[Strigz]

Originally Posted by SctsOut06

I’m struggling with the price point on the Macan - as beautiful as it is. I just feel like you get so much more with a BMW.

Could definitely get an X3M to see if you like having an SUV and let it hold you over until you can justify an X5M. If you end up liking a car more than you can go back to the 4 door V8 platform, maybe even in an M8 Grand Coupe

[Kevin_The_Clean1]

Originally Posted by cshawkeye

I love my 2020 X3M. It was my "divorce" car as it gives me exactly what I wanted. The fun of an M and the functionality of an SUV. I had an E90 M3 and loved it and then moved to a 2019 RDX and loved it but it was missing that fun factor that a BMW gives you.

These are my exact same thoughts. The X3 M is considered to most of the world as the M3 of the SUV world. So you're a lot of M machine for a little more then a fully loaded X3 M40i. And the ride quality issue is 95% blown out of proportion. With the right tires, there's nothing at all to complain about.

[cutnsew]

Originally Posted by Kevin_The_Clean1

These are my exact same thoughts. The X3 M is considered to most of the world as the M3 of the SUV world. So you're a lot of M machine for a little more then a fully loaded X3 M40i. And the ride quality issue is 95% blown out of proportion. With the right tires, there's nothing at all to complain about.

For real. Mine is a 2020 and I can see what some people would be thinking with "harsh" ride, maybe for a standard grocery getter. For a high performance SUV capable of keeping up with almost anything on the road the ride is sublime.
Echoing what Kevin said, get better tires. 295/265 michilens with proper tire pressure make the ride kush IMO.

[Addbuyer]

Originally Posted by cutnsew

For real. Mine is a 2020 and I can see what some people would be thinking with "harsh" ride, maybe for a standard grocery getter. For a high performance SUV capable of keeping up with almost anything on the road the ride is sublime.
Echoing what Kevin said, get better tires. 295/265 michilens with proper tire pressure make the ride kush IMO.

Sublime and from a G01 X3M owner. Sorry it just made me laugh.
I think the LCI is just and I mean just passable but our roads in the UK are like old cart tracks.
I hear this constant groaning noise and slow down to 30mph to try and avoid every seeable divit or piece of grit to stop the groan. I speed up when the wife isn’t with me though

[Oldgixxer]

Originally Posted by cutnsew

For real. Mine is a 2020 and I can see what some people would be thinking with "harsh" ride, maybe for a standard grocery getter. For a high performance SUV capable of keeping up with almost anything on the road the ride is sublime.
Echoing what Kevin said, get better tires. 295/265 michilens with proper tire pressure make the ride kush IMO.

Curious what psi F/R you're running in your Michelins(assuming PS4's,correct?). I've been messing w psi for the past 6mos and have yet to find this kush ride you speak of

[Gfit]

As I’ve mentioned. Sold my 22 M3 three weeks ago and now have a 23 X3M and 24 X5M. The X3M has a much harsher ride than either the M3 or X5M even with AS tires. It doesn’t bother me or my wife. It’s her daily. What’s most interesting is my X5M feels more level and balanced around corners despite the extra 1,000lbs. I think BMW can do a better job but again doesn’t bother us.

[FastRedPonyCar]

Originally Posted by Kevin_The_Clean1

These are my exact same thoughts. The X3 M is considered to most of the world as the M3 of the SUV world. So you're a lot of M machine for a little more then a fully loaded X3 M40i. And the ride quality issue is 95% blown out of proportion. With the right tires, there's nothing at all to complain about.

I consider it the M3 Touring that we will never get... just riding a few inches higher.

[JABCAT]

Coming from other SUVs, the last two being Grand Cherokees with air suspension & 21" wheels, the ride in our X3MC is very harsh. It's riding on Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (255/265). If you roll over a road nipple (reflector) it's very jarring and feels like you hit a large rock. It's not even that jarring in my Z06. I will even say the ride is harsher than my Z06 with Z07 ultimate performer track pkg.

It takes a little bit of getting used to. It's my wife's daily driver and she mentioned it a bit when she first got it, but she must have adjusted to the ride because she hasn't mentioned it recently.

Really consider the roads in your area.

