[6speed_M2]

evoix that is a similar switch to the one I’d be making. I think we’re hesitant at first but once we realize just how fun the X3M is AND we get the performance it comes with, we end up feeling like it’s the best choice possible.

All of the performance of the M3 with the added comfort and space. That sounds like the better daily to me.

The LCI especially is one of the best looking cars out there. It’s my favorite looking BMW SUV of all time. It’s a lovely blend of everything a daily driver needs + the S58/xDrive/ZF8. No compromises here.

[6speed_M2]

joon. It’s fascinating to hear that the performance is all you’d ever want anyways.

I could see myself in a G80 eventually saying “the handling bonus is cool, but I should’ve went with comfort yet again”. I’m not sure I’d say the opposite in the X3M. It’s a pair of coil overs away from being perfect? If that. A tune would definitely be nice with ethanol or race gas as well.

[6speed_M2]

BOEING Very well said & you are very lucky! Enjoy in good health.

I think the X3M would handle well enough for me. The super glued effect of the M3 only applies to limited situations and I don’t mind giving some of that up. I want a very well handling daily, it doesn’t need to be the greatest in the world. We save that for the dedicated weekend/track car.

Also, things like body roll and shift speed could potentially be fixed with modifications so that’s nice to know. Although it is a SUV, I would never expect it to not have any body roll being as heavy as it is and having a panoramic glass roof. That shouldn’t be a problem for what I’m using the vehicle for.

[6speed_M2]

Commanderwiggin in a perfect world I’d have an F80 as the weekender or a G80. I can understand why people don’t like the grill. I don’t love it, but I’m not sure it’s a deal breaker. It does look odd to me the majority of the time.

The most important part for me is the engine/powertrain set up. As long as I have the S58 with the xDrive, it’s perfect.

I would love to see the new M2 get the xDrive set up although that car isn’t perfect in the looks department either. Maybe we can get that one in black

[M3Pilot09]

I have had several M3’s, I am on my 3rd X3MC and I ordered a 2023 M3C arriving in a few weeks. However, I love my X3MC and keep questioning myself why I want to get rid of my Marina Bay Blue X3MC for a Skyscraper gray M3. The performamce on the X3MC is great and I always love driving it. Especially with all the rain we have had in California the past few months the X3MC is rad. I think I just talked myself out of getting the M3!

[TENPIN]

I recently made the switch from a '21 X3MC to a '23 M3CX. The only advantage I saw with e F97 was the roominess. The engine, the X-Drive, the interior fit and finish are all the same, but iDrive 8 in the G80 is a move in the right direction IMO. The H/K sound system in both suck, but I think it sucks a little bit less in the M3...but not by much.

The best mod I made to the F97 was getting rid of the Continentals and doing the 265/295 Michelins. The best mod for the G80 is H&R Sport springs. The biggest problem with the G80 is the front wheel gap is too large from the factory and the wheels, which I love, are a pain in the ass to clean.

All in all, both vehicles are great.

[BOEING]

Originally Posted by 6speed_M2

BOEING Very well said & you are very lucky! Enjoy in good health.

I think the X3M would handle well enough for me. The super glued effect of the M3 only applies to limited situations and I don’t mind giving some of that up. I want a very well handling daily, it doesn’t need to be the greatest in the world. We save that for the dedicated weekend/track car.

Also, things like body roll and shift speed could potentially be fixed with modifications so that’s nice to know. Although it is a SUV, I would never expect it to not have any body roll being as heavy as it is and having a panoramic glass roof. That shouldn’t be a problem for what I’m using the vehicle for.

You are correct both can be rectified with mods.I really enjoy driving both.Go with your heart and go with whatever makes you happy at the end of the day you are the one living with it.

[Poffman]

I have a 18 m2, 22’ m3xc and 22’ X3MC so I think I’m the person you’re looking for lol

M2 is a gokart, super fun but it’s a small car and doesn’t have many comforts
M3 is honestly the best all around car I’ve ever owned
X3M is an absolute monster but you know it is still an suv

They all have their place. Agree 100% with the above that the x3m ride quality is hilariously stiff from factory. H&r’s and spacers have to happen or you will feel like you’re going to the Nurburgring for groceries.

