BMW X3 News

The sideline is the safest place when car companies start a spat. This week, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are playing the serve-and-volley game.

While Australian VW owners continue to wait to find out if their cars are affected, should BMW buyers be worried too?

New Honda Jazz sets new benchmark for rear view cameras: $14,990.

BMW has announced pricing and details for its updated X3 mid-size SUV, just one month after its first appearance at the Geneva motor show.With a significantly revised front end, the new X3 has been brought in line with the headlight and grille treatments of the 3 and 4 Series lineups.New front and rear bumper, sideskirt and alloy wheel designs also feature, and the side indicators have moved to the wing mirrors.The interior scores new gloss black detailing to the centre stack, plus new centre console cupholders and new leather and woodgrain trim options.“These additional styling upgrades complement the vehicle’s dynamic on- and off-road capability, and the increased value – up to $6,000 of extra standard equipment in some models – makes the X3 a more attractive proposition than ever before,” BMW Group Australia general manager of marketing Toni Andreevski says.The 20i and 20d now come standard with Bi-Xenon headlights, gearshift paddles, improved connectivity and the lights package.The higher spec 28i and 30d models now come standard with the sports transmission, 360 degree surround view monitor, 12-speaker audio and X-embossed headrests.The two petrol, two diesel 20i, 20d, 28i and 30d lineup contines as before, but the 20d has scored an extra 5kW and 20Nm to bring its totals to 140kW/400Nm.Acceleration to 100km/h for the 20d drops by 0.4s to 8.1s, and combined fuel consumption is also improved by 0.4L to 5.2L/100km. The X3 continues with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed auto as standard across all variants.BMW’s ConnectedDrive system is now standard on all X3s, with a variety of services, apps and the ability to contact emergency services in the event of an accident.This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn

BMW has their revised X3 waiting in the wings for a global debut at Geneva motor show next month, and official images and details are giving an early viewing of the styling and equipment changes.The fornt of the X3 follows the updates we've seen to the 3 Series and on the new 4 Series ranges, with redesigned headlight clusters integrating more tightly with the lines of the wider chrome-bevelled kidney grille. The front bumper has also been given a makeover with more imposing air intakes, and the side skirts have been resculpted. The cabin has been given trim and feature upgrades to freshen it and bring it in line with the other latest arrivals to the stable. The X3 cabin was last given an update -- and a classy one at that -- about three years ago, so it was due for some extra weaponry to better capture buyers in the SUV segment.The X3 will be available overseas with a larger choice of than the four we currently get here: the xDrive20i 135kW/270Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder, plus the more powerful 180kW/350Nm version in the xDrive28i, with the turbodiesel side catered for by the xDrive20d's 135kW/380Nm 2.0-litre and xDrive30d's 190kW/560Nm 3.0-litre inline six.The new line-up upgrades the xDrive20d with a new 2.0 litre turbodiesel, lifting the outputs to 140kW and 400Nm and giving it better fuel economy of 5.4L/100km (an improvement of 0.2L) or as low as 5.0L with optional low rolling-resistance tyres. The range also sees the addition of a rear-wheel drive sDrive18d with a 110kW/360Nm turbodiesel, while overseas markets will continue to get the xDrive35d with a 230kW/630Nm 3.0-litre turbodiesel, the rear-wheel drive sDrive20i with a 135kW/270Nm 2.0-litre petrol four, and the xDrive35i with a 225kW/400Nm 3.0-litre petrol six .New features include LED fog lights and turn indicators as standard across the range, and full-LED headlights as an option, along with cosmetic and wheel upgrades avaialable in the optional M Sport and xLine packages.BMW says the updated X3 will arrive in Australia in the third quarter of this year, but it's to far in the future to determine exact price and spec. "We're still going through specification and details, but it will follow the current X3 -- which has proven to be quite popular -- in being highly featured and attractively priced," BMW Australia spokeswoman Lenore Fletcher says. "Pricing and positioning of models has been an ongoing focus for BMW, and you can expect to see similar strategies applied to the new X3."This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

BMW has issued a safety recall for a total of 2894 cars sold between November 1 2012 and July 31 2013 for a defect that could see a lack of lubrication cause the vacuum pump to fail and reduce the effectiveness of the brake assist function that adds extra force for panic stops.The carmaker says however that the vehicles will still be able to brake under normal circumstances. "They don't lose braking ability, but still lose brake assistance," BMW Australia spokesperson Lenore Fletcher says. The affected vehicles are: the F20 1 Series; F30, F31 and F34 3 Series; F10 and F11 5 Series; E84 X1 compact crossover;  F25 X3 Series and E89 Z4 sports car.Fletcher says there have been no accidents or injuries, but a small number of vehicles have experienced the problem. "There have been about six or seven reports," she says. "We believe that only about 0.5 per cent of the vehicles in the recall will need fixing."An inspection taking less than an hour will determine if a vehicle needs the fix -- which will require up to another five hours. "We'll replace the component, and while parts can sometimes be an issue, ours are being airfreighted from Germany right now," Fletcher says. BMW says concerned owners should contact their nearest BMW service centre, or call 1800 813 299.

Once again, not much to see but it will be an excuse for a value boost......and probably some extra technology and economy improvement. 

