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BIMMERPOST Universal Forums General BMW News and Cars Discussion Which of these three used BMW SUVs is the best for under $20k?

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      02-28-2019, 07:13 PM   #1
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Which of these three used BMW SUVs is the best for under $20k?

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I will eventually buy some kind of BMW SUV ... I would love a 6speed but it looks like that isn't going to happen.

I care about light towing, driveabilty, speed, gas mileage, price for a decent mileage.

After narrowing it all down the three candidates that seem like pretty strong contenders are:

Gen 1 - X1 35i xDrive
Gen 2 - X5 35d (really like the idea of this one)
Gen 2 - X3 35i

Any major advice on leaning towards one or the other? The 35d seems like it would be perfection.
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      02-28-2019, 07:23 PM   #2
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I would go for the X3 35i. The N55 is a very stable engine with plenty of horsepower.
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      02-28-2019, 07:39 PM   #3
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I'm thinking Gen I X1, if it's got enough room. Based on a 3-series and with their engine options to boot. Including the N55.
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      03-01-2019, 05:03 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DanG View Post
I would go for the X3 35i. The N55 is a very stable engine with plenty of horsepower.
Agreed. Would definitely pick the X3 over first generation X1, as long as you go with the N55 engine.
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      03-01-2019, 10:05 AM   #5
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I like the X3 / N55 as well - I own one. But I'm thinking for "under 20k"... You're looking at one with pretty high miles or some other reason to keep the price that low, might make me a little nervous.

If we were just saying "which one for free" it'd be a different story. But on a budget... that might change things?
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      03-01-2019, 11:26 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tracer bullet View Post
I like the X3 / N55 as well - I own one. But I'm thinking for "under 20k"... You're looking at one with pretty high miles or some other reason to keep the price that low, might make me a little nervous.

If we were just saying "which one for free" it'd be a different story. But on a budget... that might change things?
What’s high mileage for you? I’ve seen plenty of x3 35is under 20k with like 60ishk miles.

The X1’s and x5s do seem to be lower mileage for those price ranges tho
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      03-01-2019, 11:33 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tracer bullet View Post
I like the X3 / N55 as well - I own one. But I'm thinking for "under 20k"... You're looking at one with pretty high miles or some other reason to keep the price that low, might make me a little nervous.

If we were just saying "which one for free" it'd be a different story. But on a budget... that might change things?
Wrong, you can find with 50-60k miles for 20k all day.
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      03-01-2019, 11:40 AM   #8
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my experience with the 35d was terrible. If you live in a state where theres no emission testing for diesel cars, then i would buy a 35d and rip out all the smog equipment and be fine. But in states where they test diesel cars, its a cluster fuck of malfunctioning parts that can cause the vehicle to go into countdown to death mode. Thats where after 200miles (counting down on the dash)you cannot start the car at all, and most dealerships dont even want to touch the car at that point as the usual turnaround time to get that sorted out is about 3months in shop.
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      03-01-2019, 01:27 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Roma_335i View Post
Wrong, you can find with 50-60k miles for 20k all day.
With the N55 and any decent options? What model year are you talking? You may be right but that wasn't my experience.

Looks like you're in MN too, I know I didn't see these when I was shopping. A say 2015 (I was interested in the LCI + dates) X3 with ~ 50k miles, with the N55, even if it didn't have M-Sport, HK, etc. was going to be 25k for starters.

Similarly equipped X1 was more like 20k for the same thing - say a 2015, N55, 50k miles. About 5 grand less across the board between the models when all else was comparable.

If I didn't need the cabin space I'd have bought the X1. Same engine, and for the price differential you could get even lower mileage, more options, or both.
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      03-01-2019, 03:47 PM   #10
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X3 35i with msport
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