[Max Well]

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POV video of runs at Sachsenring shared by Auto Bild Sportscars 24 Mar 2020.

Lap times:

X3MC (1:37,60)
AMG GLC63S (1:37,92)
F-Pace SVR (1:40,10)

*The camera apparently malfunctioned for the F-Pace SVR’s run but the time is provided in the Notes section.



Auto Bild Sportscars: TRACK BATTLE: BMW X3M Competition vs. Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S – Track POV:

Here are a few links about the Sachsenring track for background info:

https://www.sachsenring-circuit.com/...ack/data-sheet
https://fastestlaps.com/tracks/sachsenring

[AlexFL]

Very nice video!

[Jason60051]

Great video! Props to the bmw despite being down 2 cylinders.

[TheBingoBalls]

Curious to see how the ride is on the GLC63S. If the X3 M was just a tad quicker, I could see most sacrificing that time (but who's really wringing these out to they potential?) for more comfort because the X3M in all variants is a very stiff ride regardless if you can tolerate it or not.

[Vettethret]

Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls

Curious to see how the ride is on the GLC63S. If the X3 M was just a tad quicker, I could see most sacrificing that time (but who's really wringing these out to they potential?) for more comfort because the X3M in all variants is a very stiff ride regardless if you can tolerate it or not.

The AMG defintiley looked more composed. Having owned both, I still prefer the ride/handling of the X4M over the GLC 63.

[535i MSport]

Originally Posted by Max Well

POV video of runs at Sachsenring shared by Auto Bild Sportscars 24 Mar 2020.

Lap times:

X3MC (1:37,60)
AMG GLC63S (1:37,92)
F-Pace SVR (1:40,10)

url]

Interesting, as are the times for;

M3 competition package 1:36.85
C63S Sedan 1:36.95
E63S 1:35.90

[Fastblack]

The s58 sounds so much better than the s55.

[M-Pilot]

GLC63S sounds and looks better than the X3M. I wish MBUSA brought it here instead of the base GLC63.

[M-Pilot]

Originally Posted by Fastblack

The s58 sounds so much better than the s55.

As someone who is eagerly waiting for the upcoming G80 M3, I can say that unfortunately no it doesn't. What you are hearing in the video is the ASD. I test drove the X3M Comp last summer for about 40min and it sounded almost identical to the stock M3/M4 Comp. Just like S55 doesn't sound anything like N55, S58 doesn't sound anything like B58 either due to the twin turbo setup. S55 and S58 sound awfully close IMO (not in a good way).

[AlexFL]

Originally Posted by M-Pilot

GLC63S sounds and looks better than the X3M. I wish MBUSA brought it here instead of the base GLC63.

Agree about the sound, disagree about the looks. X3MC is a well proportioned, handsome sleeper. Sound is an easy fix with a downpipe/exhaust/tune.

[White340]

Is the X3MC any stiffer than the F80 Comp with 20" wheels?

Not sure if I am getting old or not but after putting my 666m wheels back on over the weekend it feels like it is stiffer than it was last year. We are having our first baby next month and my wife was saying we should drive her car when taking the baby around. 🤨

[euro*]

I'm surprised BMW did a quicker time. For me that video was display of shitty driving, especially in BMW, he was going sideways half the lap, and that's not what you did if you want to set a quick time....

[Dethsupp0rt]

There was no drama with the Mercedes at all. I wonder how the BMW would've looked with the 295s that the AMG had on the rear? A few people have went to 265F and 295R on the X3 and said it made a big difference.

Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls

The X3M in all variants is a very stiff ride regardless if you can tolerate it or not.

Originally Posted by White340

Is the X3MC any stiffer than the F80 Comp with 20" wheels? We are having our first baby next month and my wife was saying we should drive her car when taking the baby around. ��

I (finally) picked my X3MC up yesterday, and I really don't understand how some people think it's uncomfortable. I even threw it in Sport Plus on a not-so-nice road, and while I could feel road imperfections through the wheel finally, the ride was still comfortable. There's very little body roll, so it's certainly stiff laterally, but going over bumps, everyone I had in the car said it was comfortable.

