[Max Well]

Originally Posted by ando

...I'm going to be curious for additional comments you may have regarding the new engine tune and enhancements. Enjoy those miles!

Definitely enjoying the trips to large metro areas better with the LCI and its enhanced Nav c/w with my iD6 version. I usually get lost downtown Tampa but the enhanced guidance with specific lanes coming up etc shown in the HUD and the larger map really makes a difference. Power delivery remains 'smoother' it seems, and the early low torque difference can still be felt.

If my wife allows (she's protective of it right now ), I'd like to take it to the Strip in a month or so when the weather cools to get some formal numbers.

[spta97]

Hey Max Well!

Great thread and pics as usual! Very happy you/your wife are enjoying the LCI.

I would love to see this color in person as it really seems to take on different personalities (shades) depending on lighting. Although BMW does not have all the best colors, there are several which seem to change colors (like my X3MC Dark Graphite or Interlagos Blue of my prior E46 M3).

I also learned from this thread that there is a USB port in the center console! How the hell did I miss that???

My next venture is to see how to get CarPlay going through USB as you inspired me to do some back to back testing and the USB to iPhone connection was much better than the BT/Wireless (note, I also have an aftermarket sub/amp). But the iPhone interface via USB is terrible.

I'll also look into Flac on a USB drive.

Wonderful thread with a lot of great info!

As a side, I'm a little jelly because:

1) You've got a brand new LCI after ~2 years with the previous X3M.
2) In the hour I read through this you have driven as many miles as I did in the first 6 months!

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by spta97

Hey Max Well!

Great thread and pics as usual! Very happy you/your wife are enjoying the LCI.

I would love to see this color in person as it really seems to take on different personalities (shades) depending on lighting. Although BMW does not have all the best colors, there are several which seem to change colors (like my X3MC Dark Graphite or Interlagos Blue of my prior E46 M3)...

Wonderful thread with a lot of great info!...

Thanks, spta97 - as much as my wife liked her 2020, she is really enjoying this one and frequently comments how much more enjoyable it is to drive with its improved cabin experience, tech and handling. Some of that is no doubt related to getting rid of the pano, but I'm happy to see her developing into an Enthusiast the more she appreciates the elite engineering elements M provides.

And after hearing me repeatedly saying these thoroughbreds are born to run, she has agreed to let me head to the Strip before the end of the year (after we get past the 3,100 mile BMW-recommended Break-in and the DAs improve). I'll try to control as many of the variables as I can to make it a reasonably valid comparison to mine, but I suspect it should be faster. The main differences will be the 'torque increase' and the wheel weights, so am interested in seeing how it plays out.

Regarding the wheels, with appreciation to Bestle for providing solid data on the weight differences between the 765M and 892M wheels in his post at https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showp...9&postcount=37 . In sum, 3.8kg (8.4lbs) less up front, 2.8kg (6.2lbs) less for the rears, for a total of 6.6kg (14.6lbs) lower unsprung weight. Also, tirerack indicates the PS4S fronts and rears are each 1lbs less than the Contis, so that total improves even further to 18.6lbs less when transitioning from them to the PS4S.

And agree about the color. We had Dark Graphite with our first G01 X3M40i and it varied a lot based on lighting. BG is more subtle in that regards, but does change some as well.

[Max Well]

If it wasn't for the rubber windshield trim which extends up past the roof, I'd remove the black rails like I did on my 2020 BSM.

[Max Well]

Received a PM request asking for side-by-side comparisons of the pre- vs LCI headlights, and specifically questioning if the inner projectors function differently between the two. It would appear so based on these non-highbeam images.

[Pravs21]

Hey man - 2 months later, how do you like it? Is there anything you hate about it?

[DCC]

Originally Posted by Max Well

Received a PM request asking for side-by-side comparisons of the pre- vs LCI headlights, and specifically questioning if the inner projectors function differently between the two. It would appear so based on these non-highbeam images.

But do they swivel and auto height adjust?


Thanks for the pics, it sure helps in the visualization

[Tim@codemybimmer]

Originally Posted by DCC

But do they swivel and auto height adjust?

It's touched on quite a bit on the forums.

The LCI 552 Adaptive LED & 5AZ Laserlights are Matrix Technology headlights. Therefore while they still auto level, they removed the mechanical swivelling component in lieu of the cornering light to brighten the corners on hard turns and Matrix array to be able to dim or brighten individual zones. I'm unsure how many zones they employ but other manufacturers with matrix LEDs seem to be between 8-16 zones.

Hope that helps clear it up!

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by Pravs21

Hey man - 2 months later, how do you like it? Is there anything you hate about it?

They've done a great job in progressing the evolution of this series. No negatives whatsoever.

For the future, though - hoping they'll allow the utilitarian roof rails to become an option rather than forcing them on all of us, at least here in the 'authentic M' world. No doubt they've done their small marketing analyses which must be indicating statistically that most want rails, so I realize this may be a minority opinion within BMW's sampled population. But go build a Cayenne Turbo, and one will find many top performance brands like Porsche realize the aerodynamics and aesthetics are better without (they charge $830 if you want them). Not asking for a major bespoke project here, just provide painted roof trim in their place. And a CFRP aero roof would be the icing on the cake. And also allow us to option the PS4S even for a price, rather than just waiting to see what the lottery provides.

Originally Posted by DCC

But do they swivel and auto height adjust?
Thanks for the pics, it sure helps in the visualization

Originally Posted by Tim@codemybimmer

It's touched on quite a bit on the forums. ... Hope that helps clear it up!

