G01 X3 2.0d up Sani Pass?

[///M Individual]

Hi guys

Hope you all well.

My uncle acquired this recently:

Just to put you in the picture this uncle is the reason I drive a BMW 2.0d. He convinced me what a brilliant motor it is from power to economy and most importantly reliability. He also has a F30 320d and my cousin has a F10 520d so within our immediate family we have 4 BMW 2.0d's. It is such an amazing motor that we probably won't change to any other for the rest of our lives. Since I got mine 2 years ago I have convinced 5 friends to change over from what they were driving previously and they thank me all the time. :ty:

So he is off to the Berg today. Planning to take the X3 up Sani Pass tomorrow morning.....you guys think it will be capable? Anyone taken one up or the F25? I'm sure the Xdrive system is good just concerned about ground clearance and tyre profile on some sections of the pass. The 19s do have some meat on the tyres compared to the 20s and 21s though. Let me know your thoughts..

Thanks guys

Have a great Friday and an amazing weekend.:thumbs:

 

[MR_Y]

I posted a picture a while back of a 320d F30 (not M Sport) that almost went up Sani Pass in snow. See pictures below.

Given the ride height and AWD of the X3, he should be fine.

I hoped he ticked the free spare wheel option when he bought the X3 (BMW offers a spare wheel at no cost when you buy the new X3, but you need to specify it).

 

[WIDEOPN-X5]

I would not take low profile tyre / large rim combo up Sani Pass at the moment. The rims will definitely get scratched by rocks and there's no point in deflating run flats especially low profile which would aid traction and soften the bumping and bashing.

Also, an observation from going up late last year on a KTM 1090R was that many of the old pipes running under the road below the border post have been graded over exposing the steel reinforcing wires. There's consequently a very real probability of picking up a puncture with a standard road tyre. You can't easily see the wire in a car.

For what it's worth the car would otherwise have no problem getting up the pass. My f25 X3 went up there as a demo before I took ownership.

 

[///M Individual]

Just an update guys....vehicle made it up effortlessly.

 

[RAArmstrong]

Epic! Well done! I'd love to hear a detailed account of the trip up and down?

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[///M Individual]

Epic! Well done! I'd love to hear a detailed account of the trip up and down?

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Thanks bud, asked my uncle and unfortunately not much to tell. He was really impressed with the Xdrive and how the power was redistributed across the wheels when one lost traction etc. Had a slight incident with a biker that came down too fast and touched the X3 side mirror but lucky there were no damages.

He used the hill descent all the way down and it worked like a charm.

All in all very impressed with it....next he wants to tackle some beach sand and see how it goes.

 

[Dragonman]

Epic! Well done! I'd love to hear a detailed account of the trip up and down?

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Thanks bud, asked my uncle and unfortunately not much to tell. He was really impressed with the Xdrive and how the power was redistributed across the wheels when one lost traction etc. Had a slight incident with a biker that came down too fast and touched the X3 side mirror but lucky there were no damages.

He used the hill descent all the way down and it worked like a charm.

All in all very impressed with it....next he wants to tackle some beach sand and see how it goes.

Check out the BMW Driving Experience Namibia pics, videos and articles - very capable vehicle indeed.

https://www.getaway.co.za/activities/4x4ing/touring-namibia-in-a-bmw-x3/

 

[///M Individual]

My buddy did Sani Pass in his F25 X3 20d today.

Effortless.

Rear exhaust box touched a rock once as the vehicle was fully loaded.

On my F25 I plan to go 65 profile of the tyre he has in 60 profile ie. Falken Wildpeak Trail A/T so I can gain a bit of ground clearance.

 

[DRCraig]

Not much content on BMW's overlanding. Thanks for sharing.

I suppose the X1 F48 sDrive would have a hard time up the Sani Pass? Any knowledge on that?

 

[r0ckf1re]

Not much content on BMW's overlanding. Thanks for sharing.

I suppose the X1 F48 sDrive would have a hard time up the Sani Pass? Any knowledge on that?

There is a post above by Mr Y where a 3 series made it almost all the way up but got snowed in so went back down without getting stuck.

I would say under the right conditions the X1 would do it! Lead the way


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[Benji]

I was pretty impressed with how the G01 handles the "offroad experience" at BMW Mall of Africa. 2 wheels in the air and the electronics just pull you through without any loss in momentum.

A similar obstacle in the wife's Renault Kadjar 4x4 resulted in much noise (from her and the car) but little progress (again, neither her or the car), but that is comparing litchis with oranges.