[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by khj24

I drove this at the Mtown tour along with every other car there except the 850, and it stole the show for me. I am not the biggest fan of crossovers and have little need for the space, but yet I am somehow convinced that this should be my next car. This thing is an absolute gem.

It's phenomenal. It's actually on the short list for my next lease alongside the F90 and G80. Never thought I'd be writing that, but it's that good.

[eRiggs5]

Originally Posted by spuntyb

It's phenomenal. It's actually on the short list for my next lease alongside the F90 and G80. Never thought I'd be writing that, but it's that good.

Completely agree. When my CS lease is up, I may be in.

[Dethsupp0rt]

Originally Posted by skioutwest

This was a great review, and exactly how I felt when I first drove it. I went to the dealer dead set on taking home an M850, but it was uninspiring to me (I came from an F80 M3C).

Took me a while to get over that I ordered a crossover, but I am loving my X4M.

Same. Had an F80 a few years ago as well, and was looking at the F90. Couldn't get the deal I wanted on one, so I looked a little harder at the X3 M and bought one.

Didn't think I'd want an SUV for anything but winter, but here we are.

[Dethsupp0rt]

Originally Posted by dkhm3

I'm surprised no mention of the steering. I am pretty impressed by the steering feel and accuracy vs recent M cars.

It's a little better than the F80 for sure, but nowhere near my E90 or where it should be, IMO.

I hear Porsche does EPS pretty well, so I guess I need to drive one of those at some point to see if it can actually be "good".

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by Dethsupp0rt

It's a little better than the F80 for sure, but nowhere near my E90 or where it should be, IMO.

I hear Porsche does EPS pretty well, so I guess I need to drive one of those at some point to see if it can actually be "good".

My wife has a Macan GTS and the steering and suspension are nothing short of sublime imho. I thought the X3M steering and suspension setup were just fine compared my F80, but not Porsche-good. Just my $0.02...

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by Dethsupp0rt

It's a little better than the F80 for sure, but nowhere near my E90 or where it should be, IMO.

I hear Porsche does EPS pretty well, so I guess I need to drive one of those at some point to see if it can actually be "good".

Best steering feel among modern EPS racks I've tested were Porsche 991.2 GT3, Cadillac ATS-V, and Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. I hold all cars I test to that standard, and I have yet to find a modern BMW with steering feel that I like. The steering on my M2C is okay, and I actually find that most M cars are better in comfort, as Sport and Sport + tend to add too much synthetic heft. The car is much more communicative in other areas such as the chassis, but its kind of annoying that even my CLS has better steering feel than most new M cars I've driven. Luckily BMW M cars excel in so many other areas, but I would like BMW to focus on improving their steering. Its okay in the cookie cutter base 3-series and X3, but in M cars I do expect better.

[evanescent03]

Originally Posted by khj24

I drove this at the Mtown tour along with every other car there except the 850, and it stole the show for me. I am not the biggest fan of crossovers and have little need for the space, but yet I am somehow convinced that this should be my next car. This thing is an absolute gem.

Maybe the closest thing bmw offers to an RS6, if you're into wagons.

[Transfer]

I've been waiting for this review and sounds like Matt and Zack really liked it. Yet again though are complaints about stiff ride. I don't know if I have a unicorn X3MC or what but I think it is very comfortable. I drive around real shit roads to and from work and zero complaints in either comfort or sport suspension. Wife approved without reservations as well. When I'm getting on it I go sport+ and it's responsive and stiff without killing me.

Ride comfort complaints are apparently very subjective or maybe I'm missing out on more comfortable equally handling sports cars and 4400 lb SUVs? I dunno but anyone considering an X3M make the determination on comfort yourself.

[EvilEmpirE]

Originally Posted by evanescent03

Maybe the closest thing bmw offers to an RS6, if you're into wagons.

On point assessment. Which is why we got one. RS6 wagon will also be < 120k plus. And speaking of Audi...My Laser Red Stage 3 (550 HP) Avant was the featured car 🚗 in the “Audi An Avant Story” RS6 Launch film.....

[EvilEmpirE]

Originally Posted by Transfer

I've been waiting for this review and sounds like Matt and Zack really liked it. Yet again though are complaints about stiff ride. I don't know if I have a unicorn X3MC or what but I think it is very comfortable. I drove around real shit roads to and from work and zero complaints in either comfort or sport suspension. Wife approved without reservations as well. When I'm getting on it I go sport+ and it's responsive and stiff without killing me.

Ride comfort complaints are apparently very subjective or maybe I'm missing out on more comfortable equally handling sports cars and 4400 lb SUVs? I dunno but anyone considering an X3M make the determination on comfort yourself.