[SctsOut06]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

Coming from other SUVs, the last two being Grand Cherokees with air suspension & 21" wheels, the ride in our X3MC is very harsh. It's riding on Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (255/265). If you roll over a road nipple (reflector) it's very jarring and feels like you hit a large rock. It's not even that jarring in my Z06. I will even say the ride is harsher than my Z06 with Z07 ultimate performer track pkg.

It takes a little bit of getting used to. It's my wife's daily driver and she mentioned it a bit when she first got it, but she must have adjusted to the ride because she hasn't mentioned it recently.

Really consider the roads in your area.

Thanks! I live / work around Philly so my wheels and tires are regular victims to the roads… ha!

[Oldgixxer]

Originally Posted by SctsOut06

Thanks! I live / work around Philly so my wheels and tires are regular victims to the roads… ha!

If that's the case,would definitely recommend purchasing the tire/wheel protection from the BMW dealer as it'll pay for itself after one or two decent sized pot hole hits at speed. Ask me how I know(former life-long NY'er here)...and those PS4's aint cheap..neither is an OEM wheel

[Gfit]

Originally Posted by Oldgixxer

If that's the case,would definitely recommend purchasing the tire/wheel protection from the BMW dealer as it'll pay for itself after one or two decent sized pot hole hits at speed. Ask me how I know(former life-long NY'er here)...and those PS4's aint cheap..neither is an OEM wheel

Whole other discussion but I’ve skipped that on my last 15+ cars with many Ms. Figure I saved $30,000. My total out of pocket over that time is less than $1,000. Yes I am in NY and driving after a tough winter is an obstacle course. Either way, I’ve got $29,000 or so extra for retirement and/or a few unexpected expenses. Only insure what you can’t afford to lose - life, health, house, liabilities and autos. Everything else self insure

[Oldgixxer]

Originally Posted by Gfit

Whole other discussion but I’ve skipped that on my last 15+ cars with many Ms. Figure I saved $30,000. My total out of pocket over that time is less than $1,000. Yes I am in NY and driving after a tough winter is an obstacle course. Either way, I’ve got $29,000 or so extra for retirement and/or a few unexpected expenses. Only insure what you can’t afford to lose - life, health, house, liabilities and autos. Everything else self insure

You clearly had better luck than I. Only purchased it for one prior vehicle(the wife's)and it was worth it. We were in Orange Co,so in the winter when it'd be raining in Westchester,it's snowing 60mi North where we were. I get your point though. I commuted to Jersey City and all over NNJ at least 500mi per week and had a beater for work commuting and kept the nice cars in the garage.

Yet my uncle who commuted in his M850i back and forth to mid town,Bx,Brooklyn,etc and unluckily had potholes smash/destroy 5 wheels and 6 expensive tires halfway through his 3yr lease wasn't as lucky. He got his money's worth

[Y0jjimb0]

Damn I thought LA roads were bad. I'm glad I'm not east coast.

But honestly KW V3s are the answer to the ride quality 'issue'. The handling is significantly improved AND the ride quality is night-and-day better.

Reasonable ride quality and good handling are not the either/or situation that people act like they are. A good quality damper valved appropriately for a specific spring rate can work wonders. I have truly race car spring rates on my E46 but with properly valved MCS dampers the ride is still completely tolerable for street driving.

I know the KWs are not cheap, but we paid this much for these vehicles already, might as well pay a little more to make them work flawlessly.

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by Y0jjimb0

I know the KWs are not cheap, but we paid this much for these vehicles already, might as well pay a little more to make them work flawlessly.

For the cost of those, I can live with the ride quality

[Y0jjimb0]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

For the cost of those, I can live with the ride quality

Haha fair enough

[2020X3MCDG]

Originally Posted by SctsOut06

I’m struggling with the price point on the Macan - as beautiful as it is. I just feel like you get so much more with a BMW.

That and it is slower than the BMW.

The X3MC is an amazing machine. The suspension really is a non-issue IMO but there are some whiners about this.

I think the biggest drawback you will find is the gas mileage. It will be abysmal compared to the 5 series. If that doesn't bother you then I'd say go for it.

I do love the M550i and of course the M5 but for me I needed an SUV for mountains and snow so the X3MC covers all the bases. I have had mine for 3+ years now and almost 40K miles and I still love it.

[SctsOut06]

Originally Posted by 2020X3MCDG

That and it is slower than the BMW.

