[mobike008]

Likes

--Explosive Engine (B-58 is a mind-blowing engine)
--Handles like a sedan (well, almost)
--Interiors are extremely luxurious
--Spacious, Roomy with a full panoramic roof
--iDrive 7.0 Infotainment is one of best in industry-high quality, surreal clarity, snappy, smooth and loaded with features
--Great gas mileage for such a powerful engine
--Last but, definitely not the least- Exhaust note is keeping my neighbours awake...lol!

Dislikes

--Price is on higher end of spectrum and options increase the price of car by a lot
--Ride is a bit firm in sports mode (Passengers might have more to complain than driver)
--Paddle shifters don’t exude the same quality of material as rest of interiors
-- Hump in the middle is uncomfortable for rear middle-passenger. Technically, space in car is good only for 4 adults
-- Launch control is complicated. Need to practically go through the manual to engage the LC
-- 19" wheels that come standard don't look inline with car's performance and don't fill the wheel wells properly. They should have given 20" as standard
-- Gas mileage drops like a stone if you are in Sports + mode (It's too new to confirm but it's as per the "miles to empty" reading

[mobike008]

Background

Well, I was in a blissful state with my 2018 Mazda CX-9 which was top of the line with lovely features and that had clocked 35,000 miles in about 2.5 years and I was not anytime planning to change or upgrade my car. And, as it had become a family tradition over the last few years, we usually spend Christmas and New Year vacation at my sister’s home in Boston, MA and 2020 was no different.

Since, wifey couldn’t take time off from work earlier than me so it was planned for just me and mom to do this road trip from Detroit to Boston on Dec 20th, 2020 (850 miles, one way) while wifey slogs away at work..LOL...Well, we had done this road trip (Detroit-Boston and back) at least 12-13 times in the last 3 years (this was mom’s 3 road trip on this route) it was a memorable trip as it was just mom and son enjoying and bonding together and enjoying the winter scenery enroute, home cooked food, bagels and hot coffees before reaching Boston in about 12 hours

Clean and Beautiful interiors of the Mazda CX-9



A few pics of our road trip from Detroit to Boston covering 5 states (Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Massachusetts)















When we reached Boston at around 7pm in evening, it was crazy snowing and I was shocked to see almost 6-inches of snow outside sis’s home and we normally get much more snow than them so I was a bit surprised as having visiting Boston umpteen times in the last 2 decades, I never saw so much snow.

It was time to settle down in Boston and get on with my office work, so plan was to work mostly through the holidays as I had a lot going on at work and also take some time off when wifey lands on December 24th so the real holiday can actually begin for all us as we had plans to visit family and friends in Rhode Island and New Jersey

Rewind to 6-months back around May/June 2020, Sis got a pre-owned 2018 BMW X5 50i (It’s a monster of a car with a V8 engine and 440 HP) and during my last 2 trips to Boston in June and August'20, I had driven that extensively to New Hampshire, Rhode Island and New York and fell totally in love with it. I never drove just a powerful car in my entire life for such extended periods and it felt like driving a sports car. This feeling never left my thoughts ever and was always gnawing at back of my mind. I told myself " I should maybe think of a BMW whenever is time for my next car "

My CX-9 would just sit on the parking lot while sis would just handover the keys to the X5 and we gallivant around Boston every day !!

Here are some short videos of me driving my sister's BMW X5 50i in Boston, MA

https://youtu.be/it4_XgFRRDk

https://youtu.be/zxYO0e3apuE

https://youtu.be/f7UcvJByXfQ

https://youtu.be/8lhkoKfVS2I

During our evening chill outs, we would talk about cars (She is a car buff too) and was casually mentioning that her 14-year old Honda Odyssey which did a fantastic duty with 170,000 miles on the odd was slowly falling apart and we were discussing replacement options. She then said, as Mahi (my elder niece) is hitting 16 in 2021, so why not get her a new car to replace the Odyssey. Mahi who is driving since last few months (only in lanes near home or backroads) with a learners license and having got a taste of the X5, she was insisting on a similar type of vehicle.. (Kids these days, I tell you...lol!) and we all decided to explore a small luxury SUV for the kiddo and we shortlisted the Mercedes GLA 250 and BMW X1. Next few days, we decided to test drives these cars as well as a few other brands

Merc GLA- We test drove the car and it was a nice car but, nothing impressive. Good power but, extremely cramped interiors. It was immediately discarded

BMW X1- We liked this car as it drove well but, nowhere near to how the X5 50i drove and sis wasn't too convinced to plonk in money on an X1 even though she liked it. We decided to check a size larger and were impressed with the X3 that was on display at the showroom.

