[Max Well]

Although it isn't clear if BMW Design or Engineering reads this forum, at the outside chance they do, it seemed reasonable to at least record what this Enthusiast community would like to see changed or included in the G01 while they may still be in the design phase. If we number as we go, it'll be easy to keep track.

1. Full aerodynamic improvements (air curtain, breathers, blades, vents)
2. Ventilated front seats
3. Add another dual exhaust (to make a quad)

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by Max Well

Although it isn't clear if BMW Design or Engineering reads this forum, at the outside chance they do, it seemed reasonable to at least record what this Enthusiast community would like to see changed or included in the G01 while they may still be in the design phase. If we number as we go, it'll be easy to keep track.

1. Full aerodynamic improvements (air curtain, breathers, blades, vents) -Done
2. Ventilated front seats -Done
3. Add another dual exhaust (to make a quad)-Done

Next?...

[pokerface]

4.Stronger brakes
5.better brake pedal feel

[TerraLvr335i]

Originally Posted by pokerface

4.Stronger brakes
5.better brake pedal feel

+1

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Next?...

I didn't catch the 'DONE' remarks entered after numbers 1-3 in my quote the first time I read this, Scott. This is fantastic news! Thank you kindly for sharing with us.

[TerraLvr335i]

How about one of the bigger diesels here in the US?

[kevink1]

I just hope I don't feel regret that I didn't wait until the 2017s came out to buy my first BMW. I dithered for 4 years. Mid cycle refresh, then bought

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by TerraLvr335i

How about one of the bigger diesels here in the US?

Thanks, Terra. To maintain the numbering of the list for Scott, will make this:

6. Increase options for larger diesel engine sizes for the US market

Originally Posted by kevink1

I just hope I don't feel regret that I didn't wait until the 2017s came out to buy my first BMW. I dithered for 4 years. Mid cycle refresh, then bought

Same boat here with our 2015, Kevin, but if we had waited on the G01, we would have missed the fun of driving the '15 LCI over the next two years.

[kevink1]

Well, yes. There is ALWAYS a reason to dither when you don't like the thought of spending over $40,000 on a car. It is cheaper to just keep driving what you have, especially when the vehicle you have only has 111,000 miles and just cosmetic issues.

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by kevink1

Well, yes. There is ALWAYS a reason to dither when you don't like the thought of spending over $40,000 on a car. It is cheaper to just keep driving what you have, especially when the vehicle you have only has 111,000 miles and just cosmetic issues.

Indeed, you are right. Which is what many of us work through when considering our future vehicle purchases.

Which is also why, after researching the numbers reflecting each of BMW's available models, I am convinced BMW also realizes this. Given their engineering prowess and capital behind the scenes, there is no doubt they can develop any model concept they wish. If you look at the thread, 'Horsepower and Speed - the graph', as I was working through that I realized that every portion of those curves is now represented by a BMW model. Looking at even the mid-range which is somewhat sparsely populated, the 750LXI and right next to it - the X1? That cannot be by happenstance. I would suggest that designers realized their may be a sub-population of their market which may not need as much space as we do in the X3 realm, which then allowed them to play with the frontal area and make it smaller (and thereby leaner in the equations).

And when we see comparisons of our X3 to other auto makers' models which may not be comparable in load, internal dimensions/capacity, or price, yet we stay in the mix for consideration, then I think they must understand what is at stake.

I would suggest it wouldn't be a stretch for them at all to produce an ultra-premium X3 to rival any of the makers out there - fit, finish, you name it (much as Alpina has done). But if one is the CFO counting numbers, in the end, it must come down to profit margins, and for that, it seems they have been proactive. They want to capture those of us who may not be able to afford all of the bells and whistles, while still providing us with a vehicle which takes advantage of many of the engineering attributes available in their $120K models.

[kevink1]

In my case, absent something that prevents me from keeping the car the time I want to. Accident. Theft. Turns into a maintenance nightmare. I plan to keep it for at least 7 years. So if I keep on enjoying it, then I can consider a mid cycle upgrade again

Maintenance nightmare, maybe a different brand next time

It didn't take 2 years from my last car purchase that they started offering features like MP3 support (on CDs), auxiliary inputs, blue tooth. I resisted. Just used a cassette adapter.

[dandanio]

7. Be STILL RWD biased.

[Ranger 6]

Originally Posted by Max Well

3. Add another dual exhaust (to make a quad)

Add weight?? no definitely not. If you want dual exhausts buy an X5

Originally Posted by pokerface

4.Stronger brakes
5.better brake pedal feel

Yes, yes, and again yes

Do not, do not, do not, drop the 35d (or any of the 3.0 models for that matter) in the name of 'economy' or 'emissions'.....
In fact an upgrade to full 40d spec (whatever the difference that is) would be fine

[fetcs]

8. Shorter order to delivery time in Europe (it could be one month only )

[Rodion]

9. Proper seats infront and not just those small 3-series seats

10. Plugin hybrid version to be available to the low-end of the price list

11. manual transmission that actually works together with the clutch and also can be reversed with power

12. reversing problem to be fixed:

[woodchuck1]

13. How about an optional compact spare tire and jack? If Porsche can fit one in the Macan, so can BMW.

[woodchuck1]

14. A fore/aft adjustment on the front seat head restraints like on some other BMW models.

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by Ranger 6

Add weight?? no definitely not. If you want dual exhausts buy an X5

Do not, do not, do not, drop the 35d (or any of the 3.0 models for that matter) in the name of 'economy' or 'emissions'.....
In fact an upgrade to full 40d spec (whatever the difference that is) would be fine

Puzzled by your response to the dual exhaust addition to make a quad, Ranger? On the one hand you mention adding weight is not a good idea, yet you mention not dropping the 35d models in the name of 'economy' or 'emissions', so what is the driving force for your weight concern?