The X3MC is an amazing machine. The suspension really is a non-issue IMO but there are some whiners about this.

I think the biggest drawback you will find is the gas mileage. It will be abysmal compared to the 5 series. If that doesn't bother you then I'd say go for it.

I do love the M550i and of course the M5 but for me I needed an SUV for mountains and snow so the X3MC covers all the bases. I have had mine for 3+ years now and almost 40K miles and I still love it.

Mpg - as much as I hate to admit it - is a factor since it’ll be my daily. The M550i wasn’t great, but it’s weird to think that the V8 was more fuel efficient.

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by Y0jjimb0

Haha fair enough

After driving the X3MC for 2.5 hours round trip last night, I'll amend my previous statement. If it were my DD & not my wife's, I'd gladly pay for those coil overs if it improved the ride quality. My 330e has 26k mi in 15 months, so I drive a lot.

As for "whining", it's just observations, the ride is very harsh compared to a lot of performance vehicles. And depending on the roads you travel, could be unlivable as a DD. I've driven the exact same route I drove last night in my 330e, my Z06/Z07 & our Wrangler JKU with mud terrains. The X3MC has the worst ride of the bunch.

Even in comfort, the slightest imperfection is very jarring. On completely smooth roads the MC is great. My Z06 with the suspension set to track has more cushion & control over rough patches the road.

The vehicle is awesome, don't get me wrong. If buying for your DD, I strongly recommend you test drive over your usual routes.

[MetaX]

One minor point but might be worthwhile: The top spec sound system you can get on X3s of any form is the HK system whereas with the X5 and Macan have access to far better systems. Granted on the Macan you'll be dropping a grip for the Burmeister while Bose is about the same as HK (we have '22 X3M and Macan GTS with Bose).

[stoked335d]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

After driving the X3MC for 2.5 hours round trip last night, I'll amend my previous statement. If it were my DD & not my wife's, I'd gladly pay for those coil overs if it improved the ride quality. My 330e has 26k mi in 15 months, so I drive a lot.

As for "whining", it's just observations, the ride is very harsh compared to a lot of performance vehicles. And depending on the roads you travel, could be unlivable as a DD. I've driven the exact same route I drove last night in my 330e, my Z06/Z07 & our Wrangler JKU with mud terrains. The X3MC has the worst ride of the bunch.

Even in comfort, the slightest imperfection is very jarring. On completely smooth roads the MC is great. My Z06 with the suspension set to track has more cushion & control over rough patches the road.

The vehicle is awesome, don't get me wrong. If buying for your DD, I strongly recommend you test drive over your usual routes.

Which tires do you have? Is it a pre-LCI?

My longest single day drive was 11 hours with 3 or 4 quick stops and had no issues with stock ‘22 LCI setup except for PSAS4 tires. No complaints from wife and kid as well during the same trip. Put on over 3000 miles in 2 weeks on that trip from NJ to Nova Scotia-Prince Edward Island and back.

No issues as a daily as well even in sport+ everything.

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by stoked335d

Which tires do you have? Is it a pre-LCI?

My longest single day drive was 11 hours with 3 or 4 quick stops and had no issues with stock ‘22 LCI setup except for PSAS4 tires. No complaints from wife and kid as well during the same trip. Put on over 3000 miles in 2 weeks on that trip from NJ to Nova Scotia-Prince Edward Island and back.

No issues as a daily as well even in sport+ everything.

It's a '22 KCI with Pilot sport 4S. The roads in TX are trash. Even our brand new freeways have dips & rough patches. They apparently either don't know how, or simply can't build flat smooth roads here. I'm very familiar with suspension setups, tires, etc. which is why I compared it to my other vehicles traveling the same route/roads. Like I said, on smooth roads it's great. On not so smooth roads I'd rather take any of my other vehicles.

[spta97]

I have a 2020 X3MC and I love it. I test drive the Macan S and it felt slower than my lawnmower in comparison.

After I almost wet myself on the test drive I knew this was the car for me.

If I wasn’t a fast driver I would have gone with the M40i.

I will admit the ride is harsh - I’ve got continentals at 39F/47R. As the temps get cooler it gets worse until my snows go on.

If performance isn’t at the top of your list I would consider something more plush. If you’re like me, you’ll deal with it.