Hi,

has anyone compared the new X3 to the RDX? In the market for both for the wife and trying to get an idea.

Thanks!

 

https://acurazine.com/forums/third-g...-994557/page6/
These guys have been mentioning about it a lot. Read their comments.

 

When I bought my '21 RDX, I was in the process of buying a X4 which is really an X3 coupé. Then I went next door and looked at the RDX, here is what made me buy the RDX... The interior feels smaller in the BMW; The interior looked nicer to me in the RDX, I know lots of people don't like the touchpad but I just love it, best infotainment I ever had in any car or motorcycle; The ride quality of the X4 is not good but apparently, the X3 is much much better; I could not get a trailer hitch on the X4, available on the X3 with more towing capacity than RDX; Quite a bit less money for the RDX; The X4 (to me) is drop-dead gorgeous. I was coming out of a 2013 RDX that I had for 8 years.

 

I made a long post in that RDX vs GV70 as an owner of two G01 X3 BMW's and having time behind the wheel of the RDX and GV70. I'll cut and paste what I wrote and add more details.

So i'll be straight forward and honest (completely unbias)

I personally own a 2018 X3 (base with most options) and a 2019 X3 M40i (fully optioned). When going out of state to visit family, I always rent from Turo. So a few months ago, I rented a 2020 A-spec RDX. Completely stock, other than having the front windows tinted. I racked just over 700 miles in 3 days. While there was some pro's I found more negatives with the RDX. As soon as picked up the RDX and hit the 1st traffic light, I had some difficultly figuring out the infotainment system. As simple as "How do I get to AM station?!" was an issue. It shouldn't be this difficult to change modes.. Non touch screen / only track pad was a pain in the ass. The chimes were god awful loud and any slight bump you hit on the road while using the track pad, the thing went ape shit. I took it home and spent 30 mins trying to figure out the system and adjust the damn chime vol. After "learning" the system, off we went.

The next thing I wasn't too thrilled about was the fuel economy. I nailed roughly 27 on the highway with cruise control set. I didn't like sport mode as it pumped a ton of fake noise into the cabin. The ride was comfortable and smooth. The transmission seemed OK for the most part. I can't really tell you that I experienced much of an issue but sometimes while trying to pass it fell flat on it's face for 2 seconds and then picked up. The audio wasn't anything I would really rave about. It's better than most of the stuff I've rented. If you're big on bass and loud, then yeah this is good. I mostly listen to XM radio in all my vehicles (including my 2004 TL), the owner didn't have satellite radio, so my wife connected her phone to the car for music.

The back seat space was OK. This all depends on how far back the front seats are. Due to having lower back issues, I don't lean my seat that much back. So anyone sitting behind me has plenty of space. My wife likes to lean back and be as comfortable as possible. Not a huge fan of it but I know what battles to fight, this is not one of them. We had family members in the RDX while we went to dinner. Everyone was comfortable though the brake performance was lack luster with the additional weight . At the end, I detailed the owners RDX and gave it back. He asked me how It was, and I was honest. He's a big Acura fan as he also had a 2021 TLX A-spec listed, he agreed with most of my negatives. He was more thrilled that it came back spotless..

A few more things I wanted to add. The exterior fit and finish was not that great on the RDX. Seems like Acura should focus more on quality control. The interior was nice but not as nice as a X3 if you have the leather wrapped dashboard and door panels with ambient lighting. The X3 is quieter inside but not night and day difference. HK audio system is highly suggested for the X3 but it's not all hyped up to be. Many enthusiasts have swapped Bravsound speakers. I have not done this YET, so I can't personally tell you how much better over stock it is.

About the X3.

2019-2020 are the best years IN MY OPINION. If you're about performance M40i is your vehicle, which still gets incredible gas mileage and sounds fantastic. If you get the base, getting one nearly loaded is best. My 2018 is a base with roughly half options. I have the sport seats (real leather package) with adjustable side bolsters. This is a MUST over the basic seats. IF you want cooled options, you may lose the side bolsters adjustment (for 2018-2021). Options have changed a lot since 2018-2019. For example, if you had the real leather package, it also came with the ambient lighting package. This is no longer the case. Go through the option lists carefully. As for the 22+ model, its called the LCI versions. I had a base 2022 X3 as a loaner and I wasn't much of a fan of the design changes. This is interior and exterior changes to keep in mind. The 2018-2029 have an easier I-Drive setup. The 2020 went over to the new I-Drive which to me seemed easy enough but I had to figure out how to get into certain menu options which are easier on the previous I-Drive. For the 2022+ I disliked the I-Drive setup and navigation. The navigation was a bit confusing, but it could have been resolved if I changed options or looked into it deeper.