And, this is where the trouble started

We started with the X3 30i Luxury Design the top end model and I was mighty impressed with the car and I decided to take it for a longer spin on the New Hampshire freeway (we were in NH for some other work and had stopped by at the Tully BMW) and I drove maybe for about 50 miles to and forth was thinking how much fun it's to drive this car (and this was the regular model with an in-line 4 and 250 HP) as it was powerful, luxurious interiors and drives like a BMW. When we got back to dealership, I told sis that if you have to get a luxury car for Mahi, it has to be this one and not waste money on an X1.

And, when we returned to the dealership, we were thinking whether to pull a trigger for this car or not. It was expensive for sure and as part of my advice regime, I was telling my sis that first cars for kids should be a small sedan to get used to driving like a Civic or a Corolla and not spoil the kiddo with a luxury vehicle as the first vehicle. She just said " Hmmm"

Sales guy at the dealership saw that I was more excited (though I am not the buyer..LOL!) than my sister so he said “ Hey, would you like to test drive the X3M 40i? I think you’ll like it”

For heaven’s sake, I never even heard of this car before as I only know of the X3. He told me it’s the M performance version of the X3 and was started in 2018 but, for 2021 they have made several upgrades including the horsepower, torque and many features that have now become standard

Well, being a true BHP'ian who never refuses a test drive offer. I decided to take the X3M 40i out for a spin. The moment I sat in the car, I immediately knew this was a “special” car. Everything about it felt totally different from the regular X3 which I drove just a few minutes ago

The steering wheel felt so different and exhaust note apart from scaring the bejesus out of me also blew me away (Obviously, in a good way !). During the test drive for X3M 40i it was just me, wifey and nieces that went for a spin while Sis decided to enjoy some coffee at the dealership. Yet again a total of ~ 50 miles on same freeway route (Sales guy asked me to head north as traffic would be less) and I just could not stop the grin that seemed to be permanently plastered on my face. The acceleration was mind-blowing and in “Sports Plus” mode the car felt literally like a rocket with instant acceleration and was alarmed to see I was touching 90mph even before I realized it. Everyone in the car were scared from the exhaust note and loud pops and crackles it was making when I decelerate and the brakes were at a different level, as just a gentle touch would drop the speed down equally alarmingly

All the girls in the car screaming (with fear and excitement) and asking me to slow down-it was one of the most thrilling test drive experience of my life.

We somehow made it back to the dealership with the girls heaving a sigh of relief !!!

That was the moment of truth- I told myself “I don’t care how much this costs, I want this car, it is made for my style of driving”

So that is how a person who was just accompanying his sister for test drives became a victim to a large and totally unnecessary spend

[mobike008]

Finding my Car & Delivery Experience

Well, I had no serious intention of buying as I thought this test drive euphoria will pass in a few days but, since I was at the dealership there was no harm in exploring the deals and after a few rounds of negotiations (as if I am seriously buying) I surprised myself by almost deciding there and then to close the deal but, being a sales guy I know when I see a good deal. Tully offer was way higher than what I thought would be a good deal and besides the only vehicle he had ready was a base model. On a side note, I spoke to sister as well as mentally calculating the financial impact this large purchase would make

And, I told myself only one thing " You live life only once- What the heck" let's go with it (So I literally made up my mind to buy this car in a couple of hours from that thrilling test drive and time that I spent at the dealership). Now the real detailing of what I exactly wanted started crossing my mind hereon

I wanted a fully loaded car and that too only with "Phytonic Blue" as exterior color and Brown/Beige as interior color which was not immediately available. It made it easier for me to walk away from that dealership and a deal that I wasn't fully convinced with it in the first place

I told myself, I live in "Motor City" (Detroit) and was confident of getting a good deal there. So when I came back to Detroit, I was sorely disappointed and angry that BMW Michigan dealers were arrogant and were giving me the most ridiculous offers and not at all budging. Their price point was at least 10%-15% higher and I was slowly regretting not closing the deal at Tully BMW in New Hampshire

I reached out to a good friend here in Detroit who is a big big Bimmer fan to take some advice on this car as well as take help on deals. I know he has a couple of Bimmers and was totally surprised to know he drives the exact same car but, a sedan version. Wohoooo !!!

