Visibility etc.

Discussion in 'X3' started by DiscusbT, Apr 7, 2016.

  1. DiscusbT
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    DiscusbT

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    Had my f25 30d now for 3 months, and love it, as does my wife. There is just one thing that I don't like, and that is the B pillar. My drive meets the road at about 45 deg, and it is almost impossible to see the road to the left from the normal sitting position, because the massive passenger side B pillar blocks the view, it is by far the worst of any car I have owned.
    What has pleasantly surprised me though, is how flat the car corners. I had expected some body roll compared with lower cars, yet even with fairly fast (not quite boy racer) cornering, hardly any roll is noticeable.
    I'm, also getting used to the RF tyres, they are far better than on my previous e61, so I don't think that I shall change them.
     
  2. Spuffington
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    Spuffington Staff Member Admin Site Supporter

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    Funny you say this, my wife has complained a couple of times recently about a big blind spot but I can't say I've noticed. Then again, I'm only "allowed" to drive it at the weekends! :D

    Is yours an M Sport or with sports suspension?

    Ours is an SE and is a tiny bit boaty around fast bends or roundabouts. It's perfectly fine now that I'm used to it, but was a bit of a shock after coming from the very "tied down" 1er and the very capable E70 X5 with its sports suspension and 20" rims. We're on 17" rims and non-RFT with the SE suspension which results in a very comfy (and quiet) ride indeed, but not the last word in cornering dynamics. BUT, to be fair, that's not really what Mrs Spuff is all about and for the kind of driving we do in it, it's brilliant for 95% of its usage.

    I have to confess that although the X3 was chosen for the specific role of getting us about in the countryside and that neither of us particularly wanted it, we absolutely love it. Mrs Spuff has already said she's not parting with it for the foreseeable future and that I have no choice over that (which is fair enough). The only thing I can see us replacing it with in a few years time is another X3.......perhaps in XLine guise and perhaps with 30d engine rather than the four-pot. But then again, the four-pot still isn't a great hardship. It pulls well and is returning just shy of 40mpg average, which is remarkable given the heft of the car. Some tankfuls have yielded well over 500miles and 44mpg.
     
  3. DiscusbT
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    DiscusbT

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    No it's not an M sport, or sports suspension, and on 18" Pirellis. AFAIK it is just the SE, nothing on the spec says any different. It is XLine.
    This is my 3rd 30d, after a few years with a 20d. Without doubt the finest engine I have ever driven, including a 4.2 Jag many years ago. The 20d had plenty of power for my driving, it's just the way the 30d delivers it, though it uses 10 mpg more to do it. That is not actually the full story. With the RFs on the e61 520d I was getting 32/34 mpg local running, which decreased to 41mpg when I put a set of Conti Eco 5s on. They don't make them in the x3 size or I would be tempted when the time comes.
     
  4. GunRunner
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    GunRunner WARLORD

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    That is interesting! What is your overall mpg for the period you have had it? We only use our 63 plate X3 xDrive 30d M Sport (had it for 18 months) on medium to long runs and it has averaged 38 mpg over 10K miles. This is actual using fuelly.com and not on-board computer.
     
  5. kleynie
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    kleynie WARLORD Site Supporter

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    Same visibility problems on my 5GT, sometimes I totally miss cyclists.
     
  6. DiscusbT
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    DiscusbT

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    Seems to have done 30.88 mpg, based on indicated mileage and diesel put in the tank, which was full at the start, and filled back to full. Mostly short runs 5/10 miles with just one of about 90 each way, mainly M1/A1M. On that run I got 36.5 with the glider on the back, and 41 without, but that is the computer readout. Haven't really calibtarted it yet.
    Generally I find visibility is OK at junctions, it's my angled exit drive that gives the problem.
    Just had a look at the fuses in the glovebox, hope I never have to change one.
     

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