[Fullthrottlebg]

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Pretty impressed with he X3M Competition overall. If the suspension wasn't that harsh it would make for a great family addition to an M fleet. Plenty of space, super handling, can go off the road and you get amazing performance.

Here are the times we got from the X3M Competition. The car was on 20's and Sottozero 285 tires. Still pretty impressive.

[spuntyb]

MSS springs ftw. I test drove a new one and a used one with MSS springs about a week apart, and it's a huge difference. Should come that way from the factory, which is annoying, but that the option exists for so little $, it's a no-brainer option that really makes this car shine.

Thanks for sharing!

[dusty80]

I was just reading a review in car and driver about the Dodge charger Redeye widebody. It does 0 to 60 in 3.5 and 1/4 mile at 11.5 and 126 mph. Doesn't seem that much faster than X3M for $90,000 and 797 hp. Plus being an SUV

[Young04]

Originally Posted by dusty80

I was just reading a review in car and driver about the Dodge charger Redeye widebody. It does 0 to 60 in 3.5 and 1/4 mile at 11.5 and 126 mph. Doesn't seem that much faster than X3M for $90,000 and 797 hp. Plus being an SUV

Yeah, but RWD kills the standing starts. Look at the trap speeds - the X3M would be killed in any race from a roll.

[dusty80]

So should people in warm weather who don't need all wheel drive be getting this car instead of an X 3M? It's faster,it has just as much if not the same room. Instead of buying an X3 M competition and then tuning it etc. etc. At that point the price is probably the same.

[allinon72]

Originally Posted by dusty80

So should people in warm weather who don't need all wheel drive be getting this car instead of an X 3M? It's faster,it has just as much if not the same room. Instead of buying an X3 M competition and then tuning it etc. etc. At that point the price is probably the same.

There are many, MANY reasons to choose the X3M over the Charger. Not limited to: you don't have to drive a Chrysler product, you can actually turn a corner (and put up numbers that beat a lot of sports cars), you can actually put the power down and get out of the hole in a drag race, if your car is in for service, you won't have to drive a base model Chrysler 200, etc.

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by dusty80

So should people in warm weather who don't need all wheel drive be getting this car instead of an X 3M? It's faster,it has just as much if not the same room. Instead of buying an X3 M competition and then tuning it etc. etc. At that point the price is probably the same.

Anyone who wants to own a Fiat-Chrysler brand car, be my guest.

Save the Germans for us

[dusty80]

.93 skid pad isn't bad, if we are worried about service loaners then is quality the issue? That paint peeling thread doesn't help. I love my X3M but just putting it out there.

[AlexFL]

Originally Posted by Fullthrottlebg

Pretty impressed with he X3M Competition overall. If the suspension wasn't that harsh it would make for a great family addition to an M fleet. Plenty of space, super handling, can go off the road and you get amazing performance.

Great review, thanks for posting this!

[sviswan]

Anyone else notice the chrome window trim? How is that possible on a X3m comp?

[boi222]

Originally Posted by spuntyb

MSS springs ftw. I test drove a new one and a used one with MSS springs about a week apart, and it's a huge difference. Should come that way from the factory, which is annoying, but that the option exists for so little $, it's a no-brainer option that really makes this car shine.

Thanks for sharing!

This is my 4th M car and I really don't think the stock suspension is that harsh compared to the f80 or my previous M's. it is definitely no Lexus or other plush comfort luxury car but it is very complaint especially with my 20" winters right now. Wife and kids approve and wife was very critical on the suspension of my f80, she hated going over any bumps especially when she was pregnant ... But no complaints now going over the same bumps that she would used to yell , every time it woke up our newborn

[allinon72]

We can beat a dead horse about the suspension, but the fact is it's a BMW issue going back to the F80. Nearly every reviewer of an M product in the last 3 years notes a stiff ride even in comfort mode. BMW seem to have given up on suspension tuning, they just make everything excessively stiff and call it "performance." The adaptive suspension modes do very little except add body roll. That's why on nearly every M model, if you add aftermarket springs, suddenly the suspension modes actually do something. I don't know why this is, but competitors have far exceeded them.

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by allinon72

We can beat a dead horse about the suspension, but the fact is it's a BMW issue going back to the F80. Nearly every reviewer of an M product in the last 3 years notes a stiff ride even in comfort mode. BMW seem to have given up on suspension tuning, they just make everything excessively stiff and call it "performance." The adaptive suspension modes do very little except add body roll. That's why on nearly every M model, if you add aftermarket springs, suddenly the suspension modes actually do something. I don't know why this is, but competitors have far exceeded them.

That might be it though. Maybe they assume enough enthusiasts tune their M suspensions, why bother? Because you're right, with a modest amount of $, the suspensions improve vastly.

Personally I don't think my F80 ZCP suspension is harsh, nor is the F97, but having driven both with and without springs/HAS kits, it's far improved with aftermarket parts.

[AlexFL]

Originally Posted by spuntyb

That might be it though. Maybe they assume enough enthusiasts tune their M suspensions, why bother? Because you're right, with a modest amount of $, the suspensions improve vastly.

Personally I don't think my F80 ZCP suspension is harsh, nor is the F97, but having driven both with and without springs/HAS kits, it's far improved with aftermarket parts.

BMW should simply offer third party HAS springs as a warranty-backed aftermarket option - the way VW Germany offers aftermarket Akrapovic exhausts. I think this would solve a lot of problems.

[allinon72]

Originally Posted by spuntyb

That might be it though. Maybe they assume enough enthusiasts tune their M suspensions, why bother? Because you're right, with a modest amount of $, the suspensions improve vastly.

Personally I don't think my F80 ZCP suspension is harsh, nor is the F97, but having driven both with and without springs/HAS kits, it's far improved with aftermarket parts.

I can assure you that BMW does not develop their cars under the assumption that they will be modified. The fact is, a large majority aren't modified, and if they are it is frowned upon by BMW itself. They have just gotten lazy - I don't take any pleasure in saying that but I don't see an alternative explanation.

About the F80 - when it first came out in 2014 the number one complaint was the ride - it was very similar to what we are seeing now with the X3M. I too had the HAS kit on my F80 and it made the adaptive suspension actually mean something. Stock was OK but not great - comfort mode wasn't any more comfortable, just introduced more body roll.

[knepsterd]

Car and Driver
Nov 12, 2019 — The 2020 BMW X3 M compact luxury SUV flaunts the latest BMW M ... or to orbit a 300-foot skidpad with a tacky 0.97 g of lateral grip.
Curb weight: 4549 lb

[knepsterd]

On the crap Conti’s no less

[dusty80]

I am good with the ride on my X3M when comfort mode. I was talking to a BMW N.America rep and he told me the competition was built for the track which is why it is so stiff.

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by AlexFL

BMW should simply offer third party HAS springs as a warranty-backed aftermarket option - the way VW Germany offers aftermarket Akrapovic exhausts. I think this would solve a lot of problems.

Absolutely

[Fullthrottlebg]

Here are the times we got from the X3M Competition. The car was on 20's and Sottozero 285 tires. Still pretty impressive.

[AlexFL]

Originally Posted by Fullthrottlebg

Here are the times we got from the X3M Competition. The car was on 20's and Sottozero 285 tires. Still pretty impressive.

It can be a little bit quicker. Just hold the brakes a bit longer to build more boost - I think you released the brakes too soon.

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by AlexFL

It can be a little bit quicker. Just hold the brakes a bit longer to build more boost - I think you released the brakes too soon.

Was going to suggest the same. Isn't it about 3 seconds before letting off the brake?