[sfax]

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

The M Sport looks so much better IMO.

It's all subjective but I still much prefer the SE because of its side profile. The M Sport, particularly in lighter colours makes the wheels look tiny, like the proportions you get on a bus of wheel to vehicle. The black arches on the SE give the impression the wheels are bigger and the angle of the sculpted lines make it look the whole car is lifted up at the back - difficult to explain.

I do prefer the front of the M Sport and I like the back too although all one colour on the back makes it look narrower, the SE has a wider-looking stance from behind. It's also supposed to be a 4x4 so the parts that get dirty are black for pragmatic reasons. MSport styling makes much more sense on a 3 series. Just my opinion. And all of that said I much prefer the X5 in MSport, particularly white, just not the X3

[johnbmw6]

Originally Posted by sfax

It's all subjective but I still much prefer the SE because of its side profile. The M Sport, particularly in lighter colours makes the wheels look tiny, like the proportions you get on a bus of wheel to vehicle. The black arches on the SE give the impression the wheels are bigger and the angle of the sculpted lines make it look the whole car is lifted up at the back - difficult to explain.

I do prefer the front of the M Sport and I like the back too although all one colour on the back makes it look narrower, the SE has a wider-looking stance from behind. It's also supposed to be a 4x4 so the parts that get dirty are black for pragmatic reasons. MSport styling makes much more sense on a 3 series. Just my opinion. And all of that said I much prefer the X5 in MSport, particularly white, just not the X3

Fare comment

[sfax]

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

Fare comment

I am however envious of the softer leather on the M Sport steering wheel that someone on this forum described as like a female's inner thigh!

[washy]

Hello all.
I am toying with the idea of ordering another X3, what are the delivery times like now? Not sure I can bear another 8 month wait.

[johnbmw6]

Originally Posted by washy

Hello all.
I am toying with the idea of ordering another X3, what are the delivery times like now? Not sure I can bear another 8 month wait.

Good to see you back Washy, things looking better I hope.
Waiting times greatly reduced, 8 weeks or maybe less, it depended on the dealer I think, check around, happy Xmas.

[washy]

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

Good to see you back Washy, things looking better I hope.
Waiting times greatly reduced, 8 weeks or maybe less, it depended on the dealer I think, check around, happy Xmas.

Hi, yes things definately looking a bit better now. I will make a few calls.

Merry Xmas to you too.

[Rogerbu]

I am obviously in a minority. I prefer the Msport's looks to the SE looks particularly for the lighter colours.

The 80s retro look black bands seem to cut off the bottom third of the back (and to a lesser extent the front & sides) and to my mind in white/silver the SE almost looks like an 80's ford van - Sorry everyone.

I also don't like the texture of the black plactic band. It seemed to be stippled and will be a pain to get and polish off of.

[RichardBR]

Originally Posted by Rogerbu

I am obviously in a minority. I prefer the Msport's looks to the SE looks particularly for the lighter colours.

The 80s retro look black bands seem to cut off the bottom third of the back (and to a lesser extent the front & sides) and to my mind in white/silver the SE almost looks like an 80's ford van - Sorry everyone.

I also don't like the texture of the black plactic band. It seemed to be stippled and will be a pain to get and polish off of.

Hear hear... I totally agree with you. M sports seems to make the car justice. Makes it complete and more agressive

[johnbmw6]

Originally Posted by RichardBR

Hear hear... I totally agree with you. M sports seems to make the car justice. Makes it complete and more agressive

+2 I think the SE looks "DATED".

[dnw]

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

Waiting times greatly reduced, 8 weeks or maybe less, it depended on the dealer I think, check around, happy Xmas.

This is not the case. Waiting times still around 6 months. I believe you got lucky with your 35d as it came on the same batch as the initial shipment of demonstrators to Euro dealers. Certainly half a dozen appeared on approved used around be same time.

[dnw]

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

+2 I think the SE looks "DATED".

I think the MSport looks like a minivan from the side. The front and back are nice but I can't live with the sides.

I agree that the black plastic on the back of the SE doesn't look great but I am with Sfax on liking it on the sides. The car looks much lighter and more athletic.

BMW MSport styling is really hit and miss to me. Love it on the old 1er and the new 3er but on others it just looks like an aftermarket body kit.

It is totally subjective of course and there is no right answer generally, only what is right for you.

