[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by Soup02

Anyone know when the planned build start is on these? I have a 30e on order with a 'mid-July" build slot but haven't decided if i like the LCI or not yet. Would be good to know if I'm likely to have much of a choice or not?

LCI start of production is August of this year.

[mathys]

Originally Posted by chicagofan00

LCI start of production is August of this year.

Don't they need to shut down the production line in July to prepare for the LCI?

[Pauleebe]

Originally Posted by briguy80

Or it seems that most (all but the lumbar support on the passenger seat) are available if you upgrade to the M40i, at least that was my plan if I had no other choice in order land a vehicle this year. Granted, will cost a good bit more — but this is truly a bad situation.

I guess BMW is hedging most folks that fully spec a car will opt for the M40i, but they will lose business like mine who don't want an $800 lease payment but want HK audio and driver assistant pro package. I'm looking at Volvos which is not my preference, but if I need a car, it's a better option than getting stuck in a 3 year lease with a car that doesn't meet my needs.

[mgamer]

A word from my local dealer is that LCI version will be available in the configurator come June 2nd

[baslow]

Originally Posted by Soup02

Anyone know when the planned build start is on these? I have a 30e on order with a 'mid-July" build slot but haven't decided if i like the LCI or not yet. Would be good to know if I'm likely to have much of a choice or not?

Till end of July they will build pre-LCI, build LCI will start from August.

I have heard that LCI versions of X3 / X4:
configurator will start: in 1st/2nd week of June (iX3 1st/2nd week of August)
production will start 1.08.2021 (iX3 1.09.2021)
However I have no idea if it is true and I am also waiting to order X4 LCI.

[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by mathys

Don't they need to shut down the production line in July to prepare for the LCI?

Yes, but that could just be a few days or a couple of weeks depending on the changes. These changes aren't massive so I wouldn't expect too long of a shut down in the production line for the switch over.

[smanji]

I was hoping the rear light clusters would be similar to the 5 series LCI, they look so damn good! These X3 LCI lights looks like they've come out a max power magazine

[pr0gi]

yesteday I saw X2 with M sport pack. Dunno if somebody have said it but the front looks very simillar to what the X3 LCI will look like. In person it looks good and I guess X3 will be even more agressive. Not sure that the white color we are looking at is the best presentation for this car. Looking at the red IX it is much better. Also, these are without laser lights so it can get only better

[z335is]

Originally Posted by pr0gi

yesteday I saw X2 with M sport pack. Dunno if somebody have said it but the front looks very simillar to what the X3 LCI will look like. In person it looks good and I guess X3 will be even more agressive. Not sure that the white color we are looking at is the best presentation for this car. Looking at the red IX it is much better. Also, these are without laser lights so it can get only better

Now we are comparing it to the X2 LCI? My how our standards have fallen 🤮😂

[DCC]

The pics of the white LCI X3 did remind me of a cross between the X2 and X5...
So I guess I am not the only one...

[TX3M]

Originally Posted by pr0gi

yesteday I saw X2 with M sport pack. Dunno if somebody have said it but the front looks very simillar to what the X3 LCI will look like. In person it looks good and I guess X3 will be even more agressive. Not sure that the white color we are looking at is the best presentation for this car. Looking at the red IX it is much better. Also, these are without laser lights so it can get only better

A car should look good in every color it comes in. You shouldn't have to "hide" the features that don't look good (in this case, the front) by getting a darker color.

[jrodri7]

Originally Posted by mathys

Don't they need to shut down the production line in July to prepare for the LCI?

Not likely for an LCI if all of the changes are cosmetic and plug in components normally delivered to the factory pre-assembled to meet the chassis on the line (tires, seats, dashboard, bumpers)

I don’t think the LCI will alter the chassis or metal stamping. For a new model, yes, robots and machines will need to be reconfigured or replaced.

[martinb1532]

The dealership in Tampa said most of the changes were cosmetic and not a drastic change to the current model. It looks like no chassis change.

[swreefkeeper]

Originally Posted by martinb1532

The dealership in Tampa said most of the changes were cosmetic and not a drastic change to the current model. It looks like no chassis change.

There is never a chassis change for LCI. Some years have had bigger updates than others. Tech usually gets updated as well.

[brettl]

They rarely change metal stamping during lci, the softer parts, those that are cheaper and faster to retool are often those that are modified. For instance, tail lights won’t change their shape as it’s surrounded by metal, but the headlights can change shape b/c the bottom surface is the plastic bumper (soft material that is easier to retool). The interior can get upgraded easily as new plastic can be designed to snap into old clip locations.

[methodtim]

Just to be super pedantic: hood changes are fairly common for LCI.

[leon360x]

Originally Posted by af18

I would like to see someone who knows what they are doing do an actual render in a color other than white...but here's a rough look at the LCI in black. To me, the lights are a clear improvement, and the new grille design looks good but isn't drastically different. I didn't love the new bumper on the white car in the photos, but on a darker car the weird angles blend in (and the lack of fog lights actually makes it look less busy than the pre-LCI design IMO). I'll be interested to see some actual press photos of the new design.

I personally like current design of the headlights, the shape and proportion of that rendering is a little bit off for me, but that grille is a plus, and really wish they get rid of the extra surrounding design from the taillights.

[BMWsully]

Between the chip shortage/possible package decontentions, delays, etc. this might be one of those times where the pre-LCI is more desirable. Interesting times that we are in right now.

[Ravenous666]

Originally Posted by BMWsully

Between the chip shortage/possible package decontentions, delays, etc. this might be one of those times where the pre-LCI is more desirable. Interesting times that we are in right now.

Actually the chip shortage mainly affects the pre-LCI because it uses the old SP15 hardware and they had no stock left due to the LCI starting in August.

You will be able to order the LCI with driving assistant pro because it's SP18 hardware which is also used in the iX3 and X5.

[Mindau]

Originally Posted by Ravenous666

Actually the chip shortage mainly affects the pre-LCI because it uses the old SP15 hardware and they had no stock left due to the LCI starting in August.

You will be able to order the LCI with driving assistant pro because it's SP18 hardware which is also used in the iX3 and X5.

Thats actually good point!

[BMWsully]

Originally Posted by Ravenous666

Actually the chip shortage mainly affects the pre-LCI because it uses the old SP15 hardware and they had no stock left due to the LCI starting in August.

You will be able to order the LCI with driving assistant pro because it's SP18 hardware which is also used in the iX3 and X5.

I've heard the opposite, with several packages being unavailable on the 22's. We shall see soon enough though!

[methodtim]

Originally Posted by Ravenous666

Actually the chip shortage mainly affects the pre-LCI because it uses the old SP15 hardware and they had no stock left due to the LCI starting in August.

You will be able to order the LCI with driving assistant pro because it's SP18 hardware which is also used in the iX3 and X5.

Originally Posted by Mindau

Thats actually good point!

Originally Posted by BMWsully

I've heard the opposite, with several packages being unavailable on the 22's. We shall see soon enough though!

I agree with Sully -- I don't see how not pre- to post-LCI changes the equation on the chip shortage -- it's not like the supply chain for these chips is changed just because they're (potentially) moving from one platform to another. They're basically the same hardware and definitely from the same suppliers.

That said, I have read that the chip supply is loosening up, so whether or not it's LCI-related (it's not), there should/might be a light at the end of the tunnel. Whether that light is August 2021 or January 2022... who knows.