The engines (2.0T & 3.0T) are very reliable and smooth. Performance and fuel economy for both are great, but keep in mind the 2.0T is enough for a non performance minded individual. If you're looking at the 22+ LCI models, shadow line exterior trim is a must. As for maintenance, both of my X3's have factory maintenance packages. They cover nearly everything except wipers, brakes and tires. I drop them off, get a loaner and return once done. The service at my local BMW dealerships are top notch. My local Acura dealerships aren't are nice. The X3 is very straight forward and easy to understand. All your basic controls are straight forward. Radio, HVAC, Navi ect. Nothing is complex. The X3 drove better than the RDX but when compared to the M40i, the M40i blows it out of the water. Not only performance but overall feeling and being connected to the vehicle. It's somewhat true when you do drive a BMW, that it's the ultimate driving machine, you feel a bit more connected. BMW for the most part, uses run flat tires. You can option them out for regular tires and get a spare. Run flats have stiff side walls and depending on wheel size, the ride might be more harsh.

Test drive both (long drives) and see what works best for you and your wife. Keep in mind, new BMW's have service packages so it costs you nothing for the 3 years 40K? other than brakes, wipers and tires. Options that I must have

1. AWD w/ M-sport body package

2. Metallic paint

3. Vernasca leather package (real leather w/ adjustable side bolsters) Black or mocha color

4. CF or fine wood trim

5.Premium 2 package

6. Remote start

7. SensaTec Dashboard (Leather wrapped dashboard and top of the door panels with contrast stitching)

8. H.K audio (IF possible)

As built without h.k audio $53,500 for the 2.0T with those packages. BMW doesn't always disclose every option, but ambient lighting is part of the premium package 2. Also includes the full digital cluster, bigger center screen, heads up display, gesture controls, intelligent safety, blind spot, ect So you get a lot for the money vs the RDX

 

Earlier this year, we compared several small CUV's including RDX and X3. We test drove both on the same route (the dealers were adjacent), 30 minutes apart. The X3 didn't feel any faster but for sure felt quieter and more responsive, even though X3 had run-flats on. Infotainment was main area of focus for us. The CarPlay implementation is years ahead in X3 of what Acura offers - full screen, touch screen, wireless vs. gimmicky trackpad, only 2/3 of the screen for CarPlay, wired only. The backup camera and 360 view clarity were other noticeable differences. What Acura offers is equivalent to an old non-retina iPhone and what BMW offers is comparable to the latest OLED iPhone with high resolution.

Other than the infotainment system difference, both CUVs were fine. We didn't care much for the digital gauge cluster on X3 nor HUDs on either car; however, we liked the HVAC controls layout on Acura more than on X3. RDX also seems to have more space for nicks and nacks.

We didn't evaluate any of the CUVs from the space perspective as we are not very tall (I am 5'8"), and our current sedans are plenty big, so space was never a concern and requirement. Both cars offer more space than we will ever need.

If you are a tech gadget person and value intuitive, responsive, and much higher quality infotainment systems, the X3, hands down, is a better choice. On the other hand, if you are not a tech enthusiast and care less for infotainment and plan on not using it for anything, RDX is as good as X3.

For us, it comes down to the infotainment system; if Acura had anything remotely close to what X3 has, it would be no contest for us, but as it stands, even 2022 doesn't bring much in that area except wireless CarPlay. On the other hand, 2022 X3 are gimped and limited in options due to chipset shortages, so things like 360 cameras, wireless charging etc. are no longer available, which is a shame as we were excited about 2022 X3. At this point, we might look somewhere else, as $50k X3 is very discontented, offers minimal colors, cooled seats are only available with black leather etc - it is very un-BMW. it seems like 2022 is just not a good buy overall.

 

I compared the 2020 RDX to the 2020 X3 last year.

