Freshened-up BMW X3 gets stickered

With local production of the BMW X3 already three years old, Munich, after debuting the facelift model two months ago, have officially released pricing details ahead of its arrival on dealership floors on 1 October.

Available in base or M Sport flavours with the xLine denominator falling away, the X3, of which the 200 000^th unit rolled off of the Rosslyn Assembly Plant on 6 August, will be offered with a choice of two turbocharged petrol engines and three turbodiesels, all connected to the eight-speed Steptronic gearbox with the sports ratio setup optional, but standard on the M40i.

Starting the range off is the two-wheel-drive only sDrive 18d that produces 110kW/350Nm from its 2.0-litre engine, followed by the ever popular 20d that boasts the same powerplant, but with outputs of 140kW/400Nm. Unlike its sibling, the 20d comes as standard with the xDrive all-wheel-drive system.

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At the top of the diesel range, the xDrive 30d, as evident by its name, receives the all-paw gripping system from the get-go, together with the M Sport package while offering 195kW/620Nm from its 3.0-litre straight-six engine. Gone from the range though is the M Performance fettled M40d.

On the petrol front, the 20i, like the 18d, only comes with two-wheel-drive and with a similar displacement rated at 135kW/290Nm.

Slotting-in above the 30d as the most powerful X3 offering for now, the mentioned M40i continues to make use of the B57 3.0-litre straight-six engine, albeit now rated at 285 kW as opposed to 265 kW with torque remaining unchanged at 500 Nm. While confirmed for South Africa, the flagship X3 M Competition will only be added at a later stage.

Pricing

As before, all models are covered by a five year/100 000 km warranty and maintenance plan.

• X3 sDrive 18d – R895 658
• X3 sDrive 18d M Sport – R935 658
• X3 xDrive 20d – R997 176
• X3 xDrive 20d M Sport – R1 037 176
• X3 sDrive 20i – R939 738
• X3 sDrive 20i M Sport – R979 798
• X3 xDrive 30d M Sport – R1 210 764
• X3 M40i – R1 415 042

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