temp gauge never moved.

The bad thing is that despite the AC being on full-bore, max, recirculate the entire time, we were still hot the entire time. The "we" in this situation means me and my "I'm always cold no matter what and these seat heaters aren't warm enough" girlfriend.

The X3 may drive great and pull hard, but it can learn a lot from your average GMC Terrain about how to keep Americans cool.

Oh No, a Red Exclamation Point

Seems like such a serious warning for the washer fluid level.

Mike said I should go to BMW service and have them do it because their washer fluid smells so good and service is free. But I had some already, so I used that. The washer fluid I used is mostly water mixed with 1% eco-friendly plant-based cleaning agents. It is not for climates below 32 degrees F.

You wouldn't think that choice of windshield fluid would be a big deal. But in California, where the air is brown, windshield fluid used to be a contributor to smog. The older formulas produced ozone when heated up. The new CA-approved fluids are earth friendly unless you need the type designed for freezing temperatures.

BMW's washing system cleans not only the windshield but the headlight covers and pulls liquid from the same reservoir. It was easy to access and fill up. The spout is small and shallow so I used a funnel to make it easier and more precise. It is hard to see how full the tank is getting though. It runs along the side of the car and is not all that visible. The manual says it holds about 5 quarts. I only had 3 so that is what I put in.

Another Warning

So, a day after topping off the washer fluid, our BMW X3 sent us this message.

We made a quick trip to the local BMW dealer in Santa Monica, where they added a quart of coolant. Our receipt says this was due to normal evaporation. They also checked the pressure in the tires while the X3 was there.

And because of the 4-year/50,000-mile Full Maintenance Program, there was no charge.

At the Wedding of the Century

Like most of the long-term test fleet, the BMW X3 found its way last weekend to the Wedding of the Century. And it did great doing it.

No complaints about the package, because the upright passenger seating keeps everybody from getting wrinkled, and apparently this is really important since you're wearing stuff that not only hasn't been worn in this company before but also something that isn't even entirely familiar to said company. Or so I'm told, as apparently my otherwise extensive experience has so far left me unfamiliar with these rules of wedding behavior.

But really, the thing I noticed is that the BMW X3 didn't look dowdy in the parking lot like some boring old BMW sedan, which is something that is worn everywhere and is entirely too familiar.

Every time I see our BMW X3, it seems both fresh and striking. Every time I see a post-Bangle BMW sedan, it looks like another piece of sausage from the same sausage from which BMW makes all its sedans these days. It's as if the challenges of sports-utility package bring out the best in the BMW designers, while the sedan package has so much brand baggage that it can't move forward.

When you're in the company of the BMW X3, you feel pretty snappy and fashion forward. Everything else looks as dowdy as Queen Elizabeth II.

It's no wonder that our Erin Riches took the BMW X3 away from us for her post-wedding road trip with her new husband Loren.

Three Thousand Miles Later

No doubt you've noticed our long-term 2012 BMW X3 has been missing in action and unblogged for a good two weeks. I take full credit for that, as I've just returned from 3,253 miles on the road — a meandering journey to Seattle and back.

I'll chronicle the trip in various installments this week, but for now I'll offer this: The ride quality was excellent for the duration of our travels, yes, even with 19-inch wheels and run-flat tires, and even over some seriously crumbling pavement in San Francisco.

And when I rolled into the office garage this morning, the X3 was just 210 miles shy of needing its first oil service. We'll likely have that done this week.

Hillhold Comes in Handy

My recent trip up the Pacific Coast in our long-term 2012 BMW X3 included a dinner stop in San Francisco on the trip north and a Giants game at New Candlestick Pac Bell AT&T Wireless on the way home. Hungry and weary from evening traffic, I foraged for parking "near" our chosen restaurant in Nob Hill. Eventually, I found a spot that would fit the X3 and quickly came to appreciate one of its conveniences: hillhold.

It's a side benefit of having an electronic parking brake. Hit the "Auto H" button and the electronic parking brake automatically comes on when you're stopped while maneuvering into a spot and disengages when you release the brake pedal as you start to reverse again or press the gas pedal to ease forward in D. Yeah, you could certainly get by without it, but I don't park in San Francisco every day, so I didn't mind delegating the task of preventing the X3 from rolling into a Yaris.

From here, we walked a half-mile, probably a little more, to Frascati. It was worth the walk.

Ah, see, this space didn't end up fitting. Guess we'll circle a bit more.

Excuse for Pretty Pictures

The weather has been really hot and unpleasant here this week. But it makes for great sunsets.

And now for my beat-a-dead-horse A/C review. I wish the air conditioner in the BMW X3 was stronger and quicker acting. It's been the same in most recent BMWs we've had come through here. It just doesn't blast in your face the way most Americans want it to. Well, at least the way this American wants it to. Yes, it cools off the car...eventually. But not quick enough for my hot blood. I can't stand the heat and I like instant gratification.

This is one area where our domestic automakers will always win in my book. We know how to make a strong, cold, Arctic-blast A/C.

And now more pretty pictures.

Visiting the Volcanoes

One of the best things about living out west is the nearness of the Cascade Range. I can never drive up Interstate 5 without detouring onto Everitt Memorial Highway to spend some quality time looking at beautiful Mt Shasta. And on my recent road trip in the long-term BMW X3, I made my first trip to Mt St Helens. Actually, we went by Mt Rainier as well, but the peak was obscured by clouds and we didn't have time to hike.

Honestly, I never end up having time to hike, but never mind that. We entered the Mt St Helens vicinity via U.S. 12 and then meandered down National Forest Road 25. It was after 8 p.m. and the sun was just starting to get low in the sky, so we needed to make some time... and what a fun little road NF 25 happens to be. It's super twisty and nearly empty. It was just us and the volcano — easily my favorite part of the whole trip.

By that point, I'd settled on using Sport mode (at least the chassis part of; never used the drivetrain setting for very long because it locks out top gear). Initially, I was hesistant to use it, because I didn't like the extra weight it seemed to add to the steering (it didn't feel like an improvement). But in time, I got used to that, and Sport mode's more aggressive damping made the X3 feel more balanced and controlled through turns — while eliminating any potential nausea for the front passenger, I'm told. We kept a decent pace and got surprisingly little protest from the Goodyear tires, which I thought gripped well for all-season run-flats.

While I don't love driving the X3, it really handles well for a two-ton crossover, so much so that several times I parked and was surprised by the step down to the curb as I disembarked... because I'd started thinking of it like it was a sedan.

And here we are at Shasta. Everitt Memorial is a fun road, too, but there's a lot more traffic, so you're on it for the mountain, not the drive.

First Service Lesson

(Photo by John DiPietro)

Following Erin's 3,000-mile road trip, our 2012 BMW X3 was due for its first service. Our first option was a phone call to Long Beach BMW. It went something like this:

Us: We would like to schedule a service appointment.

Them: Ok, my first available appointment is Monday.

Us: Monday? That is 4 days from now. I just need an oil change.

Them: (Pause) The first available appointment is Monday, sorry.

Us: No thanks. We'll go to another dealership. Bye.

Our next option was Santa Monica BMW. In the past we've alternated between it and Long Beach, depending upon which was most convenient at the time. Historically, we preferred to avoid Santa Monica due to mediocre service. But it was worth a shot. We drove straight over without calling to take our chances...

