[positiveions]

Looks good.

[drjoe66]

Is this the current or the upcoming X3. I can?t tell the difference.

[sor]

Originally Posted by drjoe66

Is this the current or the upcoming X3. I can?t tell the difference.

What’s the thread subject again?

If you can’t tell the difference it’s ok, probably just means you aren’t familiar with the X3. There are some significant differences, particularly around the lights shape. The headlights on the current X3 look droopy to me, the new one fixes that.

There are some good split comparisons here.

http://www.autotribute.com/46492/new...de-comparison/

[drjoe66]

Originally Posted by sor

What’s the thread subject again?

If you can’t tell the difference it’s ok, probably just means you aren’t familiar with the X3. There are some significant differences, particularly around the lights shape. The headlights on the current X3 look droopy to me, the new one fixes that.

There are some good split comparisons here.

http://www.autotribute.com/46492/new...de-comparison/

I was partially sarcastic. Bmw was just ranked very low in a German car magazine for innovative design. The new X3 is a very good example why they go that ranking.

[sor]

Originally Posted by drjoe66

I was partially sarcastic. Bmw was just ranked very low in a German car magazine for innovative design. The new X3 is a very good example why they go that ranking.

I figured you were probably being sarcastic. Honestly seems a bit unwarranted though considering most people can’t tell the difference between the last three generations of the A4 or the last 15 years of the 911. Incremental changes are the norm, you pretty much have to be into a model to really see the differences between generations, hence I figure you’re just not an X3 person.

[drjoe66]

Originally Posted by sor

I figured you were probably being sarcastic. Honestly seems a bit unwarranted though considering most people can’t tell the difference between the last three generations of the A4 or the last 15 years of the 911. You pretty much have to be into a model to really see the differences between generations, hence I figure you’re just not an X3 person.

You are right. I drive an M3.

[sor]

Originally Posted by drjoe66

You are right. I drive an M3.

And the body style changes here are about in line with what we saw between E90 and F80.

[drjoe66]

Originally Posted by sor

And the body style changes here are about in line with what we saw between E90 and F80.

I respectfully disagree. The E90 vs the F30 for me was a much bigger difference. I had moth of them and I thought they were quite different. But my eye is not trained for the X3.

[JSY]

I just realized that the hexagon lights are options on the non M40i. Haha for some reason I thought they all had that standard.

Anyway, this will be my 5th X3 and frankly I like how the design has progressed over the years. Just enough for a refreshing look but not so much that it doesn't remind me that it's am X3. I really like the identity of the look of the X3. I actually considered the SQ5 briefly earlier this year but if you ask me, I think it's butt ugly. I am sure Audi aficionados think the same about the X3. Hahaha

[JSY]

I have a question.. Is there still a fuse box behind the glove compartment that is "accessible" like previous X3s? I quote accessible being that it was minimally accessible via a tiny hole in the back of the compartment in the 2nd Gen.

I know the main fuse box in the trunk but want to know that I'll still be able to hardwire my dash cam via the front fuse box.

[ND40oz]

Originally Posted by JSY

I actually considered the SQ5 briefly earlier this year but if you ask me, I think it's butt ugly. I am sure Audi aficionados think the same about the X3. Hahaha

Audi made an incremental update to the SQ5 for this gen and it went in the completely wrong direction, still can't believe they ditched the signature S exhaust. I guess I shouldn't have expected anything better considering what they did to the Q7 though. Mercedes actually did a better job updating Audi's design with the GLC.

[mogwail]

good look , but what is de color mineralweiss or alpinweiss

[GFK007]

Those headlights remind of the f20 - in a big way (not a good thing).

[GFK007]

Originally Posted by sor

I figured you were probably being sarcastic. Honestly seems a bit unwarranted though considering most people can’t tell the difference between the last three generations of the A4 or the last 15 years of the 911. Incremental changes are the norm, you pretty much have to be into a model to really see the differences between generations, hence I figure you’re just not an X3 person.