As discussed in the 'Horsepower and Speed - the graph' thread, although weight savings can always be viewed as a good thing, in reality, subtle weight changes have minimal effect on HP requirements at constant speed. 'Signficant' weight changes can affect acceleration (and thereby affect 0-60mph times to an extent), and when going up grade, but have much less effect at constant speed, especially at the higher end of the spectrum, and the loss going up grade is offset when coming back down.

Research is available on this topic online - not specifically in regards to our X3, but vehicles overall. In the 60 page report by Ricardo Inc for 'The Aluminum Association', Apr 2008, entitled 'Impact of Vehicle Weight Reduction on Fuel Economy for Various Vehicle Architectures', they report on simulations of differing weights in five vehicle classes (Small car - Mini Cooper; Mid-size - Ford Fusion; Small SUV - Saturn Vue; Large SUV - Ford Explorer; and Truck - Toyota Tundra). In sum, in their simulation, for a 'Small SUV' (wt 4250 lb) with a 5% reduction in weight (abt 200 lbs), City mpg improved from 20.9 mpg to 21.2, HWY from 30.9 to 31.3, less than 1.7% combined difference. Acceleration 0-60mph was 9.2 sec vs 8.9 sec.

In a larger trial by Franzese et al Oct 2011 by Oak Ridge National Labs, they evaluated 60 data points for a number of trucks covering 1000 trips and logging 700,000 miles, assessing fuel efficiency flat and with differing road grades. It is a 79 page report and interesting to read, but in sum, the fuel efficiency was within 0.8mpg over a range of 55-75mph for trucks averaging 33,700 lb and another group averaging 49,700 lb.

Checking online (waldronexhaust as one site), one can buy a Stainless Steel Dual Header/muffler kit which ships at a weight of 39lb (or 0.9% of our X3's weight). It seems unlikely the addition of 39lbs will have any meaningful effect on our X3's performance and consumption curves.

Finally, most SAV's in roughly a similar category to our X3 (Audi Q5, Infin FX35, Porsche Macan S, Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover, and Mercedes ML350) have bilateral and symmetrical exhaust trees - the X3 is the only one in that list which is unilateral. One could also debate as to whether the symmetrical format could even improve underbody aerodynamics (which contributes 10% to total aerodynamic drag), although I haven't seen data to prove such. All versions of the X3's engines may not 'need' the extra pipes, but to some, the appearance simply looks better.

So, no thanks on the X5 offer, I'll stick with the X3.

[bagekko]

Originally Posted by Max Well

2. Ventilated front seats

Vent seats and M Dynamic Adjustable Bolsters!!

I wish they would just slap a good Class III/IV hitch on every X and just build it into the price, that way all versions of the bumpers are designed around the hitch.

Design the M Sport Aero so you can add/have mud flaps!!!

Also just make the auto tailgate standard too...

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by bagekko

Vent seats and M Dynamic Adjustable Bolsters!!

I wish they would just slap a good Class III/IV hitch on every X and just build it into the price, that way all versions of the bumpers are designed around the hitch.

Design the M Sport Aero so you can add/have mud flaps!!!

Also just make the auto tailgate standard too...

Thanks, bagekko. To maintain the numbering of the list for Scott, will make your suggestions numbered as:

15. [Ventilated Seats – see #2} and M Dynamic Adjustable Bolsters

16. Class III/IV hitch on every X (built into the price, so all versions of bumpers are designed around the hitch).

17. Design the M Sport Aero to enable addition of mud flaps

18. Make the auto tailgate a standard feature

[///Mposter]

19) Add a lock to the center console
20) Fix heads up visibility ( for short people like my wife)
21) Easier /faster way to toggle between helicopter view to backup view using the parking sensor button instead of I drive .
22) Fix the Radio memory bug. The radio comes on with static or no last channel selected after having a phone plugged in , or really for no apparent reason. Happens after restart of car.
23) Comfort access, add rear door sensors . It's so annoying not being able to open the rear door without having to grab the front door handle especially while holding a child or infant carrier.
24) Beefier steering rack . I'm on my second one and it lasted for a few months with no clunking.
25) Move the Heated steering wheel button by the heated seats button instead of on the column where you can't see it.
26) Redesign the shifter so that it makes sense to all other car owners. Why put the park button at the top but make it visually by the neutral ? Why do you have to shift forward 2x to go into reverse ? Swap the button location with visual indication location of you are going to leave the order different than every other car manufacturer. Picture provided .


27) Let the sport button put the car in S mode (shifter moves left) just like if you hit park and you are in sport , it moves over to the right .

28) Have the headsup display the song using the steering control scroll instead of the MFD.

[Pitiful Old Man]

Great ideas from everyone. I agree with almost everything!

How about:

29) Better selection of individual items versus the current packages approach. Thinking mostly about the sport seats availability without the M package.

30) Full cold weather package (heated steering wheel) in combo with other driver assist options.