We pulled into the serivce drive at Santa Monica BMW and were greeted by an advisor. He was courteous and processed our paperwork quickly. "I should be able to have it back to you later this afternoon," he told us. Instead, the car was ready hours before we expected it. In all, our X3 was parked in their garage about 90 minutes. Not too bad without an appointment. It has certainly taken longer in the past.

Over the average year we go through about 100 service visits on long-term vehicles. That means by now I've been involved in well over a thousand of these encounters. For a long time I supported the idea that it was always best to call for an appointment. But over the past year or so I'm more and more inclined to just show up. Just get there early.

As a walk-in I've never been turned away. And as long as the advisor knows you're waiting for the car, they will typically find a way to process your vehicle in a reasonable amount of time. If the car requires extensive work, it is still a good idea to talk it out with an advisor first, and plan the visit. But this experience may have taught us a lesson. The next time we need only an oil change or tire rotation, we're going to try showing up unannounced.

Total Cost: None

Total Days out of Service: None

Good Headlights, But Aimed Low

I still have a lot of material from my road trip in our long-term 2012 BMW X3, and in this latest installment, I'll discuss the headlights. Our xDrive35i model has adaptive HIDs as standard, and after my experience with the adaptive lights on our long-term 528i and 750i, I went into the trip expecting them to be good.

And they were. Mostly.

This was my first time on U.S. 199 at night, and even at the height of summer, we encountered thick fog, which is more than a match for most headlights, including these. In a couple spots, the fog was so thick we couldn't see more than 10 feet ahead of the X3's nose so using the high-beams was pointless bordering on foolish — the light was just reflected back at us. Nothing you (or BMW) can do about that and obviously not the X3's fault.

When the fog cleared (as seen here), the headlights worked much better. I just love adaptive lights. They make it so much easier to see through turns at night and minimize a lot of the fatigue that comes with driving on two-lane roads with worn (or nonexistent) reflectors.

However, I found myself using (or wanting to use) the brights a lot more than I would have expected. The X3's headlights are aimed low and that shortens their reach when the road is straight. Then again, it could just be me. We'll have to see if other editors concur that they're underachieving in this regard.

Oh, Yes, It Has Passing Power

It's easy to forget the 2012 BMW X3 xDrive35i has 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque, because BMW has made such an effort to downplay all that. The turbo six idles like a diesel (and not a quiet diesel), and you can hear the bah-bah-bah of the eight-speed automatic short-shifting to the highest possible gear once you're out of the parking lot.

But the mid-range acceleration is pretty insane for a crossover. Give it half-throttle or more coming down an entrance ramp or passing on a two-lane road, and it moves out so much more quickly than you'd ever expect — especially given how sensible and not fast it looks. Yeah, I see the luxury badge, but it's the color of tree bark and it weighs a not insubstantial 4,200 pounds.

But it's very quick. And the engine sounds great starting around 5,000 rpm. And I don't have any complaints about the throttle response. Maybe it's not quite as sharp as I'd like in D, but it isn't bothersome enough that I felt like I had to be in Sport mode to be happy. The only time I used it for any sustained period was on NF 25 in Washington.

This might be my favorite application of the N55 single-turbo inline-6 I've sampled to date. But really, it just reinforces in my mind that everyone should experience the free-revving character of a BMW inline-6 (with or without forced induction) sometime in his lifetime.

Before the Oil Change

Our long-term 2012 BMW X3 didn't come due for its first oil change until about the 14,500-mile mark, but during my big road trip, it did ask for a quart of oil.

The request for a top-up came at 11,771 miles (conveniently, during a fuel stop), and since we were less than halfway into the trip, it only made sense to comply.

I've been known to pour gas-station oil into BMWs in the past, but my better half quickly located an Auto Zone in Santa Rosa. This particular variety of Castrol synthetic wasn't on the list of acceptable oils in the owner's manual, but when we looked on the back and saw the "BMW Longlife-01," we knew it would meet the needs of the N55 engine. No funnel is needed to pour in the oil, as you can see.

The only other warning we got during the trip was a low tire-pressure warning light. I unfortunately did not get a photo, but the circumstances warrant mention here. We pulled into our hotel in Berkeley around 11 one night after a Giants game — and it was a chilly night there, just 50 degrees according to the X3. And that point, the BMW let us know that all four tires were low on pressure.

"Oh, no!" I thought. "Four pinch flats." (We'd seen our share of rough roads that day.) I jumped out of the X3 and began frantically examining the tires for telltale sidewall bulges. Thirty seconds later, sanity returned, and we remembered the temperature variation the X3 and its tires had experienced that day. We'd started the day around Mt Shasta, driving through triple-digits around Redding, and then turned west toward the cool, moist air of the East Bay. Perhaps all that had confused the tire pressure monitor?

Indeed it had. When we left the hotel around noon the next day, we reset the tire pressure monitor, and sure enough, all four tires were in acceptable range of the car's factory spec. This was a mildly interesting experience — I've gotten a low tire pressure warning before in subfreezing temperatures, but I hadn't considered it could happen in the summer.

Road Trip Fuel Economy

As I set out on my road trip in our long-term 2012 BMW X3 xDrive35i, I had no illusions that I was going to break any fuel mileage records. Nobody drives a 300-horsepower, 4,200-pound crossover because they really care about mpg.

While driving 3,253 miles, I put in 134.6 gallons of fuel, of which 40.161 gallons were 92 octane from gas stations in Washington. The rest was good old California 91. I planned my fuel stops so that I wouldn't have to stop in Oregon and delegate the refueling to gas station staff.

Here's how I did against the X3's 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, 21 mpg combined EPA rating.

Best mpg: 25.7

Worst mpg: 22.3

Average mpg: 24.2

Longest tank: 445.0

In short, not even close to the numbers I got in our long-term 2011 528i, where I averaged 29.3 mpg and eked 531 miles out of single tank.

Courtesy Lights

Sometimes, it's the little things that make me happy.

When I press the unlock button on the X3's key fob, a white light on the exterior door handle and an orange light on the interior handle light up in the evening.

They also light up as soon as I put the car in park.

Nice touch.

Couple Notes on Luggage

I never got around to sharing all my thoughts from my 3,000-mile road trip in our long-term 2012 BMW X3, so here's another installment. Let's talk about luggage. Of course it's no surprise that a couple rollaboard bags (one carryon-size, one a bit larger) fit in the X3's cargo bay, but early in the trip, we noted they had a tendency to slide around and bang into the seatback and tailgate.

Then, we got a little smarter and pulled the X3's stretchy cargo net over the bags and attached the net's clips to the four tie-downs. If I'd thought about it a little more, I would have adjusted the positioning of the tie-downs on their tracks so that the net would have covered the bags a little more securely. Even with this suboptimal arrangement, the bags were prevented from sliding.

One more note, you'll notice there's no protective strip on the X3's rear bumper. I have no doubt I could get one as an accessory from a BMW dealer (although a source tells me BMW doesn't offer an official OEM bumper cover). For now, it's a minor annoyance that our long-termer doesn't have one — we had to be hyper-diligent to make sure the bags cleared the bumper when loading and unloading to avoid scratching the paint.