The x3m has more space but tbh unless you need an suv, the m3 is just hands down a fantastic car for most situations. If you’re worried about getting in and out, get an m3 with comfort seats. There. I said it. I have the buckets but if I was really worried about ease of in and out, I would get the comfort seats (which are the seats in the x3m)

Feel free to drop me a message if you have other questions. They’re all 3 great cars. If I had to keep one, it would be the m3 hands down. If it was my wife’s choice, she would most likely lean x3m but she loves the m3.

If you don’t have a use case for an suv, get an m3. M3 is tbh much more comfortable of a daily driver, if you’re not willing to modify the suspension.

[f80NJ17]

I had an F80 m3 and currently 22”x3mc

I personally love the x3mc for the space and I dont feel like I am compromising the power and handling with a SAV. It is a great daily.

[Kevin_The_Clean1]

Originally Posted by ASAP

As an neutral party here... but a former M2 owner, get the M3... it's a true performance car.

The X3M is great car but ultimately it is a compromised performance vehicle.

Saying the X3 MC is a "compromised performance vehicle" is the last thing I would ever say about it & I would never describe the F97 as such. It's easily one of the most agile & dynamic SUV's (BMW says SAV) that you can buy today. It's not called the M3 of the SUV world for nothing & no reason.

There are hundreds of people who complain about the stiff seats, poor ride quality & weak brakes. But I've never experienced any of those issues being true. Take a spin in my 2018 M2 on a rough road, then come back & tell me about firm seats with not enough padding material / that aren't soft enough & a ride that's a bit on the harsh side.

The M3 & X3 M are both good in their own rite. I went with the F97 X3 MC instead of the G80 M3 C X-drive because the moment BMW released production photos of the very first IOM (Isle of Man) green M3, I immediately knew the beaver teeth kidney grills is something I couldn't look past each & every day. Having other G80 owners tell you " you'll eventually get use to it / it will grow on you" as you look at the front end of your M car is something you shouldn't have to live with. That in itself is the true compromise in terms of aesthetics & visual appeal...

The X3 MC is a superb machine, that can drive over imperfect roads with large dips, enter & exit severely slopped driveways & much more with enough rear boot space to pack more than just a few items on a decent road trip. If you were to blind fold people & take them for a spirited drive in a X3 MC I'm confident most people would have no idea it was an SUV. For having a higher center of gravity & being a touch heavier, the X3 MC continues to punch way above its weight.

[stoked335d]

OP:
1. Go test drive both and see X3MC performance is good enough for you.

2. You said you expect to keep either option for 5-7 years so consider if your current circumstances will change in the next few years. Will you need more space for a family, a dog, a hobby that needs SUV space, tow a jet ski, race car etc.? Someone here tows a boat with his X3MC) Will you need more ground clearance? I flooded the electronics on my previous S4s steering rack driving across a deep puddle after a rain storm.

Personally for me SUV made more sense than another sedan having a 13 year old, wife, cycling/snowboarding hobbies, Costco runs etc. I could be wrong but rear leg room is much better on the X3m than M3. The rear legroom was much better vs SQ5, Macan GTS or MB GLC that I was cross shopping.

I would only consider the current M3 as an additional car in RWD/6MT with an after market Vorsteiner or similar grill.

https://vorsteiner.com/products/bmw-...am-front-grill

[joon.]

Originally Posted by 6speed_M2

joon. It’s fascinating to hear that the performance is all you’d ever want anyways.

I could see myself in a G80 eventually saying “the handling bonus is cool, but I should’ve went with comfort yet again”. I’m not sure I’d say the opposite in the X3M. It’s a pair of coil overs away from being perfect? If that. A tune would definitely be nice with ethanol or race gas as well.

There are people are this very sub-forum who have downpipes & a tune that are running sub 3 second 0-60's. It is not hard to get speed from this platform.

Does my X4M turn heads like the G80 does or my F80 did? Certainly not. What it does, is allow me to sit up in quilted leather seats pull back the pano-roof & sit my dumb ass in this stupid LA traffic. & whenever i need to shoot a gap, ive got 500+ HP to do so.

[font9a]

Compared to my M3 my X3MC makes long road trips to the mountains with skis and bikes not only possible, but also fun.

I always have to treat the M3 with kids gloves.

