[EWL5]

Originally Posted by Jason

Another first drive review:

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...ototype-drive/

Review made it sound like that parking feature by memorization is new (it isn't)....unless it's standard now...

[hunter04]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

Except BMW! No hybrid or electric X3 in the US…. Yet. The iX is far more expensive, and the X5 PHEV is a different vehicle altogether

They had the x3 30e here in the US for a year in 2021? I believe. Very uncommon, heard it’s range was horrible.

[COM40]

Originally Posted by Jason

Another first drive review:

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...ototype-drive/

"There are three variants to choose from: base, Sport, and M Sport. All three can be paired with VDC, which is BMW-speak for variable damper control"


So sounds like there are going to be trim levels now? Hope they don't go the Audi route where they lock some equipment behind certain trim levels.

[EWL5]

Originally Posted by COM40

"There are three variants to choose from: base, Sport, and M Sport. All three can be paired with VDC, which is BMW-speak for variable damper control"


So sounds like there are going to be trim levels now? Hope they don't go the Audi route where they lock some equipment behind certain trim levels.

Probably “pay to play”, like when Mercedes charges to unlock HP!

[Car-Addicted]

Any one notice "The belt-driven steering gear, EPSapa variant, is new to the car, allowing BMW to create very specific axle kinematics and elastokinematics. The function of electric power steering belts is to transfer torque from the motor to the steering gear to assist during driving, thereby enabling the engineering team to exert more force into the axle."

I would sure like to know more about this? Not the only BMW model using this.

https://manualzz.com/doc/35382126/se...-7818--7828...

[trife.]

Originally Posted by Bimmerforlife

It looks bigger or am I imaging it?
I also don’t like flush door handles, when it’s wet they slip out of your hands when you open, very annoying.

Did you also notice the rear headrests are now fixed, they don’t go down.

Unless my eyes deceive me, you can see the notches on the headrest stems. So it appears they are not fixed—they just have them all the way up for some reason.

[junx]

Looks awesome. Can’t wait to see the actual reveal.

[Xtabi]

Originally Posted by Blackfield

Hi,

I have been out of BMW world since I sold my F80, now X3 M50 is high on my list.

Reading all of the replies on this thread remind us that there is NO single car that can satisfy everyone, ranging from wanting EV, bigger, smaller, older style, more upscale, etc.

It really depends on what your priorities, use case, etc.

I plan to trade my 992 with an suv, gasp!
Love to car, however, priorities change.

I looked at current X5, I rule it out after learning the G45. X5 is bigger, yet, the second row leg room is average. It seems that the majority of the space goes to the trunk.

Cayenne is 20K+ more than X5 the way I configure it, per trim. I just can't get over the delta.

Macan is an awesome compact SUV, the best really - if you do not need people on the second row. For family with kids, think twice before you get one.

In our case, I think X3 M50 can be the suv that we are looking for, can't wait for the next X3 M, unfortunately.

I could have wrote this exact same thing word for word. Including recently selling my beloved F80!

[Bimmerforlife]

Originally Posted by x3g01

Most likely, looking at recent new BMW releases, the following decontenting will happen:
No map pockets on back of front seats
No door sill labels
No comfort access on rear doors
No ambient lighting strips on rear doors
Plus the other material-related cheapening for the stalks/window controls/plastics that cars like the 5 Series have seen.

It’s sad because between around 2018 - 2022 this segment had multiple great options like the then-new Audi SQ5, the GLC43 with a V6, Macan S/GTS and the X3 M40i. Now the GLC43 has a compromised hybrid 4-cylinder setup, the SQ5 and Macan are still soldiering on unchanged and feel dated, and we get a new X3 M50 with a lot of cost-cutting throughout. So even looking outside of the BMW world, it’s becoming harder and harder to find a good option for a fast compact luxury SUV with good daily usability, tech, and build quality.

There will definitely be decontenting.
Then the following year or 2 BMW will slowly bring back all the items they took away, it how they keep getting you to buy every 2-3 yrs. Like all new vehicles now they are getting to be all computers on wheels. No more buttons, shifters, with massive screens. It’s like they only want you to steer and look at the screens and drive. I’m surprised they kept the iDrive controller.

