shoptb wrote

I'd be willing to bet that this option will appear as "individual" for the X3 in the next year or so in the US.

Considering Merino is an individual option yes most likely

Tchgrif wrote

in the UK it's 900 pounds more... that's $1400 USD

Which is only about £17 per month on a four year PCP!

freitz wrote

wait what? Why would they only make it available for the 30i?

Is there a chance you can get it on the 40i?

It is a start.

Fiona Red available in 30i in the US

NH_F36 wrote

Fiona Red available in 30i in the US

So on that same page is the a M40i option for Merino?

freitz wrote

Another thread those in the US cannot appreciate.. No Merino option for us yet on the X3.

But at least you get the much cheaper cars in a month or two after ordering .. not like 6 months wait which is turned out to be for me. :-/

nogren wrote

But at least you get the much cheaper cars in a month or two after ordering .. not like 6 months wait which is turned out to be for me. :-/

Yes the US guys get BMW’s seriously cheap, they’re priced like Fords are here! Probably why Merino isn’t available there, Americans just aren’t prepared to pay the going rate for things.

nvestr wrote

I have not hand a chance to see or feel the Merino leather colors available in the X3. My dealer only has them in Vernasca.

I am interested in Vernasca Cognac or Tartufo Merino. In Canada the Merino is $1200 more and I believe the leather extends further than the Vernasca in terms of coverage.

The Vernasca is definitely not high end leather. It felt just ok to the hand. Is Merino a huge upgrade in feel? We have a 19 Volvo XC90 Inscription that comes with Nappa leather. Softest i've felt. I doubt even the merino will be close to the volvo nappa but curious on what others think!

Thanks

Jeff

Merino seats do look good but was just one option too far for me but perfectly happy with Vernasca, it blends well with the rest of the materials used in the cabin

Interested to know what the extra extended parts out mention are though as I thought the option just replaced the Vernasca parts with Merino? Now if the door tops and dash were merino as well I may have wished I did stretch to it as that would completely change the look of the interior

I wouldn't worry about comparing with Volvo leather, it does look beautiful new but I think it is too soft, I test drove a XC60 with Nappa and the edge of seat didn't look good after only 4K miles although was impressed with the Nappa dash

MarkyM wrote

Merino seats do look good but was just one option too far for me but perfectly happy with Vernasca, it blends well with the rest of the materials used in the cabin

Interested to know what the extra extended parts out mention are though as I thought the option just replaced the Vernasca parts with Merino? Now if the door tops and dash were merino as well I may have wished I did stretch to it as that would completely change the look of the interior

I wouldn't worry about comparing with Volvo leather, it does look beautiful new but I think it is too soft, I test drove a XC60 with Nappa and the edge of seat didn't look good after only 4K miles although was impressed with the Nappa dash

I don’t know where it’s extended to, it’s definitely not the dash as mine has sensatec dash. Also strange that it’s only the fiona red and tartufo merino that is described as ‘extended’, the ivory white merino isn’t!

teaston wrote

nogren wrote

But at least you get the much cheaper cars in a month or two after ordering .. not like 6 months wait which is turned out to be for me. :-/

Yes the US guys get BMW’s seriously cheap, they’re priced like Fords are here! Probably why Merino isn’t available there, Americans just aren’t prepared to pay the going rate for things.

I'm assuming you're being sarcastic here. I think enough people would gladly pay more for quality leather over the Veransca given a choice. I opted for it in my X5 (Merino) because what's $1500 on an already 'expensive' car...

AndroidRobot wrote

I'm assuming you're being sarcastic here. I think enough people would gladly pay more for quality leather over the Veransca given a choice. I opted for it in my X5 (Merino) because what's $1500 on an already 'expensive' car...

Not i’m not be sarcastic, americans just won’t pay much for cars compared to europeans (and Asians and Australians), although with the current weak pound it’s not hugely less than UK, but the UK BMW prices are some of the lowest in Europe, in fact in a lot of euro countries a 340i costs more than an M3 does in US!

teaston wrote

AndroidRobot wrote

I'm assuming you're being sarcastic here. I think enough people would gladly pay more for quality leather over the Veransca given a choice. I opted for it in my X5 (Merino) because what's $1500 on an already 'expensive' car...

Not i’m not be sarcastic, americans just won’t pay much for cars compared to europeans (and Asians and Australians), although with the current weak pound it’s not hugely less than UK, but the UK BMW prices are some of the lowest in Europe, in fact in a lot of euro countries a 340i costs more than an M3 does in US!

Well we also don't have ridiculously high taxes on vehciles meaning they cost much less here. People routeinly pay $50-60k for a damn pickup truck here so adding another $20k for a nice luxury SUV isn't abnormal. This all depends of course on what part of the country you live in

teaston wrote

Not i’m not be sarcastic, americans just won’t pay much for cars compared to europeans (and Asians and Australians), although with the current weak pound it’s not hugely less than UK, but the UK BMW prices are some of the lowest in Europe, in fact in a lot of euro countries a 340i costs more than an M3 does in US!

