[Montaver]

Originally Posted by BigRam7151

Burrmeister sound system is in another league and I don’t feel it’s fair to compare. I had that sound system in a prior Mercedes and miss it. Mine is a gts with the Bose sound system. I am saying it is better then the 2020 bmw m3 Harmon Kardon system. That was the car I lived with for 3 years. The x3m was for a short period. It was my buddy’s car that I used often. In my opinion the Bose sound system is terrible. The handling on the car is better and it feels substantially more responsive on turn in. It feels more stiff in terms of lack of body roll closer to the x3m. But when driving on a bumpy road as we so often have in Los Angeles it feels surprisingly smooth on the 21 inch tires, which are good year eagle f1.

I believe the door handles are not quite cost cutting but a design decision.its very cheap to make aluminum door handles. I believe the car is a better daily driver then a gts. In terms of cargo space and the drive feel is comparable. It’s not substantially better. Although I always liked how heavy the Porsche doors feel. My point is assess the car as a whole and get in it and drive it. The stuff that people are focused on is not so important. It was mentioned in the hb review purely because it was discussed so much. The interior is a design direction love it or hate it as is the exterior. For the price it’s a very good package at around 70k. For 50k at the base x3 it’s also a great overall package. The car feels very well thought out.

It’s not about the direction of the design, it’s about the implementation. I sat in one myself and it felt noticeably downmarket. For example where you grab the door has a horrible ill fitting bit of plastic with a sharp ridge. Compare that to my 3 series which has a properly molded plastic handle, actual buttons etc. A new design is not an excuse for cheapening the interior. If you want to see modern interiors executed properly look at the Volvo EX90.

Ultimately though there will be plenty of people who will walk into the showroom and buy it because it’s the midsize BMW SUV and they need a new lease. If a few enthusiasts who notice this stuff and care don’t buy it, I don’t think the decision makers at BMW will be losing any sleep over it. The only way it will change is when they call and survey the buyers and they comment on it, as that’s the best feedback loop they have. Having taken a few of those calls myself with 4 new BMW’s in 5 years I have given a ton of feedback that way. Perhaps they spruce it up for the LCI, in the same way you can order galvanic controls on the 3 series for example.

[BigRam7151]

I actually think the window controls are fairly nice feeling. It’s a noticeable polish. Same with the door handles. The area of cost cutting that I think occurred was mostly with the rear seats.

Like I said aluminum door handles and buttons are a very small cost. They will likely change it with the refresh or make an option sooner. But I don’t think it substantially detracts from the overall feel of the car with ownership.

There are a lot of improvements here in terms of drive feel and tech.

I am looking at most of this commentary and thinking this is the typical internet “catastrophizing” of everything. Getting lost in the trees without looking at the forest type of thing.

[yousefnjr]

Originally Posted by Montaver

…
If you want to see modern interiors executed properly look at the Volvo EX90.
…

wife and I both hate her XC90 so much, can’t imagine the EX90 is much better even with the bar so low. Pretty sure the center console is made of some kind of cardboard on the sides of the tunnel. A much bigger offense to me has been the infotainment. Annoying enough that they’re taking buttons away and moving everything in there, fair enough everybody else is doing that too. It’s an especially egregious problem in the Volvo since the UI is a laggy, buggy, steaming pile of crap. Can’t tell you how many times it’s frozen or has gone complete black, or any other of a dozen random issues that seem to constantly occur. It’s a good thing these cars are supposed to be safe in accidents because I’d love to drive this turd into a fucking wall

[The Libertine]

Originally Posted by Montaver

Of course it’s going to be quieter and more comfortable than an X3M, you are stating the obvious. Are you comparing it to a 2.0L Macan with base sound system. Because if your talking about a GTS with Burmester it’s not even close. No one is saying it’s a bad car from an engineering perspective, but if you want a luxury vehicle it clearly isn’t one by the traditional standards given its very clearly been cost cut in terms of interior quality and features. If that doesn’t matter to you then great, and that is exactly what BMW is gambling on.

Well said.

[hyde]

Originally Posted by avi66

Can you clarify what you mean by cornering lights i.e. low speed manoeuvring light or turning to follow bends at speed etc ?

From the VIN I looked at, BMW US continues to disable selective beam masking highbeam, so I guess will need a Euro assessment when cars ship here.

