[Eric500]

I actually don't mind the ambient lighting, that's what the market is "asking" for (see all the new Mercedes).

The interior is just lacking cohesiveness between the doors and the dash and the passenger side of the dash is so barren that it looks and is cheap. Additionally, the back half of the doors are missing something too which adds to the barren, non-luxury for $50-70k... yikes.

The problem is that everyone is cost cutting too and the new X3 is easily the best, most well rounded in the class even with the cost cutting. They will sell a lot of these and BMW won't be punished for it, they'll keep going with the X5 next.

[86Zed]

It certainly presents better in real life photos shown here, withholding full judgement. That being said there are fewer and fewer new BMWs one could convince me to buy. The ubiquity of enormous screens and loss of most buttons is not a good thing. Our older Macan had too many buttons and this newer crop of cars (sold GR Corolla included) have far too few.

[OleX]

Originally Posted by Nimz

Rosslyn - South Africa

Is this the new arctic race blue? Think this makes the car look better on real pictures than in the configuration.

[Glazonyoursix]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

It looks a hell of a lot better from this angle and not having those garish ambient lights on. Unfortunately this is only part of the picture.

I actually quite like it. I also feel that the whole Red/Blue they keep showing for the Ambient lights isn’t the greatest. Other colors would look far better.

[OUGrad05]

Originally Posted by EWL5

Gas is only cheaper because you chose to use regular gasoline and punted on performance, yes?

I used to get no better than 19 mpg combined with premium fuel on my MY18 MDX. You have the same engine in your larger and heavier MY22 so what's the fuel economy for combined?

It's rated for 87 Octane. We get 18 or so in all city driving and between 21 and 25 on the highway (depends on how fast I'm driving, wind direction, etc). Best I've seen is 25mph that was at about 75mph, had almost no wind that day. More typically is speed closer to 80 and it'll be 22-23mpg.

[Keweenawbee]

Did we lose gesture control in this new G45? I was hoping we'd go the way of The Expanse sci fi series. Of course the AI was way way more advanced in the far future. Looks like it’s mostly glass overhead now where the camera was to recognize the gestures. Big disappointment if it’s gone.

[MdW86]

Originally Posted by Eric500

The problem is that everyone is cost cutting too and the new X3 is easily the best, most well rounded in the class even with the cost cutting. They will sell a lot of these and BMW won't be punished for it, they'll keep going with the X5 next.

I’ve been looking at the Mercedes E class and it seems more luxurious than the previous generation (and more luxurious then the 5/x3)…

[Eric500]

Originally Posted by MdW86

I’ve been looking at the Mercedes E class and it seems more luxurious than the previous generation (and more luxurious then the 5/x3)…

Mercedes has been having quality control/build quality issues. The interiors generally look good though

[hyde]

hinckley

I actually cross shopped but it was a long way for nautilus release so I didn't want to wait and the X3 m40i performance was exactly what I was looking for, I hope Lincoln makes performance oriented nautilus then I would definitely consider again. It's a nice design, I even like the navigator design. Bmw really should learn a thing or two when it comes to going all touch.. The slapped on curved display is a horrible cheao design with no hood over or any attempt at integration with dash.

[mbanck]

Originally Posted by Keweenawbee

Did we lose it? I was hoping we'd go the way of The Expanse sci fi series. Of course the AI was way way more advanced in the far future.

What the hell are you talking about, the living conditions on earth during the Expanse? What does that have to do with the new X3?

[Hedoniste]

I like it. I will test drive it asap. M50 is a potential replacement for my M135i.

[avi66]

Thankfully I don’t need to change just yet, but if I did, I’d now seriously consider the G02, or cross shop.

Even the M50 doesn’t really look very “sporty”, especially the seats, which look like something out of a basic rental car.

[JK479]

Originally Posted by cb804

Are the crazy interior lights an option? This picture from BMW blog almost looks like wood but I think it's lighting also. At least you can tone down the crazy lights.

