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BMW’s Next-Gen X3 SUV To Be Built In US

Agent009 submitted on 5/14/2007 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 11:46:46 PM

27 user comments | Category: Misc News | Source: | SOURCE: www.motorauthority.com

BMW won’t rely on vehicle OEM Magna Steyr for production of its next-generation X3 and will instead build the SUVs at its Spartanburg plant in the US.

Production of the X3 will run alongside the new X6 coupe-crossover, as well as the current Z4 and X5 models that are already assembled at the South Carolina site.

The news was first reported by German newspaper Financial Times Deutschland, citing an inside source. Roughly 105,000 vehicles were built in Spartanburg last year but BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer has publicly stated that he wants to see production lift to 200,000 units or more to help hedge against fluctuating exchange rates.



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BMW’s Next-Gen X3 SUV To Be Built In US

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Agent009

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."

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User Comments

dumpsty

You kinda saw that decision coming from a mile away.

As the X3 becomes a lot more popular in the US, it'll save lots of cash to just build it in South Carolina. As the dollar continues to weaken, it'll make more sense to build products in the US and export wherever necessary.

— dumpsty (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2007 7:59:26 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

Agent63

X3 = waste of money. The engine and tranny is smooth but a little too loud for my liking. Cheap interior.

— Agent63 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2007 8:09:17 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

JRobUSC

go sit in a 2007 X3 with the Sand Beige/Black Leather trim. It's nice.

— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2007 10:28:35 AM | | Votes: 5   

Audi4Life

well i believe you can tell the quality good bye then

— Audi4Life (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2007 9:07:15 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6   

delan

What, like it was there before?

— delan (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2007 10:14:18 AM | | Votes: -2   

Rupert

The X5 and Z4 don't suffer from a lack of quality. BMW's Spartanburg plant is one of the better ones in the US.

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2007 10:41:25 AM | | Votes: 7   

Sachsi2

I disagree!
My Z4 has been in the shop at least twice more often than any other vehicle I own or owned recently:
- CD/radio replaced, new one is more sensitive and skips when driving over potholes;
- soft top mechanism popped out and sliced through the headliner. Replaced liner and mechanism on one side.;
- headliner rubs against the mid piece in the top locking mechanism (design flaw). The new liner (two years old or less) is showing serious wear already.
- third brake light cracked 3 times, I'm on the fourth one;
- side badges (those on the side signal light) peeled off;
- the translucent plastic covering the headlights doesn't age well, it looks foggy and the car's only 3 1/2 years old.
- the paint on the hood has damage probably from bird droppings and I wash it just as often as any other one of our cars. This happened 2 years into ownership and the dealer and BMW say that's not covered. Ironically this is my only car that is garaged every night, the other two sit outside. The paint also seems more prone to chipping (could be that because the car is so low it catches a lot more debris).

I'd lease one again but I wouldn't keep it beyond the manufacturer's warranty. It would likely be too expensive.

— Sachsi2 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/16/2007 1:18:36 AM | | Votes: 0   

Rupert

Oh and they've done this because as the Euro is strong and the dollar weak, it means it is cheap for a European company to employ people in the US, ergo X3 cheaper to make ergo no price rise and no lack of profit. And also since cars like the X3 sell well in the US.

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2007 10:43:33 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

Audi4Life

i am sorry to offend any one of you but the german build quality from the germans themselves is uncomparable

— Audi4Life (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2007 10:53:20 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

zorbeeze

What's with the racist comments. If German build quality is so good, then why do their cars break down every week.

— zorbeeze (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2007 12:18:59 PM | | Votes: -3   

S4cabriofoxone

They don't. Why am I replying to zorbeeze's comment, anyway? Lexus fans are so ignorant, and it's just getting so old...

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2007 4:27:17 PM | | Votes: 1   

Sachsi2

I think that is true though. For instance the VWs made in Europe are a lot more reliable than those built in North America (Mexico).
And what's up with calling a comment about a nation's abilities racist? Any inabilities of your own that make you say that?

— Sachsi2 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/16/2007 1:27:01 AM | | Votes: 0   

zorbeeze

I'm not a Lexus fan. First and foremost i'm a Porsche enthusiast. But i've had history with VW, Audi and BMW.

— zorbeeze (View Profile)

Posted on 5/16/2007 12:22:25 PM | | Votes: 1   

r_driver04

They could build it on the moon for all I care. There's no reason to buy an X3. They're way too expensive for what you get and it won't carry anymore than the 3 Series Wagon. And no, it doesn't drive like a 3 Series.

— r_driver04 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2007 11:00:52 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Auto_expert

The X3 doesn't really have much competition in the luxury category. It's smaller then RX, RDX, FX (length and weight). Size-wise you could really only compare it to a CRX or RAV4 and there's no competition there in terms of driving dynamics. It's no 3-series, but it's the best driving small SUV around.

— Auto_expert (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2007 11:49:15 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Rupert

But then why have it? I too think it is pointless, why not have a 3 touring with X drive? It's expensive too, in the UK an X3 3.0sd (with the 335d engine) can top 80000 US dollars easily. A 335d touring more like 70000 dollars.

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2007 12:04:15 PM | | Votes: 6   

r_driver04

The X3 is a waste of money. It can't outperform a RAV4 significantly enough to justify a $25K difference. And if you've got the disposable income to blow like that, why not step up and buy an X5 and stop playing in the Minor Leagues with a more expensive bat.

If I spent $40K, always had my SUV in the shop and was getting outrun buy another SUV half the price. I'd have to do some serious soul searching.

Yeah, I can't stand them. Buy a real BMW....like a 328 Wagon or something.

— r_driver04 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2007 12:28:17 PM | | Votes: 0   

zorbeeze

It doesn't matter where they build it because any type of change will be a huge improvement over the current one.
That interior is just so awful. The materials used remind me of a Kia Magentis.

— zorbeeze (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2007 12:21:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

JRobUSC

while the dash materials were subpar on the 2004-2006's the interior materials in the 2007's are the same as the E46 3-series, which everyone pretty much universally loved inside. Seriously it's nice now, so before everyone on here just regurgitates information they read three years ago just go look at one.

— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2007 12:44:51 PM | | Votes: 4   

zorbeeze

I don't read car mags, i prefer test driven the car myself and then judging. Last x3 i was in was a 2006 model. I'll try the 2007 and hopefully you're right.

— zorbeeze (View Profile)

Posted on 5/16/2007 1:01:32 PM | | Votes: 1   

AMGC55

whatevs

— AMGC55 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2007 2:02:01 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Designer1

Lets hope the next generation X3 will look somehow nice. This car is just ugly!

— Designer1 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2007 3:35:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Will_

That was a given.

— Will_ (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2007 10:35:12 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

MPowerDK

The build quality of the x3 is not the best, but the facelifted is much better, but the X5 is very nice and way better than a Q7 or ML.
By the way Audi TT is built in Hungary, and i think so is the Q7. Oh no now the quality stinks..

— MPowerDK (View Profile)

Posted on 5/16/2007 3:26:00 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

henbmw

Now all you unemployed illiterate fools can get jobs in the US. Hurray BMW!

— henbmw (View Profile)

Posted on 5/18/2007 12:53:52 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

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