Is the Nav System Any Good? Plus, Bonus Photos from the Road

After my meandering L.A.-to-Seattle honeymoon road trip in the 2012 BMW X3 (which averaged 24.2 mpg), I have no qualms about recommending it for road trip duty, no matter how far you plan to drive. I've taken many long-haul road trips now, and in my mind, nothing tops the 2006 330i that Caroline Pardilla and I once drove to Vancouver... at the time, that car was the perfect compromise of comfort, performance and out-and-out fun. The X3 errs more on the side of comfort, but I enjoyed driving it as much or more than the 528i I took to Montana last summer, and often forgot that it was a crossover and not a sedan.

One aspect of the X3 I really enjoyed over 3,200 miles was the factory navigation system. It's easy to dismiss OEM nav units as needless add-ons in the era of smartphones. But as in our 528i, this system offers a lot of features that are useful during multiple days in the car — and if I was going to buy a BMW, I would pay extra for this system.

To start, I love the widescreen format and the map graphics — they're as good as a topographical atlas and you can follow along as you drive. I also find it easy to move around the map and between the various menus with the current-gen iDrive controller. Early versions of iDrive were terrible, but now the interface is quite good.

And I found a new feature that I like.

We happened to program a trip from the SF Bay Area to Solvang when the fuel level was getting a bit low in the X3, and when we looked at the full route for the trip (alas, you have to go through a few too many screens to get here), we noticed the system was recommending a fuel stop along the route taking into account the vehicle's current estimated miles-to-empty countdown. Pretty neat.

One minor quibble I continue to have with this nav system is its hurry to get you to sign off on the destination. After you enter a city and a street name, it automatically preselects the "accept destination" function so it's all too easy to do that accidently before you enter the house number — you have to remember to scroll back up to enter the number. If you make that mistake of accepting the destination too early, hitting the back button wipes out the street name and city. That's annoying and I'd like to see BMW change that.

Below are a few more photos from the trip. If you're headed to Mt Shasta, I'd always recommend a stop in McCloud, California, a bit south of the great mountain. It's not as happening or cute as the town of Mt Shasta itself, but it's quieter and more atmospheric. You can stay in one of the old rooming houses turned B&B and then have your own private view of the the mountain in the morning.

Since we went to Seattle, we had to make a side trip to Everett to touring the Boeing factory. After the tour, we paused to watch a new 787 for Air Ethiopia taxi toward the paint shop.

Fifteen K and OK

I managed to remain in our long-term BMW X3 for an entire week and ran it into the 15,000-mile range on the odometer. In the process, it became one of my favorite SUVs. More on that later.

It Fits My Life

This was a first for me. I kept a long-term vehicle for an entire week. It's not that I had any grand plans or anything, I just happened to keep signing it out. In the process, I realized it's a perfect match for me.

No, I haven't lost my mind and forsaken ridiculously small sports cars and sportbikes that tempt fate; those will always be part of my DNA. The X3 just happens to fit the rest (majority) of my life. It easily accommodates a pair of golf bags. All of the essentials for a CasaHashi cookout can be transported in one trip. It's upscale enough to get respect from the valets at a nice restaurant and it's a pretty good date car, allowing a yet-to-be-discovered companion to enter/egress with grace and ease.

But the X3 is also pretty entertaining, too. Late one night on a darkened serpentine road, I decided to drive with a little more verve than normal, and this little SUV performed like a champ. I didn't even bother switching into sport mode. The shift paddles gave me the power control I needed and the X3 carved some gorgeous turns.

Throughout the last week, I piled said golf bags, tons of photo equipment and groceries into the X3 without any issues. The kicker was when Riswick and I, after finishing a round of golf, dropped by my parents' house to pick up some precious cargo: my grandfather's first-edition Eames molded plywood lounge chair from 1946. This is going to look great in my pad.

As I tied it down to the sliding anchors, James proclaimed it the six-seat X3 option and promptly gave it a try. What an odd Canuck.

While I may never be an "SUV-guy," this would be a contender for the one I'd buy.

Stopped Playing My iPod

For some reason our BMW X3 will no longer play my iPod. There is a USB connection in the center storage compartment. I've always plugged my iPod into the USB port and the BMW would recognize it and show "Donna's iPod" on the entertainment screen as a media choice. I would then select it and it would play normally. Easy.

But now when I plug in, my iPod makes a connecting noise but the BMW ignores it. I know my iPod is old but it used to work. What gives? I've tried all of the External Device choices and it won't play on any of them. I don't have an AUX cable.

Any advice?

The Ahhh Moment

Does your car give you the "ahhhh" moment?

After a long day at work, or if you've been outside a long time, or doing something stressful, and then you trudge through the parking lot and finally get into your car. And then you smile and say, "ahhhh. My car. Take me home."

Does your car give you that feeling of comfort and hominess? It should. That's how the BMW X3 feels to me.

P.S. Our comment system is working again. Thanks for your patience.

I Can't Hear You

BMW does a good job of making the passenger feel isolated from the road. Not much road or wind noise intrudes on your driving.

I noticed yesterday that a fire engine with flashing lights was barreling down the road toward me. I pulled over along with the other drivers on the road and let it pass. But I couldn't really hear the siren. I heard the big air horn but it wasn't until the truck was actually passing me that I heard the siren. The sound inside the X3 was muffled. I had the air conditioner going and the radio on but neither were very loud.

Have you ever had an emergency vehicle sneak up on you? Are our cars getting too insulated?

Flip Flop

This you've seen before. It's the side of the cargo floor that you always see in an X3 — carpet, recessed handle, fits perfectly, etc. But wait, there's more.

Flip it over and you've got a waterproof cargo floor complete with a recessed handle.

Bam.

The Box

So our X3 has this handy-dandy collapsable vinyl box floating around it its cargo compartment which appears to store perfectly in the elastic thingy on the passenger-side cargo area wall. An unusual accessory, but one that I suspect could be quite useful.

Certainly it could also be stored under the load floor, too. Curiously, it's not listed as part of the Premium Package (which includes storage-related items) and is included on our car. But I did find it as a $45 accessory available from BMW. Good for wet or dirty items, I suppose.

More News From Cargo Land

In Monday's post on the X3's supremely awesome reversible cargo cover I forgot to mention what's underneath it. As you can see here there's not a lot of storage, but there is enough for a pair of stinky gym shoes you'll forget about until the next time you climb inside.

Also, there's this hook to hold the cover up while you're retrieving your stinky shoes. Maybe the box is a better place for them.

Rear Side Sunshades

I'm sure back seat passengers appreciate the option to block the bright sun with the the BMW X3's pull up sunshades, but as the driver, they make me crazy, especially the one on the left side.

Every time I glace over my left shoulder to change lanes, I'm startled by the appearance of the sunshade. It's not like it reduces visibility, but it always takes a millisecond for my brain to register what the heck it is.

Keep those things down, please.

Magic Transmission

Rumor has it the X3's 8-speed automatic transmission is filled with clutch packs and planetary gearsets which allow it to shift from 8th to 2nd gear without passing through the intermediate cogs. Rumor also has it that there's still a conventional torque converter involved in all this mechanical mystery and that it locks up quickly to boost fuel efficiency.

