Test drive BMW X3 E83 2004 - 2007 SUV

Wolf

As a result of cloning the first to the light, a white and fluffy sheep of Dolly was born. Nicely. And the Germans acted differently: they changed the chromosomal set of X-fifth and BMW X3 was born
For the first time, BMW started talking about the new alternate from BMW at the Detroit car dealership, when the company introduced its prototype - the Xactivity concept. Then it became clear that very soon the younger brother of X5 will appear in the lineup of the Bavarians. Within six months, interest in the new BMW family member was regularly heated with spy photos, periodically pop-up on the pages of online publications. The assumptions were fully justified: in September, the premiere in Frankfurt took place, and at the end of October the first X3 were provided to reporters to be torn to pieces.
WHO ARE YOU? At first glance, the new X3 is very similar to X5, except perhaps smaller. Looking closely, you understand that the designers did not stint on fresh solutions - the youngest looks much more sophisticated and elegant.
 
 
The new shape of the nostrils, combined with double, slightly lifted around the edges of the headlights, give the appearance of the machine a sporting character. However, almost all external details testify to this physical education: a long embossed hood, expanded wheel arches, a pronounced side line, slightly assigned back, a spoiler on the roof. The back of the roof is noticeably tilted down and is successfully combined with a new interpretation of the shape of the rear side glasses. Only in the design of the rear lights is the characteristic of the BMW L-shaped form.
We found the classic Munich designer reception in the cabin - the central console is slightly deployed on the driver. Inside the BMW X3, it is decalled rather in the old fashioned way than in the style of the flagship seven or a newfangled five. Although some coat towards the modern automobile was discovered - a liquid crystalline navigation display over central climate control system deflectors. Door handles have a very unusual shape - they cross with armrests and pass to the lower edge of the door. The armrest is so convenient that I just do not want to remove the hand from it. In the lower part of the doors - large pockets with nets; There are two departments for trifles in the central console. Opening the lid of the first, you can find a stationaryly installed phone inside. If you dig deeper, the second, more spacious department opens. In it, by the way, a CD chamber can be placed in it as additional equipment on 6 CDs.
The rear passengers are also not deprived of comfort - even in a person’s high -height of the knee in the back of the front seat they do not rest. You can decompose small property and road supplies in pockets in the doorway and in the glove compartment in the central armrest with two retractable cup holders.
Auto-Moto-Velo-Photo. According to the manufacturer, the BMW X3 was invented primarily for people who are directly obsessed with active sports. Therefore, the trunk is made very voluminous - 480 liters. And if you fold the backs of the rear seats, the trunk volume increases three times and is 1560 liters. In this case, here, for example, three small mountain bicycles can be placed here. In our car, two fasteners with four mobile fixed loops were installed on the floor of the trunk. This equipment is not included in the standard equipment, but a pity. With the help of loops, you can reliably fix the goods of a wide variety of shapes.
In general, a solid list of options is attached to the BMW X3. For example, a huge panoramic hatch consisting of two parts: its area is 0.65 square meters. m and he occupies almost the entire roof. To protect from the sun, the hatch is made of dark gray smoky glass and has an additional automatic curtain. You can also order adaptive rotary bixenon headlights, an athermal windshield that protects the interior from overheating, an intra -tissue rear -view mirror, smoothly darkening if you are blinded from behind. The options are also a navigation system with a DVD and a TV, a stationary phone, a BMW Business CD HIFI-Audiosystem, a parking sensor, a rain sensor and a sports package.
Road intelligence. Touching, we immediately realized that the native element X3 is a winding highway with a good coating, and not off -robes. There is no dispute, if you wish, you can call on a high border or to cross the dirt of the cottage village on this car, but of course, the car is not intended for serious off -road tests.
Our path lay in the mountains. The roads here are narrow, abound in 180 -degree turns, steep climbs and descents - it is the most to experience the latest all -wheel drive system, first presented on X3. I must say that the Russian ambitious driver should be careful about the XDRive system. If you overestimate your driver’s skill, you can easily fly off the highway. Picking an hour or two, you begin to think that everything is allowed on the road. Gradually, we began to pass steep turns faster and faster, and at some point it seemed to us that the movement along the Spanish serpentines was not contrary to traffic rules, but rudely violates the laws of physics. The main thing is to have time to twist the steering wheel. The dangerous speed of rotation could only be estimated by an indirect attribute - if the rotation is very cool, pressing the gas pedal, then the car will surely screech with some wheel. Fortunately, our vestibular devices requested mercy earlier than the XDRive system.
XDRive is an intellectual system of all -wheel drive, and it is it that provides a stray and smooth distribution of torque between the front and rear wheels. The main node of the entire system - a multi -disc couple with electronic control - is located in a handout. The coupling transfers an effort to the front axle through a cardan shaft with a chain drive, passing parallel to the engine on the left side. At the same time, electronics can change the moment transmitted to the front axle within milliseconds. The main difference between XDRive and other all -wheel drive systems is that it begins to act even before one of the wheels fell into a slip. The ability to such predictions is achieved due to the fact that XDRive simultaneously analyzes a lot of information, including the nature of the driver’s actions, as well as the data collected by the DSC course stability system.
 
