[Anna8]

Originally Posted by sbt007

If air is taken out of the spare to fit the space, does that not defeat the purpose when you need it. Unless there is a way to inflate it.
I also wanted this option but was annoyed at the raised floor and have not ordered yet.

I have a cordless air gun that I carry in my cargo. Perhaps that would work?

[Mojobaggins]

Has anyone else done this? Interested in hearing how it went with others. Looking to order a M40i. Plan to switch to non run flats and with dogs, really don't want to add the spare saver and deal with a raised cargo area.

[Regisss]

Very nice job! I also would like to have such a solution...

[ColoM40i]

Originally Posted by sbt007

If air is taken out of the spare to fit the space, does that not defeat the purpose when you need it. Unless there is a way to inflate it.
I also wanted this option but was annoyed at the raised floor and have not ordered yet.

I'm not getting it. What's the big negative with the minimal raise of the cargo floor to have a factory installed spare?

[kscarrol]

Every body has their own needs. If someone is a heavy user of the cargo area then I can see where the raised floor reducing cargo capacity might be an issue. I (and sounds like ColoM40i) are not power users and don't need that maximum cargo capacity. I agree it seems like a small amount of space in exchange for piece of mind I get having the spare when the RFT's go but that's my view of the world. Different strokes for different folks...

[sbt007]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

Every body has their own needs. If someone is a heavy user of the cargo area then I can see where the raised floor reducing cargo capacity might be an issue. I (and sounds like ColoM40i) are not power users and don't need that maximum cargo capacity. I agree it seems like a small amount of space in exchange for piece of mind I get having the spare when the RFT's go but that's my view of the world. Different strokes for different folks...

Well said. I did not option the spare even though I would have liked to have it. I don't like the reduced cargo area. And also I don't like how it looks with the raised 3 inches. Although someone in this forum got really angry at me last time I said the second part. Basically I am unhappy for not getting it but I would be a little more unhappy getting it, so there is no right or wrong answer here.

Personally I think BMW rushed the design and now they either don't want to change it because many people already have it or simply looking ahead to next generation design. If the OP of this forum can do it, BMW could have as well in a much cleaner way. There is enough space down there to put some insulation and then a tire and still have a flat / almost flat load floor.

[ColoM40i]

Originally Posted by sbt007

Well said. I did not option the spare even though I would have liked to have it. I don't like the reduced cargo area. And also I don't like how it looks with the raised 3 inches. Although someone in this forum got really angry at me last time I said the second part. Basically I am unhappy for not getting it but I would be a little more unhappy getting it, so there is no right or wrong answer here.

Personally I think BMW rushed the design and now they either don't want to change it because many people already have it or simply looking ahead to next generation design. If the OP of this forum can do it, BMW could have as well in a much cleaner way. There is enough space down there to put some insulation and then a tire and still have a flat / almost flat load floor.

To each his own. From what I've seen the raise is more like 2 inches which amounts to about 2.5 cubic feet loss of cargo space if you use the entire cargo area (top to bottom) behind the second row seating area. As far as the looks go, the cargo hold area aesthetics are not of importance to me.
I close the cargo hatch and I see nothing. To each his own.

[rob175]

I'm considering ditching the RF tires ...... AND a "spare" too. Just a can of a "slime" type sealant and my trusty 12v air pump should get me to someplace to fix or replace the flat.

[Em2]

I'm thinking of doing this too. I prefer Nokian Hakkapeliittas from pervious experience and want to get them for winter tires vs sottozero 3 RFT.

I know there's a trade off between dry performance and snow/ice but I found the hakka's to be fine on previous cars for dry/wet and superior in snow.

Any punctures I've had left me fine to fill up with enough air to get me home. I think slime/a tire repair kit would be fine on a longer trip.

[Mojobaggins]

J

[Mojobaggins]

Just did it. Took about an hour and I had to deflate the tire much more than half. Used a serrated blade from my Leatherman to cut the liner. I didn't take out the floor and just used my head to hold it up.

If I drop the floor it stays up about and inch but I can push it down and lock it. I'll work on getting the tire fully push down(the front end is the issue). Photo posted a couple of comments down.

[sbt007]

Originally Posted by Mojobaggins

Just did it. Took about an hour and I had to deflate the tire much more than half. Used a serrated blade from my Leatherman. I didn't take out the floor and just used my head to hold it up.

If I drop the floor it stays up about and inch but I can push it down and lock it. I'll work on getting the tire fully push down(the front end is the issue).

Did you cut out the liner like the OP?

[Mojobaggins]

Originally Posted by sbt007

Did you cut out the liner like the OP?

Yeah, I made the top part a flap and but had cut out the bottom piece. You can see on the top part, it's just a little high.

