[stevehifi]

Hi Guys,

Just drove the new X3M with the S58 motor today, and wanted to give you
my opinion of the car. Sorry for no pictures, but its the same one/color as the
first reviewer of the car a couple days ago.

Interior:
-very nice but feels a bit cramped, also seats aren't very comfortable (too many separations on the bottom seat pads).

Steering:
-much more feedback than F80 steering, I also drove a 330i G80 and I feel BMW has definitely improved steering/road feel for this generation.

Exhaust:
-this model had an sport exhaust button, however the exhaust is extremely quiet.. similar to efficient mode on an F8x

Suspension:
-quite stiff, you can feel the heft of this vehicle (4600lbs!!) but very good composure.

Transmission:
-very smooth, very quick. downshifts are muted but effective. it seems to match the car's power very well.

POWER:
-OK, this thing weighs a ton but man it pulls out of the hole scary fast!
It feels like this car is making 600hp.. I can just imagine what the G80 will feel without 1000lbs and AWD if it can hook up.

Overall I personally think it's a very nice vehicle but honestly I don't see the point of this vehicle. Unless you need an SUV, you would be crazy to buy this over a G80 M3. Even at that, it's not a very comfortable day to day commuter since it's so heavy, large wheels and stiff suspension. I wouldn't bring this to track either, too much of a compromise.

That being said, the engine+tranny+AWD is definitely going to be fantastic
on the new G80M3.

-Steve

[hellrotm]

Did you notice the decreased redline of the S58? It’s down 400rpm(7200) compared to the S55(7600).

X3M is a big letdown. Heaviest in the segment and the styling is not aggressive enough.

[stevehifi]

Originally Posted by hellrotm

Did you notice the decreased redline of the S58? It’s down 400rpm(7200) compared to the S55(7600).

X3M is a big letdown. Heaviest in the segment and the styling is not aggressive enough.

I didn't really notice.. but make no mistake this engine is a monster, very responsive and spools up very quickly.

Opening the engine bay, I noticed that the engine is very compact so piping/intake tract lengths are kept to a minimum - very different from the
layout that we have with the S55.

[nicknaz]

A good friend of mine is selling his E63 wagon (modded to 700hp) for less than $60k.

If you want a heavy but fast and fun SUV, get an E63 instead

[Blksnowflake]

no pictures...

[Golfster]

Comp or Civic X3M?

[Art__Vandelay]

Originally Posted by hellrotm

Heaviest in the segment and the styling is not aggressive enough.

There is too much contradictory information (in different countries, reports, brochures etc.) to know that for sure.

[jphcbpa]

Surprised to read the seats are not comfortable.

[ando]

Originally Posted by jphcbpa

Surprised to read the seats are not comfortable.

Me too. They look similar to the ones in the M8 but I don't have part numbers to verify.

[stevehifi]

Yes for some reason the seats don't feel comfortable, they have too many grab points in the back and on the bottom and are too small. I'm 6'.

The car I drove was a competition model.

I attached two pictures, I had taken a picture of the exterior and engine bay but it looks like my camera didn't save them.

Steve

[jphcbpa]

I am 6'3 so seats probably will fit the same. Are the x3m40i seats a better fit ??

[Mtxzptlk]

Originally Posted by stevehifi

Yes for some reason the seats don't feel comfortable, they have too many grab points in the back and on the bottom and are too small. I'm 6'.

The car I drove was a competition model.

I attached two pictures, I had taken a picture of the exterior and engine bay but it looks like my camera didn't save them.

Steve

Did the X3MC have a carbon strut bar or an aluminum one?

[M3_WC]

Originally Posted by Mtxzptlk

Did the X3MC have a carbon strut bar or an aluminum one?

It is carbon in the press pics.

[stevehifi]

the car I drove had the aluminum strut tower brace, pretty basic looking.

overall the engine bay overall is quite small - the engine is pushed far back behind the cowl. not much too look at, probably why they put a big plastic
'm power' engine shroud to distract the underwhelming engine bay.

[Art__Vandelay]

Originally Posted by BMWModel3

It's in the official tech documents posted elsewhere. What's so contradictory about the weight.

Agree with OP. Muted exhaust/engine sound, stiff uncomfortable suspension and super heavy really what is the point

For example, if these numbers are correct, it's not the heaviest in the segment:

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showp...29&postcount=5

[Icecreamfoo]

The M Town Tour hit South Bay BMW today, was able to check out the X3MC and echoing stevehifi's observation, I felt the interior was surprisingly a bit, "cramped" like, or at least not as roomy as I thought it would be from the driver's seat perspective. Also agree with everything else about the car he wrote.

The X3MC demo car ran into a nail this morning according to the crew, and when I arrived at my pre-scheduled time slot the car was still in service getting new tire mounted. That set everyone who signed up for this car back about 30 min to an hour or so, I was already late and didn't get the chance to take much pics. This thing looks very good in person, I thought...