Update: 2013 BMW X3 28i M Sport

2013 BMW X3 28i M Sport Interior
Orange leather? Red leather? Call it what you will — BMW calls this, “Chestnut Nevada Leather”.

It has been almost two months since we’ve mentioned any update on our long term test vehicle, a 2013 BMW X3 28i M Sport. So far, we’ve logged a hair over 5300 miles on the odometer, have made 15 trips to the grocery story and have hauled home some large items from the local Costco and Home Depot stores. Did we mention we’ve also had a run-in with the boys in blue? Read on to learn our antics.

As the winter settled in and the mercury continues to drop, we’ve found the 2013 BMW X3 28i M Sport a capable sled to run errands around town. Technically the all-season run flats could be replaced for snow tires to give a little better grip, but inclement conditions are generally short lived in Northern Virginia, so I’ve refrained from slapping some snow rated rubber on its 19-inch M Sport wheels. The all wheel XDrive system gives a lot of confidence, even though I wouldn’t recommend it for serious off-roading (you’ll want to check out the RAM 1500 for that kind of fun).

Four days after publishing the last update on the Bimmer, my wife and I were pulled over by a state trooper. Nope, not for speeding, but for not having a front license plate. The car was delivered out of state in Pennsylvania (a one license plate state), however  Virginia requires both a front and rear plate. The summons called for a $25 fine plus court fees. The trooper explained how to get out of paying the fine, complemented me on the car and sent us on our way.

In order to dodge the fine, I had to make a trip to the local dealership to get the front license plate holder drilled and installed. It pained me to have someone else do it, but my wife and I had just moved into a new home, and my tools were lost in one of hundreds of boxes. Total labor cost for something I could have done myself? Eighteen bucks.

Hmm…getting out of this $25 fine is going to save me $7. Sheesh… At least the BMW dealer throws in a free car wash to all vehicles in for service.

One morning — about a month later — I jumped in the X3 to run an errand for wife who was ready to give birth to our daughter any day. I put my foot on the brake, pressed the Start/Stop button and listened to the engine turn over, followed by an unhealthy, asthmatic-sounding rev of the engine. I gave it a little gas while still in “Park” and it sounded like it was going to have a heart attack right then and there. Shortly thereafter, the engine completely died. I started it up again, and it purred like a kitten. This happened on two separate occurrences later on in the month. I’ve made a note in the vehicle log to mention this Jalopy-like phenomena at the next service visit. I’m thinking it’s a software issue as BMWs are known for having little gremlins in them.

Other than the random asthma sessions, the X3 has proven itself a comfortable family hauler. The newly installed baby seat in the rear passenger area works seamlessly with the LATCH child seat safety system. Our newborn really appreciates the rollup light diffuser screens on the rear windows (we know this because she stops crying as soon as they are put up) and my wife likes how the rear doors open wide enough to get the baby carrier clicked into it’s pod easily.

On a run to the local Costco and Home Depot, I was able to successfully fit two wide blade rakes, a flat screen TV, a pair of lamps, a 12-pack of paper towels, a 24-pack of toilet paper and several other groceries with plenty of room to spare. The over 63-cubic feet of cargo room (rear seats down) makes this possible.

In all, the X3 is proving to be a very sensibly designed vehicle for a growing family. Stay tuned for our next update when we hopefully get to report on how the vehicle performs in significant snowfall.