[sbt007]

So in the bottom (i.e closer to hatch) there is a black colored (styrofoam-like) divider - I assume you took that out.
And on the top, is it the flap that is making the cover not close without a push?

[Edit] just read your post again. So the bottom part is higher. Probably need to let our more air from the tire. Regardless it seems like BMW could have made a factory option with 1 inch height if they tried hard.

[Mojobaggins]

Originally Posted by sbt007

So in the bottom (i.e closer to hatch) there is a black colored (styrofoam-like) divider - I assume you took that out.
And on the top, is it the flap that is making the cover not close without a push?

Yeah, I took the styrofoam out, so the tire is against the battery frame. And the flap isn't in the way at all. I don't think it's the cause of the floor not coming down all the way. I'm going to do some more playing around but currently in a work meeting now.

[ColoM40i]

Originally Posted by Mojobaggins

Yeah, I took the styrofoam out, so the tire is against the battery frame. And the flap isn't in the way at all. I don't think it's the cause of the floor not coming down all the way. I'm going to do some more playing around but currently in a work meeting now.

Just my opinion.....

I can understand one retrofitting the cargo sub floor to accommodate a spare if the X3 did not come with one and having to pay $550.00 for the spare and misc. items. But, to order the vehicle without one and then putting out $550.00, your time & efforts only to be carrying a jammed in half flat spare tire does not make sense. And then you have to carry a tire pump.
Adding the spare saver tire option at the time of build only costs $150.00 and you have a fully inflated spare that is properly secured.

I just did the measuring in my new M40i. The floor is elevated a minimal 3" which equals a loss of just 2.39 (total) cu. ft. How often does anyone really pack their cargo area to take up the entire side to side, top to bottom cargo capacity?

[sbt007]

Hey ColoM40i - if I remember you've expressed the above opinion a number of times before, and I respect that opinion.

However, as you might notice, a number of people have the opposite opinion - i.e. they really really do not want that hump. Also an opinion to be respected. Hence this thread.

[Mojobaggins]

Originally Posted by ColoM40i

Just my opinion.....

I can understand one retrofitting the cargo sub floor to accommodate a spare if the X3 did not come with one and having to pay $550.00 for the spare and misc. items. But, to order the vehicle without one and then putting out $550.00, your time & efforts only to be carrying a jammed in half flat spare tire does not make sense. And then you have to carry a tire pump.
Adding the spare saver tire option at the time of build only costs $150.00 and you have a fully inflated spare that is properly secured.

I just did the measuring in my new M40i. The floor is elevated a minimal 3" which equals a loss of just 2.39 (total) cu. ft. How often does anyone really pack their cargo area to take up the entire side to side, top to bottom cargo capacity?

And I could care less about having to spend $400 more for having to buy the spare separately compared to the add-on option. I have large dogs. Add 3" with the spare add-on then I throw 3" dog bed on top then a couple of moving blankets on top of that making around a 7" lip that my dogs would have to jump up on. And if my dogs stand, they have to duck.

I always carry an emergency light/air pump and it fits nicely in the left side web pocket. So in hour, I'm able to retro fit the spare under the floor.

[ColoM40i]

Originally Posted by sbt007

Hey ColoM40i - if I remember you've expressed the above opinion a number of times before, and I respect that opinion.

However, as you might notice, a number of people have the opposite opinion - i.e. they really really do not want that hump. Also an opinion to be respected. Hence this thread.

I suppose. And I respect that you respect my opinion. And I respect that others have opposite opinions. And I respect that you respect other opinions.
And I respect this forum allowing one to express an opinion more than once on a subject. Do you have respect for that?

[clivem2]

The extra 3” of height would make the jump up for our dog that much harder in some circumstances. It’s certainly not something I’d want. It’s not about cargo volume...

[titomi]

Originally Posted by ColoM40i

I suppose. And I respect that you respect my opinion. And I respect that others have opposite opinions. And I respect that you respect other opinions.
And I respect this forum allowing one to express an opinion more than once on a subject. Do you have respect for that?

Everybody is respecting everybody. Let's move on, shall we?

I'm rather bumped why more practical X3 have to have a raised floor with the spare, and the X4 (being a coupe) not.

[clivem2]

Originally Posted by ColoM40i

In your situation with large dogs I can understand. It does seem a bit cruel to cram large dogs into the back of a compact SUV. Why did you not buy a larger SUV to accommodate such large dogs?

Seeing as I have one large dog I’ll add my opinion. Our dog is 46kg and lean. He fits the X3 well....if fact he’s a big part of why I abandoned any thoughts about buying the cramped Macan. In the U.K. the X3 is not a compact SUV, it’s medium sized and I’d say at the top end of medium. It’s larger than the original X5. A compact SUV is an X1 or Evoke.