[STE92VE]

Since I'm planning on getting a 2009 X3, anyone who know's me from his forum, realizes I research the crap out of a vehicle before I make the final decision. Knowing that the X3 is made by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, I was interested in the build quality of the vehicles from this plant. I came across this:

Magna Steyr's Graz Facility Honored With J.D. Power Gold Plant Quality Award - an Industry First for a Supplier

AURORA, Ontario, June 9 /PRNewswire/ --

Magna International Inc. today announced that its Magna Steyr unit has won a J.D. Power Gold Plant Quality Award in Europe for its vehicle assembly facility in Graz, Austria. It is the first time this award has been given to a supplier.

The Gold Plant Quality Award, announced June 7 with the release of the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Initial Quality Study, recognizes that Magna Steyr's Graz facility produces vehicles with the fewest number of defects as compared to other European vehicle assembly facilities.

The Graz facility has a long-standing tradition in vehicle production starting in 1906 as Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG, which Magna acquired in 1998. Today, eight different vehicles are built by Magna Steyr in Graz: the BMW X3, Chrysler Voyager/Grand Voyager, 300C sedan and Touring; Jeep Grand Cherokee and Commander; Mercedes-Benz E class 4MATIC and G class; and Saab 9-3 convertible. In 2005, the Graz facility built more than 230,000 vehicles.

"We are extremely proud to win such a distinguished award," said Siegfried Wolf, co-chief executive officer of Magna International. "This award is the result of the efforts of Magna Steyr's hard-working employees, who make a commitment to quality every day, as well as the unique partnerships that Magna Steyr has forged with its customers."

Magna Steyr is the premier global supplier of complete vehicle engineering and assembly services for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) customers. Magna International Inc., which ranks among the world's largest suppliers to the automotive industry, employs over 84,000 people at 224 manufacturing divisions and 60 engineering centers in 22 countries.

Distributed by PR Newswire on behalf of Magna International Inc.

Can any of you current owners comment on the build quality of your X3?

[LEDZEP]

I heard that the people who get fired from the Kia factory are the ones hired on to build the X3.

[STE92VE]

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

I heard that the people who get fired from the Kia factory are the ones hired on to build the X3.

My, my...your wealth of useless knowledge never fails to amaze me.

[LEDZEP]

...then I must endevour to find even MORE worthless knowledge, so that you might be amazed!

[LEDZEP]

Could be worse... you could be asking about the X5... built by Americans.... in the SOUTH.... which explains why there are always a few slats missing from the front grille.

[jprieur]

I do not own an X3, but I just had one for a week as a loaner for my 07 335i. I think the build quality is EXCELLENT! Better than my 335i which was built in the brand new Leipzig plant. Materials, fit and finish - everything was better. Gotta love the comment above regarding the X5 built in America . . . Just watch the discovery/science channel shows. When they document german/european factories all the workers are wearing nice clean uniform jumpsuits - while the american factory workers are wearing shorts/ratty jeans and nasty t shirts. Hell the german factory workers even speak better english!

[STE92VE]

Originally Posted by jprieur

I do not own an X3, but I just had one for a week as a loaner for my 07 335i. I think the build quality is EXCELLENT! Better than my 335i which was built in the brand new Leipzig plant. Materials, fit and finish - everything was better. Gotta love the comment above regarding the X5 built in America . . . Just watch the discovery/science channel shows. When they document german/european factories all the workers are wearing nice clean uniform jumpsuits - while the american factory workers are wearing shorts/ratty jeans and nasty t shirts. Hell the german factory workers even speak better english!

That is one of the reasons why I will be getting an X3 sooner rather than waiting for the next gen X3 which will be built in South Carolina. I toured the SC plant and was impressed with the logistics of the plant, but when you add the work ethic of the American factory worker, it pales in comparison to a European made vehicle.

[fijigabe0]

no complaints about my X3. my wife's 330xi (E-90) has had infinitely more problems than mine (none for me, a couple for her), which may be credited to the new design of the 3-series versus the proven, reliable, design of the X3.

however, in terms of quality, i don't think there's an issue between where the vehicle is built. i don't think there's an issue regarding the "build" but rather the parts used, which fail. those parts aren't american built, just assembled here.

[STE92VE]

Originally Posted by fijigabe0

however, in terms of quality, i don't think there's an issue between where the vehicle is built. i don't think there's an issue regarding the "build" but rather the parts used, which fail. those parts aren't american built, just assembled here.

I have to disagree with you on this. There are many more parts that are American made that go into a vehicle that is built in SC, than there are in a vehicle built in Europe. There is one part that is an exception to this...engines will always be made by BMW in Europe!

[smellthebeans]

Local buzz down here is BMW is hiring / building more in the US because of the weak dollar. Labor is cheaper here than in Europe.

FWIW I just purchased an 05 x3 (CPO) for my wife. She states that the seat belt sensor goes off at odd times and the passenger seat airbag sensor turns off when she places her sunglasses on the seat

The passenger airbag sensor should turn off if a "little" person is in the front seat...not with the sunglasses. My 06 330i had the passenger seat sensor replaced last month. Apparently the wire mesh in the older generation (pre 11/05) build dates is weak/faulty.

[ALPINE6SPD]

STEVE
You saw my wifes X3 the build quality looks very good to me. We are really loving the X3

[a2a2pqk]

I recently took delivery of my X3 as well.
The quality is excellent. Fit and finish is great!
So far so good !

[Deda]

i am driving my x3 for almost 4 years,it is a best car i have ever had..great for driving,lot of space,gives you glamour and sense of good taste.. no problems so far and still looks much better then new rivals(wv,opel...)..my advice is GO FOR IT!!

[Mark633CSi]

I work at one of the local BMW here in town and have to say it is the only vehicles that doesn't come in for repair that often. They come in for maintenance, ie: Oil Service, Insp I & II, etc... but as far as mechanical repairs go, we rarely see a broken down X3. The interior trim on the pre LCI models maybe isn't up to the look of what it should be but it doesn't seem to break often. I was in the Army before working for BMW and we had Steyr 10 ton trucks. Those were the only trouble free Army vehicles too! Coincidence, I think not. We all sighed a collective sigh of dissapointment at work when we heard that the new X3 would be built in Spartanburg. If BMW didn't lose customers with it's new design language then maybe this will work. In fact, I am trading my '04 330Ci ZHP off on a Highland Green '05 X3 3.0i tomorrow. Go for it!!

[ALPINE6SPD]

5K Miles on my now Steve and its better than ever