So I Just Drove My BMW X3 18,019 miles For 11 Months Through 19 Countries With No Drama, Clawing at Dirt and Stiffened Suspension

There’s a certain type of lunacy, noble, poetic lunacy, that drives a man to prep a decade-and-a-half-old BMW X3, slap some off-road tires on it, lift it like a Dakar mule, and send it hurtling headlong across the raw, unfiltered spine of Africa. Not for glory. Not for social clout. But because something in your soul needs shaking loose. That man is Niko. That vehicle? A 2006 BMW X3 3.0d, M57 diesel, chugging between 10–15 liters per 100km. This wasn’t about spec sheets or soft-touch plastics. This was about motion as meditation. The act of leaving, of driving into the unknown, just to see if both man and machine could take it.

Conquering 29,000 km Across 19 Countries

For 11 months, Niko chased the horizon across 29,000 km and 19 countries. Morocco’s searing Sahara. Guinea’s mud-locked backroads. Namibia’s Martian rock gardens. Through all of it, the X3 took the punishment like a Bavarian prizefighter with something to prove. No major failures. No drama. Just 235/65/17 BFGoodrich KO2s clawing at dirt and stone, a suspension stiffened and lifted by just enough to clear obstacles and expectations alike. And in a world full of electronic nannies and crossover compromises, here was proof that a luxury SUV could still grow calluses.

Across Africa with a BMW

18.019 miles in 11 months

Hello everyone,

I wanted to tell you about my last big trip. Just a few days ago, I flew back to Germany from Cape Town. My vehicle will follow by ship in the next few weeks.

For 11 months, I drove through 19 countries and experienced incredible things! I was on the road with my 2006 BMW X3, which I had previously spent six months converting and rebuilding. It survived the adventurous journey without damage and never let me down. Whether it was in the loose sand of the Sahara in Morocco, the mud and sludge in Guinea or Nigeria, or the rocky tracks in Namibia.

I slept 97% of the time in my car somewhere in the wilderness under the stars. I didn't experience any dangerous situations. Africa is definitely worth a trip and not as dangerous as everyone always claims. You just have to dare, be open-minded, have good nerves, and adapt to the situations.

My highlights were:

- A multi-day desert crossing alone in Morocco

- A challenging off-road border crossing from Nigeria to Cameroon

- The Calandula Waterfall in Angola

- Desert elephants in Namibia

I'll definitely return in the coming years to drive from South Africa to Kenya...

For more information, feel free to check out my website with all my travel reports 😉 https://nikolaifromm.de/aroundtheworld

Greetings, and have a nice weekend

Niko

Tires: BFG KO2 235/65/17 + 20mm wheel spacers

Lift: 4cm back + stiffer springs  | 2cm front

2006 3 3-liter diesel M57 around 10-15 liters per 100km

This wasn’t a holiday. It was a test of will, wits, and weathered hardware. No convoy, no safety net, just a man sleeping under stars 97% of the time in the belly of his machine, listening to the night sounds of distant hyenas and closer thoughts. The BMW? It didn’t just transport him; it sheltered him, challenged him, and in a strange way, became him. You can’t fake that bond. It’s the kind forged when your only backup plan is not to break down in the first place.

A Spiritual BMW X3 Adventure Beyond Borders

We can only imagine the feeling of leaving your home country and going on an excursion like this and experiencing so many unique feelings and feelings in his BMW X3. That statement, simple and raw, says more about the spirit of this trip than any mileage stat. It’s about abandoning comfort and predictability to seek out something more essential.

Not some curated Instagram vignette, but the real, hard-bitten stuff of life on the move. Every border crossing became a baptism. Every breakdown narrowly avoided became a kind of spiritual clarity.

BMW X3 Diesel: 190 HP, 400 Nm & Unmatched Efficiency

• The diesel variant of the BMW X3 was introduced alongside its petrol counterpart, aiming to cater to consumers seeking a balance between performance and fuel efficiency. At launch, it was positioned to compete with other premium compact SUVs offering diesel options, such as the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC. ​
• Equipped with BMW's 2.0-liter diesel engine, the X3 20d variant delivered 190 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque, achieving 0-62 mph in 8 seconds. This performance, combined with its fuel efficiency, made it a compelling choice for drivers prioritizing both power and economy. ​
• Upon its release, the BMW X3 Diesel received positive reviews for its driving dynamics, build quality, and technological features. Critics highlighted its spacious, high-quality interior and the availability of various engine choices, contributing to its reputation as a superb family SUV.

And yes, it had that Top Gear energy, but stripped of the slapstick and satellite dishes. Picture Clarkson and Co. navigating Cameroon’s backwoods in a mud-choked X3, only here there were no scripted gags or recovery vehicles waiting just out of frame. Niko had to mean it. No retakes. No voiceovers. Just the slow realization that sometimes the most meaningful journeys are the least glamorous. The kind where survival, not spectacle, is the end goal.

The road is the last place where man can confront himself honestly. And that’s exactly what this was. Each mile pulled Niko further from the noise and deeper into the silence that only Africa offers. Not the silence of emptiness, but of presence. The stillness between crises. The road demands that you adapt. That you listen. You drive not just with your hands but with your intuition. And when it all aligns, when the diesel hums, the horizon stretches, and the stress evaporates, you remember why you do this.

The Ultimate BMW X3 Journey: Grit, Loneliness & Raw Off‐Road Adventure

This kind of travel isn’t easy, and it isn’t for everyone. It’s grueling. It’s lonely. It’s expensive in time, patience, and sweat. But it’s real. And for those who still believe that cars are more than just appliances, that they’re vessels for self-discovery, this is the kind of story that still matters. A crossover turned compass. A man turned pilgrim. And a continent that gave far more than it ever took.

So, where do we go from here? Niko has his eyes on a new northern route: South Africa to Kenya. The X3, caked in triumph and salt spray, will sail home to Germany to rest, briefly. And the rest of us? We’re left with a challenge. Stop waiting for the “perfect” time. Build your machine, trust your gut, and head for the horizon.

Image Sources: Nikolai Fromm from BMW X3 And X5 Off road and camping Facebook Group

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.