[EWL5]

Originally Posted by Bimmerforlife

There will definitely be decontenting.
Then the following year or 2 BMW will slowly bring back all the items they took away, it how they keep getting you to buy every 2-3 yrs. Like all new vehicles now they are getting to be all computers on wheels. No more buttons, shifters, with massive screens. It’s like they only want you to steer and look at the screens and drive. I’m surprised they kept the iDrive controller.

That wasn't the case for me as I have MY23 X3. The LCI removed some stuff and I have even less than the MY22 since they removed gesture control!

They kept the iDrive controller because there's a revolt from automotive customers to keep physical controls. Volkswagen is one of those companies that has been quick to pivot:
https://www.engadget.com/volkswagen-...044931087.html

[Evinrude1975]

Originally Posted by internalaudit

Horatiu did complain about the steering numbness / dead dead center feel and uncomfortableness (maybe steering wheel was resistant or pushing back hard at him) driving the first one or two km until Sport + was selected and then he was totally fine with the steering.

Not really sure that was all about though. If steering was so bad in one mode, what did all the improvement in suspension, new EPS, and kinematics bring to the table?

Horatiu is always totally fine with any BMW. 😂

[internalaudit]

The PHEV variant is not coming to North America at launch, correct?

I wonder what the wait for that variant will be.

At least in Canada, I think the G01 PHEVs were sold throughout the second half of the production life cycle, at least from 2021 model year onward.

[xmanpro]

X3m is gonna be lit.

[hb]

Originally Posted by Evinrude1975

Horatiu is always totally fine with any BMW. 😂

TL;DR An insight into how prototypes are tested and how journalists review cars.

I don't usually reply in threads, but let me shed some light on this review. These pre-drives are controlled which means they (BMW) want to focus on certain topics. In this case, the new steering systems (EPSapa) in the car. It's a premiere feature for them and it launches first in the X3. They won't answer any other questions at that stage.

Therefore, each test was fairly short. About 30-45 min on a small track with the X3 M50 (they won't even confirm the name now), testing the lows and highs of the new EPS, before landing on the near-production setup for Sport and Sport+.

So there isn't much to review in terms of the actual car. First of all, it's a year old prototype and some fine tuning will still happen before production. Instead, I choose in these type of reviews to gather as much tech details as possible to inform all of us. I ask A LOT of technical questions which can be boring for some readers/viewers.

On the X3 PHEV, firstly, it's not a US-bound model. The drive was also about 30-45 on country roads, testing again the new EPSapa and the suspension setup. Is there enough time to do a proper review? Maybe, but it will be mostly superficial. So again, I focus on learning more about the changes. I did complain here about the B48 being sluggish, but a customer who buys the X3 30e doesn't buy it for sound and performance.

The actual press drives are always a few months later, in this case, Fall 2024. This is when you get the car for a full 8-10 hours and really test its capabilities, features etc..

And that's when I usually point out flaws, if any and usually there are some. Like I just did with the X2 M35i. I sent you a message on this already. I was one of the few journalists (about 200 of them tested the car) who weren't sold on it and its performance, quad pipes, sluggish DCT etc.

This is just one example, but I promise you, I'm objective when it comes to reviews. I don't think any good journalist goes there fearing they will never be invited back if they don't write something positive. This is why you see negative reviews and you see these journalists coming back again.

BMW is very respectful in that perspective, as far as I know, I've never heard otherwise from any other media.

Final point: every journalists/content creator/youtuber has their own bias when it comes to a car. Some of us like smaller cars (love an M2 before an M4 for example), or an X3 M40i before an X5 M60i, so that makes it a bit more difficult when you review because you have to wear the hat of an actual customer, not what you like.

I'm also a guy who loves digital things and I'm less bothered about moving away from that, yet I complain quite a lot about the removal of these buttons because from a UI/UX and ergonomics perspective, it's just a bad move. And I know customers dislike that based on the comments I see on our own platforms.

Hope this helps a bit.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by Jen4BMW

Whoever at BMW decides on exterior color options seriously needs therapy and a lifetime prescription for Prozac because nobody who isn’t suffering from hard core depression could possibly obsess over the color grey like they do.

But, but, but....it's the midpoint of the German Color Scale!

[Evinrude1975]

Originally Posted by hb

TL;DR An insight into how prototypes are tested and how journalists review cars.

