BMW X3 Shopping Help

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FYI - an all new X3 hits the market either later this year or early next year.

Op do you really want an outdated x3?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The X3 is tiny. Get an X5 if you want an suv. Unless you’re a single person with no pets.

People who drive x3’s just want others to think they are driving a luxury car. The crv is probably nicer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't offer a price using MSRP as a reference. Instead, solicit bids from many dealers for the vehicle equipped as you want it. The more dealers you contact, the more responses you'll receive, although not every dealer will bid for your business. Don't include any discussion of financing or about a trade-in, just ask for each dealer's best out-the-door price, with all fees, so you're comparing apples to apples.

Thanks for this information. Since I haven't bought a car in over a decade. If I see a car at a dealer on the lot or in transit, should I email them and ask best out of the door price? Or do I email each dealer with my specs for ordering a car and see their prices?

I wish this car buying process was easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had a great experience with Passport BMW in Suitland. Super easy to work with and their financing rate was the best we could find.

Who was the salesperson at Passport BMW, maybe I can use them as I like super easy to work with deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The X3 is tiny. Get an X5 if you want an suv. Unless you’re a single person with no pets.

People who drive x3’s just want others to think they are driving a luxury car. The crv is probably nicer.

I've had both an X3 and and X1 and agree that a CRV is probably nicer and more reliable. I will never buy another BMW based on the issues with the two we have had (one of which we still have but I look forward to getting rid of soon). I my defense I wanted a small SUV and the X5 was too big.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a great experience with Passport BMW in Suitland. Super easy to work with and their financing rate was the best we could find.

Who was the salesperson at Passport BMW, maybe I can use them as I like super easy to work with deal.

Greg Chery

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The X3 is tiny. Get an X5 if you want an suv. Unless you’re a single person with no pets.

People who drive x3’s just want others to think they are driving a luxury car. The crv is probably nicer.

Please just stop being rude. A CRV isn’t nicer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't offer a price using MSRP as a reference. Instead, solicit bids from many dealers for the vehicle equipped as you want it. The more dealers you contact, the more responses you'll receive, although not every dealer will bid for your business. Don't include any discussion of financing or about a trade-in, just ask for each dealer's best out-the-door price, with all fees, so you're comparing apples to apples.

Thanks for this information. Since I haven't bought a car in over a decade. If I see a car at a dealer on the lot or in transit, should I email them and ask best out of the door price? Or do I email each dealer with my specs for ordering a car and see their prices?

I wish this car buying process was easier.

I'd ask dealers for their out-the-door price for a car like the one you want, without regard to whether they have it immediately available or would have to order it, unless you need it right away. If you can wait a bit for it, ordering the eaxct spec you want from BMW is easy, but you do have to wait for the factory in Spartanburg to build it. Some dealers will respond with a proposal to sell you something they have on hand, which may not be exactly what you asked for. If it's close enough, you can at least get a sense of their pricing because the list price of every option is available on the BMW website, even if other dealers are quoting a somewhat differently equipped version.

When I bought my X3M, I contacted a dozen or so dealers in Md, VA, and Pa. I got maybe 10 responses, and prices were pretty variable. I made a deal with a dealer in Richmond. Less convenient than a DMV dealer, but the savings made it worthwhile.

As an aside, consider picking your car up at the factory if you order it. It's a fun experience, where you get a factory tour and time on the track with a car like the one you're picking up. If you are picking up a SUV, like the X3, you'll do an off-road course which demonstrates the vehicle's off-road prowess. BMW pays for your hotel, dinner the night before, and breakfast the morning you go to the factory, and they transport you from the airport if you fly in (the flight is at your expense). I've done it twice. If it's something which interests you, you can arrange for it through the dealer once you have a deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't offer a price using MSRP as a reference. Instead, solicit bids from many dealers for the vehicle equipped as you want it. The more dealers you contact, the more responses you'll receive, although not every dealer will bid for your business. Don't include any discussion of financing or about a trade-in, just ask for each dealer's best out-the-door price, with all fees, so you're comparing apples to apples.