To get a loaded X3 30i MSport in Canada, fully loaded to include premium stereo and adaptive suspension, it was about $13k more than the loaded RDX, but moreover, I would have to factory order it, wait 2-3 months and miss out on most of the financial incentives which only applied to in-stock vehicles. The in-stock vehicles were all missing the driver assistance pack, the premium stereo and the adaptive suspension. The M40i was an enticing option, but that would have made it $20k more than the RDX and, to be honest, I'd rather have a pair of luxury vacations and an RDX.

The X3 drove better in general, felt lighter off the line. It has better fuel economy, but requires premium fuel (actually it requires 89, the RDX 87, both recommend 91, and I've had no issues running my RDX on 87). The X3 does not give you access to the sport rear differential unless you go for the M40i, whereas SHAWD is included on every RDX (in Canada, anyway).

For all of the complaints about the infotainment and the touch pad, I stand by it and think it's one of the best systems out there. People asking for touch screens are prioritizing simplicity over safety. The Acura system takes a day to figure out, but once you get it, it requires almost zero coordination and is much less distracting that trying to reach out and use hand-eye coordination to hit things on a touch screen. The only downside is Apple CarPlay works differently, so I just use Siri most of the time to do things like change music. The problem is most reviewers who talk about it have the car for a few hours and it's an easy thing to rag on. But it really is a well thought out system and it's super easy to use once you figure it out, which honestly takes 5 minutes of actually applying your brain to it.

 

You confirmed the biggest issue that many on this board and tons of auto journalists have with this system, and that is how Android Auto and Apple CarPlay works. Many potential buyers, myself included, have no intention of using Acura's infotainment system for anything and want to use their respective phone platform for navigation, media, podcast, etc.
What Acura developed is the worst possible input method to interact with these systems, even rotary knobs (like the one in Mazda) work better and are more precise. While Acura's trackpad might be OK to use within their system, it isn't any good with CarPlay and Android Auto. For many people, CarPlay or Android Auto might be the first time they experience this tech in a modern Acura, but what Acura is doing is tarnishing Apple's and Google's reputation by offering such idiotic input to interact with these platforms. This issue forces people, like yourself, to resort to voice operations or, worse, accept that CarPlay or AndroidAuto suck and don't use it.

 

It's not THAT bad. The problem is that because it's different than the rest of the system, you get used to one thing, you open CarPlay/AA, and then it's something else. It also takes far more coordination than Acura's system, but probably no worse than a touch screen. I do use it (I've gotten pretty handy at getting Google Maps to recalculate routes, see how much time toll roads would save me, etc) but for things like starting a playlist on Apple Music, Siri is better not only because the system sucks but because it would take numerous inputs to navigate to Music, choose Library, then choose Playlists, then scroll and find the one I want, then turn on (or off) shuffle... vs "Play the playlist roadtripping, shuffled"

 

At the time I was buying the RDX the X3's seats felt too hard. I don't know if that has changed.

In general, I think Acura's steering feel and suspension is better than BMW and BMW's engine and transmission are better than Acura's. And Acura is a way better value both in terms of purchase price and maintenance costs -- no comparison there.

BMW feels like yesterday's brand. They just don't have that brand cachet anymore. When I see someone driving a BMW, I feel they bought it for the badge.

 

I agree with all of that.

I had a 2017 X1 before my 2021 RDX. It was my first BMW and while many don’t consider the X1 a “real BMW,” they always gave me X3’s as loaners and I didn’t find anything different in terms of their character or quality. They’re nice cars and BMW makes a fantastic powertrain, but it felt generic and not nearly special enough to justify the longer term cost of ownership. They really take homogeneous design to the max because every BMW looks nearly exactly the same inside and out - and it’s kind of a stale design language, tbh.

In a way, BMW is kinda like the iPhone. It’s top quality and you know exactly what you’re getting. But the reaction to sitting in any BMW any given year is “yep, it’s a BMW…”

When I took an RDX test drive for the first time, it felt way more special and fun*. My wife said it was the first time she saw me smile while driving. Add to it the fact that Acura doesn’t bury my favorite features (cooled seats, premium stereo, CarPlay) in expensive options packages, and the RDX was an easy win.

Oh, also as a side-note: The BMW online owners community is very off-putting and toxic. Within a year of buying my BMW I decided it was not the brand/culture for me.

