discussion X3: 2021 3.0d or 2022 2.0d?

[ENT_DocY]

Hi all

I need some advice\opinions. I'm in the market to upgrade my now outdated 2013 X3 3.0d. I'm looking at either the 2021 X3 3.0d or 2022 2.0d
They are priced similarly, so the question is whether downgrading the engine to 2.0d, with lower mileage, newer year and obviously the facelift, is worth it?
I love the performance of my old 3.0d, but in all honesty I almost never drive the car hard (thank you Discovery smoothies).

 

[MR_Y]

Hi,

The 2018 X3 20d is my wife's car.
The car is good for her work run and the (relaxed) long distance family drives.
But, if it was the only car in my household, I would definitely go for the 30d.

The 30d makes overtaking effortless and makes highway driving more relaxing. One will tend to drive a smaller engined car harder to extract the same urgency as a larger engined car. Being forced to push the 20d into Sport mode to get some extra oomph when ovetaking uphill will make you wish for the 30d.

The 30d, even in older spec, will give you more smiles per mile than a fancy, newer spec 20d. Unless, you only do city driving everyday and hardly go long distance, in which case the fancier, newer 20d may suffice.

Another point is the purchase price. Newer spec 20d have crossed the R1m mark, even slightly used ones are in the R850k+ league . Call me old fashioned, but for that money, I would expect nothing less than six cylinders and 3 litres in an SUV.

The X3 30d, even if a few years old, is still arguably the best all rounder compact SUV under R1m.

(My daily is a Macan S 3.0D which is not as good an all rounder as the X3 30d, but has its own unique charms...)

 

[CK4LIFE]

Well said👌

 

[ENT_DocY]

Hi,

The 2018 X3 20d is my wife's car.
The car is good for her work run and the (relaxed) long distance family drives.
But, if it was the only car in my household, I would definitely go for the 30d.

The 30d makes overtaking effortless and makes highway driving more relaxing. One will tend to drive a smaller engined car harder to extract the same urgency as a larger engined car. Being forced to push the 20d into Sport mode to get some extra oomph when ovetaking uphill will make you wish for the 30d.

The 30d, even in older spec, will give you more smiles per mile than a fancy, newer spec 20d. Unless, you only do city driving everyday and hardly go long distance, in which case the fancier, newer 20d may suffice.

Another point is the purchase price. Newer spec 20d have crossed the R1m mark, even slightly used ones are in the R850k+ league . Call me old fashioned, but for that money, I would expect nothing less than six cylinders and 3 litres in an SUV.

The X3 30d, even if a few years old, is still arguably the best all rounder compact SUV under R1m.

(My daily is a Macan S 3.0D which is not as good an all rounder as the X3 30d, but has its own unique charms...)

Thanks for this. You're now the 3rd person who has told me the 2.0d performance can't compare to the 3.0d.
I'm wondering if I should wait for a facelift 3.0d to become available? That way I get the best of both worlds, but the problem is that the 3.0d, even demo, is priced over a bar right now.
I guess what I need to know is whether spending more for a facelift is worth it, regardless of the engine.

 

[MR_Y]

Thanks for this. You're now the 3rd person who has told me the 2.0d performance can't compare to the 3.0d.
I'm wondering if I should wait for a facelift 3.0d to become available? That way I get the best of both worlds, but the problem is that the 3.0d, even demo, is priced over a bar right now.
I guess what I need to know is whether spending more for a facelift is worth it, regardless of the engine.

I haven't driven the facelift, so can't compare.
I will find a video I watched recently, made by a local guy, to explain the differences.

Here it is on a 20d. After watching this video, I would prefer the hard button layout of the pre LCI model. The new model has more touch sensitive controls and less physical buttons and knobs.

 

[///M Individual]

Definitely 30d bud.

If you can go for LCi will be good but I think pre LCi will be suffice.

 

[MoeM2]

And then there is the M40d…
The reality is that all are great cars and none will be the wrong choice - if it was me I would would be in the M40d or 30d


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MR_Y]

And then there is the M40d…
The reality is that all are great cars and none will be the wrong choice - if it was me I would would be in the M40d or 30d


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

M40d is no longer available in LCI.

