[Max Well]

Originally Posted by Dobie Dog

Off topic...Have you considered blacking these out?

Oh yeah. But with the ever increasing slate of distracted drivers out there (saw two flagrant ones today), it becomes more of a safety factor for me. That, and not being in the legal field, I honestly don't know if one of those DD's defense Atty's could say their client didn't see me because I had removed a safety device... Over the top conservatism in that regards no doubt.

But I absolutely agree it improves the aesthetic.

[Max Well]

Another angle with less iPhone distortion (with the reflectors paint-matched for Dobie Dog ). AlexFL, how is your rail removal progressing?

[Kevin_The_Clean1]

Originally Posted by Max Well

Another angle with less iPhone distortion (with the reflectors paint-matched for Dobie Dog ). AlexFL, how is your rail removal progressing?

Do you guys both have the CF rear diffusers... ?

[Dobie Dog]

Originally Posted by Max Well

Another angle with less iPhone distortion (with the reflectors paint-matched for Dobie Dog ). AlexFL, how is your rail removal progressing?

Nice!

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by Kevin_The_Clean1

Do you guys both have the CF rear diffusers... ?

Yes. Although not quite as aggressive appearing as some after-market offerings, (and more expensive), we like the idea they were fully vetted by M's aerodynamics team in wind tunnel and CFD. Would be helpful to know the degree to which they do improve parameters, but I've never been able to find that info.

[Max Well]

Image from a higher vantage point showing the flowing aero lines better.

[Max Well]

With appreciation to floating.spirit for allowing me to remove the rails from his recent great image shared at https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showp...postcount=1643

[S1ngl3t0n]

I just wanted let you know that I finally have retrofitted the roof rails.
I've documented the whole process. Will write a DIY as soon as I have the time.

This may help you in the remove process

[Max Well]

With appreciation to w2blw_x3m for also allowing rail deletion from some of the excellent images found in his build thread ('My 2019 X3M Comp build so far........', at https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1823015 )

[spta97]

MaxWell - This mod looks awesome! Great job!

I'm on the fence whether or not I would do this to mine. Part of me likes the utilitarian look, where the other part likes the sleekness.

I would enjoy taking the rails off/on off but the painting would probably be cost prohibitive on my Dark Graphite Metallic as the impact seems less than white/Donnington.

In any case, great job!

[Kevin_The_Clean1]

Originally Posted by spta97

MaxWell - This mod looks awesome! Great job!

I'm on the fence whether or not I would do this to mine. Part of me likes the utilitarian look, where the other part likes the sleekness.

I would enjoy taking the rails off/on off but the painting would probably be cost prohibitive on my Dark Graphite Metallic as the impact seems less than white/Donnington.

In any case, great job!

I have a DGM color too on my X3 M & not sure if I wan't to invest all this time & resources at the moment. This does look awesome though.

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by spta97

MaxWell - This mod looks awesome! Great job! I'm on the fence whether or not I would do this to mine. Part of me likes the utilitarian look, where the other part likes the sleekness. ... In any case, great job!

Thanks, spta97 . If you're fine with the utilitarian look then I'd agree it wouldn't be worth the expense. Just as designs trigger a response in some (like your 'Star Trooper helmet', and Transfer now seeing 'sunglasses', and Kevin_The_Clean1 seeing 'buck teeth' on the G8x ... ), the rails and cheap plastic/rubber roof and side windshield trim are my 'fingernails on a chalkboard'.

Search 'crested gecko' images for what I can't unsee

[spta97]

Originally Posted by Max Well

Thanks, spta97 . If you're fine with the utilitarian look then I'd agree it wouldn't be worth the expense. Just as designs trigger a response in some (like your 'Star Trooper helmet', and Transfer now seeing 'sunglasses', and Kevin_The_Clean1 seeing 'buck teeth' on the G8x ... ), the rails and cheap plastic/rubber roof and side windshield trim are my 'fingernails on a chalkboard'.

Search 'crested gecko' images for what I can't unsee

LOL!

For the G8x I see this:

[spucktacular]

I prefer the roof rails myself

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by spucktacular

I prefer the roof rails myself

No doubt some do, and they serve a valid purpose for those that need them.

Just lobbying BMW (and M esp) for the ability to option off for our high-performance variants which we in the States currently can't. And to use paint-matched trim in their place to raise the look above lower priced products from base model Mnfrs.

[CHudson]

Looks great without the rails.

[Max Well]

Side-by-side comparison with rails, no rails with painted trim, painted windshield trim and no pano, and then with a CFRP roof. I appreciate @zer.o.wt allowing me to show all in one image using his F97 LCI render from thread https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1825011. Although the actual front may be sl different, the overall effect of the roof changes still applies.

[allinon72]

Man that carbon fiber roof would have been just the thing to solidify the X3M's look. Shame BMW cheaped out on it.

[Max Well]

Had rain during our Holiday trip so was able to get an idea of air flow at 75+mph speeds on her X3MC's roof with rails. Not as much road grime so the lines aren't as obvious as they were on mine, but clearly the majority of windshield air is channeled down the roof by the rails, unlike mine where it flows freely over the top sides.

Still hoping we'll get a chance to order without rails with the LCI (as most performance SUV Mnfrs allow). If so, we'll be trading hers in for one without pano or rails.

[Max Well]

For those considering rail removal with the LCI - would agree with larsmin that BSM or Dark Graphite would be the best colors to choose to prevent the rubber side windshield trim from being as noticeable. If/when BMW allows painted side windshield trim like the F96 (as I show with the LCI in my edit), then it won't matter.

[Max Well]

Comparisons w/ and w/o on our LCI

[Max Well]

As 2023 model production nears - bumping the thread to again respectfully request BMWNA to allow the option of ordering F97/98 models without the utilitarian non-aerodynamic roof rails (and with painted roof trim instead) like many of their other models (and like most other Mnfrs of SUV/SAV models allow).