I have another hypothesis that goes like this: I think it's filled with fairy dust or, possibly, plain unfiltered magic.

The magic seeps out every time this SUV is driven. Now, admittedly, its tasks are few — really just upshifting and downshifting. Yet so many transmissions manage these assignments with far less skill. This one, whether you let it decide for itself what gear to use or direct it according to your own whims, is immediate and quick shifting when that's what you want or utterly transparent when you'd rather take it easy.

Still, there's a difference between being transparent and being lazy. Nowhere does this shortcoming show up more clearly than in our Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8's 5-speed auto. Its wide gear spacing makes a huge production out of kickdowns by being at first reluctant (165 addition pound-feet of torque will do that) and then intrusive about the event. By comparison, the X3 is always in the right gear and willing to accelerate when I put my foot down. Certainly, three more cogs and a wider powerband helps.

That the X3 has 300 hp, rips to 60 mph in an IL-verified 5.8 seconds (5.5 with rollout) and still achieves combined fuel economy (in our hands, no less) of 20.4 mpg to date is uncanny. The EPA says it should earn 21 mpg combined, so we're not too far off.

Now that I think about it, though, I suppose it's neither fairy dust or magic that makes this the best tranny in any SUV, ever. Nope, It's probably just massive Bavarian resources and genuine hard work by capable engineers.

No Beeps

See that "close" button on the X3's hatch? It's yet to emit any sort of beep when I hit it, which is refreshing.

Hey Toyota, did you hear that?

Beware of Lightning

Our 2012 BMW X3 came with the "BMW Apps" feature, a $250 option according to the window sticker. The feature allows you to use some apps from your Apple iPhone and display them on the car's iDrive screen. You can check your Facebook or Twitter status, see upcoming appointments in the calendar, get a news feed, check Wiki Local and listen to Internet radio.

You can access these apps by either plugging in with an iPhone USB cord or by purchasing the "snap in adaptor," which will set you back another $250. The snap-in adaptor has a specific version for the iPhone 3G/3GS and iPhone 4/4S.

But what if you're someone — like me — who is about to get an iPhone 5 tomorrow? If I also own a BMW and have plunked down my money for the snap-in adaptor, is it going to work?  Looks like the answer is no.

One of the major changes to the iPhone 5 is the introduction of the "Lightning" connector. It replaces the old 30-pin connector that dates back to the original iPod (2001). This is ancient history in the tech world. The Lightning connector is half the size of the old one and is reversible, meaning you no longer have to look for the square symbol that indicates the top and bottom of the connector.

Sadly, the BMW snap-in adaptor cannot be used with the iPhone 5 because the new iPhone is slightly longer than previous ones. If you somehow managed to squeeze the iPhone 5 into the adaptor, it still wouldn't work, thanks to the new connector.

Apple is selling a $30 adaptor that will restore functionality to many accessories that used the old connector. But some features of the BMW Apps aren't compatible with the Lighting connector, even if you have the Apple adaptor, according to Wired's Autopia Blog.

Perhaps BMW will make a new snap-in adaptor that will let owners use the iPhone 5, but when you're ready to get an iPhone 6 or 7, you're facing a similar issue.

Our X3 has the BMW Apps, but not the snap-in adaptor. When my new phone arrives, I will test it out and report back on what we find.

This highlights the problem with smartphone-car compatibility. People change phones about every two years, but we keep our cars much longer. Things that may have seemed high tech and worked well together a few years ago can be quickly rendered obsolete and incompatible.

Do any of you BMW owners have the snap-in adaptors? Are you getting an iPhone 5?

These Pedals are too Close

The gas and brake pedals in our 2012 BMW X3 are too close together for my feet. A contributing factor to my disapproval is that I tend to brake with the inside of my foot. See the above picture and look at the degree of gas pedal overlap. I tried to retrain myself to use more of my foot in the picture below. But there is still significant overlap.

Maybe it's all my fault. Maybe these 11EEs shouldn't be allowed inside of a car. Maybe I don't know how to drive. But I'd like to think I'm not alone on this one.

Linear

I've been driving a lot of cars with analog throttles lately. Like switching from manual steering to hydraulically assisted power steering to electronic power steering, you notice a difference between analog and electronic throttles. It can take a few miles to adjust, or if you're me driving our X3, you'll never adjust to it at all.

I lost track of the number of times I booted the gas pedal to the floor from the sheer frustration of not getting a response from the motor. I can understand the transmission not wanting to grab a lower gear (or three - this is an eight speed 'box) but when the gas pedal fails to stir the turbo with moderate throttle input, I get a little bent out of shape. I, and no one else, ever had this problem before electronic throttles.

Oh, sure. You could button the thing into Sport +, but should you really have to go there in search of linear throttle response?

Packed

My family of four (two grown-ups and two kids under age 7) recently took our long-term X3 on a weekend trip up the California coast for some pool and beach time. We did our best to pare down what we brought (both to save space and because my husband is a minimalist). Here is an exhaustive list of what we crammed into the BMW's cargo space:

— medium soft-sided suitcase

— large messenger bag

— large hard-sided cooler

— medium kid's duffle bag

— Ikea bag full to the brim of soft items

— laptop bag

— medium promotional backpack

— pail of sand toys

— pool noodle

— large kite still in its package

— hat

We had to put the kids' other toys in the cabin with them (which they preferred anyway), and it all felt fairly tight, but it wasn't uncomfortable.

Seat Review

Sometimes I feel the BMW X3 was designed for me. Its larger sibling, the X5, is too big for me to have everything I need within reach. The petite X3 has everything in Donna size. With that said...

Despite the many ways you can configure the driver seat in the 2012 BMW X3, I can never seem to get it just right. You probably remember the time that I got my fingers stuck in the manual seat cushion lever. Well, I learned to not do that again.

It's the power controls I've been fussing with lately. They allow you to move the seat forward, back, up, down, tilt, etc. You can adjust the width of the back support separately from the lumbar support. It does so many things. BUT, I can't get the back of the seat cushion to go low enough for me so I can reach the pedals properly. I lower the seat as far as it can go and then I can only tilt it forward to make it go lower. The back of the cushion won't budge. I have to compensate by tilting the backrest further back.

I can get myself into a safe driving position but it's not as comfortable as I would like. I wish the back of the seat cushion could go a little bit lower. BMW has thought of everything except the shortness of my legs.

Nice three-level heat, though ;)

A Look Underneath

By now you know the routine. This time it's our 2012 BMW X3 up on our 2-post Rotary Lift. Enjoy.

More photos after the jump.

Convenient Cubby

Lots of room for groceries and stuff in the back of our 2012 BMW X3. I especially like this side nook with netting. It's a perfect spot to hold bottles and keep them from rolling around the back.

Sleeper Cabin

Yesterday I got hit with a raging headache, and needed to check out of the bright office lights for a bit. Grabbing the key to the BMW X3, I took refuge in the basement of our parking garage.

Never having had an occasion before to recline the seatback as far as possible, I was pleasantly surprised to find it could go nearly horizontal.

And so could I.

Extended Sun Visors Needed

The BMW X3's sun visors do not extend. They should. As the photo shows, there is a significant gap between the visor and B pillar that is easily exploited by our nearest star. I imagine this is made worse by the fact I sit so far back.

