[SamS]

Originally Posted by gtrsam

bmw is coming out with some ridiculous cars lately..please stop

Hey, they have to make money. Which I'm sure this X4 M40i will be quite profitable for them. BMW gets to use a 5-year old "car" and motor (with tune) and sell it for $60-$75K. That kind of profit margin allows them to fund nice tech stuff like the CF driveshaft, ///M motor and other mechanical enhancements that make their way to M3/M4 (and next gen G01 M-models) at reasonable prices.

[nonagon]

Originally Posted by m34m

For what reason? To gloss over what a piece of garbage the X3 is? I own one and other than the styling despise it. The thing was an afterthought. Cheap build quality, garbage steering, weak brakes, disgusting clattkity clak engine, and the thing hates changing direction. Ride is nothing to write home about either. X4 is the same platform and same shit box. BMW has gone off the rails and is a giant whore now.

I have an X3 and completely disagree.

[flyaway]

Originally Posted by nick3753

The ///M whoring continues. :

Originally Posted by tlrid3r

An M badge on everything now days. Whoring the M badge doesn't help you BMW. e92 M3 is the last M car I own. Porsche it is.

Originally Posted by jawwadh

Further devaluation of the M brand, shame on u bmw.

Originally Posted by KGB_123_99

Needs more M badging...just to make sure.

Originally Posted by Technic

WTF, BMW? Sliding-piston calipers in a seudo-///M model in 2015?

Really?

Originally Posted by Thurman Murch

The real M division left for hyundai/kia, i8 is the halo, turning over M division to an Audi insider who is pushing quattro/silver mirrors/doesn't want to work w Mclaren... The only thing good about the X4 is it brings jobs to the Carolinas

BMW obviously cares more about profits than truly pleasing its true customer base

Then scott comes along and spews BS to keep people interested

Let's fix things by adding even more M badges

Soon there will be velosters and Geneses w N plastered all over them

Originally Posted by gtrsam

bmw is coming out with some ridiculous cars lately..please stop

Couldn't agree more... Look really careful at those brakes, on a so (much) called and praised "M performance SAV coupe model"...

[fusion0389]

Originally Posted by Lorde

X3 version would sell like hotcakes and draw people from the Macans and SQ5.

Would love to come back to BMW. Will have to wait for the X3M.

Yeah that would be cool, personally I really like the X3 platform. I just bought a 2016 for the wife, i know she would love a true ///M Version. I gotta say I dont understand this whole X4 M40i thing. In my mind its either an M or its not, i dont care for this in between thing. BMW did the same thing with the 2 series before they came up with a true M. Must be a marketing thing to drive sales.

[fusion0389]

Originally Posted by Max Well

Yes, and a true M reportedly with the S55. I ran the acceleration curves of the G01 (as the new X3 model is named) in the 40i and M formats on the 'X3 Acceleration Files - Master List!' [ 'http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1149189 ]. The G01 should have 100 kg less weight and an improved Cd from around 0.35 to 0.32, or so it is hoped. The X3 40i in the rough simulation has top spd unlim 160, 0-60 mph in 4.9 sec and 1/4 mile time 13.4 sec. The X3 M with its 425 SAE HP has top spd 169.8, 0-60 4.6 sec, and 1/4 mile around 13 sec.

Many expect a release Fall 2016 as a 2017 model year. Direct competitors are the Audi SQ5, the new Mercedes GLC when it is released in the AMG line, and possibly the Jaguar F-Pace S-Type with 380 HP, so it seems BMW should be interested in getting this model out.

I ran the the X4 M40i in the acceleration simulation and will try to get the graph posted this afternoon.

Very cool!

[fusion0389]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

I really hate how there are so many in between cars now.

Yeah i agree, i think having an M-Sport model is enough. This whole X3 M40 thing gets confusing. Is it an M or isnt it?

[roastbeef]

All this research and development for a mediocre four-wheel-drive lifted station wagon that guzzles gas for no reason because the people that would typically buy a vehicle like this are a niche demographic that doesn't care about the power or sportiness...

...Yeah, all that research and development that could be going towards making M cars great again.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

All this research and development for a mediocre four-wheel-drive lifted station wagon that guzzles gas for no reason because the people that would typically buy a vehicle like this are a niche demographic that doesn't care about the power or sportiness...

...Yeah, all that research and development that could be going towards making M cars great again.

That's the point. There is minimal R&D involved in a car like the X4 M40i, and plenty of profit. Which fuels development of "real" M-cars/SAVs.

Sometimes a family needs more room than an F80 or F10M. And something like an "M-performance" X3 does fill a nice gap. X4 M40i is borderline on the additional functionality aspect, but some people will prefer the Xdrive and higher vehicle height.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by fusion0389

Yeah i agree, i think having an M-Sport model is enough. This whole X3 M40 thing gets confusing. Is it an M or isnt it?

It's never a real M unless the VIN shows the the first 3 characters as WBS, i.e. built by BMW M GmbH, as opposed to WBA, i.e. regular BMW AG.

[m34m]

Originally Posted by nonagon

I have an X3 and completely disagree.

It's your right to do so. However if you disagree it's because either you're too biased because you own one, or you have never owned previous generations of BMWs to understand what they once were. I own one and can objectively say it's garbage. Of course I own an E90 sedan and E92 M3 as well which helps to solidify the point.

[nick3753]

Originally Posted by SamS

It's never a real M unless the VIN shows the the first 3 characters as WBS, i.e. built by BMW M GmbH, as opposed to WBA, i.e. regular BMW AG.

Well that's the point. Sucker people into buying a car for the badge, not what's underneath it. Otherwise, why badge it that way?

