The new, facelifted, X3 has been presented to the press in Italy this week. Among all the new features, the most interesting for E60 owners is the announcement of a new, aluminium block, Variable Twin Turbo, six-in-line diesel engine. It's a 3.0 l., with an output of 286 Hp and 560 Nm of torque. Max output at 4.400 rpm and rev limit at 5070 rpm (not bad for a diesel!)

BMW declares, for the X3, the following performance:

0-100 kmh 6.6 sec

max speed 240 kmh


The odometer has a top scale of 270 kmh (my 535d has only a 260 kmh scale!), so apparently there is still room for further performance improvements!

For what we can judge from pictures, interior quality of X3 have been greatly improved, with materials very close to what is currently employed in the X5. Nice car, it makes a very attractive package. Thinking about switching to SUV world...........

 

Thats fascinating .
We had a loaner X3 for a few weeks.
My missus loved it , both the driving position, looks ( M sport kit ) and space.
A fantastic car - but the fuel consumption was truly horrendous ( auto petrol 3.0)

To be honest it cost approx ?100 per week in fuel - more than I can afford. We were glad to see our 530D returned!
This new engine sounds the business!

 

Hmmm... unless they have done something really clever, the twin turbo diesel ain't that economic so you could easily be at your ?100 per week again.

ABC

 

My bad

Sorry

ABC

 

what is "variable" about the new 3.0l tt engine?

is it similar to porsche's variable turbine geometry in their new 997 turbo?

 

I don't think so.It doesn't have the variable turbo vanes (VTG)

 

not the same ... i think the mercedes 4.0l bi-turbo diesel comes closest to VTG

 

The new twin-turbo diesel (and coming 535dA) has 580 Nm not 560 Nm.

See this.

The facelifted BMW X3 3.0sd will top at 240 km / h.

 

Variable means that the twin turbos don't work according a fixed, mechanical scheme. The system is fully governed by a software that decides which logic to use according the circumstances, creating a continuosly variable logic of functioning that, through the electronic control of a series of valves in the supercharging circuit, put in use the small turbine or the big one or both of them, in any sequence, according to the programming of the system's cpu. This is a far more complicated and effective system than to simply arrange two turbos in a sequence, governed by turbine pressure and rpm.