Thanks for the clarification here, Tim.

[DCC]

Originally Posted by Tim@codemybimmer

It's touched on quite a bit on the forums.

The LCI 552 Adaptive LED & 5AZ Laserlights are Matrix Technology headlights. Therefore while they still auto level, they removed the mechanical swivelling component in lieu of the cornering light to brighten the corners on hard turns and Matrix array to be able to dim or brighten individual zones. I'm unsure how many zones they employ but other manufacturers with matrix LEDs seem to be between 8-16 zones.

Hope that helps clear it up!

So they physically auto level up/down, but the side to side swivel is now being done by turning on/off a series of LEDs… yes?

Thank you for the info

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by DCC

So they physically auto level up/down, but the side to side swivel is now being done by turning on/off a series of LEDs… yes?

Thank you for the info

Yes, the up/down is physical.

As for the swivel (matrix) the LCI is better than my 2020 was, the cornering light is instant and wider like 90 degrees.

[Kozumasbullitt]

Originally Posted by Max Well

They've done a great job in progressing the evolution of this series. No negatives whatsoever.

For the future, though - hoping they'll allow the utilitarian roof rails to become an option rather than forcing them on all of us, at least here in the 'authentic M' world. No doubt they've done their small marketing analyses which must be indicating statistically that most want rails, so I realize this may be a minority opinion within BMW's sampled population. But go build a Cayenne Turbo, and one will find many top performance brands like Porsche realize the aerodynamics and aesthetics are better without (they charge $830 if you want them). Not asking for a major bespoke project here, just provide painted roof trim in their place. And a CFRP aero roof would be the icing on the cake. And also allow us to option the PS4S even for a price, rather than just waiting to see what the lottery provides.




Thanks for the clarification here, Tim.

I would prefer if the rails were an option as well. I have had 5 vehicles with rails and never had a need for the rails.

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by Kozumasbullitt

I would prefer if the rails were an option as well. I have had 5 vehicles with rails and never had a need for the rails.

Not sure why they're reluctant to allow the option, especially with their true M variants (F95/97). Rails don't add aerodynamic benefits nor evoke a sleek performance aesthetic. If anything, from what I can find online, suggestions are they induce boundary layer separation and disrupt airflow negatively.

Saw a Levante sans rails yesterday, and I continue to see a number of Cayenne and Macan models without as well (usually the higher performance lines). Definitely prefer without.

[moff]

Originally Posted by Max Well

Not sure why they're reluctant to allow the option, especially with their true M variants (F95/97). Rails don't add aerodynamic benefits nor evoke a sleek performance aesthetic. If anything, from what I can find online, suggestions are they induce boundary layer separation and disrupt airflow negatively.

Saw a Levante sans rails yesterday, and I continue to see a number of Cayenne and Macan models without as well (usually the higher performance lines). Definitely prefer without.

Agreed with this. Moving from an X3M with rails to a new X4M and I did not select the rails as an option. Looks cleaner on the 4 without.

[Tim@codemybimmer]

Originally Posted by moff

Agreed with this. Moving from an X3M with rails to a new X4M and I did not select the rails as an option. Looks cleaner on the 4 without.

Yeah, I don't exactly know why even the F98 X4 M in the US Market comes with rails, while everywhere else it's optional. It doesn't help the F97 X3 M can't be spec'd without the rails either.

I do feel pretty lucky that my F98 doesn't have rails at all since it's not standard equipment in Canada.

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by Tim@codemybimmer

Yeah, I don't exactly know why even the F98 X4 M in the US Market comes with rails, while everywhere else it's optional. It doesn't help the F97 X3 M can't be spec'd without the rails either.

I do feel pretty lucky that my F98 doesn't have rails at all since it's not standard equipment in Canada.

Just back from a 650 mile round trip where I must've seen 15 Cayennes and Macans - and only one had rails. Also saw an F-Pace without as well. Hopefully BMWNA will allow at least their M lines this option in the future.

[Max Well]

Appreciation to danniexi for the idea, images and part numbers for his CFRP steering wheel insert and paddles in his build thread, and specifically post https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showp...5&postcount=69 . Parts have been ordered and should arrive within the next few weeks.

Another image from one of our many backroads trips in the LCI.

[Max Well]

Thanks again for the idea, danniexi - agree it's a more refined aesthetic while still maintaining OEM. Side-by-side views for ease of comparison along with the part numbers:

[jzmundy]

Originally Posted by Max Well

Thanks again for the idea, danniexi - agree it's a more refined aesthetic while still maintaining OEM. Side-by-side views for ease of comparison along with the part numbers:

Damn this looks so good. Appreciate the side-by-side!

[danniexi]

Originally Posted by Max Well

Thanks again for the idea, danniexi - agree it's a more refined aesthetic while still maintaining OEM. Side-by-side views for ease of comparison along with the part numbers:

well doneee. looks great!

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by jzmundy

Damn this looks so good. Appreciate the side-by-side!

Originally Posted by danniexi

well doneee. looks great!

Thanks! As one mod you're exposed to visually every minute of driving, and the way it transforms the appearance, well worth it IMHO.

[werke-t]

Just wanted to say thank you Maxwell, this thread helped me decide my recent purchase of a 2020 x3mc sapphire black on black/midrand 6k miles every option.

I debated a few months over lci vs pre-lci... coming from f80 m3 the pre-lci fit the more classic bmw-m look I was used to and your side by sides really helped me decide. Your BG looks awesome in LCI, congrats.