[Mako]

almost makes me regret getting the X6 35i, I knew this car was coming out but we needed to get a new car this month and couldn't wait until early 2016. I love the performance and new colors (love blues), BUT one simple fact remains, the interior is SO outdated, they really should have updated it to at least something similar to the 3 series when the X4 was released and then given the X3 the same treatment for its LCI.

Both the X3 and X4 interior are stuck in 2005

I don't really agree with the naming of M40i, but I love the direction they are going, with the huge power jumps in the full M versions there is a pretty big performance and price gap now between the 35/40i and M versions. Audi has the best naming because they had tradition with both S and RS badges, Mercedes and BMW only had 1 name for their performance cars and now everyone thinks they are badge whoring, Audi has been doing it forever but adding the "R" to the top versions made everyone okay with it. BMW tried the whole "is" thing and it didn't work, no one cared. They had to do this for competitive reasons.

It will be interesting to see what the 5 series and X5/X6 have in the future, will they just stick with 50i or have some sort of M50i? Personally I think they should have the new 40i (320HP), 50i (420HP, yes I know that's less than they have now), and M50i (480-500HP, when the new M's have 600+)

[SamS]

Originally Posted by nick3753

Well that's the point. Sucker people into buying a car for the badge, not what's underneath it. Otherwise, why badge it that way?

Probably cause the competition is doing something similar. You are getting a HP bump for the "badge", at least. If they would have badged this car an X4 50i instead, would everyone be happy?

[pokerface]

brakes look undersized. Slightly related... do the F30 M Performance brakes fit on the F25/F26? Noticed the rotors on the X models are similar to the 328. No idea about calipers.

[nick3753]

Originally Posted by SamS

Probably cause the competition is doing something similar. You are getting a HP bump for the "badge", at least. If they would have badged this car an X4 50i instead, would everyone be happy?

Yes, or call it X4 40is. You know, like the 335is and 135is that existed before all this ///M performance model crap.

[Carreza]

The complete photoshoot for the X4 M40i appeared online yesterday (28 pics):








Source: Autotijd.be

[SamS]

Originally Posted by nick3753

Yes, or call it X4 40is. You know, like the 335is and 135is that existed before all this ///M performance model crap.

BMW is in the business to sell cars, so I'm fairly certain their own research led them to believe they can sell more with the ///M performance designation that the "is" nomenclature. In other words, the ///M brand has more selling pull-through power than the (misunderstood?) "is" designation.

[WATTSBMW3]

Over the summer while working at Lowe's in Greenville, SC I saw this "thing" all over town. Of course it was heavily camouflaged on all three occasions that I saw it . The driver's even pulled into Lowe's and loaded up a few bags of mulch we had going on clearance, haha'. That was when I got a long and up close look at it. Was not impressed. The engine note while at idle was very decent. When they pulled out of the parking lot it sounded great. If anyone is familiar with the Woodruff/Laurens Rd. area, that's the sightings hot spot for "Nessie".

[nick3753]

Originally Posted by SamS

BMW is in the business to sell cars, so I'm fairly certain their own research led them to believe they can sell more with the ///M performance designation that the "is" nomenclature. In other words, the ///M brand has more selling pull-through power than the (misunderstood?) "is" designation.

Agreed, thus the "whoring out" of the ///M brand comments. Slapping the label on what many would agree are inferior products (at least relative to tradition M models) in order to make more profit.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by nick3753

Agreed, thus the "whoring out" of the ///M brand comments. Slapping the label on what many would agree are inferior products (at least relative to tradition M models) in order to make more profit.

Again, BMW is in the business to make money. The minute they start actually losing sales because the "fake M" branding is hurting those cars, or real ///M cars, I'm sure they'll stop. But until then, let them chase the dollars. No reason to be biased against a companies efforts to make a buck, if no one is being hurt or manipulated.

[SANK_CH]

Originally Posted by m34m

For what reason? To gloss over what a piece of garbage the X3 is? I own one and other than the styling despise it. The thing was an afterthought. Cheap build quality, garbage steering, weak brakes, disgusting clattkity clak engine, and the thing hates changing direction. Ride is nothing to write home about either. X4 is the same platform and same shit box. BMW has gone off the rails and is a giant whore now.

Well funny, I owned a X3 35i (F25) before my X4, and liked it. I liked it more than my previous E91 335i. And I liked it even better after the day on a race track when I overtook a M3 E90...

The badge may be too long, and of course if you are not used to those existing models: m550d, X5 m50d and X6 m50d, then the badge may bring confusion. Anyway all those models (except the X4) are here to fulfill a gap between the highest engine of the serie and the proper M car. the new x4 m40i will do that too with the next generation, once the X4M will be on the market.

then someone mentionned the i"s" badge. It makes me remember my mum's 318is. At that time the "S" was standing for 4 valves per cylinders... yes the 318i had a four cylinders engine with only 8 valves, where the "is" model had 16 valves. Not sure that today you would be happy with a x4 40is and 12 valves...

Come on guys that is a good answer to Macan Turbo and the very Limited SQ5 Plus. And 54 more ponies are warm welcome Under the Hood of the X4.

The market want SUV, Family SUV, Coupe SUV, that is today's trend, you can't deny it. And the car company which doesn't take this in consideration is making a mistake. Yes time is changing and that's it.

An M3, or M4 will always be a beautiful car, but will remain in the garage when you have 15 inches of snow outside, where the X4 m40i will have fun.

[fusion0389]

Originally Posted by SamS

It's never a real M unless the VIN shows the the first 3 characters as WBS, i.e. built by BMW M GmbH, as opposed to WBA, i.e. regular BMW AG.

Yeah I know, it was more of a rhetorical question. I know its not a M which is why i think its silly to throw M badges all over it.