[MrItaly]

Originally Posted by AlexFL

Agree about the sound, disagree about the looks. X3MC is a well proportioned, handsome sleeper. Sound is an easy fix with a downpipe/exhaust/tune.

Agree on every single point. Downpipe FTW!

[M-Pilot]

A lot of S55 guys think downpipes are the recipe as well but making it louder doesn't make it sound better. Here's an X3M with catless downpipes, which sounds way worse than stock IMO:

Again, I'm a huge fan of S58 and can't wait to grab a G80 once it's available but there is no aftermarket exhaust/downpipe combination that will make it sound remotely as good as the AMG.

[MrItaly]

I wouldn't go as far as to say downpipes will make the S58 sound better than the Merc (or the Alpha for that matter) V8. Hell, I wouldn't even argue they make it sounds as good as either of those two. But I would opine they do make stock sound a lot better to the point that I enjoy hearing that sound with the windows down and ASD coded off in sport plus. I also think the stage 2 tune from BM3 has altered the timing a bit which makes it sound better, but then again, maybe I'm just hearing things in my old age.

[AlexFL]

Originally Posted by M-Pilot

A lot of S55 guys think downpipes are the recipe as well but making it louder doesn't make it sound better. Here's an X3M with catless downpipes, which sounds way worse than stock IMO:


Again, I'm a huge fan of S58 and can't wait to grab a G80 once it's available but there is no aftermarket exhaust/downpipe combination that will make it sound remotely as good as the AMG.

This is Ben’s car. He was playing around with various downpipe/midpipe solutions. Me, him, and few other guys are getting the Akrapovic exhaust towards the end of this month. Feel free to stop by in a few weeks. We should have some nice sound clips for ya...

[Mako]

Originally Posted by M-Pilot

GLC63S sounds and looks better than the X3M. I wish MBUSA brought it here instead of the base GLC63.

Completely disagree on the looks part
Which is why I bought the X3M, it looks much better to me.

Merc looks more like the soccer mom car compared to the bad dad X3M

[positiveions]

I like them both, but I like the front look of the GLC.

[POM3]

Originally Posted by White340

Is the X3MC any stiffer than the F80 Comp with 20" wheels?

Not sure if I am getting old or not but after putting my 666m wheels back on over the weekend it feels like it is stiffer than it was last year. We are having our first baby next month and my wife was saying we should drive her car when taking the baby around. 🤨

For me it is way more comfortable than my F80 Comp (I had MP HAS at BMW recommend height with the 20s with 4Ss). Congrats on the baby, I had twins and so I made a move from the F80 to the X3MC. Really enjoying it, really fun and fast and I can drive the entire family around without issues. Also all the new gadgets were a plus (wireless charging, apple car play, ventilated seats, etc) plus the spare tire and being a taller car (here in FL have to deal with lots of rain, could not afford being stuck with the babies). But I would be lying if I said I dont miss the F80 and the MPExhaust too

[doug_999]

Originally Posted by White340

Is the X3MC any stiffer than the F80 Comp with 20" wheels?

Not sure if I am getting old or not but after putting my 666m wheels back on over the weekend it feels like it is stiffer than it was last year. We are having our first baby next month and my wife was saying we should drive her car when taking the baby around. 🤨

The M3 simply was not tuned for 20" wheels. Cost it in every competition and even BMW does not use them at their Performance Center - marketing won the battle there.

[Bee Pee]

Originally Posted by euro*

I'm surprised BMW did a quicker time. For me that video was display of shitty driving, especially in BMW, he was going sideways half the lap, and that's not what you did if you want to set a quick time....

Harsh to critique a wheel mans skills from yr keyboard.

TBH I thought the same too initially but watch the video a few times.

I subsequently concluded the driver was trying to drive around the inherent understeer, more so in the Beemer.

If I owned an x3mc and tracked it, dialling out the understeer would probably get it closer to 1,36-1,37 times posted above for Uber saloons.