* Note, the BMW M Sport I’m sure is a different animal, but also way out of reach for RDX shoppers. So before anyone declares heresy, my comments only apply to mainstream BMW’s.

 

With all due respect, I feel it's quite the opposite compared to various Acura groups. I'm a member on a few BMW X3 pages including xbimmers. The users for the most part aren't as active in posting like here. The atmosphere is refreshing because the individuals with these BMW's are a bit more mature if that makes sense, not taking away that Acura owners aren't but i'll explain in a bit. The most recent "conflict" was on a facebook group where someone asked if trading to a GV70 was an upgrade from the X3. Out of 65 comments, two individuals were pretty much strongly opinionated against "Hyundai" products. I have NOT spent time in any other BMW groups, so I'm sure on the M division, there's some elitist bullshit going on.

As for what I've experienced in Acura groups / pages since being an Acura owner from Dec 2006 and being a car enthusiast (meets and other groups), the Acura crowd is nothing like it once was. I know most current have become fanboyish and problematic across many groups. For example, here on Acurazine, there are many threads and certain individuals that are hard core fanboys that can not handle an adult conversation and feel the need to defend Acura at all costs including resorting to insults ect.. It's a whole lot worse on Facebook groups which you see a lot of childish bullshit. Not to say it's not common across the enthusiast world, but we are discussing two individual groups right now (Acura / BMW). Each will have good and bad, but take some time and join various Acura groups (especially the 2nd gen TLX group) and venture away from this section and explore the rest of Acurazine and rest assure, you will see what I mean.

 

I test drove both. In a nutshell, they're pretty close but there are important differences so each individual needs to understand them and decide based on what matters the most.

X3
- somewhat better fit and finish
- more quiet
- substantially better gas mileage (10-15% for the same type of engine - the 2.0T)
- cameras and display: way better
- much better towing limits
- unless going for the fully loaded models, must be custom-ordered to get a decent combination of options (at least as far as I was concerned) so this adds quite a bit of wait time
- the price is much higher (about 30% for the mid-level trims I looked at) and, at least when I looked at, no financial incentives
- the post warranty reliability and maintenance cost are expected to be worse
- the M40 is a different car than the base X3, with advantages and disadvantages (e.g. rear legroom being much worse) so I wouldn't compare this one against the RDX

RDX
- this is a fancy Honda, no matter what anyone says, with both the good and bad that comes with it. for example, the fit and finish are noticeably inferior, if you know where to look (e.g. door panel alignments), but the reliability is expected to be very decent
- too noisy for my taste - fake noise plus road noise in some situations
- the transmission has some hesitations which are borderline unacceptable in this class
- the car runs just fine on regular (91+ is recommended), so although the gas mileage is pretty bad (check fuely.com) you probably end up spending the same on gas, if you fill up with 87
- the touchpad interface is something you can get used to but not ideal
- the cost is relatively affordable, esp. if you can get at least some financial incentives
- very decent legroom, including in the back
- very very decent equipment even for the middle tiers
- pretty boring colors, IMHO
- the brand's image is somewhat more positive ("upper middle class and thoughtful buyer", perhaps) compared to BMW's ("makes very good money", or "not rich but spent money foolishly", "drives like an animal" etc etc etc)

Bottom line - both Acura and BMW know exactly what they're doing and how to position their cars. It's really great that you can choose between them, they're excellent cars and brands, so just make sure you understand what the differences are and which ones are important to you. For example: are you planning to ever tow anything? Are you frequently going to have passengers in the back seat (e.g. if you have a family)? Are you planning to keep the car after the warranty expires? And so on.

I chose the RDX AWD Tech and I don't miss the X3, although if money was no object I'd have most likely opted for that one.

Best of luck!

 

If money were no object, I would probably have gotten a Volvo XC60. Volvo knows how to do comfort.

 

The Volvos are beautiful but the ride I took in a XC60 hybrid left me with the impression that that's a very noisy car.

 

Love my 2019 XC 60 T8..I find it quiet, but thats me...When it comes to car buying, it doesnt really matter what car magazines or what other people say.........its how you feel about it.

