I fully agree with HHWILL. The BMW X3 2.0d is a well rounded, very capable small SUV that will kill any SUV / Bakkie in the mud...
I am a proud owner of a 2005 2.0d model and have been rather surprised with its reliability and capability. With the micro diesel engine under the hood, don’t expect any fireworks. However, once it goes it goes well!
My vehicle was purchased second hand with around 70,000km’s on the odo and the main intention was to pull off-road bikes around JHB with the occasional dirt road / mud road. One year later, a couple of 4x4 trails and many crazy bundu bashing sessions, I sold my Volvo S40 T5 and now drive the X3 daily and loving it.
Couple of things to know about the X3:
-With the automatic 4x4 system (transfer case) you are limited to two sizes of wheels 255/40/R18 and 235/55/R17 or something like that. Both these sizes are &%$#@*& expensive and not easily found. I fitted the Bridgestone Dueler’s HP and seem like a nice all-round tyre.
-Both the 2.0 d and the 3.0d’s turbo will comfortably give you around 160,000km’s before its due for a refurbishment. There’s a place in JHB called Turbo Exchange that have been doing turbo exchanges forever, they gave me a replacement cost of R8k for the 2.0d.
If you are looking at buying a vehicle with a motor plan then great, but if you are looking at servicing it on your own: its a very simple to change your oil, oil/diesel filters and resetting the service indicator.
Let me know if you need more info, but other than that you will love the overall package.