[sawood711]

I crossed shop the M3 Comp vs the X3MC and ended up getting the X3MC. I came from a lowered Dodge Charger and hated being "low" to the ground for the past 5 years and wanted a SUV, but didn't want to sacrifice performance. The X3MC blows my 392 SRT Charger away in almost every category. The only thing I miss is the roar of the V8 cause it was always there so to speak. The X3MC is a lot quieter and 90% of the time I am happy about that, but when I want to hear the exhaust it's not the same feeling. The X3MC will handle anything I will throw at it and more and the M3 would have just been overkill for my needs and I will sacrifice some body roll for the convivence of not having a low car.

[6speed_M2]

M3Pilot09 It’s a beauty! Let us know if you end up making the switch.

I think having had M3’s before plays a part in us wondering why we’d get one over the more comfortable yet nearly equal car performance wise for the street/highway.

I had a drive with the M5 recently. It was on 21’s I believe, but I wanted more space personally. It didn’t feel like the jump I think I need for a daily driver.

[6speed_M2]

TENPIN both cars are beautiful! Congrats though!

Have you noticed any difference in comfort?

I think part of it is each persons tolerance to the cars. In the case of the M3, getting in and out, being low to the ground, less space, and I assume less comfort?

I’ve always been the type to want the absolute best performance car, regardless of the compromises with it but not at this point in time. I think this is a much smaller group of car buyers in my opinion, so the majority would end up much happier in the M3.

[6speed_M2]

Poffman you made a lot of great points and we are definitely in a similar situation.

I don’t mind modifying a car if need be. The X3M’s I’m looking at are all lightly used, in the 55-65k range so warranty for either one I get will expire soon. Suspension mods will come, rims (Dinan forged in brushed clear), a tune most likely, etc.

I may be wrong with my train of thought, but I’m starting to think the intended energy the car is trying to capture for a lack of a better word is important. The M3 is going to be more tight and aggressive by nature. The X3M will be more geared for comfort and ease. It’s just about what each buyer is looking for.

[6speed_M2]

f80NJ17 that is the main reason why I’m considering the X3M is because of its tech/power/suspension. If it were a standard model, the M3 would be the easy pick.

I’ll know more once I test drive both soon. Let’s see how different they are and how different the M3 feels to the M5 I drove recently.

[6speed_M2]

Kevin_The_Clean1 I couldn’t agree more. I was daily driving a straight piped M2 manual for a long time with coil overs as well. No back up camera, heated seats, keyless entry or anything being the performance edition. That is a more aggressive car to drive 24/7.

My fear with the M3 is it’ll feel like a slightly larger version of the M2. Sure it’s a big sedan but from the drivers seat it isn’t noticed as much? I could be wrong there certainly. That’s what I noticed from the M5 but the x3m is much larger and a completely different style of car which can be just what I need.

[6speed_M2]

stoked335d I will definitely drive one soon and the M3. My local dealer has a bunch of both cars in their used lots. The X3M I would buy used in the right circumstances but definitely not the M3 as I have an allocation ready for MSRP.

I’m less focused on performance and more focused on the general feel/visibility of going from a coupe to a SUV. Up until recently I never considered one at all so let’s see!

Good thing you got the car you did. It’s literally too good to pass up, especially versus the competition. Also the grill does look better on the aftermarket section but I think some people don’t like the outside frame of the grill, more so than the inside designs of it. I do think the aftermarket grills and CSL grills are nice though and better than stock.

[6speed_M2]

joon. well said. The beauty of this car is that it does literally everything. It’s one of the best daily drivers ever I think. I would want to get one with the drivers assistance professional package for traffic situations.

I’ve seen people doing 10.8 1/4 miles with E30-40 and a tune, otherwise stock. That is incredible. With the amount of mods and money I’ve put in my M2, I don’t think it would even crack the 11’s at 425whp & 435wtq, 3390lbs.

[stoked335d]

Originally Posted by 6speed_M2

M3Pilot09 It’s a beauty! Let us know if you end up making the switch.

I think having had M3’s before plays a part in us wondering why we’d get one over the more comfortable yet nearly equal car performance wise for the street/highway.

I had a drive with the M5 recently. It was on 21’s I believe, but I wanted more space personally. It didn’t feel like the jump I think I need for a daily driver.

Try to test drive a 22 or 23 X3MC unless you are going for a MY 20-21. BMW retuned the suspension on the LCI due to a lot of complaints about rough suspension on pre-LCI which could be fixed by KW V3 coil overs or MSS springs(many threads about it here). The tires makes a big difference as well. Conti's will be more rough vs Michelins especially now in winter depending on where you are in CA.