 
Proud loneliness. After visiting the so -called off -road training ground (even the only puddle was concreted), we finally became convinced that X3 is not adapted for impassability in the Russian sense - only for the groomed landscapes of Western Europe. On the car you can dashingly rush along the puddle, lifting the clouds of spray and causing a small rainbow to life, you can freely drive through a primer or path sprinkled with a Christmas snowball, but no more. SUMPLE solidity does not even add a system for descent (HDC). It is activated by a special button when moving at a speed of not higher than 35 km/h. The system besieges x3 up to 8 km/h, after that the required safe speed can be selected using the + or -located on the steering wheel.
A more rational on X3 looks a trailer stability system. It is sewn into the DSC system and activated when connecting a clutch device. The system recognizes the dangerous swing of the trailer, and itself intervenes in the operation of the brakes and engine.
Three engines will be installed on the BMW X3, all in line six: relevant gasoline for Russia, with a volume of 2.5 and 3.0 liters, and an unpopular diesel 3.0. We traveled around Spain on a three -liter gasoline with a capacity of 231 hp. The 24-valve engine is equipped with a system of variable phases of gas distribution, has a separate ignition coil to the cylinder. With this engine, a small X3 shoots in the best traditions of the Bavarian brand. To overtake on the road is a pleasure, but the engine is not only dynamic, but also economical. With a mechanical box, it consumes only 11.4 liters per hundred and, it is allegedly, allows the use of low -grade gasoline. At the same time, in fact, all its nodes do not require maintenance and are designed for the entire service life of the machine. For example, an air filter and candles require replacement only after 100 thousand kilometers. Let's see...
It seemed to us that this car would take root well on our basis - there are no competitors to him, for the joy of BMW, in the Russian market yet. Yes, for the same money you can buy a very good SUV, but the size of an elephant. But more compact options for wealthy buyers will be hardly considered - not the price category, not the prestige.
Text Alexey Ilyin, photo of the author
 
Model/Modification BMW X3 3.0i
Manufacturer/country Bayerische Motoren-Werke
AG/Germany
Bearing element of the body
ENGINE
Type/number/location of gasoline cylinders/6/row
Working volume (cubic meter) 2979
Power (kW (L.S.) at about. /Min.) 170 (231) at 5900
Moment (nm at about./Min.) 300 at 3500
TRANSMISSION
The drive is constant, the XDRive all -wheel drive system
Automatic gearbox 5-speed
   
Brakes, safety
Front/rear disk, ventilated
ABS, assisting electronic systems 4-channel, maintenance system for the DSCIII course stability, a system for control of tampering in CBC turns, a system for helping HDC, a trailer stability control system.
Front and side airbags for the driver and front passenger, inflatable curtains, side for rear passengers - option
Dimensions/mass
Length/width/height (mm) 4565/1853/1674
Wheel base/clearance (mm) 2795/2012
Tires 235/55 R17
Mass weight/full (kg) 1840/2280
The volume of the fuel tank (L) 67
Maximum speed (km/h) 210
Acceleration to 100 km/h (sec.) 8.1
Fuel consumption (city/highway, l/100 km) 17.4/9.1
Price in Moscow from $ 65,000

 

Source: "Autopilot"