I told myself "What a coincidence" and this is some kind of message from god. He went on to give me details of the car that convinced me even more that this is the car I have to get. He told me this car is almost "Porsche level performance" and handling for a SAV is surreal. Well, he needn’t convince or sell me the car as I was already SOLD...lol!

He got his M340i from BMW Cleveland in late 2019 and he hooked me up with his contact from that dealership and we did some math and it didn’t work out as I was specific with color and wanted a fully loaded car with all the options included



My feverish hunt went on for a day and spoke to many brokers across US and found a wonderful lady on the Bimmer forum and she told me I have exactly the car you want and we talked and I got some other options added and she said it will be ready in 2 weeks.She helped me find my car at a mouthwatering deal with all options included for a small fee which I didn’t mind paying as she was doing all the leg work coordinating with dealership and factory etc

Only hiccup was that car would be available at BMW Catonsville in Baltimore (Washington DC Metro area). I thought of getting it shipped and then decided against it and wanted to make an adventure of the delivery experience and we decided to personally go and pick up our spanking new BIMMER !!

Jan 16th was when it was scheduled for us to fly down to Washington DC for delivery of our car at BMW Catonsville

Jan 16th, 2021

I was flying after 10 months (Last trip was to India back in Feb 2020 and a couple of domestic official trips to Chicago and LA in March 2020) and it felt very different to go to an actual airport and sit in an airplane. LOL!

We landed in Baltimore right on time around 10:30am and we took an UBER to the dealership which was about 20 mins away from the airport. We were greeted by my sales guy who was pleasant and knowing that we had to head back to Michigan was very attentive and took care of us very well including offering us snacks (Coffee, Bagels, Doughnuts etc)

Since everything was pre-decided, we took care of the paperwork quickly (maybe an hour) and I was just loitering around my own car and checking out all the cars at the dealership. For some strange reason this dealership had tons of M cars. Then I got to know later that David (my sales guy) was US #1 sales guy for M cars some 5-6 years in a row and #1 in the world in one particular year (I think he told me it was 2018). What this translates to is selling about 110-120 units a year which is literally 3 units per week. Woah !!

We had originally planned to spend a night in DC and check out the sights (first visit for wifey but, I have been there a few times) but, due to the riots in Capitol Hill and upcoming sworn in ceremony for Mr. President and also David mentioning he was out for dinner in downtown the previous night and most of the areas is cordoned off, we decided to skip staying back for the night and drive back to Detroit immediately

I understand from the sales guy that getting this display which is provided by BMW is not easy and depends on how many M cars that particular dealership sells in a year (Not sure if it's correct or was just one of the sales guys conversation points)



We finally headed out around 2:30pm and stopped at McD for a quick burger before taking the breathtaking beautiful 530 mile route back to home via. Pennsylvania turnpike which unlike most turnpikes in US runs through mountainous route and tunnels. However, for this entire route through he mountains which was around 250 miles, I was scared silly as it was snowing heavily and roads were winding and as you know driving a brand new car, you tend to get a bit more paranoid than usual..haha! Besides, there was a major accident and lane block that added to some delay to our ride back home.