Thanks for this information. Since I haven't bought a car in over a decade. If I see a car at a dealer on the lot or in transit, should I email them and ask best out of the door price? Or do I email each dealer with my specs for ordering a car and see their prices?

I wish this car buying process was easier.

I'd ask dealers for their out-the-door price for a car like the one you want, without regard to whether they have it immediately available or would have to order it, unless you need it right away. If you can wait a bit for it, ordering the eaxct spec you want from BMW is easy, but you do have to wait for the factory in Spartanburg to build it. Some dealers will respond with a proposal to sell you something they have on hand, which may not be exactly what you asked for. If it's close enough, you can at least get a sense of their pricing because the list price of every option is available on the BMW website, even if other dealers are quoting a somewhat differently equipped version.

When I bought my X3M, I contacted a dozen or so dealers in Md, VA, and Pa. I got maybe 10 responses, and prices were pretty variable. I made a deal with a dealer in Richmond. Less convenient than a DMV dealer, but the savings made it worthwhile.

As an aside, consider picking your car up at the factory if you order it. It's a fun experience, where you get a factory tour and time on the track with a car like the one you're picking up. If you are picking up a SUV, like the X3, you'll do an off-road course which demonstrates the vehicle's off-road prowess. BMW pays for your hotel, dinner the night before, and breakfast the morning you go to the factory, and they transport you from the airport if you fly in (the flight is at your expense). I've done it twice. If it's something which interests you, you can arrange for it through the dealer once you have a deal.

Thank you for this information. I will do this as getting the exact car on the lot seems quite difficult and the lead time to order is not bad. Also this way, I can compare prices for same car as now very difficult to figure out price as one car on lot as more options than the other etc.

[Anonymous]

Just a note on new cars - many were coming thru BMore port so expect delays if you order and have to have one shipped right now.

I got close to 15% plus extended warranty/maintenance on a X3. And whoever said it’s like a CRV has clearly never driven one…

[Anonymous]

I was impressed with an X3M40i during a test drive. 4 sec 0-60 and amazing handling.

The X5 40i I drove had the same engine, felt slower and didn’t seem much bigger.

The jump to get more performance with an X5M50i is costly.

A crv by comparison is 7.4 sec.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just a note on new cars - many were coming thru BMore port so expect delays if you order and have to have one shipped right now.

I got close to 15% plus extended warranty/maintenance on a X3. And whoever said it’s like a CRV has clearly never driven one…

Thanks for this as didn't think about the port delays. Did you order one or get one on the lot to get a good deal like the one you got.

[Anonymous]

I just went x3 shopping yesterday. Go to Kelly Blue Book and they will show you what people are paying vs. MSRP. I'm looking to deal on a previously owned one as the new model comes out. It should drive prices down. Very nice vehicle and don't care about getting the latest. There will always be something newer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just a note on new cars - many were coming thru BMore port so expect delays if you order and have to have one shipped right now.

I got close to 15% plus extended warranty/maintenance on a X3. And whoever said it’s like a CRV has clearly never driven one…

Thanks for this as didn't think about the port delays. Did you order one or get one on the lot to get a good deal like the one you got.

Got one off the lot - missing one minor thing I wanted, but not worth the wait or cost. Were starting to clear the lot for the next year and happy to negotiate heavily. Traded for a nearly new X1 - which I did order and wait for due to port delays about two years prior.

[Anonymous]

X3s are not imported, they are built in South Carolina.

As for performance, a X3M is in a different universe than any Japanese compact SUV, and is a level above the X3 M40i referenced earlier, which is a "M-trim" version, not a true M vehicle, although still a high performer. It must be said, though, that the X3M does have a very firm ride, which is not to everyone's taste, and it is also much more expensive than most competitors in the same size range.