However it does seem that the bigger engines are primarily ordered in MSport which is why I would avoid a 35d SE which I would suspect will be very uncommon and lose a lot more on resale.

30d SE seem to be a few around so less of a concern and that's what I ordered. I'm still bracing myself for a big depreciation hit on the six cylinder and £10k of options (shudder)... although the excellent discount I obtained absorbed a chunk of that.

In either case it will be a lot more than the unbelievable £1500 that parkers says I've lost on my Q5 in 15 months!

[tank531]

I prefer SE as on some colours the M-Sport and the unbroken body colour panels from top to bottom and wheel arches looks to rich, to much colour, the side looks to deep. The SE has more proportion. As sFax says, somehow the X5 MSport has better proportions IMO

[gemuk]

Originally Posted by dnw

This is not the case. Waiting times still around 6 months. I believe you got lucky with your 35d as it came on the same batch as the initial shipment of demonstrators to Euro dealers. Certainly half a dozen appeared on approved used around be same time.

ordered my 35d m sport in October..... given build wk 10 and delivery wk 16 (March & April 2012)

[dnw]

Originally Posted by gemuk

ordered my 35d m sport in October..... given build wk 10 and delivery wk 16 (March & April 2012)

Sounds about right and supports the theory that John timed his 35d order just right!

I ordered 30d SE 30th October and delivery will be end April.

[sfax]

Originally Posted by RichardBR

.
Hear hear... I totally agree with you. M sports seems to make the car justice. Makes it complete and more agressive

I assume you mean does the car justice although I'm not sure I follow how painting the plastic does that. As I said it's all subjective and I'm not against MSport styling as I prefer the X5 with MSport. I would take issue with the word "aggressive" as I'm not sure how effectively wearing a longer dress would make anything more aggressive but each to their own. I see lots of relatively cheap cars with body coloured trims and don't see the attraction personally. It's all plastic

[washy]

So still about 6 months wait then.

I would still probably go M sport again, but I do think that from some angles the SE does look better.

[X35D For Me]

Just had to add to the debate here. The SE is fine apart from the awful back end with that huge band of black plastic across the back. It just diesn't look right. Ok the M Sport is a fair bit extra but it does look fab and wheels on 4x4 do need room to move about, so I disagree about the earlier comment of them loooking too small. M Sport every time!!!

As far as delivery goes, I ordered my 35D on 21/11, it's now built and waitng to be shipped over to the UK. I'm told I should have it in the 2nd week of January at the latest.

Much better than the Evoque I ordered in June and which still had no signs of a build date in November when I cancelled it for the X3!!!

[AC888]

Msport looks so much better IMHO
SE looks incomplete with so much black plastic
Also good value if you are thinking about dynamic pack, xline, brush alu trim, etc not to mention the sport suspension...
The extra for that stunning body kit is almost free, how good value can this get ?
So much easier to clean and wax as all surface are painted
4x4 never meant to have big low profile wheels and tyre to fill the arches anyway unlike say a porsche 911, so the smaller wheel look is fine with me.
So happy to get an Msport as it look so well IMO

[worfdum]

MSport or SE, I guess it is subjective. I originally ordered the SE, then about 4 months ago, after watching the 'CarBuyer' video and a few others decided to change to the MSport. Now, with a bit of luck, and a fair wind, it will finally arrive

[johnbmw6]

Originally Posted by washy

So still about 6 months wait then.

I would still probably go M sport again, but I do think that from some angles the SE does look better.

If you want a Black 35D M Sport, listers Kings Lynn have one just in.

[johnbmw6]

Originally Posted by X35D For Me

Just had to add to the debate here. The SE is fine apart from the awful back end with that huge band of black plastic across the back. It just diesn't look right. Ok the M Sport is a fair bit extra but it does look fab and wheels on 4x4 do need room to move about, so I disagree about the earlier comment of them loooking too small. M Sport every time!!!

As far as delivery goes, I ordered my 35D on 21/11, it's now built and waitng to be shipped over to the UK. I'm told I should have it in the 2nd week of January at the latest.

Much better than the Evoque I ordered in June and which still had no signs of a build date in November when I cancelled it for the X3!!!

Great News, I contacted my dealer about "The Wait" on these cars, and they said "It'd down to the dealers allotted slots", they can get them through quickly IF they wanted too. So they said.

[johnbmw6]

This is my M Sport side view with 19" Sport Wheels.
I don't think it looks that bad.