At this price point, this is a disappointing missing feature.

Uniquely Quick

The BMW X3 is the rare "compact" luxury crossover that offers an engine upgrade. As a result, it boasts acceleration that nothing else in the segment can match. Behold, the stats below.

0-60, no roll out, all all-wheel drive unless otherwise noted

BMW X3 xDrive35i: 5.6 seconds

Volvo XC60 T6 R-Design: 6.2 seconds
Acura RDX: 6.5 seconds
Infiniti EX35 (RWD): 6.7 seconds
Audi Q5 2.0T: 6.8 seconds
Volvo XC60 T6: 7 seconds
Audi Q5 3.2: 7 seconds
Cadillac SRX (FWD): 7.1 seconds
Lexus RX350 (FWD): 7.1 seconds
Mercedes GLK350: 7.3 seconds (2012 engine, 2013 has been upgraded)

As you can see, the Volvo XC60 and Audi Q5 also come with engine upgrades, but they certainly can't match the X3 35i's athleticism.

But how does the xDrive28i stack up? Well, we're actually testing it tomorrow, stay tuned.

Skip A Lease Payment, On the House

Lexus was the undisputed U.S. sales king of the luxury-car segment for a long while, but that changed last year when BMW snatched the crown, outselling both Lexus and Mercedes-Benz. Things aren't looking as rosy for BMW this year, though, since Mercedes-Benz is leading the brand in year-to-date sales.

BMW's answer? Incentives! The brand is offering a pretty generous incentive program — good through the end of this month — that allows lease owners to skip payments if they buy a new vehicle. The X3 is included in the program, along with most of the manufacturer's lineup.

Though BMW has reduced incentive spending by 4.8 percent so far this year (and has invested less than Mercedes-Benz on incentive spending year-to-date), the brand still spends about "37 percent more per vehicle than the industry average on discounts and promotions."

Businessweek

2012 BMW X3 xDrive35i versus the xDrive28i

On Monday, I described our long-term X3 xDrive35i as uniquely quick for its class. Yesterday I drove the xDrive28i with its turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes as much power, but more torque than the outgoing naturally aspirated straight-6.

As it turns out, the 28i is ununiquely average for the segment. And that's just fine, because a sub-6-second 0-60 time is still plenty quick. If BMW didn't insist on all-wheel-drive, a hypothetical sDrive28i would be even quicker.

In practice, the 28i really is all the engine you'd ever need in the X3. Torque is immediate and plentiful, and it actually sounds pretty good. Well, at least from the inside. From the outside, especially at idle, it definitely sounds four-cylindery.

So, would you pay extra for the 35i?

After the Storm

The smart boys and girls of our Edmunds data team have been getting all kinds of questions from the media regarding the impact that Hurricane Sandy will have on the automotive industry. Here's what our Senior Analyst Jessica Caldwell had to say:

"The storm likely will have an impact on October sales, especially since it comes at the end of the month, but those sales won't disappear altogether. If anything, it'll make November an interesting month to watch, not just for the deferred sales, but also because hurricane-damaged vehicles could unexpectedly force several buyers back into the market."

Our data team expects luxury brands — such as Acura, BMW and Mercedes-Benz — to be most impacted by the hurricane, since they rely heavily on big East Coast markets. In BMW's case, the New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. markets account for 23.2 percent of total sales.

Perfect for Glamping?

This past weekend we took our long-term 2012 BMW X3 to Anza-Borrego Desert in San Diego County for an overnight camping trip. I scored the back of the X3, which has a maximum cargo volume of 63.3 cubic feet, since there wasn't enough room in the two-man tent for two people AND a dog. My dog Mya's snoring usually wakes me up anyway. Here's my review.

Pros: Quiet cabin that kept out the sounds from the nearby bonfire shenanigans, rear-seat shades shielded bed from some of the morning sunlight, pockets on front-seat backs provide perfect spot for storing flashlight and smartphone for easy access, not completely fold flat but not too much of an incline, those with phobias don't feel as vulnerable to wild animals or ax murderers than they would in a tent.

Cons: Those taller than 5'6" will have to sleep at an angle, as it was I had to scooch up a bit putting the top of my head between the front seats so that my feet wouldn't hit the liftgate.

Since I'm not much of a camper, I actually preferred sleeping in the X3 to a tent. Even though the "bed" was still hard despite using a Thermarest and cushion, I was able to sleep straight through most of the night. I would definitely sleep there again.

A Few Miles Off-Road

I recently took our longterm 2012 BMW X3 several miles up a desert wash to reach an impromptu campsite in a desert valley near Mexico. I'd not been there and was told by those in the know that it was passable by car-based SUV things.

However, the wash had become more treacherous since those in the know had seen it last, probably due to rainfall erosion in the meantime. Ruts were deeper, larger rocks more exposed. Entire hillsides had slid down, showering sections with edgy boulders.

The X3 had adequate ground clearance as long as I picked my path carefully. The real issue wasn't clearance. Rather, it was suspension travel. The X3 doesn't have much of it, and the ride over the rocky patches was, well, rough.

Another concern I had was that the X3's low-profile tires would get a pinched sidewall on the rocks, or a puncture. Granted, they're run-flats, but who wants to deal with replacing a tire in any case? As a result of this (and the X3's lack of travel), I had to slow to practically a standstill and walk the X3 over the rocky sections. My buddy in his 3rd gen 4Runner leading the way flew over the same ground at 25+ mph.

The X3 wasn't really made for this kind of stuff. It's essentially a tall wagon with AWD. With that said, it took me to the site and back without any issue. It was just slow going and some nervousness about its tires. On the freeway, the X3 was in its element once again.

2012 BMW X3 vs 2013 Bmw X3 xDrive28i

The turbo four finally made its way into the 2013 BMW X3, how does it stack up against our boosted six-cylinder 2012 X3?

2013 BMW X3 xDrive28i vs. 2012 BMW X3 xDrive35i Track Test

That '70s Show

I like the color combo seen here in our X3. There's something very retro about the contrast between the leather and the wood. The shades of brown, the grain of the wood paneling — very '70s. Click after the jump for a trip back in the time machine.

All that's missing is an 8-track player and a bottle of Aqua Velva.

Shortcut?

Every now and then it happens. I think I'm driving a car with a manual transmission when it's not and I inadvertently shut off the car when it's in drive. This usually doesn't cause a problem, but rarely does it cure one.

The problem: BMW's odd gear selector that feels like an electric razor. I've never been a fan, and I'd prefer to use it as little as possible. When I mistakenly shut off our X3 while it was still in gear, it automatically put it in park. Sweet! That's one less action I have to undertake with the shifter. I still need to do a little research to make sure it doesn't hurt anything, but my guess is no, it doesn't.

Sometimes, it's the little victories you have to savor.

Frills for Passenger, Too

Usually the front passenger gets the bum deal in that their seat doesn't get all the bells and whistles the driver does. And if there is some adjustability there, it's usually manual. But not so with our 2012 BMW X3! Case in point, driving on the 10 West toward the setting sun, when the huge visor can't block out the sun, just quickly adjust the height of the seat. And there's no ratcheting of it, it's power-adjustable.

