[novalauren]

I currently have an 06 325xi...as I am approaching my next purchase I am well aware that I will probably have a child or 2 while I am driving my next car....should I opt for another sedan or is the X3 more appropriate? does the X3 drive like the sedan? is there really THAT much more room? is it really THAT much easier to get a baby into a car seat?

I really love the sedan but other parents are telling me it will not be big enought to hold all of the baby gear.....and X5 is out of my price range....

thanks for your comments.

[canucklion]

dude, best for you is to test drive it at the dealership man!

[BMW F22]

With the X3 you probably wont have to bend as much when putting in a child seat- although I think you'd be happier with the sedan.

But like Canucklion said, go to the dealer and check out the cars first.

[dmboone25]

I'm not sure if there is a lot more room--they might just be taller, with a little more room than an E90--I could be wrong about this.

I don't have any kids, but my sister tells me that the 4 doors is really the biggest issue--as long as you have 4 instead of 2, it is pretty easy to get in and out of the vehicle with the little ones and their stuff.

Oh, and she did comment that getting in and out of the SUV was easier than the sedan, especially when she was pregnant with her second and getting her first in and out of the vehicles. For what it's worth.

[bmrfam]

You should get some interesting opinions on this one, but here is what we have seen. My wife had a 2002 325i and loved it. We were at the same choice in 2004 when we were looking for a new car. She choose the X3 over another sedan and here is what I have seen from a child present household point of view:

• It is way easier for both her and me to get him into a child seat even in the middle position since it is right at the perfect level. No lifting up or bending down to get him in.
• The speed of the car was comparable with what she had with the handling being just a little off from a sedan.
• There is a lot more space in the rear. I can get way more bags of mulch or wood in there then I ever would with a sedan. Sometimes in the coupe or sedan you can not get items in due to the trunk opening but the back opening is probably twice as large on an x3. I do some woodworking so it is nice to use the X3 for wood and tool hauling.
• Gas mileage was about the same for us.

So yes, for my wife, the X3 made sense. Of course, she does not drive like a maniac like myself. We just ordered a new 07 X3 for her on Sat. since she liked the 04 so much.

We just did an ED for me to go from a 04 330 coupe to a 335i sedan so that when we do drive my car, it was not such a pain. That said, I only put about 5000 miles a year on it since I travel a ton.

I will not argue that the X3 is the same as a sedan, but it does have some advantages.

[bimmerlex]

Get an X3. I also have two little kids, and our Lexus RX is always a winner over my 335i for any kind of family trip be it short or long.

[LEDZEP]

Just curious why you're not considering the 328xiT... the E91

Best of both worlds.

[novalauren]

BMRFAN...thanks so much for your comments!!! You addressed my concerns....

as for not considering the wagon....no justifiable reason except that I just don't like the look of it!

[MPoWeRMAN]

I had an X3 before my E91, and I loved it, it drives and handles similar to a sedan, just make sure you get the servotronic steering, you will be happy with an X3

[Professor///M]

People love SUVs more for kids then sedans for whatever reason. They feel safer, they claim more room etc.

I think the biggest thing to note is overall cargo space. See how many strollers you can handle in both. Take both for a drive.

Coming from a mid sized SUV, the X3 looked and felt small at the dealership, but the specs are VERY close to an e90, as well as price.

I think you'll be happy with either, but I think in overall cargo, consider a stroller, and needing to haul a few other things in the back, which the sedan may not allow for

[JHFW89225]

I own an 2005 X3 3.0i and its a nice car. I think if u want sporty driving with convienence such as carrying people and stuff X3 is a good idea. You can actually throw the X3 around without too much trouble and its fun too Trust me, i've tried racing in an x3 and as ridiculous as it may seem, it is very fun lol. Of course you shouldn't treat it as a E90 as it is no where as good handling as E90. But I'd reckon its one of the best handling suvs and still can keep up with some sedans. Its like you can go racing and carry your whole family and still go to get some grocery! At first when my mom got me this car i hated it. but now i've grown to love it and will definitly miss it when i trade it in for 335i. Its fun when you can fold down ALL the seats and the trunk and just camp out in the car for those days where u and ur friends dun have anywhere to go and just chill lol.

oh yeah, when i grow older and have a family i'll definitly get another X3 for sure.

