[starbai]

looks awesome... I'm excited for it. Still can't make a decision between a Diesel X5 or an x3 M40i...

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by MN2///M

They were doing mountainside drives at the top of the mountain here at Steamboat.

Thank you for sharing your photos, MN2 - did you get a sense of how the handling was on these paths (which appear to be unpaved and wet with some snow)?

I was also trying to get a feel for what brand of tires they're using - are they mixing it up with different manufacturers depending on vehicle and tire size?

[jjl]

That grey X3 looks a LOT like the current X5.

[sor]

Originally Posted by jjl

That grey X3 looks a LOT like the current X5.

Hah, I’m assuming they were IN the X3, following an X5 that took part in the trip.

[MN2///M]

Originally Posted by jjl

That grey X3 looks a LOT like the current X5.

Might be because that one is; good eye, just sharing what they let us put these brand new cars through and that was the lead car. The X3 handled the mud, ice and snow really well, they also have hill descent which I don't remember if the one's I've driven before did.

[MN2///M]

Originally Posted by Max Well

did you get a sense of how the handling was on these paths (which appear to be unpaved and wet with some snow)?

I was also trying to get a feel for what brand of tires they're using - are they mixing it up with different manufacturers depending on vehicle and tire size?

Every bit as capable as my X5. The trail was pretty gone over by the time we did our drive, so pretty muddy. The X3 rode surprisingly nice over the bumps, almost floated, much better than the previous generation felt when we were considering our last SUV/SAV.

I'll try to remember to get some info on the tires before we leave today.

[JSY]

That picture of the moonroof... Is it me or have I never realized that that my moonroof on my current X3 opens with the glass on the outside? For some reason I thought it opened with the glass opening on the inside. Or is this new? I need to check it out on my car. lol

These pics have shown me much more than any of the other pics posted by reviews.

[MN2///M]

Originally Posted by Max Well

I was also trying to get a feel for what brand of tires they're using - are they mixing it up with different manufacturers depending on vehicle and tire size?

Bridgestone 245/50-19 Dueler H/P for the 30i and Pirelli 245/50-19 Cinturato P7 or the Bridgestone's for the M40i.

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by MN2///M

Bridgestone 245/50-19 Dueler H/P for the 30i and Pirelli 245/50-19 Cinturato P7 or the Bridgestone's for the M40i.

Thank you for sharing the tire information, MN2 - like previous versions I guess it'll be a roll of the dice to see which brand is placed on our individual production models. I know the Cinturato has been discussed in the forums before, but I don't recall much on the Dueler. Thanks again, and I hope to be able to reciprocate with some pictures of our own M40i when it arrives in two-three weeks.

[bailyhill]

Any appearance of a Diesel for the USA? 2.0, 3.0, 4 pot or 6 pot, when?

I would love, I think, a 3.0D here in the usa. Have the 2.0D now. Its great.

Bailyhill

[ZHPsedan]

Originally Posted by Max Well

Thank you for sharing the tire information, MN2 - like previous versions I guess it'll be a roll of the dice to see which brand is placed on our individual production models. I know the Cinturato has been discussed in the forums before, but I don't recall much on the Dueler. Thanks again, and I hope to be able to reciprocate with some pictures of our own M40i when it arrives in two-three weeks.

All season wheels and tires. The wheels look pretty good though. Glad that paint color isn't too dark.

[KAP8]

I should have ordered the ventilated seats. I was convinced it deleted the manual thigh support extenders. Rats.

[ND40oz]

Originally Posted by KAP8

I should have ordered the ventilated seats. I was convinced it deleted the manual thigh support extenders. Rats.

I think the ventilated seats still has smaller side bolsters, although the pictures don't really show the seat backs to confirm that.

[KAP8]

Originally Posted by ND40oz

I think the ventilated seats still has smaller side bolsters, although the pictures don't really show the seat backs to confirm that.

Oh that's right. I forgot about that difference.

[bwcooper]

Originally Posted by ND40oz

I think the ventilated seats still has smaller side bolsters, although the pictures don't really show the seat backs to confirm that.

That is correct. Though the bolsters are adjustable to make them more/less firm, so I'm not worried about them being wider since I assume I can "pump up" the bolsters to get a "tighter" feel. Unfortunately, I'm not skinny enough to worry about the seats being too wide!!

