[avi66]

Originally Posted by ASAP

i mean... the xm was a fail upon fail lol... you dont have to look at far... as are the ix's... does anyone actually buy those?

new m5... still at my dealer days after delivery... how on a new car?

Yup, and designers and engineers are constrained by bean counters. I’m sure the current BMW interior effort is more about cost constraint than design choice.

In terms of iX or anything EV we have major issues on this side of the pond. Consumers sales just ain’t happening.

[ModernAngel]

Originally Posted by Neusser

It ain't compact either.

Ya got me. It drives like shit and everything else I've previously written about the M50's performance is a lie. 😄

[iamvanja]

Originally Posted by bimmer813

I’ll leave this here: remember all the hate the M3 got when it came out?

Was an ugly car and it still is. They’re not being sold because they look good.

The new X3 takes a “cartoon car” to the next level. B58 and ZF will still sell a lot of those cars, but boy what an abomination. Just when you think new BMWs can’t get any uglier, they outdo themselves!

[jdhiro]

Originally Posted by imc43

something tells me this test drive didn’t involve measuring lateral g’s on a twisty canyon road. anything can feel sharp until you drive it back to back with an m2 or something similar.

C'mon. Even the last-gen X3 was/is a great driving SUV. You cannot compare everything to an M2.

The new X3 is a failure in my eyes, but I have no reason to think it's not even better than the outgoing model in terms of driving dynamics.

[dezzracer]

Originally Posted by ModernAngel

Yup. For a compact SUV and for the money it's probably the best performing new vehicle in its class overall you can buy today, IMO.

There are plenty of cars many folks find ugly that also have great performance. This is one of them. That's fine. Life is complicated. Some cars look great and have poor performance and vice versa.

Go give one a proper test drive and see if it ticks the boxes for ya.

I just find it funny when many professional reviewers and other folks on this board say the new M50 drives great and is quite fast for what it is and folks who, AFAIK, still haven't even driven one yet are just like "no, you're all wrong, it can't drive well because it looks stupid". OK. 😄

I have a criteria list for any car SUV or truck I buy. While some criteria can change in order of importance and intended vehicle use, at the very top and always number one is…. Do I like the Aesthetics. Do I like the way it looks. If it’s not, it’s off the buy list.

[imc43]

Originally Posted by jdhiro

C'mon. Even the last-gen X3 was/is a great driving SUV. You cannot compare everything to an M2.

The new X3 is a failure in my eyes, but I have no reason to think it's not even better than the outgoing model in terms of driving dynamics.

was being sarcastic. of course it isnt anything like that, I just underestimated how responsive theyve managed to make the new platform. rigidity goes up a ton with each generation and new chassis. i just have a different idea of what is “direct responsiveness” with the last hydraulic steering m coupe.

[Kevin_The_Clean1]

I'm sure the chassis is more rigid than the previous platform the suspension is able to articulate through a smooth range of motion. But the interior does look a bit busy & feels cheap overall. And those quad tips is an insult to my S58 powered F97 X3 M Comp. Just like the F90 was the last of the great semi nimble & dynamic M5's, the G01 was the last of the great X3's. Sure hope they deliver a much spicer & classier version of this X3 "if" they release an X3 M version.

[R N M]

Originally Posted by bimmer813

I’ll leave this here: remember all the hate the M3 got when it came out? And yet, it’s still a nearly impossible car to get without getting on a list and waiting.

We may hate on it now, but I’ll just wait the year or so when people with the old model swap in and say it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread.

G8x is still hideous- the M4 especially and hence why it’s not selling well. The M3 is not as bad of a design besides the grill but park one next to F80 M3 and you can clearly see what great design is about.

New X3 will continue to sell well but that interior is sad joke.

[MagicJohnson]

Too bad BMW reduced the impact of their impressive engineering with poor packaging.

I can’t wait for an instrumented test.

[Mavus]

Originally Posted by MagicJohnson

Too bad BMW reduced the impact of their impressive engineering with poor packaging.

I can’t wait for an instrumented test.

also will be interesting to learn why is this vehicle’s weight +200lbs vs G01 considering almost the same size and pano roof delete?? cheaper wheels, body and suspension materials and other clar platform weight penalty maybe

[avi66]

Originally Posted by Mavus

also will be interesting to learn why is this vehicle’s weight +200lbs vs G01 considering almost the same size and pano roof delete?? cheaper wheels, body and suspension materials and other clar platform weight penalty maybe

Is the hood, fenders, and front doors still made from aluminium? Easy to check with a magnet.

[ModernAngel]

Originally Posted by dezzracer

I have a criteria list for any car SUV or truck I buy. While some criteria can change in order of importance and intended vehicle use, at the very top and always number one is…. Do I like the Aesthetics. Do I like the way it looks. If it’s not, it’s off the buy list.

Totally makes sense! Different strokes for different folks. Taste is subjective. Which is why I was only focusing on performance.

No matter how good a car drives if you don’t like the way it looks you won’t wanna buy it.

[ModernAngel]

Originally Posted by Mavus

also will be interesting to learn why is this vehicle’s weight +200lbs vs G01 considering almost the same size and pano roof delete?? cheaper wheels, body and suspension materials and other clar platform weight penalty maybe

Potentially bigger 48V battery could be the answer.

[Mavus]

Originally Posted by ModernAngel

Potentially bigger 48V battery could be the answer.

there are no large batteries so not a significant factor … still one in the trunk and the other one in engine bay

[JK479]

Originally Posted by cfm56d7b

It takes at least 3 years to bring a new model from concept to the first car rolling off the production line. Whether or not the original assumptions about cost of materials and sales forecasts materialize, the success will be evaluated based on the upcoming sales statistics. Automotive press - and many others - are waiting. BMW always has an option to tailor lease elements to influence sales. To be continued.