I don't usually reply in threads, but let me shed some light on this review. These pre-drives are controlled which means they (BMW) want to focus on certain topics. In this case, the new steering systems (EPSapa) in the car. It's a premiere feature for them and it launches first in the X3. They won't answer any other questions at that stage.

Therefore, each test was fairly short. About 30-45 min on a small track with the X3 M50 (they won't even confirm the name now), testing the lows and highs of the new EPS, before landing on the near-production setup for Sport and Sport+.

So there isn't much to review in terms of the actual car. First of all, it's a year old prototype and some fine tuning will still happen before production. Instead, I choose in these type of reviews to gather as much tech details as possible to inform all of us. I ask A LOT of technical questions which can be boring for some readers/viewers.

On the X3 PHEV, firstly, it's not a US-bound model. The drive was also about 30-45 on country roads, testing again the new EPSapa and the suspension setup. Is there enough time to do a proper review? Maybe, but it will be mostly superficial. So again, I focus on learning more about the changes. I did complain here about the B48 being sluggish, but a customer who buys the X3 30e doesn't buy it for sound and performance.

The actual press drives are always a few months later, in this case, Fall 2024. This is when you get the car for a full 8-10 hours and really [...]

Horatiu,
thank you for your message. I appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback. What I expressed is a personal opinion that is not intended to put you and the people you work with in a bad spot. I have watched and enjoyed several videos, and actually, believe it or not, one of them is the reason why I bought my car.

In your role as a sincere enthusiast of the Bavarian brand, I believe that your reviews are accompanied by an inevitable bias, which in my opinion translates into spontaneous criticism that is sometimes counterbalanced by a mitigation of the problem, almost as if to justify the negative point. Surely, the balances in maintaining the privileged (and deserved) relationships you have with BMW somehow lead to a constructive and intelligent balancing of the macroscopic problems that BMW is facing and addressing not always optimally.

Personally, I would prefer to see you less at some new model presentations and special events, and more assertive about the choices that are distorting the history and tradition of the brand. (E.g.: The new M5 weighs 5,368 pounds, about 1,000 lbs more than the F90!!!).

That said, I believe that the result of your work is a nice combination of competence and passion. My brief comment was not intended to belittle your work and the effort you make to provide new content.

[R N M]

I have 2023 X3 M40i which is my 2nd one as we had a 2020 as well.

I don’t mind it to be a bit bigger and I hope we get the M seats in US as the regular seats suck especially compared to the 18 ways on the Macan.

The good thing is we still can get B58 motor!
The interior though maybe a deal breaker with the dumb ipad, no buttons and no shifter.
If exterior resembles new 5er, i will not be getting new one.

The new Genesis GV80 Coupe is on my list of potential replacements. Amazing interior quality with a lot of traditional controls still. I wish BMW would continue to offer same stuff as not everyone wants the cheap Tesla interiors.

[Deho]

Originally Posted by internalaudit

The PHEV variant is not coming to North America at launch, correct?

Since the current 30e isn't available in the US but is available in Canada, I hope the new one will also be available here.

I'm my province it seems to be a popular choice; I see way more 30e models on the road than M40i models.

[internalaudit]

Originally Posted by Deho

Since the current 30e isn't available in the US but is available in Canada, I hope the new one will also be available here.

I'm my province it seems to be a popular choice; I see way more 30e models on the road than M40i models.

Oh, you're from Quebec! Yeah, lots of used 30es for sale on the used car market.

Too bad that 30 km range is not something I may be interested in.

Charge and spend $1.50 for electricity and then save $5 on gasoline costs, but then living in the suburbs, I've got to charge the car almost every day lol.

[Game]

Originally Posted by ASAP

When is the actual reveal? i'll reserve judgement until I see it... my sticking points are going to be don't make it larger (especially just from an exterior perspective like the X5), heavier and give it that terrible ID 8.5 without buttons... or at least add back in the buttons.

So far every review i've read of id8 and 8.5... it claims its a complete step backwards compared to Id7 in terms of usability.

Being in hundreds of iD7 and iD8/8.5 cars, I can easily say 8.5 is the superior system. IMO, it's the best BMW system to date.

[Sandbagger1987]

I saw one of these in Brooklyn yesterday! At least pretty sure this was it.

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by Sandbagger1987

I saw one of these in Brooklyn yesterday! At least pretty sure this was it.

Glad to see bmw cares about test driving over our crappy NYC roads!