Hi, I meant cornering like turn Signal activated or if it starts illuminating after you turn the steering wheel certain amount. This was my gripe on m40i. It's usually too late to turn on when you are turning the corner after stopping.

Regarding high beam, my m40i has this animation when auto high beam is activated. It's like a little curtain that gradually widens the view.

[PhantomOpera]

Originally Posted by texvette

what dont like over the 24, the front end or the m50, the grilles and headlights
shapes. Too generic looking like so many other suv today. The slab sides,
very plain. Back end ok. Why got the 24 over the 25 was, no fan of
those large screen dashpods, like the old style separates. Lighting dont
need a light show, what turned me off of the 25 mercedes e class. Size
increase, wanted a smaller suv for the 7 inch difference would just go with
a X5

I’ve had the 2023 my friend. The improvements to the performance and handling to the 2025 plus the illuminated grill outweigh your subjective cons. The exhilaration meter on the 2023 was neutered. The 2025 now brings a better exhaust. Burps on the upshift and an improved mild hybrid instant torque from take off.

[avi66]

Originally Posted by hyde

Hi, I meant cornering like turn Signal activated or if it starts illuminating after you turn the steering wheel certain amount. This was my gripe on m40i. It's usually too late to turn on when you are turning the corner after stopping.

Regarding high beam, my m40i has this animation when auto high beam is activated. It's like a little curtain that gradually widens the view.

I don't know about turn signals but afaik, it has a separate manoeuvring light element in the inner most side of the headlight unit that aims towards the side. I think it’s only active at lower speeds, like parking, or turning at a junction.

Not sure about your M40 high beam as here we have selective high beam masking as standard, meaning the high beam is on most of the time when the criteria is met, even in traffic, and this makes a significant difference to visibility for me.

[The Libertine]

Originally Posted by PhantomOpera

I’ve had the 2023 my friend. The improvements to the performance and handling to the 2025 plus the illuminated grill outweigh your subjective cons. The exhilaration meter on the 2023 was neutered. The 2025 now brings a better exhaust. Burps on the upshift and an improved mild hybrid instant torque from take off.

In what way is an illuminated grill an improvement? It’s a gimmick. Plain and simple. Probably taking design cues from Battlestar Galactica.

[avi66]

Originally Posted by The Libertine

In what way is an illuminated grill an improvement? It’s a gimmick. Plain and simple. Probably taking design cues from Battlestar Galactica.

Afaik, the illuminated grille option is required to get the after dark projection carpet lights when the doors open. I believe the grille led can be turned off, but still an unnecessary cost on some models if you don’t want the illuminated grille, but would like the carpet light.

I’m not sure what door open illumination you get if this isn’t optioned, but it would seem not to include the projection carpet light as well.

[blackpear]

Originally Posted by avi66

Afaik, the illuminated grille option is required to get the after dark projection carpet lights when the doors open. I believe the grille led can be turned off, but still an unnecessary cost if you don’t want the illuminated grille, but would like the carpet light.

I’m not what door open illumination you get if this isn’t optioned, but it would seem not to include the projection carpet light.

Another post here said if you don’t spec the projection lights you get four puddle lights in the the doors. These are removed/blanked off if you spec the projection lights.
Not seen confirmation of this though.

[avi66]

Originally Posted by blackpear

Another post here said if you don’t spec the projection lights you get four puddle lights in the the doors. These are removed/blanked off if you spec the projection lights.
Not seen confirmation of this though.

Yea, I read that as well, and it would be good to know for sure.

Here the M50 gets the illuminated grille as standards, so if it has removable blanks with installed harness as that post suggested, it may be possible to add puddle/projection lights relatively easily.

Anyone got a G45 without the illuminated grille ?

[PhantomOpera]

Originally Posted by The Libertine

In what way is an illuminated grill an improvement? It’s a gimmick. Plain and simple. Probably taking design cues from Battlestar Galactica.

Design cues from the XM. Subjectively you can call it whatever you like. In real life it garners a wow factor with people at night over not having it.

[ModernAngel]

Originally Posted by BigRam7151

There are a lot of improvements here in terms of drive feel and tech.

