[Penguino]

Is this going to be the tendency with X-vehicles from now on or even BMW overall? The N20 as base or the B58 option for a $12k+ premium? No more X35i option?

The current X3 offers the X28i at $42k and the X35i at $48k, a $6k premium
The X4 offers the X28i at $47k and the M40i at $59k, a $12k premium for the M40i version.

This is a substantial increase and for this new X3 I see the same tendency happening. Get stuck with the N20 or get a full blown M40i. With the X3M coming out I see more sense on a X35i version than a M40i. Love the N20 on my wife's 428 but on an X3/X4 is not the ideal engine in my opinion. And the only option being the substantial premium for the M40i version pushes us outside. Not everyone is a hardcore enthusiast that would enjoy everything the M40i trim offers. I think this two options segregates the trims far too much.

After owning BMWs for the past 20+ years, every model release pushes me further and further from the brand as BMW becomes more and more like Audi.