[UltimateBMW]

I don't spend alot of time on these forums, however I've been looking over the X3 for a while.

One thing about it's looks that has continued to irk me is that lower rear bumper section of the car. I feel like it just makes the entire rear end of the car sag and look heavy.

I have noticed that on the M sport packaged car (I believe) that this particular section of rear bumper is painted to match the car's body color. Since this piece is painted individually, this leads me to think that it could be removed on any model of X3.

So, has anyone here shared my displeasure and removed this section of lower rear bumper? If so, are there any pics of it removed?

Thanks in advance.

Picture of what i'm on about. (Circled in Red)

[Lotus7]

Sorry, the Lower section (below the black band) is one part of the whole bumper cover and is continuous to the hatch opening. The black band is inlayed into a recess. The only way to remove it would be with a saw and there is a lot of "stuff" behind that part of the cover like the muffler and the "real" bumper.

There is a small add-on "lip" at the bottom of the bumper cover that is a separate piece (the part that's about 5 cm high)

[Shaw]

Originally Posted by UltimateBMW

I don't spend alot of time on these forums...

UltimateBMW
Posts: 2,659

very funny...

[Santa69]

Why not just get the M sport?

[Bimar]

Originally Posted by Shaw

UltimateBMW
Posts: 2,659

very funny...

[UltimateBMW]

Originally Posted by Shaw

UltimateBMW
Posts: 2,659

very funny...

I meant the X3 boards...

I usually post in the M3, Racing, and General Auto sections.

[UltimateBMW]

Originally Posted by Santa69

Why not just get the M sport?

I was under the impression that the M-sport still had that section still there. Whether it is painted or not... I wish it just didn't 'droop' down so far for my tastes.

[frankwin]

All M sport cars have this greyish bottom bumper, easily seen on non-black cars:

[UltimateBMW]

Maybe I'm being just too picky, but I feel like the M-sport should have kept the black fender trim. Looks a bit odd to me having it all be the same color. At least on white.

Thanks for all the help though.

[UltimateBMW]

Here is a mashup I made of the M-Sport bumper on a normal trim X3.

I feel like this looks the best of both, am I the only one?

[jacb1301]

On the mash up...no way. We have an AW X3 M Sport on the way, and if they didn't offer the M sport with the body color trim we would have gone with black. The black trim looks horrible. ESPECIALLY on white!

[sfax]

Originally Posted by jacb1301

On the mash up...no way. We have an AW X3 M Sport on the way, and if they didn't offer the M sport with the body color trim we would have gone with black. The black trim looks horrible. ESPECIALLY on white!

I'm not a big fan of the black trim on white on the back of the car but I much prefer the black trim on the wheel arches and side skirts to having them in body colour, particularly in light colours like white. The SE car looks more aggressive and the wheels look way too small with body coloured arches. Compare the 18s on the two pictures above. I'm 50/50 on SE/M Sport and would ideally like a mix of the two. The decision was taken for me as no M Sport when I ordered mine

[rpiopio]

Re: the photoshopped pic, dropping the white all the way down the back without having the side trims white breaks the visual flow along the side. I spent some time really staring at the side of the demo vehicle and pictures (not understanding the black line around back at first) but taken as a whole, by keeping it black, it visually lifts the bank end of the car. On M-Sport, in a way, by making all the trim the same body color, it visually lowers the car for a more sporty profile.

Finally, if the trim was all black in the lower back, the top 4/5's of the rear end would look too stubby. They had to pull the eye down a bit by putting in that colored section on the bottom.

[tuco44]

Originally Posted by sfax

I'm not a big fan of the black trim on white on the back of the car but I much prefer the black trim on the wheel arches and side skirts to having them in body colour, particularly in light colours like white. The SE car looks more aggressive and the wheels look way too small with body coloured arches. Compare the 18s on the two pictures above. I'm 50/50 on SE/M Sport and would ideally like a mix of the two. The decision was taken for me as no M Sport when I ordered mine

As with all styling, we have different opinions on what looks right/good.

Example, I much prefer the body color (a la MSport) on the wheel arches and side skirts over the black trim on them. Differences make the world go 'round.

[UltimateBMW]

I just followed the actual trim piece as far as it went to get an accurate representation without altering parts.

I'm pretty sure the rear wheel arch trim doesn't go all the way down. To me, the above picture is miles above the other 2. I felt having the bottom painted on the non-Msport was pulling my eyes down. The black strip did nothing but make it stick out more.

I also find the painted trim on the Msport made the car look washed out as they were 2 different pieces and I felt there needed to be some contrast. When comparing to the X5 or 3 series the trim is either black, or not present at all.

The painted trim also reminds me of a mid 90's Limited Explorer, which I don't fancy.

[carlili4190]

I don't think I would have got the car if there was no such thing as the m-sport. I think the black "plastic" fender's look cheap

[Lotus7]

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" I see more Pontiac Azteks every day than X3s - go figure.

[LEDZEP]

Originally Posted by UltimateBMW

I was under the impression that the M-sport still had that section still there. Whether it is painted or not... I wish it just didn't 'droop' down so far for my tastes.

M Sport has a completely different rear bumper. The lower portion of the rear is painted "Dark Shadow Gray" for all M Sports, with the remainder in body color.

Just get a black X3, and you'll never really notice.

P.S. This is just my opinion... I really don't spend much time on these forums.

[nonagon]

That mashup doesn't work for me. The black trim at the bottom should flow to the rear for continuity. IMO the part you circled in red on the mineral silver X3 actually looks clean and modern.

[509trooper]

Originally Posted by jacb1301

On the mash up...no way. We have an AW X3 M Sport on the way, and if they didn't offer the M sport with the body color trim we would have gone with black. The black trim looks horrible. ESPECIALLY on white!

Funny, that's the reason I got AW! To each his own...
By the way I was stationed in Vicenza!

[UltimateBMW]

Originally Posted by nonagon

That mashup doesn't work for me. The black trim at the bottom should flow to the rear for continuity. IMO the part you circled in red on the mineral silver X3 actually looks clean and modern.

You might be right, but I just feel having the painted bit beneith the black trim level makes it look like it's too fat for it's belt. So to speak. I'll also add the part inparticular you are focusing on, I botched the mashup. So it could probably look cleaner, but like I said I mostly just followed the physical trim piece and ended where the part itself ended. So in theory, you could get a regular X3, buy a Msport rear bumper and get exactly what is in my picture.


I think I'd even be happy if they had just left the entire bottom section black, or painted all of it. I just place great value in contrast, and the 'cheap' aspect some people are seeing doesn't resonate with me at all. I am actually surprised that so far I'm the only one that had an issue with this section of the car...

[jacb1301]

Originally Posted by 509trooper

Funny, that's the reason I got AW! To each his own...
By the way I was stationed in Vicenza!

Nice! Obviously BMW is smart to offer the two options...post some pics of your X3, what interior color did you go with? I had to push my order back for a deployment...will pick it up when I get back. We went with the Mojave leather. I keep an eye out for your ride if I am ever up in Vicenza. Ciao!