 

A bunch of good comparisons have been said. I'll just chime in with a few tidbits.
This year I've owned a 2021 X3 M40i and a 2021 MB GLC 300 and have since sold them both and purchased a 2021 RDX Advance package.
Performance....I can't honestly compare X3 M40i powertrain because of 3.0L vs 2.0l RDX (The 3.0L in the X3 was a beast (0-60 in 4.4 seconds) The GLC 300 was even quicker than the RDX 0-60 5.4 sec.
Handling...........I honestly feel the RDX handles as well as the X3 and better than the Mercedes
Interior..............X3 leather is crap. Feels like cheap hard, stiff plastic and is a $1450 upgrade. RDX Leather and seat comfort much superior. Nothing beats Mercedes interiors.
Fit and finish ........All three about the same.
Maintenance/repairs.......BMW $200 for simple oil change after 3yr free maint. $100 for wiper blades and on and on and on.
Reliability.........German cars start their disintegration process after warranty expires. (history confirms it)

 

Drive an X30 M40i in sport mode and you'll see that BMW knows how to do handling just fine, but you need M40i model to get the variable rear differential, which is part of every SHAWD Acura. The X3 is a RWD platform with nearly 50/50 weight distribution, which you can feel when you pivot it on it's axis in handling.

I buy BMWs because they are awesome (I don't actually own one at the moment). There may be people buying them for their brand, sure, but that applies to every brand. BMW is still easily the best driver's car out of Germany that isn't a Porsche. I can't stand this kind of judgmental BS. There are PLENTY of reasons to buy a BMW that have nothing to do with impressing one's neighbors with badge. Heck, where I'm from (the suburbs north of Toronto), absolutely no one would be impressed by a BMW badge anyway.

 

Fit and finish? Acura? Look at the panel gaps, my friend. It's not even close. Acura needs work here. Also, my Acura has been far less reliable so far than my last X3... and based on the forums this isn't just my experience.

 

I'm glad it's working for you. Owned an E46 for 11 years / 211K miles which I thoroughly enjoyed. I followed up with 2 F30 purchases (the first was a lemon and BMW bought it back with no hassle). The E46 was fun to drive even around a parking lot. The F30 -- you had to be really be flogging it to get any pleasure from it (to enjoy the pull of the motor or the 50:50 balance). That is not how I like to drive normally. The steering was devoid of any feel. I had the adjustable suspension and it was too hard on sport and too jittery even in comfort. So after experiencing the F30 and multiple loaners of X1, X3, etc., that came during the servicing of those, plus attendance at their various marketing events where they allow you to drive all their cars including high end ones, I came to the conclusion that BMW is building muscle cars, not drivers cars. Their low end trims are worse than Camrys--they provide neither comfort nor enjoyment. At the high end you have to flog them to derive any pleasure. Otherwise, they are numb cars with no personality filled to the gills with tech that I have no interest in.

 

deleted my own reply but...

bmw trucklike and solid. good tech. bad brake feel. boring steering. feels big. new grille is bad.

rdx more carlike, feels agile and comparatively nimble. not as solid but way more fun. feels smaller, less intimidating to drive or place on the road. simpler mechanics, undoubtedly easier to keep long term.

 

Do some research buddy History says Honda products are far, far, far more reliable than BMW's. German cars go into self destruct mode just about the time warranty expires. Especially BMW's. The engine compartment and components are loaded with plastic and fail. Nobody in their right mind wants to buy a German car out of warranty.
I sampled both a 2021 BMW and a 2021 Mercedes this year because they were on my bucket list. Never had any intentions of keeping them more than a few months. Didn't want to have to take out a 2nd mortgage for maintenance costs. German cars out of warranty maintenance & repair costs are totally stupid.

 

they definitely love their plastic. especially those waterpumps.

 

Not to mention the timing chain failures due to plastic parts.
https://bmwtechnician.com/2016/08/07...g-chain-issue/

 

Thank you for your reply but I strongly disagree with you. Perhaps Honda is more reliable, but Acura hasn't been as reliable as they were once known for. You have Acurazine at your disposal, there's plenty of threads across every section filled with issues. The new TLX has seen way more issues than it should have for the price tag. Keep in mind, I worked for Acura though many years ago and nothing all that glamorous replacing transmissions 3-4 times a month including any other warranty related failures. The BMW's of the past have had their fair share of issues, but you made a very bold statement of "self destruction" right after warranty. So after 4 years, these vehicles simply become inoperable due to many failures? You know it's not true, so quit while you're ahead. You purchased two German vehicles are returned a few months later, so no offense, you don't really have long term ownership to much such claims.. If you spent some time to do research and join other forums, perhaps you will see that the BMW (not sure about Mercedes) has become more reliable. In fact, the B48/B58 engines and transmissions are so reliable, it meets and exceeds Toyotas strict reliability standards, thus they are using it for the Supra. So, since I'm a long term owner of two BMW's, I can say that they have been reliable with basic maintenance required as other vehicles do and have gone in for warranty stuff for small related common issues which are always resolved once repaired. Wish you the best with your RDX.