[airbagit13]

Curious as to why it came with 19" wheels and not 20".

[MN2///M]

Originally Posted by bailyhill

Any appearance of a Diesel for the USA? 2.0, 3.0, 4 pot or 6 pot, when?

I would love, I think, a 3.0D here in the usa. Have the 2.0D now. Its great.

Bailyhill

There were no diesel models at the event and I don't recall them mentioning one in the briefing they gave.

[MN2///M]

Originally Posted by ND40oz

I think the ventilated seats still has smaller side bolsters, although the pictures don't really show the seat backs to confirm that.

I did not notice any difference in the seats between the M40i and 30i other than the ventilation.

These pictures are of the M40i:



The seats in both variants are much better than the previous generation. A large part of why we bought the X5 was for the multi-contour seats that were available. The ones in the G01 were nearly as comfortable and had they been available when we bought the X5, likely would have made the difference.

[KAP8]

Originally Posted by MN2///M

I did not notice any difference in the seats between the M40i and 30i other than the ventilation.

These pictures are of the M40i:
Attachment 1710070
Attachment 1710071

The seats in both variants are much better than the previous generation. A large part of why we bought the X5 was for the multi-contour seats that were available. The ones in the G01 were nearly as comfortable and had they been available when we bought the X5, likely would have made the difference.

The seats are just another thing BMW did not make clear to us.

[Bimar]

Bridgestone duelers on a bmw, that’s interesting..

[Orion141]

Originally Posted by MN2///M

Bridgestone 245/50-19 Dueler H/P for the 30i and Pirelli 245/50-19 Cinturato P7 or the Bridgestone's for the M40i.

I'll be interested to see what the non run-flat options are for 245/50-19. I ordered the car with non run flats and 19" inch rims so we will see. Doesnt appear either of those models are available in non RFTs.

[MN2///M]

Driving Impression
BMW briefed a 0-60 MPH time of 4.6 seconds for the M40i. It definitely was quick and has nice burbles from the exhaust. There is some difference between the standard 30i and the 40i in ride, but not much.

The 40i has an "adaptive" mode which automatically selects the optimum mode based on how you are driving the car. For just tooling around, this seemed to be a great mode as the power was there when you mashed the pedal, but the ride was nice and compliant just riding around. The ride in the new X3 is definitely better than the previous generation. Regardless, if I was driving around town all the time, I'd probably leave it in sport.

Off road, we were driving the X3 30i, not the M40i, but I suspect the M40i would be equally capable. The 30i did not have the adaptive mode, but does have hill descent, which is really nice if you do any off road driving.

It is also worth noting that BMW has finally included a factory trailer hitch option, although it would have been nice if it were concealed when not in use.

The 40i also has the full digital instrument panel. Pictures are above; it looks nice, but I'm not a real fan of digital instrument displays. The rest of the interior was as you would expect from BMW. There is also wireless charging available for those that want it. All the cars I saw this weekend had it, as well as Apple Car Play. The other nice interior feature was a storage space for the rear cargo shade under the cargo floor. Not clear if this would still be there if you ordered a spare tire.

Looking at the configurator, optioned similarly out to my X5, it comes in at $65k. My X5's MSRP was about $7k more. The X3 felt every bit as comfortable as our X5, had the G01 been available when we ordered our X5, we may have chosen it over the X5.

There are a couple of items that for us may have still steered us to the X5. Towing capacity of the new X3 was briefed as 4400 lbs; X5 is rated for 5952 lbs. I have used my X5 to tow in excess of 5,500 lbs a few times; we'd have to think about that.

The other would really come down to the rear cargo space and its actual usability. On paper, the new G01 X3 has 28.7–62.7 cuft and the F15 X5 has 35.8 – 76.7 cuft; not really that much difference, but at least for us, the primary reason we have a SAV is for hauling stuff and long trips.

Overall, unless you have some very specific reason to buy the X5, the new X3 is the car to buy in my opinion. In nearly every measurable way. the G01 matches the F15 X5 for what appears to be less money; will depend on how the dealers discount both vehicles at this point.

No matter what, the one thing I can state with certainty that the G01 means for the X5 is that the G05 X5 will likely be phenomenal.