Powertrain families
N20/N52/N55 petrol · N47/B47 diesel I4 · N57 diesel I6
X3 (F25) — Sports Activity Vehicle
2010–2017
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- F25
- Production
- 2010–2017
- Body style
- 5-door SAV
- Platform
- X family · front- or all-wheel drive by derivative
Body variants
X3 → F25 → Sports Activity Vehicle
X3 F25: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected sports activity vehicle fits into the family.
F25 moved X3 production into BMW's own manufacturing network and enlarged the body while preserving the longitudinal-engine, xDrive-led layout. Production began in Spartanburg for global export, with additional regional assembly serving selected markets.
The model range spanned four- and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, rear-drive sDrive derivatives in some markets and xDrive across most of the range. The first production X3 generation with broad turbocharged coverage also changed engine families mid-cycle, so a badge such as xDrive28i can represent different engines by year and market.
The 2014 lifecycle update brought new front and rear styling, cabin changes, revised diesels and updated assistance/infotainment. F25 remained one conventional five-door body; the related F26 X4 is a separate model and body record despite shared architecture and production context.
2010–2017generation lifecycle
1body branches
3engine/drive families
8range designations
F25factory code
X family · front- or all-wheel drive by derivativearchitecture
Sports Activity Vehicle: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length4,648 mm
Width1,881 mm
Height1,661 mm
Wheelbase2,810 mm
Luggage550–1,600 L
Fuel tank67 L
Seats5
Doors5-door SAV
| Body | Code | Production | Doors / seats | Length | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Activity Vehicle | F25 | 2010–2017 | 5-door SAV / 5 | 4,648 mm | 550–1,600 L |
Engines and powertrains
The generation could span very different engines and drivetrains. The table keeps output, gearbox, market and production period together.
Factory modification matrix
Documented sports activity vehicle applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X3 sDrive18i / xDrive20i | 2011–2017 | N20B20 turbo petrol inline-four | 156–184 PS | 6MT / 8AT | RWD / AWD | Global range | 15 years of BMW X models |
| X3 xDrive28i | 2010–2012 | N52B30 petrol inline-six | 258 PS | 8AT | AWD | Global range | 15 years of BMW X models |
| X3 xDrive28i | 2012–2017 | N20B20 turbo petrol inline-four | 245 PS / 240 hp US | 8AT | AWD | Global range | 15 years of BMW X models |
| X3 xDrive35i | 2010–2017 | N55B30 turbo petrol inline-six | 306 PS | 8AT | AWD | Global range | 15 years of BMW X models |
| X3 sDrive18d / xDrive20d | 2010–2017 | N47D20 / B47D20 diesel inline-four | 143–190 PS | 6MT / 8AT | RWD / AWD | Europe | 15 years of BMW X models |
| X3 xDrive30d / xDrive35d | 2010–2017 | N57D30 diesel inline-six | 258–313 PS | 8AT | AWD | Europe | 15 years of BMW X models |
Factory designations
sDrive18i · xDrive20i · xDrive28i · xDrive35i · sDrive18d · xDrive20d · xDrive30d · xDrive35d
Petrol engines
Inline and V engines are grouped by engine family, displacement, induction system and emissions specification.
Diesel derivatives
Where diesels were offered, output, injection generation and emissions hardware are recorded market by market.
Electrification
Mild- and plug-in hybrids are separate derivatives; combustion-engine output must not be substituted for total system output.
How power reaches the road
Gearboxes, driven wheels and final-drive hardware changed with engine, market and production date.
Transmissions
Gearbox type and unit code follow engine, market and production date. Gear count alone does not identify the transmission.
Driven wheels
Catalog architecture: X family · front- or all-wheel drive by derivative. All-wheel-drive availability and hardware remain derivative-specific.
Final drive
Ratio, differential type and electronic control belong to the exact derivative and can differ on performance models.
What changed underneath
Suspension, brakes, safety systems and electronics evolved across the range, even when cars shared the same basic architecture.
Body-branch dimensions
- F25: 4,648 mm × 1,881 mm × 1,661 mm
Body & suspension
- Mounting points and geometry follow the body branch
- Springs and dampers follow axle load and chassis package
- Wheels and permitted loads follow the factory label
Brakes & steering
- Brake size follows engine and equipment
- Assistance type and steering ratio can change
- ABS/DSC generation follows model year
Passive safety
- Airbag count varies by market and year
- SRS parts are VIN-specific
- Structural repairs require factory procedures
Electronics
- Vehicle-bus generations changed during production
- Control-unit software levels must remain compatible
- Retrofits are recorded separately from factory equipment
How the generation evolved
The important launches, additions and updates did not always happen at the same time for every body or market.