We finally reached home around 11:00pm at night marking an end to an exciting, thrilling, eventful and a very memorable day of our lives





































Some videos of our drive back from Baltimore to Detroit with heavy snow enroute and an accident that caused one of the lane to be closed contributing to 30-45 minutes of crawling speeds

https://youtu.be/qPEjUwZaits

https://youtu.be/W-iuVt_Wty0

https://youtu.be/7qdfxZNDbmQ

[mobike008]

Engine Performance, Ride & Handling








BMW X3M 40i comes with a 3.0 Liter single-turbo 6-cylinder engine with a power output of 382 HP and has 530NM of torque all of which comes in pretty early in the rpm range at 1520rpm. B-58 is an award winning engine and has been applied in several models like BMW Z4, X3, X4 and previously in X5 and X6 as well. Interestingly, this is the choice of engine in the latest version of Toyota Supra as well

This model falls directly in competition to Porsche Macan & Audi SQ5 and almost every review says the X3M 40i is the more rounded vehicle (not that it matters as what matters more is the overall better performance)

Here are more details if anyone is interested to know in-depth about this wonderful engine : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_B58

Talking about the performance of this engine, the acceleration is almost "race-car" like especially for someone like me who is coming from much slower cars and does the 0-60mph sprint in 4.4 seconds (Again, BMW is pretty conservative with the horsepower and 0-60 second numbers as many owners confirm this engine has excess of 400 HP when dyno’ed and sprints to the 100kph in 4 seconds flat) which as you can imagine is seriously fast. Back in the day, the holy grail E46 M3 which was considered one of the greatest cars made did this in 5 seconds. So a timing which is faster than an M3 and that too for a 4200 pound SAV ( Sports Activity Vehicle) is really commendable

It’s top speed is electronically limited to 155mph to retain it’s street legal status

Let’s talk a bit about the torque of this engine, it comes with a mind numbing >500NM of torque which peaks at 1520rpm (Engine idles at 900rpm) which means the full torque is available almost instantaneously and same peak torque curve continues to be available until >5000rpm before tapering off. Honestly, this engine allows me to enjoy it like a diesel car (low-end-torque) and also can cleanly revv up to the redline which comes up at 7000rpm

This review wouldn't be complete if I don't add a small brief about the wonder called ZF-8 (The 8-speed transmission that BMW sources from ZF is nothing short of a wonder), I have never experienced magical gear shifts like this one. There is ZERO lag in upshifts and downshifts and what you see in front of your eyes on the instrument cluster is the numbers changing rapidly (When I am using the paddle shifters in manual mode). Simply a masterpiece !!!

Steering wheel is super chunky (Regular X3 comes with a less chunkier wheel) and my palms are not that big so it makes it even more overwhelming to hold the steering. But, that's the first impression I got when I did the test drive that this car is different when I held the chunky steering. The weight of the steering keeps changing depending on which mode you are in. Sports Mode makes the steering rather heavy (almost hydraulic feel) which is good for that sporty driving feel

This model also comes with the sporty aluminum pedals unlike the blacked out pedals in regular X3

In the past, I have driven quite a few BMW’s (330i, 335i, 320D, X1 and most recently my sister’s X5 50i) and while they impressed me a lot but, got to know the real potential of a BMW only after driving my sister's X5 50i (Well, I'm a bit nuts about high powered cars) and while the handling of all BMW’s are impressive especially when you come from a different brand and this difference is immediately known and car feels like driving on rails. This car feels no different, there is stupendous amounts of confidence when you are exiting the freeways and taking those almost 360 degree 30-mile ramp exits or driving down any twisty roads (have lots of them around home). And, it has the quintessential character of BMW's of almost perfect weight distribution (51%-49%) with front being heavier. The engine bay is long to fit this beautiful single block of engine and makes the car look longer from the front-side

AWD (xDrive) is a standard feature in BMW X3M 40i while the regular X3 comes with a rear wheel drive and AWD options. It’s a totally fun car to drive and handles very well and for someone who was impressed with Mazda’s handling which was no slouch in the handling department , this car however seems to be in a league of it’s own. The ride is well balanced in most modes except the sports plus which makes the chassis bit too firm (more so to the passengers) and the optional adaptive suspension makes it a bit more comfortable and lowers the chassis by 0.4 inch

1/4th mile is supposedly in the 11.xx seconds range which is blistering fast for sure and is little shy away from 10-second car that Brian O’Conner owes Dominic Torreto There are a lot of comments on internet that it not only holds it’s own on a track but, actually puts a scare to some real sports cars too

To take a humorous analogy, BMW X3M 40i is like owning 3 different cars. Allow me to explain, it comes with same modes like all other BMW cars (Sports, Comfort and Eco-Pro) and characteristics of the car completely change in each of these modes

Sports Mode

iDrive 7.0 system has a few other sub-options that can be customized like Sports Plus, Individual etc. Each of these sub-options give options to customize each of the characteristics of the car (Suspension, Steering Feel, Exhaust note, Gearing etc)

When you press the button, the entire digital display changes color (Dark Red) and you can feel everything changing like the steering becomes very heavy, suspension stiffens up a lot and gears start to hold longer.

