X3 in the Market

At $38,000, the X3 starts substantially higher than its nearest competitor, the Acura RDX. Save for its problematic transmission behavior, the BMW offers a more buttoned-down driving experience than the Acura. For some, that's worth every penny.

As BMW surely knows, the X3 can't sit on its pedestal forever. Land Rover's entry-level LR2 is on the way, and so are the Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60. If the X3 is to remain a desirable car, BMW will have to fix a few things so buyers need not weigh the good against the bad — because there will be plenty of very good alternatives soon.

    See also:

    Automatic Service Request
    Data regarding the maintenance status or legally mandated inspections of the vehicle are automatically transmitted to your service center before a service due date. You can check when your serv ...

    Switching off automatically
    The system switches off and the LED goes out: After approx. 33 ft/10 m when driving forward. Above approx. 9 mph/15 km/h when driving forward. Switch on the system again if necessary. ...

    Roadside Assistance
    At a glance BMW Roadside Assistance can be contacted if assistance is needed in the event of a breakdown. Roadside Assistance can also be contacted via a Check Control message ...