Picked it up yesterday. Black on Black. Drove it on the Interstate, back roads, etc, etc.
Sold my F85X5M in 2018. Bought the F90M5 and kept it until June 2019. Bought the TTS in March 2019. So all were around recently.
X5M went 12.2 at 114mph stock. 11.8 at 117mph RC.
F90M5 went 11.2 at 125mph stock. 10.8 at 130mph RC.
TTS goes 10.4 at 131mph stock.
Per IND the X3M Comp stock will go 11.8 at 116mph...to be tested here.
X3M is very interesting. It's not the "little brother" to the X5M. It is the little brother to the F90M5.
The X5M is much more visceral than the X3M. If you like the "feeling" of speed and acceleration you will like the X5M better even though the X3M is faster/quicker. That is the same reason I sold the F90M5. IT IS A GREAT OVERACHIEVER. Loved the F90M5 overall. But the TTS, only 0.40 seconds quicker, is MUCH more visceral than the F90. It feels twice as fast, even though it is not.
Same with the X3M. It is as quiet at cruise as the F90M5. Extremely comfortable. But you do not get the noise, vibration , etc when accelerating. BUT IT IS F A S T.
Handling wise, the X3M kills the X5M. MUCH more balanced. Tech is greatly improved also. Pretty much the F90M5 Tech, with the same steering wheel, shifter, seat look, etc. A F90M5 SAV basically with a bit less power (11.2 vs 11.8 Time for a RaceChip)
Stock vs Stock the X3M exhaust sounds slightly better than the X5M. Modded, the X5M will kill anything you do to the X3M. V8 Twin Turbo Rules the exhaust mods.
Ride wise, to me, the F90M5 was slightly stiffer than the F85X5M....not enough to matter,,,rode well. The X3M with Michelins at factory spec rides as well as the F90M5 in Comfort. ZERO issues there. But our roads are decent. Expansion joints and occasional potholes are fine. Not as soft as the F85X5M, but fine.
Turbo Lag....this will be debated for a while here. Is it Turbo Lag or are you used to V8 TT tip in Torque that hits fast ??? Tip in Torque was Instantaneous in the F85X5M and the F90M5 due to the V8's hitting hard/quick. I drove an X5 35i down to pick up the X3M. Totally different feel in tip in Torque vs a V8TT. So, for me, the X3M does not have true Turbo Lag.....it's comes down to what you are used to and are expecting......
Overall, the X3M Competition is a WINNER.