 

You guys are harping on N series engines no longer produced and are from older vehicles. Apples to Apples to current times, BMW replace the N series with the B series which are far more reliable and use a mechanical water pump.

 

i'm sure they've gotten better. They're very VERY complex though and not even Toyota can accelerate real-world testing enough to proclaim BMWs reliable forevermore. that bit about the B58 in the supra meeting their standards is equal parts marketing. now that they've become the Ultimate Leasing Machine, it's even hard to tell how reliable they really are because so few get driven six figures under consistent ownership.


it's easy to take pot shots, but some of the issues listed here pertain to systems that are not new and arguably should not be an issue on this motor.

https://bmwtuning.co/the-4-most-comm...gine-problems/

 

I'm aware of that list, however real world input, I have not seen a B58 / B48 failure of the vanos, oil filter or valve cover. As for coolant leak, I suffered a slight leak at the clamp assembly which connects to the coolant bottle. Replaced under warranty with an updated assembly. Truth is, all except the vanos isn't something I would be quick to write off BMW for. Every vehicle will need valve cover gaskets and or covers since a lot of them are plastic now a days. Coolant leaks, at some point every vehicle will suffer from it unless caught early. But as for the J-series engines, the water pump is within the timing belt area. If it was to leak, you wouldn't know unless it becomes a bigger issues like noise or a bigger leak.

The real story behind Toyota / BMW. Toyota needed someone to help with the Supra. BMW needed someone for the hybrid technology. BMW ends up bringing back the Z4 and Toyota the Supra. ((Zuppra)). Toyota still has a reputation, they wouldn't invest perhaps billions? to partner with BMW and have an unreliable vehicle. Lease or not, it's still reliable and can handle a lot of additional boost. It's nearly as iconic as the 2JZ engine.

For the cost of vehicles today, a majority do lease, doesn't matter what brand. This is the world we live in now. A lot of people want a new car every 1-3 years, without the responsibilities of long term maintenance. Same reason why a lot of people prefer to rent vs buy homes. Don't feel stuck, upgrade once the lease is up and no real responsibilities as home owners. Just the world we live in. For the record, I own my vehicles and my home. Cost of everything has gone way up. I understand why leasing or renting makes sense to many.

 

I found out the hard way about BMW's miscalculations living through the N63 disaster they created with that hot V the first few years. Cost me an arm and leg with the 550i out of service of quite a while. I know the B58 is a far superior engine but after the N63 fiasco I adopted a live and learn philosophy. First and last BMW.

 

miscalculations is a good word.

i still would pay money to understand the engineering reason (if there is one) for why they used a press-on crank hub/timing wheel for the S55 when even the lowly K20 is keyed.

 

another thing to note with the manufacturing shortages, there's little to no options available on the 30i models. No active cruise control, blind spot warning, hk audio, parking sensors, 360 cameras, hud, handfree tailgate, XM radio, black trims, passenger lumbar, etc, You have to opt for the m40i model which starts at $7k more than a Aspec Advance; THEN you can add the options on which pushes it over $60k when comparably equipped.

 

That is our main issue with X3 for 2022. Right now max'ed out xLine X3 costs within $1000 to what RDX Advance costs, but lacks tons of options to the point it is not even apple to apple comparison. People always complained about lack of colors and choices on Acura, well X3 is even worse now. For instance, you only get two color choices for leather - black and mocha and if you want ventilated seats you need to settle for black only. Want a lighter color? You are forced to add worthless and ugly in my opinion M Sport package for few more thousands. If you want other interior color options, you need to forget the real leather and need to pick leatherette. The specs and options on these cars are a total joke.

 

Ask me to do some research, then talk about historical cars and anecdotes... It seems like people don't know what reserach means any more.