Presto change-o! Sun gone. Anyway, thought that was cool.

Comfort Access Keyless Entry

One of the most convenient features of our 2012 BMW X3 is still the Comfort Access keyless entry. I've really grown to appreciate the idea of leaving the key in my pocket as I get into and then start the car. Each OEM approaches this function with slight variations.

BMW uses a handle that senses your fingers behind the door pull to unlock the car. In order to lock it, just slide your finger across a grooved section on top of the pull. With dew on the handle, that section is barely visible. Well, as I found, my finger was similarly invisible to the sensor. It would not work. Not until I first wiped the water off the handle.

This is by no means a deal-breaker, as I'd still pony up the cash for this optional feature. It is just an observation of a situation an owner will encounter.

20,000 Miles Behind Us

We are in month ten of our 12-month test and the odometer of our 2012 BMW X3 just reached 20,000 miles. That was fast.

So far we've spent nothing to maintain the X3. BMW's free scheduled maintenance plan covered these routine expenses. It's seen the dealer for an oil change, new oil filter, washer fluid top-off and, at one visit, a quart of coolant. Aside from the one-time low coolant warning, it's been standard stuff.

Likes and Dislikes

I spent the past week in our 2012 BMW X3 driving it just as it were my personal car. Nothing too crazy. Nothing too sedentary. I just did my thing. Here are some impressions it left...

The Dislikes:

- Throttle response. We've seen this in other recent BMWs. Especially annoying from a stop.
- The shifter is still an awkward design.
- These seats were initially uncomfortable, but grew on me.
- There is limited storage space for smaller items.
- Having to push the start/stop button once to turn off the engine and again for accessories.
- Three of us felt increased sensitivity to motion as back seat passengers. Queasy, but no chunks.

The Likes:

- The engine is great. Plenty of power throughout the tach.
- Enough rear cargo space for most of my needs.
- Legitimate 400-mile fuel range on a single tank.
- Lower latch tethers were easily accessed.
- Seatbelt receivers fit near-flush with the seat, limiting their impact on child seat fitment.
- Optional rear window shades do their job.
- Arched and notched front seat backs offer adult-sized legroom for back seat passengers.
- In general, it made life with a 2-year-old more manageable.

Overall, I give the nod to the likes here. I personally do not need all of the optional equipment we added to build this $53,000 CUV. But there are numerous conveniences that are worth the money. I dig it. It's no wonder this car has so many miles on it already.

Easy Off Display

You can access the function to turn off the X3's display from seemingly anywhere within the iDrive menu structure. Just bump the iDrive controller to the right two or three times to call up the screen and select the Switch off command. To get the screen back, simply depress the dial controller or one of the function buttons.

This is a feature I'm starting to demand in my advancing age, usually only for night driving when there's already enough light pollution. I don't need nav on my drive home and I don't surf radio channels enough to need the screen on throughout a drive. I know there's a brightness control in there somewhere, but usually I just want a dark screen into which to steal a glance and consider the universe. A dedicated display off button near the screen, like the CR-V's, is most useful. But we all have too many buttons to contend with in our cars already. This'll do.

And for all its initial failures, iDrive is now one of the best media interfaces available. By limiting motion to up/down and side-to-side selection, iDrive feels less distracting than guiding your finger on a touchscreen or a cursor across a cinema display. iDrive isn't as pretty as Audi's MMI, but feels easier to get around. Mercedes' COMAND feels right on par with iDrive, although you'll get multiple opinions about that around our office.

Intangibles

It's a nice interior, right? Tightly stitched Nevada leather upholstery, minimal wood accents, brushed metal trim. Feels like it could be the lobby of a hip Chicago hotel or something. The shifter, iDrive controller and center stack all canted toward the driver. The form-fitting seats and perfect wheel heft.

You realize this is where BMW starts to earn its money. You don't have to be an enthusiast to appreciate these refinements. Sure the engines are great and the steering is benchmark. But how you feel when you slide behind the wheel of the X3 or 3 Series serves as a daily reminder of money well spent. It feels like success.

BMW obviously isn't the only automaker to understand this psychology, but they might exploit it better than most. When you can get into a 328i lease for about the price of a combined cable, internet and mobile phone bill, success suddenly looks and feels a little more immediate.

But you won't be leasing our $53,000 X3 for $339 a month like you might a 2013 328i. This kind of success might still make you wait until you get the corner office.

Best Approach Lighting in the Business

Even my disheveled garage* looks nice when there's a 2012 BMW X3 parked in it. Although I'm not a fan of the recent direction BMW has taken in styling its vehicles (with an exception for the 6 Series Gran Coupe and an even bigger exception for the short-lived 1 Series M... that car had such a great stance), the designers always figure out a way to make them look great at night.

From the blue glow of the projector-type HID headlights accented by the amber turn signals, to the little LEDs on the underside of each door handle, to the wash of red taillights on the back of the garage door, the X3 after-dark is a distinctive and awesome sight. I was just going out to put my gym bag in it around 11 o'clock last night and just seeing it all lit up put me in a festive mood.

Anyone would feel good walking up to a car that looks like this when you unlock it. It's one of the little things that makes modern BMWs endearing (after inline-6 engines, steering feel and other more substantive stuff). Once you own one, you're going to want another one.

*It's disheveled, yes, but there's a method to my disorganization, like the strategically placed box on the lower right that prevents me from crashing into the dryer.

Best Six-Cylinder in the Class

Earlier this week, I spent some time in an entry-luxury car that costs almost as much our long-term 2012 BMW X3 ($53,845). Coincidently, it also had a 300-hp six-cylinder engine, though admittedly, those are pretty common right now. But geez, nothing in this price range really compares to this N55 engine.*

This turbocharged inline six-cylinder makes any vehicle feel special. As you've read, it's potent from a low rpm and it revs so incredibly smoothly and sounds great. Even in the 4,200-pound X3, the acceleration is just breathtaking. Of course, I'd rather have this six in the lighter 3 Series or X1, which are just ridiculous when you floor the throttle in traffic.

Not surprisingly, exactly none of us have been able to stay out of the power, so our X3 is averaging just over 20 mpg against an EPA-combined rating of 21. Not horrible, but hardly stellar. However, some things in life are just worth paying for no matter what, and this BMW inline-6 is one of them. If you're going to buy a six-cylinder anything, skip all the mediocre V6s in this price bracket and get one of these.

* much less except the overachieving twin-turbo N54 that came before it

Tire Pressure Warning

I got a TPMS warning on the X3 last weekend. Turns out, all the tires were about five psi low — no tire was a stand out. A few minutes with the air compressor and a tire gauge turned the light off.

Hauls a 12-ft. Christmas Tree

My plan was to haul home the Oldham family Christmas tree on the roof of our long-term 1987 Buick Grand National. I'm rebellious that way, and I knew such a jerk move would fire up the haters and firing up the haters has become a hobby of mine lately.

But I reconsidered. Strapping a 12-foot tall and very heavy Christmas tree to the original paint of our pristine 25-year old Buick would not be cool. So I used our long-term 2012 BMW X3, which has become a favorite of mine since it joined our fleet 11 months ago.

