Used 2009 BMW X3 SUV Consumer Reviews
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Practical mpg and traction - Fun driving dynamics!
Brice, 04/08/2017
updated 10/18/2022
2009 BMW X3 xDrive30i 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl 6M)
28 of 28 people found this review helpful
2009 BMW X3 with full options - I bought this car used in March, 2017 with 83,000 miles on it to replace a 2007 BMW X3 with 165,000 miles which was the nicest car I had ever owned. This one is better. The transmission on the 2009 is smoother than the 2007, this one has the upgraded stereo and it sounds better, but also just the tuner knob is nicer and easier to use. It could be just my perception, but it seems more stable in corners at speed. Gas mileage is great on both - I get 21 or 22 mixed, and 26 to 28 highway in the Rocky mountains between 50 and 80 miles an hour. MPG is one of the best features, and it comes from a powerful engine that is ready to pass anything, anytime even going up a mountain. Front seats are fully adjustable and very comfortable. Drive noise is quite minimal, making it hard to drive anything less insulated. The over all size is small, which I like for fitting through traffic and parking, and I find the cargo space to be large for the size of the car. Traction control with Michelin X-Ice tires is excellent on snow, frozen hard surface snow, and good on clear ice. Braking is crisp and tight, as is the steering. The ride is firm, but I found I like it better than Mercedes ML350 and ML 550 that I test drove. Driving it really does feel like a sporty car - much better visibility than a Porsche Cayenne, and the Porsche and Mercedes 550 felt too tight in the cockpit for me. I'm 6'3", and my only real complaint is that the transmission box is wide in the X3 and pushes my right foot in at an odd angle that makes my knee and hip feel tweaked. It bugs me, but when my 2007 got totaled by a friend, and I had to replace it, after looking at the Mercedes and a Mazda CX-7, this one is just soooo fun to drive (and the gear shift is useful and fun) and gets such good mileage, that I couldn't get as excited about anything else. **If you get one, you must rotate tires regularly. Irregular wear on tires will confuse the traction control and transmission and make you think it's a junk car, but it's your tires and/or suspension** **~update at 142,000 miles~** Still the same impression as I wrote previously. Have had no mechanical issues, just changed the oil, coolant & tires. Apparently my body has now warped to function with the wide console, as my hip is no longer sore from the funny angle of my right leg. Great vehicle! Still fun to drive! Beautiful. **Update at 185,000 miles** (now have owned it for 5 years, and driven it about 100,000 miles in the Colorado Rockies, occasionally pulling trailers with scaffolding, or motorcycles as far as Los Angeles quite a few times) Well, at last she had some real problems this year. The water pump when out at 175,000 - please trust me when I say you are best off replacing with only an OEM BMW water pump - mine cost $1600 to replace, parts & labor. Also the transfer case broke a tooth on a gear, and it would lurch mildly going uphill in 1st & 2nd gear, and make a big clank sound in the back end. Replaced with a rebuilt transfer case for about $3000 parts and labor. My mechanic said I now need to replace all 4 oxygen sensors for $1200 parts and labor. So after no real expenses other than gas, oil, tires, brake pads, and wiper blades, this year is a $5500 year. Interior still in good shape, heated seats and steering wheel still work great, stereo still great. I expect I will also need to get the struts replaced next year for about $600 as I can feel the suspension isn't as crisp. For me, the car is still a good vehicle, and a good investment. But if you want to avoid these type of expenses, in my very limited experience, I would suggest not buying an X3 with over 150,000 miles, or selling it at about 160,000 or 170,000. I am keeping mine, as the repairs this year will still be less than 2 years worth of car payments for a small luxury SUV, and it is still very powerful and comfortable (the seat is as firm and clean as ever). I am still getting about 27 miles to the gallon, and I drive this car hard, always up and down the mountains in sometimes very, very bad road conditions. I still warmly recommend this model and year.
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This can't be an SUV
asiafish, 02/05/2009
2009 BMW X3 xDrive30i 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl 6M)
22 of 22 people found this review helpful
My wife was tired of her Camry and wanted to sit high in traffic. Looked at the RX350, the E35 and even the new GLK, but nothing matched the driving dynamics of the X3. I don't even like SUVs, but I really enjoyed driving this one. Brakes are even stronger than in my Mercedes, and perhaps the best highway ride of any car we've owned. Only complaint is the stereo controls are small and look alike, which is a common problem in BMW interiors. We got a very basic X3. Vinyl seats, base stereo, no nav and no option packages. Ours has the automatic, heated front seats and privacy glass; no other options. What is amazing is that even without any of the packages the car looks and feels great.
The Perfect All Around Vehicle
rl2278, 02/26/2009
2009 BMW X3 xDrive30i 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl 6M)
15 of 15 people found this review helpful
Due to an old back injury I needed something with more supportive/ comfortable seats that was easy to get in and out of. I tried almost everything out there until I found BMW's X3. The seats and height were absolutely perfect so I ordered the car based heavily on those two things and relied on BMW's reputation for the rest. I certainly was not disappointed. It goes and stops like nothing I have ever driven and if you don't watch your speed it will easily creep into triple digit territory. It corners like it's a car and although firm, it rides like a dream. The fit and finish is top notch and the cabin is quiet. It has great head and legroom and everything is where it's supposed to be.
First generation X3, true BMW
Douglas Swift, 06/25/2017
2009 BMW X3 xDrive30i 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl 6M)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
First generation X3, a true BMW. Probably too firm for most American drivers but I'm very sure footed easy to park compact SUV. Great for changing road conditions. Never loses traction with the great X drive
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Mary Ann - Warwick
Mary Ann, 07/02/2010
2009 BMW X3 xDrive30i 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl 6M)
10 of 12 people found this review helpful
I had a 525i sedan and traded it in for the X3 which is as classy and luxurious yet more practical for my life style. Either vehicle is fabulous!