[gos]

I had the X3 as a loaner when my 330xi was in the shop.

Biggest difference, really, was in the options. X3 didn't have sport package, so the seats drove me nuts. Interior room wasn't as big a difference as I'd been expecting, trunk on the X3 isn't that big.

The 525 I got as a loaner was much bigger, and the 5-series wagon is huge in comparison for cargo hauling.

X3 was pretty peppy, but with the slushbox, really had to rev it up quite a bit. (Plus the lesser of the two engines).


I think you'd enjoy both. Definitely much better ground clearance in the X3, but short of the big december blizzard, clearance hasn't been an issue in my E90. I think the non-I-drive radio/climate/etc. controls in the E90 are a lot nicer than the X3 controls, but maybe I'm just used to them.

[jonerik26]

x3

[Coldintake]

X3 doesnt have too much extra room, and the x5(well not the not the brand new one) has very little space too.

Get the 3,

be a man, do the right thing

[murellus]

i suppose suv's can be "safer" for kids as long as they're inside...

[Matto ELITE]

Black Sapphire/Black
Premium Package
Sport Package (you get sport suspension, M wheels and steering wheel, trim, aerodynamic kit)
Servotronic
6-Speed
Privacy Glass

That right there is how you equip a 07 X3 3.0si...

[aspiring335]

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

Just curious why you're not considering the 328xiT... the E91

Best of both worlds.

+1

Almost as much room (I think the back seat might actually be roomier), better on gas, much more stylish, more modern interior and better handling.

[LEDZEP]

Originally Posted by aspiring335

+1

Almost as much room (I think the back seat might actually be roomier), better on gas, much more stylish, more modern interior and better handling.

Our E91 has tons of room, maybe more that X3 or X5 (except vertically). But he indicated that he just doesn't like the look. If he doesn't like it, he doesn't like it.

No accounting for taste...

[aspiring335]

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

Our E91 has tons of room, maybe more that X3 or X5 (except vertically). But he indicated that he just doesn't like the look. If he doesn't like it, he doesn't like it.

No accounting for taste...

I'm blown away that ANYONE likes the look of the X3. It's got some of the most awkward proportions of any vehicle on the road. By contrast the E91 is, IMHO, the most elegant and well proportioned of all the E9x models.

[OC Guy]

My sister has a 335i Sedan and her husband drives the X3. I find the X3's ride a bit more harsh than the 335i. Sitting in the back was a bit uncomfortable due to the ride. Personally I would rather get an E90 or spend more money for a X5.

[matt19hsc]

Get the x3. I have, and love, both. But for you the x makes more sense.

[WagonRider]

E91 vs X3:

Well, I test drove both before I got the E91. Here are some of my observations.

E91:
Felt a bit claustrophobic initially but when I drove with the moonroof open, It made a world of difference.
I loved the way it responded as its an extended form of Sedan.
Lovely interior and nice trims.

X3:
Definitely roomy. Drive was OK but didn't respond the way E91 did.

I believe both have same leg room but due to the height of X3, it seems roomier.

Now, why I chose E91 instead of X3.
The interior of X3 is bad. It feels cheap (sorry but it does). Sport package on this feels different than the E9X's also. Maybe a comfort seat package would help?
Lots of plastics and the trims also not up to par with the E9Xs.

But, the 07 X3 design is wonderful. Way better than its predecessors. If not for the interior, I would've definitely gone for one.

Since you don't like the looks of E91, I would suggest considering the X5, if possible. The interior is wonderful & driveability is awesome. I "purchased" E91 and didn't want to spend that much for an X5.
So, if you're leasing, look @X5.

Good luck.