I am looking at most of this commentary and thinking this is the typical internet “catastrophizing” of everything. Getting lost in the trees without looking at the forest type of thing.

To me it certainly does appear there are many folks commenting negatively who haven't even driven one just looking for reasons to reinforce why they shouldn't like the vehicle. Which, great. You do you. And if you don't like the looks - totally fair. Everyone is looking for different things in a car and has different taste.

There are different types of car enthusiasts. I happen to care about how fun/enjoyable a car is to drive all things considered more than if a door handle is smooth or if there's no lightning in the rear seat. I personally don't give a sh!t about that stuff. If it's good, great. If it's not it's not going to keep me from buying a vehicle I find fun to drive. If you're someone who cares more about a door handle being plastic vs. metal and are going to let that keep you from buying a car that's otherwise fun to drive, then more power to ya.

I will say this - again having come from a long line of sporty cars (ND Miata, Z4 M40i, Focus RS, STi, G87 M2, etc.) that I've driven on the same twisty roads for years the new X3 is still fun as crap to drive for a vehicle that can also easily transform back into a comfortable cruiser with the touch of a button. This past weekend I went on an effortlessly comfortable 3 hour interstate roadtrip with my girlfriend. When I got home I went right back into the car for another 2 hour blast on backroads in sport mode by myself. This isn't me hypothesizing about the experience or making comments based on photos of a car I've never driven - it's my real-world experience driving the actual car. Is it perfect? Hell no. But is it a bad car? Absolutely not. In fact, I would argue that for the use case it's pretty damn good.

[MidnightLight]

Originally Posted by ModernAngel

There are different types of car enthusiasts. I happen to care about how fun/enjoyable a car is to drive all things considered more than if a door handle is smooth or if there's no lightning in the rear seat. I personally don't give a sh!t about that stuff. If it's good, great. If it's not it's not going to keep me from buying a vehicle I find fun to drive.

+1 to that. I think everyone needs to contextualize the reviews/comments based on what kind of car enthusiast they are. It's undeniable that the new G45 has pros and cons compared to the G01. But how much weight you assign to each of those pros and cons might look very different from someone else.

Like you, I care first and foremost about the driving experience (and passenger ride experience). And being in product development myself in a different industry, I know trade-offs are necessary under business constraints. I come to BMW because I trust that they will prioritize the driving experience over other dimensions when it comes to making those necessary trade-offs. If they cut down on interior materials to retain enough budget to improve the suspension and steering, I'm fine with that prioritization. Other consumers will have a different weightage for these concerns.

[The Libertine]

Originally Posted by PhantomOpera

In real life it garners a wow factor with people at night over not having it.

That’s the standard that BMW is now aiming for? A lighted grill that attracts attention. SMH…..

[PhantomOpera]

Originally Posted by The Libertine

That’s the standard that BMW is now aiming for? A lighted grill that attracts attention. SMH…..

I don’t know what they were aiming for, I’m just telling you my brief two week experience. If they added ambient lighting to the rear doors, that would also increase my subjective wow factor. I’m pro lighting, are you pro darkness lol?

[avi66]

Originally Posted by The Libertine

That’s the standard that BMW is now aiming for? A lighted grill that attracts attention. SMH…..

Maybe you could get some of that glow lighting under the car to finish the look.

[blackpear]

Originally Posted by The Libertine

That’s the standard that BMW is now aiming for? A lighted grill that attracts attention. SMH…..

Don’t be confused. Like it or not, the comment from PhantomOpera is correct.

[blackpear]

Originally Posted by avi66

Maybe you could get some of that glow lighting under the car to finish the look.

Plenty like that sort of thing. I don’t judge them.

[The Libertine]

Originally Posted by PhantomOpera

I don’t know what they were aiming for, I’m just telling you my brief two week experience. If they added ambient lighting to the rear doors, that would also increase my subjective wow factor. I’m pro lighting, are you pro darkness lol?

Lighting is fine, but as I’m no longer in high school or drift-race as a hobby am “okay” not owning a car with a grill that lights up. I guess my priorities are different.

[avi66]

Originally Posted by blackpear

Plenty like that sort of thing. I don’t judge them.

I regularly see many of them gathered by McDonald’s like a scene from Fast and Furious.

What ever floats your boat lol.😂

[PhantomOpera]

😉