I'm not so sure about that. Americans seem to be fine paying $65-70K for pickup trucks all day long. Driving around Denver, it seems like Americans are fine paying quite a bit of money for cars lately.

shoptb wrote

teaston wrote

Not i'm not be sarcastic, americans just won't pay much for cars compared to europeans (and Asians and Australians), although with the current weak pound it's not hugely less than UK, but the UK BMW prices are some of the lowest in Europe, in fact in a lot of euro countries a 340i costs more than an M3 does in US!

I'm not so sure about that. Americans seem to be fine paying $65-70K for pickup trucks all day long. Driving around Denver, it seems like Americans are fine paying quite a bit of money for cars lately.

Well if those guys from Denver had to pay 30-40% more for the same thing, would they buy the same thing, or something cheaper?

teaston wrote

Yes the US guys get BMW’s seriously cheap, they’re priced like Fords are here! Probably why Merino isn’t available there, Americans just aren’t prepared to pay the going rate for things.

the truth is car manufacturers are ignorant about what some Americans will and will not pay for. I had the option for merino on an X4and I got it as would many on an X3.

nogren wrote

Well if those guys from Denver had to pay 30-40% more for the same thing, would they buy the same thing, or something cheaper?

Yes, they would -- for now. When it comes to pickup trucks in the US, people prioritize ridiculous lift kits and lights over housing. It's ridiculous, but at the same time, they're still flying off the lots at high prices. And then when the inevitable recession hits, Americans will scream about high gas prices for their incredibly inefficient trucks like this is some surprise that no one has ever seen before.

Vernasca is some of the worst leather I've ever felt. Definitely in the top 5 worst. The SensaTec fake leather is a lot nicer. So definitely Merino is worth the upgrade if you care about luxury at all.

I now live outside of a major metro area. I still live in the outer suburbs of a city that has a pro sports team, but I consider it a very small city. Just small farms out here, if any. Mostly suburbs. Single family homes. EVERYONE has a giant truck or SUV here except me and my immediate neighbors (also non-white). This is my first SUV ever. It's like 90% white here and like a non-racist (mostly) deep South. Just swimming in $60,000+ full sized trucks and SUVs. Escalades, GLS, and Range Rovers are a dime a dozen, as are lifted F250 and F350s.

They'll spend. I have no idea how this many people can afford cars like this, but they'll spend on big SUVs and trucks. You'll see the occasional 3 or 5 series (and equivalent), but they're pretty rare. Other than a couple of neighbors, I can go months to about a year without seeing a 7 series/S class level sedan in the wild.

Merino feels really nice but I wish there were more colour choices out there; My order is a Black Sapphire, most people go for the red/black but it's too bright for my taste.

Anyone ordered a black sapphire x3 in ivory white (merino)?

Captain_H wrote

Merino feels really nice but I wish there were more colour choices out there; My order is a Black Sapphire, most people go for the red/black but it's too bright for my taste.

Anyone ordered a black sapphire x3 in ivory white (merino)?

True there’s not a great choice, fiona red/black is very acquired taste (putting it lightly), and Ivory looks fantastic, but is only for sadists that want to give themselves a never ending task of keeping them clean!

Tartufo is just bloody fantastic though!

Feeling slightly miffed here.

I ordered Tartufo Merino (as shown in my previous post)

I was going to post another photo of it in better light from an X4 20d taken when I was in the dealership.

I’m supposed to see that it has Merino leather on the edges of the centre console. Whereas mine does not.





....just checked the configuration, it seems it must be an X3 / X4 thing (or
not, as the case may be)

T16ole wrote

Feeling slightly miffed here.

I ordered Tartufo Merino (as shown in my previous post)

I was going to post another photo of it in better light from an X4 20d taken when I was in the dealership.

I’m supposed to see that it has Merino leather on the edges of the centre console. Whereas mine does not.





....just checked the configuration, it seems it must be an X3 / X4 thing (or
not, as the case may be)

Even X4's with Vernasca get those leather side pieces along centre console

To be fair though the G02 is quite a bit more expensive than equivalent G01 so maybe this is one of the reasons?

I wonder if a retrofit is possible?

T16ole wrote

Feeling slightly miffed here.

I ordered Tartufo Merino (as shown in my previous post)

I was going to post another photo of it in better light from an X4 20d taken when I was in the dealership.

I’m supposed to see that it has Merino leather on the edges of the centre console. Whereas mine does not.





....just checked the configuration, it seems it must be an X3 / X4 thing (or
not, as the case may be)

Yes but then look at the hideous rear end on the X4!