JD Power and Consumer Reports both have Acura down near the bottom of the barrel ... so ... What else should I "research?"

 

Bring up BMW and German car reliability on YouTube.
Have you convinced yourself that German cars are more reliable than Japanese and Korean cars?? Do you have some direct affiliation with BMW ? Are you a BMW salesman or just a BMW fanboy?

 

No-one has posted yet, but here's video by M.G done a few weeks back comparing the two, except he reviews the x3e.

 

this is not judgmental BS. its a fairly well substantiated opinion. BMWs 'handle' well in an objective sense (e.g. roadholding), but they've been universally panned by pretty much everyone in recent years for overly damped suspension, dead steering, and overly thick steering wheels. the ones i've driven have had questionable brake feel as well.

BMW really has fallen from grace and their very panicked changes in design and marketing direction bear this out, IMO. people like me are starting to look at MBs when I never EVER thought i'd ever consider a Benz.

someone up above referred to BMWs as muscle cars. its true. it gets worse when mags are calling the Alpha-based Chevy Camaro (of all things) the rightful heir to the BMW drivers car (think e46 and prior) and the M2 a muscle car.

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...camaro-ss-1le/

 

Good thread. I heavily considered German cars. I considered the m40i x3, GLC43 AMG, and the baser versions of same. I also considered the Audi Q5.

Why I didnt buy the m40i:
VANOS. Vanos doesn't just die. It slowly dies as the seals leak, etc. Its a shit design. In the m40i it lives next to the firewall. Its a guaranteed repair by 100k...or within 4 years for me. Screw. That. My neighbors have a 2016? X3. It had a slight oil leak. This destroyed some $3800 item and necessitated a visit to the dealer. W.T.F. The m40i was out due to vanos, and the baser x3 doesn't seem any less of a money pit, minus all the joy, lol.

GLC43/300...
I had a roommate for a few months who was staying with me for the duration of a contract in my area. During this time, he bought a CLA35AMG. He brought it first thing to the MB dealer for an inspection (carvana purchase with 2k miles on it.). They charged him $175. The inspection sheet was worse than Mazda gave me for free with oil changes. Just check boxes. No tread depth. No brake pad measurements. Just green box checked. Also, his tire light was on. They couldn't even air up the tires and fix that. For $175. Total trash. Now this may just be the dealer...but wait...PM on this car was $399 for oil changes and $799 every other oil change! Also $800 for a trans service every 60k miles and $599 for plugs every 50k miles. Now they did other stuff, but it was all fluff BS. Like "connect to STAR tool...". They literally listed this as part of a service, rofl!!! Might as well say "wipe greasy prints off of door handle when done." I drive 25-30k miles per year. Owning an MB would just be stupid, and I was not impressed with the dealer, either. Calling multiple dealers where he lived in TX showed similar experiences would be had. He traded it back in and took his old car back. I say good move.

Audi...its an Audi. I don't trust it. Same roommate's wife has a newer Q5. Paid 55k for it a few months ago. 2021 with 20k miles. Carvana offered them $35k for it a few weeks ago. Dude...
Also, its already needed an alignment. After they drove it like 500 miles. From the same dealer that certified and sold it to them last month. Not a good first impression. PM isnt as bad as the MB, but they paid for all these packages to keep it that way.

Long and short, hell no to anything German if you actually drive.

My neighbor has a GLC43 amg. I like my RDX aspec adv interior better, and way quieter vehicle (not countincounat beutiful TT 6 pot). I love how his car handles and that sick DCT, but he is what Id describe as wealthy, and also retired. He probably drives 1/5 what I do, and money literally doesnt factor for him.

 

^top notch post. We all bitch about hondas quirks but idk what else id drive if this didnt exist.

 

Id be in a cx5 Signature.

 

I recently got a chance to test drive X3 along with RDX and Q5. The major difference I see among these 3 cars is handling comfort and acceleration, RDX is far better than X3 and Q5. As soon as you hit the paddle you can feel the its power. X3 is having little better interior compared to RDX and but I felt its little compact compare to RDX for legroom and cargo space. Q5 I didnt like either for its handling, legroom, cargo space. RDX is really value for your money.

 

RDX for value, Volvo for comfort, Macan for performance. MB/Audi/BMW don't really bring much to the table here--they are all good choices but they don't stand out in any way.