More than 13.5 million new vehicles were sold in Europe, which compares favourably against a 2.6 per cent drop in Australia to 1.008m.Worst-hit countries were the debt-crippled economies of Portugal (-31 per cent), Greece (-30 per cent), Spain (-18 per cent) and Italy (-11).The UK was down 4.4 per cent, while Germany was up 8.8 per cent, according to analysis from JATO Dynamics.Research boss at JATO, Gareth Hession, says Germany is leading Europe in both sales of new cars "as well as manufacturing models which appeal to consumers across the region"."This is even more impressive considering the challenges we saw in the overall European market during 2011," he says.The only other brands in the top 10 to increase sales were all German.Volkswagen increased its market share to be Europe's best-selling brand, up 9.1 per cent to 1.67m, ahead of Ford (-2.8 per cent) and Renault (-8.8 per cent).BMW was up 5.2 per cent and Audi 9 per cent. Mercedes sales were static.Japan's only representative in the top 10 was Toyota with sales down 9.4 per cent because of supply issues caused by natural disasters in Japan and Thailand.VW Golf remained the top-selling car for the third year in a row, despite a 1.6 per cent drop in sales to 484,547.It was followed by the VW Polo with sales up 0.5 per cent to 356,490 and Ford Fiesta, down 13.3 per cent to 348,465.Other models that recorded significant sales increases in 2011 include the new Ford CMax/ Grand C-Max, Citroen C4, BMW X3 and Kia Sportage.EUROPE'S TOP 10 MAKESEUROPE'S TOP 10 MODELS

It's great to have a remote control that gives you instant opening access at the carpark when you have an 18-kilogram two-year-old in your arms, but once Eli is settled in the back I prefer - much - the operation of an old-school key.Why? Push-button start systems have become trendy, not better. Ask anyone who has misplaced their so-called key, or - far worse - started a car and realised that they have actually left the key behind. Yes, you can do that. I know because it's happened to me at least three times.The first time, I fired a Benz in the driveway and headed out to the fish-and-chips shop on a Friday night emergency run, then realised halfway to the shops that the key was nowhere to be found. Urk. So I left the engine running, and the driver's door cracked open, as I raced inside, paid and headed home to find the key sitting happily on the hook inside the front door. There was enough range to the garage to get the car going, but if I had killed the engine there would have been another emergency run that night . . .The second time I was in a Renault and someone else had the key in their pocket, watching and waving me goodbye. Thankfully, I realised before I had driven the first 200 metres.The third, and most recent, time I was testing a BMW X3 in Italy. After lunch I can remember hitting the plip to open the door, and obviously the key was nearby when the car started, but by the time we got back to base.A sprint back to the lunch spot didn’t unearth the key and so the car had to be parked - doors unlocked, windows open - until a replacement key arrived from Germany. At least BMW HQ was only five hours away. Imagine if it had been in Australia.The X3 mishap occurred because there is nowhere to store the key in the dashboard. Renault has a slot in the Megane and if that's empty then you know to check, while Benz allows you to remove the starter button and use the old-school key instead to fire the engine.But more and more companies think it's trendy and useful to have a key that's not, because these days so much about motoring is based on marketing instead of commonsense.Since the key is no longer essential to lock the steering as the front line against thieves - electronics that only work when the car and 'key' have made an electronic handshake are far more efficient - it's obvious that something different can be done to make your car experience a bit different and special.But different and special don't make something better. Don't get me started on those swipe cards that have taken over from keys in hotels, and fail more often than the quality-control checks on early Korean cars...

The spread of the dealer network aims to keep up with demand caused by a booming population and Australia's strong economy.  Within two years, BMW will see $40 million spent on new or refurbished outlets as it shoots for 50 national dealerships.These include a second dealership in Perth ($15 million), expanded Doncaster (Victoria) premises ($10 million), a North Shore Sydney franchise ($8 million) and a new dealer at Tweed Heads.  The Perth dealership, to be built this year by the existing franchisee, is in the city's expanding northern suburbs.BMW Australia managing director Stavros Yallouridis says the expansion reflects the mechandising concept that takes the product closer to the buyer.  "We are, to a degree, a product for the impulsive buyer," he says."We have to go to the buyer and that redefines the distribution of our products. In many cases, as we expand our products with smaller cars, we have to be in city areas that demand small cars in order to sell to our target market."Yallouridis says the car market was aiming for record highs and, in BMW's case, highlighted by the 1-Series, X1, 5-Series and 7-Series."The X3 comes in next year and there's the 1-Series hatch and coupe, so sales will expand further," he says.The Audi Centre in Perth is more than doubling its floor area, taking over a neighbouring property in the high-end car retail suburb of Osborne Park. The suburb also hosts Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lexus, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz.The additional building will accommodate the new 26-car showroom - effectively 2.5 times bigger than present - to display one of each of Audi's models.  Dealer principal David Collins says the investment of about $15 million was necessary."The customers demand it and we desperately need the space because of the growth in Audi sales," he says.  "In 2004 we had 120 new car sales. Now we have 1050."Audi's sales are higher than BMW's when you take out the SUVs.  "I've ordered 250 units of the A1 for 2011 because of demand."  Collins says the Q5 was "the most successful car I've ever been involved with".He says it reflects the growing trend of buyers seeking to downsize their cars yet retain quality and luxury.  BMW has recorded a 10.4 per cent national sales growth year-to-date and, with global sales this calendar year of 775,000, has surpassed Mercedes-Benz (735,000) and Audi (726,000).It has since January sold 1156 of its baby X1 SUV - now its third most popular single-body seller after the 3-Series (3326) and X5 (1955) - for 2 per cent of Australia's passenger-car market.Audi has 1.7 per cent of the car market, primed by sales year-to-date of 1458 A3s and 2521 A4s, and Mercedes-Benz has 2.6 per cent thanks primarily to its E-Class stranglehold of the $70,000-plus large luxury car sector and the robust 4242 C-Class sales.