True. But we are a forum with elite tastes and ideals for the BMW brand. In no way shape or form does this discussion properly reflect the buying public. But personally I loved the looks of the old x3- the interior space hasn’t changed- just the looks.

My wife likes it in black. Most of the public will buy it. Because it’s a good mechanical car. Just not sweeping great looks.

[geompat1]

Originally Posted by bandersen

Best quote - ‘Vape shop probably wasn’t the vibe BMW was looking for’, in regards to the crappy interior.

"vape shop".....best description I've heard yet. Just picked up a 2025 x5 last month. That interior is gorgeous - even minus the physical switches and buttons which I miss. New X3 should have copied and pasted that interior.

[supershaft]

Originally Posted by bimmer813

I’ll leave this here: remember all the hate the M3 got when it came out? And yet, it’s still a nearly impossible car to get without getting on a list and waiting.

We may hate on it now, but I’ll just wait the year or so when people with the old model swap in and say it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread.

what? The M3 is incredibly easy to get. Now if you want a manual M3 then yea it's slim pickings but that's because BMW doesn't see them as profitable

overall it's rather sad watching the decline of BMW in real time.

[TXSchnee]

Originally Posted by ASAP

i mean... the xm was a fail upon fail lol... you dont have to look at far... as are the ix's... does anyone actually buy those?

new m5... still at my dealer days after delivery... how on a new car?

The XM is overpriced, except no one pays near sticker. I am on my second one, easy to get $20,000+ off an order, more if you want to lease. That said, the XM is really good for what it is, a comfortable, luxurious, quick cruiser. Marketing angle was wrong on it, never should have been anything other than an X8. Interior is gorgeous and absolutely no cheapening or short cuts as there are on every other new BMW. Also looks better than the '25 RR Cullinan. BMW is splitting the models with the new designer realignment, 3 Series and lower are going to be entry level, 5 Series and above are considered luxury. That is reflected in the interior of the new G45, would I have replaced my G01 M40i with one, no, but it is what it is, and BMW has been pretty open with their future plans.

[srekal34]

Originally Posted by TXSchnee

The XM is overpriced, except no one pays near sticker. I am on my second one, easy to get $20,000+ off an order, more if you want to lease. That said, the XM is really good for what it is, a comfortable, luxurious, quick cruiser. Marketing angle was wrong on it, never should have been anything other than an X8. Interior is gorgeous and absolutely no cheapening or short cuts as there are on every other new BMW. Also looks better than the '25 RR Cullinan. BMW is splitting the models with the new designer realignment, 3 Series and lower are going to be entry level, 5 Series and above are considered luxury. That is reflected in the interior of the new G45, would I have replaced my G01 M40i with one, no, but it is what it is, and BMW has been pretty open with their future plans.

Except that 5 and 7 series are cheapening on parts too. 5 series has plastic handles for the first time in history.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by TXSchnee

The XM is overpriced, except no one pays near sticker. I am on my second one, easy to get $20,000+ off an order, more if you want to lease. That said, the XM is really good for what it is, a comfortable, luxurious, quick cruiser. Marketing angle was wrong on it, never should have been anything other than an X8. Interior is gorgeous and absolutely no cheapening or short cuts as there are on every other new BMW. Also looks better than the '25 RR Cullinan. BMW is splitting the models with the new designer realignment, 3 Series and lower are going to be entry level, 5 Series and above are considered luxury. That is reflected in the interior of the new G45, would I have replaced my G01 M40i with one, no, but it is what it is, and BMW has been pretty open with their future plans.

i have seen a '23 XM w 20k miles for 88K lol... i'll just buy that one if I am into the XM

[Mavus]

I can’t believe this but yeah I am checking out reviews for Kia Telluride. Saw several of them on the road trip last 5 days and they look much better than this new x3. Anybody has any experience with it? The interior looks fine with proper switchgear, nice interior layout and price is reasonable with 10y wrnty. I saw probably at least 10 …

[ModernAngel]

Originally Posted by Mavus

I can’t believe this but yeah I am checking out reviews for Kia Telluride. Saw several of them on the road trip last 5 days and they look much better than this new x3. Anybody has any experience with it? The interior looks fine with proper switchgear, nice interior layout and price is reasonable with 10y wrnty. I saw probably at least 10 …

Tellurides are nice and very well reviewed. However, as part of my search for a new car I looked into a few Kias extensively to get owner feedback (via FB groups, forums, etc.) and they're still not the most reliable things. And Kia's honoring of their warranties seems to be a PITA that I just didn't feel like dealing with.

I also remember sitting in a Seltos on a showroom floor, pushing the speaker grille and having it easily bend/move from the slightest pressure. Not reassuring.

That all said, my parents have owned a PHEV Sportage for the past year and love it, so...

For reference here's every single car I test drove (some just for fun, some multiple times) in the past year before I ended up with the X3:

25 Ford Explorer ST
24 Acura Integra Type-S
24 BMW M340i xDrive
24 BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupe
24 BMW X1 M35
24 BMW X3 M40i
24 Buick Envision
24 Ford Ranger Raptor
24 Tesla Model 3 AWD
23 Audi Q3
23 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands
23 Ford Escape
23 Honda CR-V Hybrid
23 Mazda CX-5
23 Mazda CX-50
23 Nissan Rogue
23 Porsche Macan S
23 Toyota GR86
23 VW Tiguan
23 VW Taos
23 Volvo XC40
21 Porsche Boxster