 

[ENT_DocY]

And then there is the M40d…
The reality is that all are great cars and none will be the wrong choice - if it was me I would would be in the M40d or 30d


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My father has an M40i. It's just too heavy on fuel to be an everyday car. It is an awesome car though (and it has heated seats which for some reason no one installs in South Africa except me🤣)

Edit: sorry I thought you meant M40i, cos M40d isn't available even as a used car from my searching.

 

[MR_Y]

My father has an M40i. It's just too heavy on fuel to be an everyday car. It is an awesome car though (and it has heated seats which for some reason no one installs in South Africa except me🤣)

M40d is very light on fuel compared to M40i

 

[ENT_DocY]

My bad I just did an Autotrader search and I see there are a few available. Will look into it but they're a little pricey compared to the 30d

 

[ENT_DocY]

update: I've now narrowed it to 2 vehicles (maybe another pops up if dealers manage to find it)
1) 2020 3.0d 58000km, M Sport with electric seats, M Sport seats, front seat heating (this is a must for my wife lol), Harmon Kardon sound, Lumbar support, and a couple cosmetic bits and bobs like satinated roof rails instead of the standard shadowline. Dealer willing to go 909k and will look at waiving licence and onroad.
2) 2021 3.0d 32000km, M Sport. Electric but not heated seats. Normal Hifi sound. Has adaptive LED, parking assist and driving assist (that are missing from the other one) R979k with zero on road/licence and they'll send it to JHB for free.

Opinions? Which is the better? The wife already knows which one she wants lol, but is giving up the various assist techhs and adaptive LEDs really worth the heated seats? Granted it's also 70k less, but a year older with almost double mileage.

I've attached pics of the extras in each.

 

[GravityLee]

Adaptive LED >>> heated seats, IMO.

 

[MR_Y]

The lower mileage one makes more sense.

However, for "only" R130k more, you can get an LCI 30d (https://www.autotrader.co.za/car-for-sale/bmw/x3/xdrive30d/26718692?vf=2&db=1&s360=0&so=1&pl=1&po=1).

For me, personally, I would like that gap to be at least double if I were to choose a pre-LCI over LCI.

For me, a 2018 model would make the sums work out better, given that I would want a substantial saving for buying a pre-LCI over an LCI.

This would work: https://www.autotrader.co.za/car-for-sale/bmw/x3/xdrive30d/26798892?vf=3&db=1&s360=0&so=1&pl=0&po=1

Just my 2c..

 

[ENT_DocY]

The lower mileage one makes more sense.

However, for "only" R130k more, you can get an LCI 30d (https://www.autotrader.co.za/car-for-sale/bmw/x3/xdrive30d/26718692?vf=2&db=1&s360=0&so=1&pl=1&po=1).

For me, personally, I would like that gap to be at least double if I were to choose a pre-LCI over LCI.

For me, a 2018 model would make the sums work out better, given that I would want a substantial saving for buying a pre-LCI over an LCI.

This would work: https://www.autotrader.co.za/car-for-sale/bmw/x3/xdrive30d/26798892?vf=3&db=1&s360=0&so=1&pl=0&po=1

Just my 2c..

Thanks. Second one is lying about the spec though. It doesn't have heated seats, the buttons are missing from the console lol. This is why I don't buy from 3rd party dealers, only BMW approved.

 

[MR_Y]

Thanks. Second one is lying about the spec though. It doesn't have heated seats, the buttons are missing from the console lol. This is why I don't buy from 3rd party dealers, only BMW approved.

Well spotted

 

[modocrat]

The 2020 has the better wheels and brown interior

They're probably still making a fat profit on the cars, squeeze them more..

 

[ENT_DocY]

The 2020 has the better wheels and brown interior

They're probably still making a fat profit on the cars, squeeze them more..

How much would you say is fair? I told them 850k🤣 They refused of course.

 

[ENT_DocY]

The 2020 has the better wheels and brown interior

They're probably still making a fat profit on the cars, squeeze them more..

Looks like they really want the sale. 2020 one now willing to take 900k

 

[modocrat]

Looks like they really want the sale. 2020 one now willing to take 900k

Its marked at R909k, so not much of a discount IMO.