I don’t think the ride is uncomfortable AT ALL. Very smooth, predictable, with plenty of comfort. I think because it’s an “SUV”...maybe there’s an expectation of more plushness in the ride. A stigma that follows the Category around. The ride is Sporty...but nothing of the harshness that reviewers and people have pointed to. This is my wife’s car...and coming from an Audi Q7 S-Line that was PLUSH as far as ride goes....she feels this is 100X BETTER.....and I agree..I mean....it handles Amazing for a 4600 plus lb SUV....I wouldn’t trade that for a more compliant ride...period. Doesn’t need it. It’s an M car after all.......

[Ex_Stig]

Originally Posted by eRiggs5

Completely agree. When my CS lease is up, I may be in.

To hop on the M3 CS bandwagon...

I'm going with either the X5M or the M5CS when my current lease is up.

X3M is really cool, but I need more space with 3 kids.

[R N M]

Originally Posted by GNALUZU

To hop on the M3 CS bandwagon...

I'm going with either the X5M or the M5CS when my current lease is up.

X3M is really cool, but I need more space with 3 kids.

I just went through this and ended up with X3 M40i over X5.
X3 and X5 have equal legroom but the floor on X5 is higher and therefore rear seat is actually less comfortable. This also is an issue for the cargo space in the back - the X5 loading floor is higher and space from back seat is the same. Go to dealer- park them side by side and you will see. The X5 does have a much more luxurious interior.

[EvilEmpirE]

Originally Posted by GNALUZU

To hop on the M3 CS bandwagon...

I'm going with either the X5M or the M5CS when my current lease is up.

X3M is really cool, but I need more space with 3 kids.

X3M is plenty of size for 3 kids....I have three myself. It is the same size as the first gen E53 X5....so size isn’t an issue imo with 3

[noushy]

The closest thing to a rs4 or rs6 would be a B3 and B5 touring which we dont get. As for the X3M absolute rocket and one of my favorite car choices to drive often over the M8.

Noushy

[akkando]

Originally Posted by ellipsis212

Right, and if they're professionals then they should spend the 2 minutes to figure it out rather than flunk that part of their performance review.

What's in it for them to do it correctly though? nothing. They make a video, then they make another. It doesn't matter if they do things right.

[535i MSport]

Originally Posted by noushy

The closest thing to a rs4 or rs6 would be a B3 and B5 touring which we dont get. As for the X3M absolute rocket and one of my favorite car choices to drive often over the M8.

Noushy

I got this due to there being no M3 touring. I still prefer a wagon to an SUV.

[///M TOWN]

Agreed

It's garbage imo

I just give it the right boot

[moff]

I love mine but agree with the review re suspension and slow non LC launch.

Epic performance.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by EvilEmpirE

On point assessment. Which is why we got one. RS6 wagon will also be < 120k plus. And speaking of Audi...My Laser Red Stage 3 (550 HP) Avant was the featured car 🚗 in the “Audi An Avant Story” RS6 Launch film.....

That's so cool! I absolutely loved that commercial.

[eRiggs5]

Originally Posted by GNALUZU

To hop on the M3 CS bandwagon...

I'm going with either the X5M or the M5CS when my current lease is up.

X3M is really cool, but I need more space with 3 kids.

I love the x5, and honestly that's probably what I would get but can't swing the sticker at this time. But ya never know, maybe I can when my lease is up. Hustle hard

[crst4s]

Originally Posted by URBAN LEGEND

I know. They won’t do it. And when they read the manual they film it and make fun of how complex it is. Which is cool. Insurance I guess thinks it’s not fast. Good for rates.

I presume these guys earn their living testing/reviewing cars, or at least try to. This was a planned test/review, i.e., they knew ahead of time they were going to test the car, including an acceleration run using launch control. One of the guys even said he had seen tests on YouTube where people failed to properly engage launch control. Yet, remarkably neither of them bothered to look up how to do it. Equally, there did not seem emabarassed by this and chose to blame the car. Not very professional in my opinion and makes me less inclined to take their opinions seriously. The video was clearly edited. Why not realize their error, read the manual, refilm a correct launch control take-off, and cut the embarrasing fail.

For my part, I think the ability to customize drive settings is one of the X3M's best features and the M1, M2 buttons pure genius. It's almost like having three different cars. They look cool too.

[vcx]

I must be the only guy not impressed by the X3M.

I actually drove an X4M competition and was surprised by the important lag of the engine, especially for a twin turbo engine, much more noticeable than in my 340i.

The engine felt embarrassingly weak until 3 or 3.5k rpm.

Maybe it's the weight of the car.

The only good surprise were the breaks: very powerfull and sharp.

I was much more impressed by the X6 M850i that I drove that same day. I was expecting a heavy and dull SUV and was shocked how quick and responsive it was. That V8 is a beast, the power delivery is great.