[JRobUSC]

Originally Posted by bjcarls

Suspension and ride seems to be the issue most talk about. I want to drive one more now, the M3 was never a comfortable cruiser imo.
Top Gear lays into the ride. "We need to discuss the X3 M’s horrifically stiff ride. This car rides so firmly that it stops conversations. It makes occupants wince and puff out their cheeks."

Then another "Get on a real road...The adaptive dampers are the real heroes here, giving them a moderately firm but never harsh ride in Comfort setting."

"best described as purposefully firm."

Yeah, Top Gear absolutely nuked the X3/X4 M because of the ride. Then you have The Straight Pipes video review that says it rides better than everything else in the class, so who knows.

There's also an obvious brand bias in some of these reviews, specifically Motor Trend and Car & Driver, who basically talk out of both sides of their mouths. On one hand they question whether anyone needs SUV's as fast and expensive as the X3 M or X4 M, almost as if BMW shouldn't build them, while on the other hand they put cars like the Alfa Remo Stelvio Quadrifoglio and Porsche Macan in their Best Drivers Cars tests and name them to awards lists. Weird how BMW seems to get held to a different standard than everyone else.

[DCG]

Why are the brand new BMW X3Ms & X4Ms NOT using the latest iDive 7 software? What's up with that?

And why is it with vehicles you can't upgrade to the latest operating system?

[Ilyam5]

Originally Posted by DCG

Why are the brand new X3M & X4M NOT using the latest iDive 7 software? What's up with that?

That is the biggest mystery out there. especially since the MY2020 x3 M40 and 3.0 will have new tech starting August 2019.

They could not wait another month to release the x3 M with new tech?

M340 and new 7 series LCi came out in March/April with new tech.
X5 had it since November 2018.

So the 2020 x3 M40 sounds better and better with I drive 7 and potentially the engine from M340 with 382 HP

[Jmm_22]

I drove the X3M at a dealership during the M Tour last week, had it for a little over 45 minutes and took it on windy roads and a little on the highway. I did not like the exhaust as it sounds a lot like the S55. Ride quality wasn't too bad, but I'm used to the M2 as my daily driver.

I think it falls short of the Macan GTS/Turbo and Giulia Quadrofoglio in terms of speed/acceleration and handling.

Left disappointed, as I was looking at this for my girlfriend.

[cfm56d7b]

Looking forward to the test drive while considering existing automobile media reviews as secondary inputs.

[Dillinger]

Unfortunate they did not have a Non-Comp version to drive and report about.

[DS_BMW]

Maybe it's just me but they seem and look boring.

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

[Mani59]

This is very much just me but the front lower part of it reminds me of the drone from the Oblivion movie:

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by BMWModel3

Waiting for the only review that matters: Doug Demuro's

Oh god please no

[xcusem3]

Originally Posted by AUSf22

On the plus side, we got to hear the new s58, which in my opinion sounds quite good! better than the s55

Lol that's not saying much at all!!!

[Racer20]

Originally Posted by Crassus

That was a given.

A firmer ride is the only way to acheive reduced body roll, sharper steering and increased road feel.

The M40i will be more comfortable and a 20i/30i even more so. It's a good spectrum of choice.

Stiff is not the same as uncomfortable. Many reviewers complained that it was busy. That just poor choice of hardware or poor tuning.

[GuyOh]

I've noticed it's usually the british car journalists that always complain about the ride being stiff.

[M-Pilot]

Originally Posted by AUSf22

On the plus side, we got to hear the new s58, which in my opinion sounds quite good! better than the s55

If you think this sounds better than S55, you must have never heard an M3/M4 Comp. This (@11:52) sounds exactly like S55:

[Mani59]

Carwow

[PRUVEIT]

Originally Posted by BMWModel3

Waiting for the only review that matters: Doug Demuro's

Originally Posted by BMWModel3

Waiting for the only review that matters: Doug Demuro's

Funny I really didn't like his videos in the last, but now even my wife likes them. :-)

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by bjcarls

Suspension and ride seems to be the issue most talk about. I want to drive one more now, the M3 was never a comfortable cruiser imo.
Top Gear lays into the ride. "We need to discuss the X3 M’s horrifically stiff ride. This car rides so firmly that it stops conversations. It makes occupants wince and puff out their cheeks."

Then another "Get on a real road...The adaptive dampers are the real heroes here, giving them a moderately firm but never harsh ride in Comfort setting."

"best described as purposefully firm."

It's a comfortable cruiser to me. Well, as comfortable as I expect an ///M to be. I don't want a super soft car masquerading as an M3 or M4.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by BMWModel3

I'll keep saying it again and again it's the weight that kills this car:
- Suspension needs to be unnecessarily stiff to compensate. Your passengers will hate riding in it.
- 16 mpg combined. Lol what my F80 6MT gets 23 combined. A SUV that needs to be refilled every few days. Guess gas is still cheap.
- you will go through tires like mad. My X3 M40i rears are toast at 12k miles. You'll be buying a new set of tires every few months.

Your tire issue is due to driving behavior, not an inherent issue with the car.

[535i MSport]

Originally Posted by rjd598

Oh god please no

That voice! Aghhhhh😫

[535i MSport]

Originally Posted by f82fanatic

Drove the car at an M Event in Miami this weekend. I echo some of the comments. Lots of lag when accelerating and a strong feeling of detachment vis-à-vis steering and acceleration. I left disappointed in general, expected the car to generate a feeling, that je ne sais quoi that an M3/M4 gives you, but it wasn't there. The X5M does a much better job weighing a lot more.

Not sure how a SUV can feel like an M3/4 with the extra weight and higher centre of gravity.

Just avoid the SUV and get the new M3/4...

[Fugly M3]

only thing the X3M is missing is the tow pack (for the US at least)

[Gonven]

Carwow review