It was a smart move. The X3 handled the job without any drama, despite the large size of the tree and my children insisting that they help strap it to the roof. Thankfully it didn't fly off on the short drive home, but it wasn't exactly 100% secure either. We kept a close eye on it through the X3's large glass sunroof and it shifted more than a few of times. Next year I think we'll get a smaller tree.

Merry Christmas.

Power To Please

Man, there's just no replacement for the kind of punch that our 2012 BMW X3 delivers when you're dealing with moronic holiday freeway traffic. I took the X3 from Los Angeles to Sacramento and back and was so glad I didn't take something pokier. Sure, on I-5 there were the usual "left-lane trains," but this time there were scads and scads brain-dead motorists just crawling along in the left lane without a clue in the world that it's a passing lane. It was like a zombie slalom out there, and the X3's sheer thrust helped make a crummy drive a little more bearable.

Not So Smart Sport Mode

I've driven our 2012 BMW X3 xDrive35i maybe once or twice during its entire run here. Why? Because the staffers like it so much that it's constantly spoken for. Despite that cumbersome name.

As good as the X3 is, I did find something rather odd as I was driving home last night. It locks itself out of top gear (8th) when you have it in Drive/Sport mode — that's when you move the console shift lever to the left and it says "S1, S2, S3" etc. on the instrument panel as the transmission goes through the gears. So the highest it goes is S7, no matter how fast you're going.

DS is still a fully automatic mode, but responses are quicker, it upshifts at higher rpm, downshifts sooner and more aggressively.

Because it responds better in DS, I'd like to keep it there most of the time, even at elevated speeds on the highway. No matter what time of the night it is, L.A. is always thick with traffic. So it helps to have a quick-reacting transmission when making moves around slower cars, especially those annoying left-lane hogs.

So, yeah, locking the tranny out of S8 seems a silly move by BMW to me.

Lost Without Google

I knew the restaurant was somewhere in midtown Sacramento, I just didn't remember where. But when I plugged in the name of the restaurant in our 2012 BMW X3's nav, it couldn't find it. The nearest place resembling the name of the restaurant I was looking for was over 400 miles away. BUT when I plugged it into the Google function of our nav it found it right away. What gives?

Dog Report

We lucked out with taking our 2012 BMW X3 for our Christmas road trip up north. "Score" because we were hauling three adults, all their gear, Christmas presents and my dog Mya. I could have sworn I did a dog report on this car before but turns out that was editor Scott Oldham who put his dog in the cargo area.

I usually buckle Mya in. And as you can see she's all comfy and cozy in the X3's backseat. There was some minor complaint from my brother the other backseat passenger, "She keeps kicking me" but that was the extent of it. The X3's backseat comes with all the comforts for dogs: rear vents for air, screens for privacy as well as easy-to-clean leather and lots of storage space for her gear.

Wearing Well

We're well past the 20,000-mile mark on the X3 now and its interior is holding up very well. Its front seat — even the bolsters — show virtually no wear. Carpets in both the driver's foot well and the cargo area appear rugged and the shifter still looks new. It's what we expect in all cars at the end of a long-term test.

Tire Wear

After more than 22,000 miles, the X3's tires — front and rear — have plenty of life remaining. There's ample rubber standing proud of the wear indicators. And the fact that we tested this SUV seems lost on these tires despite their very reasonable grip.

Hot CDs

I don't usually listen to CDs in the car. But a business association that I belong to started a book club. I can get a lot of "reading" out of the way on my one-hour commute to the office.

One nice thing about the BMW X3's CD player is that it displays chapter titles on the display screen. Because we are always switching cars and I have to take my CDs with me, it helps me keep track of where I left off.

A weird thing about this CD player: When I eject the disc, it is hot. I'm mean like really hot to the touch. I doubt this is how it is supposed to be. Does anyone else have an X3? Let us know if you have a similar experience. The commenting feature should be functioning soon.

Home Storage in Cargo Area

A new year means new resolutions. I decided to get organized. And by that I mean I decided to buy some home storage supplies to get some of the crap off of my junk room floor. I chose the BMW X3 to be my weekend companion.

My middle bedroom has become my home business center (printer, tripod, paper supplies), fitness room (unused Pilates machine, unused stepper, unused...you get the point), and random storage room (everything else that has no place).

So off to Osh I went. They had plastic storage containers and rolling carts on sale. Everyone else in my neighborhood, it seems, had the same idea. I dropped the seats in the X3 and filled the back with all kinds of things to make me feel better organized.

I actually went home and used them, too. I even put together my own shelves.

A clutter-free home means a clutter-free mind.

Will the Dogs Fit?

My wife, thankfully, is seriously considering replacing her aging VW Jetta with a new car. I've never liked her car, so seeing it go will be a happy day.

She would like to get something nicer, something bigger, more capable. We've got dogs, a possible future family, and the George Carlin "more stuff" syndrome. Mentioning she likes the looks of the current generation of the X3, I finagled the keys to our Long-Termer.

Both the wife and I immediately liked the beautiful interior, the ample power, and the feel in the steering, but it rode a little harsh for us. To soften things up I guess we wouldn't need the Sport Package. The leather is fantastic, but there is no way on God's green Earth I'd ever allow my dogs to just ride in the back seat without some kind of seat cover. Say you got those seat covers and there was a baby seat back in the second row, would you let two 60-pound dogs ride shotgun to said youth? Neither would I. Into the back with you two mangy mutts!

That's what sealed the deal for me. The dogs barely had enough room to move around and there is no way you'd also get a suitcase/anything else back there. Any additional gear would have to ride shotgun with the future child, and it'd be limited at that. I need room for my stuff while I go out and buy more stuff.

My wife was sad. So was I. This is a great car, but not as the solo family truckster. Honestly, I knew a small SUV was going to have this problem, but I had to see it with my own eyes. Gotta look to vehicles a bit bigger than this.

The Rise of the Compact SUV

The sales numbers are in for 2012 and things look pretty good for the compact SUV segment.

As usual, the list is dominated by brawny trucks, practical midsize sedans and frugal compact four-doors. But this year, the lineup sees a growing number of small SUVs, with both the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape logging strong sales. It's a development that shows just how popular compact SUVs are becoming with the average American car buyer.

Of course, from its striking red leather interior to its atypically brisk acceleration, our sharp X3 is a cut above these more mundane choices (and no, the X3 isn't in the top 10). It's also, of course, a lot pricier. But it boasts many of the traits that make this segment so appealing: versatility, decent cargo capacity and a pleasantly tall seating position, all contained within a footprint that's small enough to ensure easy maneuverability.

Getting Into the Door Bins

If you hear an echo while conversing within the X3, it's probably the sound of your voice reverberating within the SUV's fairly cavernous door bins. Small SUVs aren't always known for offering generous storage nooks, but the X3 bucks this trend by offering door bins that are bigger and roomier than those of many rival models.

Of course, if you're buying an X3, you probably aren't buying it for its magnificently sized door bins. But it's nice to know that they're there if you need the extra storage space.

