The new addition to my family

Cue shouts of Chelsea Tractors etc, but I don't care. Here's my insurance policy against never having to sell my 840

Cunning eh ?? Bought for the safe passage of my wife and kids today

and to think I could have bought a SC and Big Brake kit and had them fitted for what I paid for this......

That said, I still wouldn't have been able to go to Tesco/Asda/Mothercare* in it if I had (*read as 'dragged to')

From what I can gather this X3 has every extra on board except the metal running boards down the the side..... I'm feeling the need to start modding already....

Chelsea Tractor or not, I like it, and I wont take any offence from people who don't. I'd have bought an X5 for her but she insisted it was too big, Range Rovers too expensive in the guise I would have (and too big again), and Land Rovers too small (Freelander) or too farmer-ish (Discovery). Didn't even consider Japanese/Korean contenders.

Now she had pointed out the Cayennes..... but I'm gonna need to sell a few more bits n pieces before that materialises

I still find it amusing that anyone currently with a V8 or V12 engine could dislike another heavy impractical eco-bashing niche filling for niche filling's sake vehicle

If she's gonna get hit by another mother on the road during the school run, I'd rather she be in a 4x4 as well..... makes it fairer

or mine

I think everyone is missing the point here..... It's for my WIFE !!!!!

Not my car, not my second car...... it's for my WIFE !!!!

I consider myself the lucky one having someone who is not in the least bit bothered that I drive round in a 2 door Coupe, despite having two kids under age of 4.

If she'd wanted a saloon or estate or MPV I'd have bought her that instead. However the X3 is HER dream car, as the 840 is mine. We're sorted.

Opinion split clearly chaps. I read and ignored them all - in true 4x4 owners' style

I've driven it a few times now and it's actually pretty good, which surprised me. Comfy (compared to my 8 ), spacious, packed with toys, solid, actually quite fast in it's 3.0 V6 petrol guise, and goes round bends pretty well. Like 99% of other SUV owners I'll never take it on anything trickier than a dry grass field so couldn't give a monkey's if it isn't any good off road ....... and I'm doing my bit, owning a 4.4 V8 as well, to make sure it doesn't snow that much in future as well so again, not an issue !

Most importantly, it's got at least 6 airbags in (keep finding more), so any bumps should be like crashing a bouncy castle, an experience my family are more likely to survive than in previous car

Got original invoice from BMW...... Bought in Aug 04, for a stupid price of £37500, £5500 of which was spent on extras...... so therefore losing a staggering £24500 in 3 and half years ! The previous lady owner has been bought a Bentley by her husband, so you can imagine that they are not that bothered !

Steve the respray is finished, although at the moment the car is sat in my garage minus seats, sound system, and consoles whilst I fit the new brain.

When I'm done, I'll post pics of both new exterior and interior.

I am happy with the paint though, money well spent

Sorry Steve, missed this reply. About your seats, if you can find a leather restorer they can do something with your seats. If the leather isnt cracked then I would think the process would be ok, but if like mine the leather was officially 'shot at' you will need replacement panels (which I have had fitted). I should be getting my seats back this week hopefully so will post pics as and when.

Back on topic though....

I watered, and talked to, my wifes new car and look.... it grew into this

and look, just look, at the handles.... now that gives me a nice idea

'tis actually a courtesy car whilst BMW respray the side of the X3, after some (other) dizzy blonde opened her door onto it in a car park during the recent gales up north. Fortunately my wife was sat in hers at the time so we are claiming on the girls insurance for a full NS respray.....

(shh, don't tell anyone, but there were a couple of minor dings on there already prior to this rather 'unfortunate' incident )