RE: BMW exposes X3 and X4 M to the world

[David87]

I don't really have an issue with the X3 version, but what's the deal with the X4? It's less practical, uglier and (presumably) more expensive.

[Esotericstuff]

These are surely destined to surpass the RS3 or Golf R as the criminals choice of getaway car!

As I grow older, the desire to look down on mere mortals in my uberwagon increasingly appeals.

[E65Ross]

GTEYE said:

To me, the 40i variant would seem to be the sweet spot in the range - this adds little IMHO.

I can't see that throwing more power at it really adds much to the party - its still a relatively large and cumbersome SUV, and hardly an M3 after all?

It's got even more power, slightly different styling (which some may prefer) and the interior bits (eg seats) are also different. As is the suspension, brakes etc. But I suspect it will be bought because people want the fastest of that range (and there's nothing wrong with that at all). After all, why not have more power if you can.

As you say, the 40i is the sweetspot, for you, for somebody else, the 2 litre diesel is the sweetspot....it's fast enough, and adding more power may be pointless for them. The sweetspot varies from person to person, nothing wrong with that, and nothing wrong with a manufacturer catering for that either.

[Helicopter123]

Edible Roadkill said:

Yawn....how much a month is all the owners will need to know.

Most new cars are on finance of some description these days, why pick on fast SUVs?

[sam_jw]

BlackPrince said:

I don't actually care if people buy these or not, and I don't think that the X4/6 GLC/GLE coupes are that ugly - they are ill proportioned but thats okay.

However, the idea that people are making a very considered "rational" decision about performance and practicality when they buy these things is a bit hyperbolic imo. There's nothing wrong with making irrational decisions when buying cars or bikes, but lets not pretend its not about one thing and one thing only: the badge

Derides hyperbole, yet states the ONLY reason anyone buys these is the badge...

[Ranger 6]

sam_jw said:

May I ask what the massive problem is that these cars cause for people? The language in the first two paragraphs seems desperate to prove a dislike for these, and the older X5M and X6M.

The new X3 has been very well received, and whilst I am not in the market for a car such as this I can appreciate it's appeal/usefulness. Surely taking that recipe and handing it to the M division can be no bad thing? Should a motoring journalist at least wait to drive the thing before liking it to 'a horrible dream'?

+1

I've got an X3 35d at the moment and to see the choice opening up for my next car is absolutely spot on - there's the 40i, the 40d and now the X3M. All 300bhp+ and nay-sayers pray tell - what other M cars have an estate car sized boot?

Sensible competitors for the similar Porsche/Audi/Mercedes models and over half a ton lighter than the RRS/X5/Cayenne class it would be a good choice.

[JaredVannett]

Alucidnation said:

"Born in M Town"

Haven't you seen the video? Mega-Cringe!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIRcSdOBIYM

[epom]

Hint of Pajero Evolution on that X3 rear spoiler. I like it.

[arkenphel]

I am glad that the replies to the article are sensible, for once. All this promoted hate and division by the article writers sometimes really annoys me.

It's like "there can only be one master race" kinda vibe.

And look what happened to those guys...

Pistonheads journos have the best job in the world, experiencing different types of cars and cultures. Shame they come away sounding like they haven't actually learned much or have an open mind.

[E65Ross]

arkenphel said:

I am glad that the replies to the article are sensible, for once. All this promoted hate and division by the article writers sometimes really annoys me.

It's like "there can only be one master race" kinda vibe.

And look what happened to those guys...

Pistonheads journos have the best job in the world, experiencing different types of cars and cultures. Shame they come away sounding like they haven't actually learned much or have an open mind.

I agree, it starts off even with the subtitle "X2 M35i not concerning enough? Welcome the full fat M cars..."

I mean.....concerning enough? Concerning enough for what? That a manufacturer is making a faster version of a car which people clearly want? The next line wondering if it was all a horrible dream? It doesn't stop there, the next paragraph stating that the X5/X6M were a big success "Heaven help us"....I mean, FFS, I stopped reading there.

Utter crap journalism, and completely bias. Rather than talking about the product with an open mind, and potentially viewing it from the cars point of view (ie from its USP, and what it offers to potential buyers) they (Matt Bird it seems) rambles on stating their own prejudices and distastes for these sorts of cars. Pathetic really.

[hertfordshire1]

I bought a new 2018 X5M in Feb. Coming from an F10 M5 for the previous 2.5 years.

X5M is more practical and after some ECU work, very rapid indeed for its size and weight.

I also took the X5M to the Nurburgring last month as I have every car I have bought. It was very capable on track, kept up with some very quick cars and I was utterly impressed by it.

These cars have an appeal to some people, so let them enjoy it. If you don't get it fine.

Cheers

Steve

[fido]

Prefix-M cars should be hard core driving machines that can be taken around a track but equally usable on the road. These are sporty versions - nowt wrong with that. It should make the non-M version a tad less stealable.

[GTEYE]

arkenphel said:

I am glad that the replies to the article are sensible, for once. All this promoted hate and division by the article writers sometimes really annoys me.

It's like "there can only be one master race" kinda vibe.

And look what happened to those guys...

Pistonheads journos have the best job in the world, experiencing different types of cars and cultures. Shame they come away sounding like they haven't actually learned much or have an open mind.