Wrap-Up

What We Got
The 2012 BMW X3 shopper had two options. One was the base X3 xDrive28i, the other the upgraded X3 xDrive35i. What set them apart was the engine underneath the hood. For the 2012 model year, the xDrive28i was powered by a 3.0-liter normally aspirated inline-6 rated at 240 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. It has since been upgraded with a new turbocharged four-cylinder that delivers the same horsepower along with 260 lb-ft of torque. It's a solid choice for the current X3, but a year ago it made more sense to upgrade to the turbocharged 3.0-liter in the xDrive35i. It produces 300 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. Both models shared the same all-wheel-drive system and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Our decision to get the X3 xDrive35i was simple. The 35i had an additional 60 hp over the 28i, and it returned better fuel economy. BMW offered us a well-equipped version to test, which included the Sport Activity package ($1,750), the Cold Weather package ($700), the Premium package ($3,450) and finally the Technology package ($3,200).

The 2012 BMW X3 xDrive35i had a starting MSRP of $42,700. Optional equipment raised that price to $53,845.

Our 2012 BMW X3 Impressions

"The turbocharged 3.0-liter in our X3 may not look like much, but I'm continually amazed by how much power this straight-6 doles out. I mean, the X3 isn't just strong off the line and all that, it's downright fast. Whether you're getting on the highway or making a pass on a two-lane, this X3 moves out. Combined with a suspension that makes it feel like a 3 Series sedan, this X3 starts to make a pretty good case for itself as a better alternative to the traditional sedan." — Ed Hellwig

"Holy guacamole! [Acceleration] was an utter surprise to me because I hadn't looked at the ungainly badge on the side of the X3 [xDrive35i]. Strong AWD launch, but then at 4,000 rpm the afterburners light and the X3 really comes alive." — Chris Walton

"Our X3 is equipped with BMW's Driving Dynamics Control (DDC) system which bundles various adjustments together into driver-selectable Normal, Sport and Sport+ modes. There's only one real problem with the system. It's not really needed. Driving around in Normal mode I never once felt the need to sporty things up a little. This X3 is very much a 3 Series on stilts, so it turns, accelerates and stops like a small sport sedan.... I tried the Sport and Sport+ modes on our X3 and didn't find them much better than the Normal mode. Maybe if we had the Dynamic Handling package it would be different, but I doubt it." — Ed Hellwig

"As for the ride quality, I have some thoughts. It's firmly damped. Not harsh. It has very good control. It seems to have limited suspension travel, so on broken, nasty pavement it loses some composure. However, it makes great use of the travel it does have. Within those bounds it's sharp and nimble without being punishing." — Jason Kavanagh

"Rumor has it the X3's eight-speed automatic transmission is filled with clutch packs and planetary gearsets which allow it to shift from 8th to 2nd gear without passing through the intermediate cogs. Rumor also has it that there's still a conventional torque converter involved in all this mechanical mystery and that it locks up quickly to boost fuel efficiency. I have another hypothesis that goes like this: I think it's filled with fairy dust or, possibly, plain unfiltered magic." — Josh Jacquot

"I recently took our X3 several miles up a desert wash to reach an impromptu campsite in a desert valley near Mexico.... The X3 had adequate ground clearance as long as I picked my path carefully. The real issue wasn't clearance. Rather, it was suspension travel. The X3 doesn't have much of it, and the ride over the rocky patches was, well, rough.... The X3 wasn't really made for this kind of stuff. It's essentially a tall wagon with AWD. With that said, it took me to the site and back without any issue. It was just slow going and some nervousness about its tires." — Jason Kavanagh

"A lot of times with Bluetooth, the bass starts to fall apart or the highs get scratchy; then there are the occasional signal cutouts. In our X3, none of these issues surfaced. The only problem I experienced was a random bout of unresponsive buttons. Twice on my drive home, the skip track buttons failed to work. I worked around this by switching sources and back, which seemed to reset it." — Mark Takahashi

"I love the widescreen format and the map graphics. They're as good as a topographical atlas and you can follow along as you drive. I also find it easy to move around the map and between the various menus with the current-gen iDrive controller..... I found a new feature that I like.... The system was recommending a fuel stop along the route, taking into account the vehicle's current estimated miles-to-empty countdown. Pretty neat." — Erin Riches

"It's a nice interior, right? Tightly stitched Nevada leather upholstery, minimal wood accents, brushed metal trim. It feels like it could be the lobby of a hip Chicago hotel or something.... You realize this is where BMW starts to earn its money. You don't have to be an enthusiast to appreciate these refinements. Sure the engines are great and the steering is benchmark. But how you feel when you slide behind the wheel of the X3 or 3 Series serves as a daily reminder of money well spent. It feels like success." — Dan Frio

"I didn't find [the front passenger seat] especially comfortable. The taut seat leather doesn't have much give so it's kind of hard to sit on for a long period of time. And the side bolsters get in the way of relaxing arms, as they do in most cars equipped with them. Maybe it was just problematic for someone of my stature where the bolsters fall just so, pushing the upper arms forward. And naturally, this is fine for a driver who has both hands on the steering wheel, but for someone who just wants to lie back, it wasn't the best." — Caroline Pardilla

"Two snowboards, three occupants, snow gear, bags, beer and food. Everything needed for last weekend's snowboarding trip fit into our long-term 2012 BMW X3 with ease. We folded down the far-right backseat for the boards. That way, the backseat occupant had as much space as possible. No roof rack. Fine by me since roof racks leave your pricey gear conspicuously on display." — Jason Kavanagh

"We're well past the 20,000-mile mark on the X3 now and its interior is holding up very well. Its front seat, even the bolsters, shows virtually no wear. Carpets in both the driver footwell and the cargo area appear rugged and the shifter still looks new. It's what we expect in all cars at the end of a long-term test." — Josh Jacquot

2012 BMW X3 Maintenance & Repairs

Regular Maintenance:
Routine service intervals were dictated by the car's onboard computer. When HAL 9000 decided it was time, the elusive oil change light illuminated. The X3 requested service just once during our test, at 14,000 miles. Fresh oil and filter cost us nothing. The tab was paid by the BMW free maintenance plan.

Service Campaigns:
No recalls or TSBs surfaced during our test of the X3.

Fuel Economy and Resale Value

Observed Fuel Economy:
The EPA prepared us for 19 city and 26 highway mpg. We averaged a tick over 20 mpg, which was slightly below expectations. Our best single tank was nearly 26 mpg and covered 445 miles of ground. The worst fuel economy was 14 mpg, following an extended stretch of city driving.

Resale and Depreciation:
New, our well-optioned X3 xDrive35i had an MSRP of $53,845. After 23,194 miles the crossover depreciated 15 percent according to Edmunds' TMV^® Calculator. This figure was based on a private-party sale.

We typically consider 20 percent depreciation to be very good. In that regard, the X3 was outstanding. We attribute the value retention to its long list of options. In our experience, optional equipment tends to hold its own in the used car market.

Summing Up

Pros: Class-leading performance from the engine and transmission combination, better on-road handling than most sedans, top-notch cabin materials that proved durable, very little maintenance and it was free when it was needed, outstanding resale value.

Cons: Minimal suspension travel makes for a bumpy ride on rough surfaces, limited cargo space, poor fuel economy for a vehicle of its size.

Bottom Line: The 2012 BMW X3 is one of the fastest, best-handling compact SUVs on the market. If you can stomach the price and the thirsty engine, the rest of the package will rarely disappoint.

The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.