Definitely don't want bmw replicating Audi in terms of styling progression. It's been painfully slow - albeit their cars are by and large pretty good looking throughout the model line.

The 911 isn't a fair comp, because it's quickly design is part of why it's now so iconic. No other German brand has what Porsche has with the 911, or frankly anything close.

In terms of styling, BMW's greatest years (in the last two decades) were that of the mid 90's when the e36 became the e46, the e34 the e39 and the e32 the e38.

[96_Impreza]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Why is the front so bulbous/curvy?

Teutonic interpretation of 1960s-1970s Detroit muscle-car "Power Bulge."

[bwcooper]

BMW X3 trainer was at the dealer when I stopped by recently. Here is photo of the X3 he is driving around sitting next to a 2017 X3. While I've seen numerous comparisons, seeing in person made me appreciate more how much bigger the kidney grills really got.

[ZHPsedan]

Originally Posted by bwcooper

BMW X3 trainer was at the dealer when I stopped by recently. Here is photo of the X3 he is driving around sitting next to a 2017 X3. While I've seen numerous comparisons, seeing in person made me appreciate more how much bigger the kidney grills really got.

Thanks. I really like the side by side pictures the best.

Side note: I'm glad we're away from the tacked on the middle of the bumper cover circular fog lights.

[JSY]

Originally Posted by bwcooper

BMW X3 trainer was at the dealer when I stopped by recently. Here is photo of the X3 he is driving around sitting next to a 2017 X3. While I've seen numerous comparisons, seeing in person made me appreciate more how much bigger the kidney grills really got.

Wow, nice pic - I didn't think it was that much bigger until seeing this pic now.

[GFK007]

Originally Posted by bwcooper

BMW X3 trainer was at the dealer when I stopped by recently. Here is photo of the X3 he is driving around sitting next to a 2017 X3. While I've seen numerous comparisons, seeing in person made me appreciate more how much bigger the kidney grills really got.

New grille is almost cartoonish. Looks super awkward - can't imagine how big the grille on the x7 will be.

[bwcooper]

Originally Posted by Max Well

Hesitate to bother you but was wondering about the sun visors as well, which also made it to the Wish List for better wrapping and more upscale appearance, and for hopefully the ability to have internal extension ability to block out more of the sun when against the side window. Haven't been able to get a good look at them in any of the photos or videos so far. [Wishlist items 34 and 78]

Thanks!

I didn't see where anyone ever answered your question. I did get a chance o sit in the new 30i and did look at the sun visors specifically. They HAVE added the capability of the visor to slide left and right. So if sun is coming in from the side you can pull visor to the left to block it out better. Not an internal extension per se (like our 2001 Rav4 had) but gets the job done.

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by bwcooper

I didn't see where anyone ever answered your question. I did get a chance o sit in the new 30i and did look at the sun visors specifically. They HAVE added the capability of the visor to slide left and right. So if sun is coming in from the side you can pull visor to the left to block it out better. Not an internal extension per se (like our 2001 Rav4 had) but gets the job done.

Thank you for specifically looking at that and sharing your findings, bwcooper. Our 2015 LCI offers the ability to slide abt 4", but there is still a gap so we usually have to adjust the seat forward. I remembered our Asian-mnfr'd vehicles had these internal solid slides a number of years ago which worked great, and the visors were of much better quality and appearance than the ones we've seen in the X3 thus far, so was hoping they would have worked on that aspect a bit as well. Will have to see how it c/w the LCI to see if much has changed. Thanks again!

[bwcooper]

Oh, one other improvement, which I don't remember seeing on your wish list was that the rear seat headrests all can be flipped down so that they are not so tall. This not only improves rear visibility when no one is sitting there, but also makes it easier to fold the seats down. I'm told that the older models required the front seats to not be all the way back in order to fold the rear seats down (and then afterwards the front seats could be pushed back again)--a pain for taller drivers who usually had the seat back.