| deejay |
| My family has just recently bought a 2006 MDX. Last year we also got a 2005 BMW X3. In no way does the X3 impress me at all. We have trailer kits on the both vehicles, and the little 3.0 liter cant even push the trailer up the hill! The MDX has proven its self worthy over the little BMW. I have one question though, could somebody please explain to me the VTM-4 feature, and when you can use it? Thanks |
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| eurohazard |
You have AWD as it is....no need to push any buttons.
The VTM-4 is a special type of AWD. It locks power to the front and rear at the same time, no varying. It should only be used when stuck, or about to get stuck, on snow ice, mud, or sand. One of limiting factors of VTM-4 is it's only good from 0 MPH -18(?) MPH.
But really if you are in severe conditions, you shouldn't be going faster than 18 anyway! lol 2 step process:
1) You need to be in 1st or 2nd gear. Meaning you literally have to place the shift lever all the way down, and toggle left for 1st, and right for 2nd.
2) Hit the little VTM-4 button on the dash.
Don't use it on dry pavement! |
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| Pierre |
quote:
Originally posted by eurohazard
You have AWD as it is....no need to push any buttons.
The VTM-4 is a special type of AWD. It locks power to the front and rear at the same time, no varying. It should only be used when stuck, or about to get stuck, on snow ice, mud, or sand. One of limiting factors of VTM-4 is it's only good from 0 MPH -18(?) MPH.
But really if you are in severe conditions, you shouldn't be going faster than 18 anyway! lol 2 step process:
1) You need to be in 1st or 2nd gear. Meaning you literally have to place the shift lever all the way down, and toggle left for 1st, and right for 2nd.
2) Hit the little VTM-4 button on the dash.
Don't use it on dry pavement!
Or, in reverse. |
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| mdxx3 |
We have one each too. The X3 is like a tiny suburban toy thing... it's not meant to do any heavy duty stuff other than go from A to B, and we can throw it around corners/whatever if we feel like it. And our X3 costs more than our MDX but that's ok... it's just another piece of transportation equipment.
re: VTM4. We really shouldn't have to touch that VTM4 button... just let the computer activate all the wheels whenever it feels right... unless we're in a special situation where we need to lock it into 4 wheel drive like what Eurohazard and Pierre mentioned earlier. |
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| deejay |
| Thanks for all the replies. I've never gotton stuck in the X, and find the 4wd to be more than sufficient in the snow. I wish I found the MDX before I bought the X3 thing. It cost me almost as much as my awsome MDX, and is a piece of junk.Thanks again |
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| deejay |
| If you have an X3, I would appreciate your comments on it. Thnx |
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| SRSEN1999 |
| If you have the $ for X3, why not get the X5 instead? That way you will be able to pull a trailer up the hill. |
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| deejay |
| yea, you are right about the x5. The x3 model was only 2 years old, and the dealer stressed how there is basically no difference between the two. YEA RIGHT! Never buy a BMW again! |
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| wmquan |
Isn't the X3 still not manufactured by BMW?
When it was released, there was a big deal from BMW fans that BMW outsourced production to Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik (MSF) in Austria. |
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| deejay |
| I'm not really sure about that...All I know about this car is that my little Mercedes c class 4-matic did better in the snow, and mud conditions than the x3 does. My new X is fantastic. I love just about everything about it! |
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| deejay |
| Today the covering for the back trunk thing that holds the insulation and airbag sensors fell off. Has anyone had this problem. This X3 is always in the shop, and I don't want to wait another 2-3 weeks for the parts to come in if I can fix it. |
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| rollnsf |
| I believe I read somewhere that the X3 isn't even made in a BMW factory - it's outsourced to some company and made in Austria. |
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