Can you order the m sport w/out the red stripe on the steering wheel?

And why red? Why not blue or grey?

[mbanck]

Originally Posted by JK479

Can you order the m sport w/out the red stripe on the steering wheel?

The M-Sport package for the regular cars does not have the red stripe on the wheel, that one is exclusive to the X3 M50 and I don't think you can delete it there.

[EWL5]

If the red stripe is meant to be a visual cue for better steering guidance, won't this just further reinforce talk of BMW's lack of steering feel and pull the rug from the new EPSapa steering mechanism?!!!

I only ever wanted a flat-bottom steering wheel and now they provide one w/another visual cue?!!! BMW must think we're morons!

[RoverYacht]

I'll get this out of the way first and say the interior is horrible. BUT, what I really want to talk about is how they are removing buttons, especially for the climate control. However, in almost every model they've done this to they make the air flow (I/O switch) controls for each individual vent as a captive touch control. THOSE controls should've moved to the screen. They should've kept physical or capacitive for temperature and fan speed. And it's fine to still have the climate info display on the bottom of the screen at all times if they want to. Took away the wrong controls.

[EWL5]

Originally Posted by RoverYacht

I'll get this out of the way first and say the interior is horrible. BUT, what I really want to talk about is how they are removing buttons, especially for the climate control. However, in almost every model they've done this to they make the air flow (I/O switch) controls for each individual vent as a captive touch control. THOSE controls should've moved to the screen. They should've kept physical or capacitive for temperature and fan speed. And it's fine to still have the climate info display on the bottom of the screen at all times if they want to. Took away the wrong controls.

I guess only time will tell if the X3 continues to be the best seller or drift off into a limbo where BMW's EVs also exist!

I'm not sure what kind of LCI can fix this 3 years down the road but I think we're talking major reconstructive surgery!

If I get another BMW, it'll be coming off someone's lease who doesn't mind the new look!

[dragonball182]

I built a near fully loaded m50 with the UK site and it came to 80k. WTF

[EWL5]

Originally Posted by dragonball182

I built a near fully loaded m50 with the UK site and it came to 80k. WTF

Sounds about right! Welcome to the new BMW!

[I'll take a gently used M40i, thank you very much!]

[avi66]

Originally Posted by dragonball182

I built a near fully loaded m50 with the UK site and it came to 80k. WTF

lol I sat in a brand new recent model car at my local BMW dealer that cost £126k+.

It had the new interior design ethos, and despite this cost it felt very cheap.

Really don’t know what’s happening with BMW, and assume the issue is political force to go EV, when demand for EV’s among private buyers is not materialising here. Hence, BMW are cutting cost everywhere, whilst increasing prices.

https://news.sky.com/story/electric-...ggest-13107632

[Mako]

Finally I can add a pig with a mustache to my pig pen

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by OUGrad05

We own one, the fuel economy isn't that poor and it takes regular gas so while it's MPG is 10-15% lower than an X5 the gas is 10-20% cheaper, works out to be a wash. It's also a bigger vehicle than the X5. The seats are fantastic, the ELS on the advance trim is pretty good. Ergonomics are EXCELLENT. This is super important for us because I'm 6'6 and my wife is 5'4. Our 2015 Lexus was absolute SHIT on MPG, ergonomics, seats, stereo...it was no buenos. Dealer was great though.

However, it is NOT a true premium car or premium experience. The build quality isn't as good as BMW. The dealer experience is about like Chevy or could be as good as Lexus, there's absolutely NO consistency there. I'm not sure I'd do another Acura. No loaners, shit dealer locally, good build quality in the grand scheme of things but nothing like Lexus or BMW.

Keep in mind the mdx gas tank is 18.5 gallons where the x5 is 21.9. So you get 3.4 more gallons plus 15% better mpg. That equates to a much much much longer range. I could not care less about the 10 bucks more or less at the station when buying a 80000 car. I care about how often I need to inconvenience myself to go there.