Second X3 generation
F25 entered production at Spartanburg with a larger body and a global export role.
Turbo range transition
Turbocharged four- and six-cylinder engines progressively reshaped regional model lists.
Lifecycle update
BMW revised design, diesel technology, equipment and driver-assistance functions.
F25 succession
Production transitioned to the third-generation G01.
The versions that stood apart
Performance models, option packages and regional editions may look related, but their engineering and production identity can be very different.
Sports Activity Vehicle
F25X3 F25 is a distinct F25 body branch. A five-door high-riding body combining a flexible cargo area with the road-focused dynamics of BMW’s X family. Engines/drive: N20/N52/N55 petrol, N47/B47 diesel I4, N57 diesel I6.
Inside the car
Cabin technology and standard equipment changed by country and year; a build sheet remains the best guide to one individual car.
Cabin & comfort
- Trim and seats follow option codes
- Climate systems vary by market
- Audio and navigation changed by model year
Lighting & assistance
- Lamp technology and modules follow production date
- Driver assistance cannot be inferred from buttons alone
- Regional rules affect lighting and warnings
What to check today
A practical starting point for inspecting and maintaining a car from this generation — not a diagnosis of an individual example.
Identify first
- Match VIN on body and documents
- Obtain the factory option list
- Confirm market and production date
Inspect the structure
- Check repairs and corrosion
- Assess suspension, brakes and tyres
- Compare fitted parts with factory specification
Mechanical history
- Read faults with compatible diagnostics
- Verify engine and transmission maintenance
- Separate invoices from unsupported verbal history
| Item | Interval / trigger | Catalog note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | CBS/factory schedule; time and mileage for historic cars | Oil approval follows the exact engine and market. |
| Brake fluid | Time-based factory schedule | ABS/DSC-compatible bleeding procedure is required after hydraulic work. |
| Coolant | Factory schedule and condition | Fluid specification and bleeding method are generation-specific. |
| Transmission & final drives | Unit type and operating conditions | Use the exact approved fluid; no one interval fits every derivative. |
How to identify the exact car
The badge and registration year tell only part of the story; production date, body code, engine and factory options complete it.
- Factory body codes
- F25 — Sports Activity Vehicle
- Range designations
- sDrive18i, xDrive20i, xDrive28i, xDrive35i, sDrive18d, xDrive20d, xDrive30d, xDrive35d
- Powertrain families
- N20/N52/N55 petrol, N47/B47 diesel I4, N57 diesel I6
- VIN
- Identifies model, plant and production branch and keys the parts catalog and factory equipment record.
- Production date
- More useful than first-registration year when choosing parts and locating technical revisions.
- Type code
- Refines engine, body, market and transmission combination.
- Option codes
- Confirm factory equipment; later retrofits are recorded separately.
- Unit number
- Supports engine or gearbox originality checks and component applicability.
Where the information comes from
The story is mapped through English Wikipedia and its bibliography, then important dates and technical claims are checked against BMW material.
- 01BMW X3 (F25)Wikipedia contributors
Secondary production, engine, model and facelift overview.
- 0215 years of BMW X modelsBMW Group PressClub
Factory history of the first X5, the expansion into X3/X1/X6 and the body concepts that established the BMW X range.
Notes and limitations
- Research revision dated 2026-08-10: English Wikipedia was used as a subject and bibliography map; key claims were checked against the listed primary BMW Group material.
- Badge continuity does not imply engine continuity: pre- and post-engine-change xDrive28i rows must remain separate.
- F26 X4 specifications cannot be inherited from F25 even where powertrains are shared.
- Tree years describe the worldwide generation lifecycle; individual market dates may be narrower.
- Exact dimensions, power, weight and emissions belong at body, engine, market and model-year level.
- Known-issue guidance is editorial context and never replaces inspection of the individual vehicle.
2 primary references · market differences documentedPhotography: Tokumeigakarinoaoshima, CC0 · Wikimedia Commons. Rights checked 2026-08-06; wikimedia commons 1,800 px derivative downloaded; local 640 px and 1,280 px avif versions created without cropping.Updated 6 August 2026