I'm guessing some of the hate for these types of vehicles on some other threads may come from the fact that these vehicles (whether made by BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Range Rover and others) do seem to attract the rather arrogant owners who do use their vehicles size and bulk to for example force their way into queuing traffic.....

It can happen in any car, but subjectively this type of vehicle seems to attract these idiots like flies.

Personally i'm fairly ambivalent to them, they aren't for me but they appeal to lots of people, and that's just fine.

[soupdragon1]

David87 said:

I don't really have an issue with the X3 version, but what's the deal with the X4? It's less practical, uglier and (presumably) more expensive.

People said the same about the X6 (I have one, the 40D) and actually, the boot is very practical indeed - cavernous in fact. You lose a bit of space of course with the sloping roof, but unless you are stacking suitcases, you rarely stack stuff to the roof. The large floor pan in the boot of the X6 is massive - so the X3/X4 would be comparative that way too I'm sure - just losing out on the 'stacking luggage' if you opt for the X4.

Not sure about these X3/X4 cars, but the X6 was also deisgned a little differently than the X5. The X6 is a little lower (but still a nice high driving position for those that like that) and it also has torque vectoring. For those that haven't tried torque vectoring, its an absolute hoot. The X6 is obviously heavily compromised as a drivers car, but at the same time, its remarkably capable for what it is.

[BlackPrince]

sam_jw said:

Derides hyperbole, yet states the ONLY reason anyone buys these is the badge...

Fair enough - I got carried away. I do think the look/image are significant factors in people's purchasing decisions when it comes to the "coupe" versions

[E65Ross]

BlackPrince said:

Fair enough - I got carried away. I do think the look/image are significant factors in people's purchasing decisions when it comes to the "coupe" versions

That's the same for any coupe though, isn't it? Bah, why do M4's outsell the M3 by some considerable margin?

People buy something they prefer the look of.....nothing wrong with that, is there?

[soupdragon1]

E65Ross said:

BlackPrince said:

Fair enough - I got carried away. I do think the look/image are significant factors in people's purchasing decisions when it comes to the "coupe" versions

That's the same for any coupe though, isn't it? Bah, why do M4's outsell the M3 by some considerable margin?

People buy something they prefer the look of.....nothing wrong with that, is there?

Absolutely. If people claim they don't care much for looks, can we assume they are driving round in a car on 16 inch steel rims seeing as looks don't matter? Or that they don't put nice shrubs out the front of their house because they don't care much for looks? Or that they don't wipe the scrambled egg from their chin after breakfast as they don't care much for looks....etc etc...

[Ares]

IforB said:

I suppose the dislike is based upon the idea that these cars are by their very nature dynamically flawed because of their size, height, CofG, weight etc.

An M-car has always been a dynamically impressive car that has been optimised to be as good as it gets in that class. These things will never be that, as the non-X versions of the same cars will hand them their backsides, but they will meet the other idea of a normal car optimised to be as good as it can be.

Personally, I'm completely non-plussed by these things. They will always be compromised compared to their normal siblings and were it to be my money, it would be the M3 and not the X3M I'd get.

I completely understand why people dislike them, but they should still be pretty decent road cars. Not proper M-Cars though imho.

The irony is you are very wrong.

You say "An M-car has always been a dynamically impressive car that has been optimised to be as good as it gets in that class. These things will never be that, as the non-X versions of the same cars will hand them their backsides, but they will meet the other idea of a normal car optimised to be as good as it can be."

But the class these cars sit within IS the 'X' version. The non-X versions are a different class.

So the X3M/X4M will be a 'dynamically impressive car that has been optimised to be as good as it gets in that class' just as much as an M3/M4 will be in it's class.

It's like saying an M5 isn't a proper M-car as it will be dynamically inferior to an M2 competition. It's just the optimum tune for that range.

[Ares]

cerb4.5lee said:

Daaaveee said:

I definitely prefer the X3 over the X4 though, something about the rear doesn't quite sit right with me.

I'm the same and I'm not fond of the rear of the X4, but I've not seen one in the metal so maybe it looks better when you see it. I really like the idea of a X3M though.

I've always liked the X5M too and I loved my X5 4.8iS...even though in many ways it was a pointless performance vehicle(big/heavy/not that great in the bends/crap under braking). I still miss it loads for some reason though.

I saw one in the dealer 3 weeks ago, and in a dark claret colour. The rear looks fantastic IMO, if a little more Merc than BMW (until the lights come on)

[Ares]

Quickmoose said:

kambites said:

simonbamg said:

Tut tut, going from a estate to an SUV is against pistonheads forum law!

The difference between the two seems to be more styling than anything fundamental these days anyway. It's not like these things have enormous ground clearance or live-axles anymore.

I'd be interested to know how much higher the CoG of an X3 is compared to a similarly engined 3-series estate. I bet there's not much in it.

me too, although once you've loaded up the thing with all the sports utility equipment a happening adventurous type wants and needs and then add their 3 mates along all sat up high, because..... because it feels better(?), I'd imagine the CoG is then quite different.


What seems odd is all the save the planet goodness engineers have done with engines and powertrains that then gets undone by heavy un-aerodynamic bodies.... CAR did a piece on it recently...no-one cares though right? electric is coming along nicely and that can shift even heavier lumps at a pace that keep the stat-nerds happy.

I think you are allowed to drive them without a fully laden boot and passenger compartment....