[EWL5]

Originally Posted by blackpear

From the Sunday Times UK

Sounds good, doesn’t it? But then you slip into the driving seat, and it all goes sideways very quickly. Getting in is fine, and the sportily sculpted seats are perfectly pleasant, even with the sustainable fabric that feels a bit rough but is otherwise comfortable. You’re greeted by a cleanly designed and minimalist new dashboard that’s topped with a massive screen housing, and there’s lots of ambient lighting all over the place. And then you close the door…
At that point, things start to unravel, because the handle built into the arm rest feels terribly cheap. The sort of cheapness we kind of accepted in the Volkswagen Up! a decade ago, but certainly won’t tolerate in a premium SUV today. And once your hand has recoiled from the tackiness in the manner of a 21st Century Jack Sparrow picking up dog dirt, you realise most of the door card feels equally low-rent. The arm rest itself is fine, but the plastic on the top of the door is no better than acceptable, and the door catch is dire. It’s thin and lightweight, the texture is naff and the whole thing feels like it’s made from old wheelie bins. It even makes the same noise as a wheelie bin lid closing when you let it spring back into place.

Were that the end of the X3’s interior woes, we might let it off and view the whole thing as an oversight that will be fixed at the next update, but the problems run deeper than that. There’s a strange multi-function switch panel next to the door catch that feels just as cheap and insecure, while the plastic panel on the lower part of the dashboard is tacky and unpleasant. So too are the shift paddles behind the steering wheel and the air vent controls, which feel lightweight and fiddly. Oh, and the glovebox is crummy, too.

Sunday Times review

Wow, that's harsh!

[avi66]

Originally Posted by Montaver

Good to see a review calling it out for what it is. Doing 'modern' or 'minimalist' or however you want to describe it is not an excuse for cheap no matter how BMW try to position it. Look at the interior of a Volvo EX90 for example. It's certainly modern and clean, yet still uses a clever mix of materials, stitching, recycled materials etc. What's even more crazy is we know BMW can do modern luxury vibe, look at the interior of the X1/X2. Here is the EX90, yes I know its a class up in terms of size but this is modern executed properly.

That’s the real issue. For me it’s not about modernising, minimising, or trying new things, it’s the fact that the execution is so cheap looking and feeling. If Volvo can do minimalist with style and quality materials, why can’t BMW ?

I think the answer is BMW figures it can get away with how the car drives, and can cheap out on everything else. Hope it bites them in the ass.

[avi66]

Originally Posted by EWL5

Wow, that's harsh!

The truth hurts. It’s that bad in person.

[avi66]

Originally Posted by blackpear

From the Sunday Times UK

Sounds good, doesn’t it? But then you slip into the driving seat, and it all goes sideways very quickly. Getting in is fine, and the sportily sculpted seats are perfectly pleasant, even with the sustainable fabric that feels a bit rough but is otherwise comfortable. You’re greeted by a cleanly designed and minimalist new dashboard that’s topped with a massive screen housing, and there’s lots of ambient lighting all over the place. And then you close the door…
At that point, things start to unravel, because the handle built into the arm rest feels terribly cheap. The sort of cheapness we kind of accepted in the Volkswagen Up! a decade ago, but certainly won’t tolerate in a premium SUV today. And once your hand has recoiled from the tackiness in the manner of a 21st Century Jack Sparrow picking up dog dirt, you realise most of the door card feels equally low-rent. The arm rest itself is fine, but the plastic on the top of the door is no better than acceptable, and the door catch is dire. It’s thin and lightweight, the texture is naff and the whole thing feels like it’s made from old wheelie bins. It even makes the same noise as a wheelie bin lid closing when you let it spring back into place.

Were that the end of the X3’s interior woes, we might let it off and view the whole thing as an oversight that will be fixed at the next update, but the problems run deeper than that. There’s a strange multi-function switch panel next to the door catch that feels just as cheap and insecure, while the plastic panel on the lower part of the dashboard is tacky and unpleasant. So too are the shift paddles behind the steering wheel and the air vent controls, which feel lightweight and fiddly. Oh, and the glovebox is crummy, too.

Sunday Times review

Call a spade a spade.

“It isn’t that it’s a badly engineered car — not a bit of it — but the materials used in the interior are below par to say the least, and BMW knows it. In a refreshing wave of honesty, some executives quietly admitted to Driving.co.uk that the quality isn’t what they might have wished for, thanks almost entirely to the firm’s bean-counters.”

[wartnig]

Originally Posted by EWL5

Wow, that's harsh!

Here’s a link to the whole review…


https://www.driving.co.uk/car-review...3-2024-review/

[tofublox3]

https://www.sgcarmart.com/articles/c...e-review-35827

more reviews

[MidnightLight]

Originally Posted by 8GranCouper

Here's a review that showcases the G45 next to all the prior generation X3's:

LOL -- car reviews are certainly... different... in Singapore!

[hb]

Originally Posted by l33v0nix

can you find out about the 1036M wheels offset please?

Einpresstiefe 20" VA24mm HA44mm

9Jx20 H2 IS24
10 1/2Jx20 H2 IS44

Here it is

[tofublox3]

Originally Posted by hb

Einpresstiefe 20" VA24mm HA44mm

9Jx20 H2 IS24
10 1/2Jx20 H2 IS44

Here it is

super! you're da man!

[hb]

Originally Posted by l33v0nix

super! you're da man!

No worries. Trying to get the answer to the other question also, the M40i wheels someone else had

[Rik762]

Originally Posted by hb

Einpresstiefe 20" VA24mm HA44mm

9Jx20 H2 IS24
10 1/2Jx20 H2 IS44

Here it is

Thanks for that info. I assume IS is the same as ET ??

Do you have figures for the 21 inch wheels as well?

[hb]

Originally Posted by Rik762

Thanks for that info. I assume IS is the same as ET ??

Do you have figures for the 21 inch wheels as well?

I don't

[Snave01]

These reviews make me feel like my decision to bail on the '25 X3 and move to the X5 was 100% the right move for me even though I don't really need the extra space.
This was classic

And the driving seat is definitely the one to occupy in the X3, not least because the act of driving takes your mind off the door handles and air vents.

[hb]

Originally Posted by driveseeker

Any chance you could ask if 19" M698 wheels, which came standard on the G01 M40i, would fit the new M50? Hoping to use as a winter set. Thanks.

According to BMW, they won't fit

[JMX2M35i]

Originally Posted by avi66

The truth hurts. It’s that bad in person.

Have you seen one at the dealership yet?.

[avi66]

Originally Posted by JOHNBMWM5

Have you seen one at the dealership yet?.

No, at GFS.

[ronaldinhocro]

Autobahn blast with M50

Don't know what this guy is talking about but the way car picks up speed is impressive imho. Also the car seems relaxed at high speeds, nice

[driveseeker]

Originally Posted by hb

According to BMW, they won't fit

Sorry to hear, but many thanks Horatio for pursuing this. Much appreciated.

[JMX2M35i]

I have asked for a test drive once one is available in the UK.

[Eric500]

I expect the American youtubers/media/press to not really say anything bad yet if there are media drives. Their incentive is views and to keep getting invited to these paid for trips.

They have no reason to be honest until they get a week long loaner to test and even then some aren't that honest

[internalaudit]

I am sure the M50 will drive better now that M Sport Differential is standard in North America. All that kinematics improvement in suspension and steering will help too.

Is the incremental improvement worth the interior and exterior designs is another thing.

B58TU3 issues hopefully got resolved.

[hb]

Originally Posted by Eric500

I expect the American youtubers/media/press to not really say anything bad yet if there are media drives. Their incentive is views and to keep getting invited to these paid for trips.

They have no reason to be honest until they get a week long loaner to test and even then some aren't that honest

That's such a false narrative.