This mode is the most fun mode in this car and car converts into a raging and uncontrollable stallion which makes loud exhaust noises that it is actually scary and the most beautiful sound is the loud pops and crackles when you decelerate or step on the brakes. It’s a wonderful aural pleasure that has to be experienced either as a driver or passengers and even the music couldn't keep the exhaust sound out. I would call this mode as the one that you can use to scare other car in the next lane or you want to award yourself a silly grin on your face when you go through a tunnel

In this mode, I almost convince myself that I'm driving a Porsche or a Ferrari (well, it sounds almost like them too)

Comfort Mode

As soon as you hit this button, the display changes color to orange and the steering, suspension lightens up a bit and the exhaust note is also toned down quite a bit but, that rumble is still omnipresent each time you press the throttle. I found this mode to be the best mode to drive as the “Sports Mode” is quite intense and feels like you are on a racetrack and there is a real need to keep you senses in top-notch else you can get yourself into serious trouble

This mode would be like a sleeper but, ready to lunge at the smallest hint of the throttle. Maybe like a Subaru WRX..Haha!

Eco-Pro Mode

Small flick of the button and the display changes into a cool and lovely blue color that probably signifies that you are now in a “cool-headed mode” and no need to race with anybody else.

The car truly changes it’s skin in this mode and is evident as sound in cabin becomes almost non-existent and there is almost a deathly silence ( I sometimes feel like I am driving a Tesla- it’s a bit of an exaggeration as I drove all models of Tesla but, the cabin becomes wonderfully silent) and this is the perfect mode for long trips

The acceleration also drops and you need to dig into the pedal a bit more than you would in Sports and Comfort mode but, not too much

It’s comes with chunky M-Steering wheel which is found in only M performance cars and feels great to hold and has wonderful feedback and connected feel to the front of the car. The X3M 40i also comes with Paddle Shifters which I have never used ever in my life before. I just don’t know the reason for having a paddle shifter other than that it’s there to get a manual drive feel and enjoy shifting gears through the paddle shifters and also hold the gear longer than required to enjoy the sound of the engine.

Any other uses for paddle shifters, Would love to know more from you all?

It also comes with M-powered brakes which essentially is larger rotors and discs to give that additional stopping power and it works really well as a gentle touch to brake pedal drops speeds instantly. It has that instant braking feel which i like and not the gradual spongy feel

Thankfully, I got the Pirelli tires on my car (other option is Bridgestone) and these are all season run flats. I am given to understand from my friend who had used performance tires on his car, the car stickiness increases to an whole new level but, then this is my daily driver and not meant for any racing, track days or quarter mile type of activity

BMW has made no compromise with this SAV as they did something magical. Giving the car a sports car type of performance and at the same time not compromising with the fuel economy.

This car returns 23mpg/27mpg ratings for city/highway conditions which is phenomenal and also the best in this segment. Some folks on the Bimmer forums mentioned they get 30+ mpg on the highways which is great number to go for in real world mileage.

Although, nobody has told me I need to use the costlier version of fuel but, just to be safe, I am using the 93 grade. And, with a 17.7 gallon tank capacity, it lets me cover over 400 miles to a tankful of gas

To summarize, it's a perfect compromise for not getting a fast sedan like the M2/M3 as now after getting used to SUV, it's hard to go back to a sedan. This car can serve for those regular rounds of grocery shopping, comfortable long distance trips, daily acceleration thrills and also hold your own on a race-track with other supercars !!!

[mobike008]

Exteriors

From how the world is changing in the car world and emphasize being made to make use of every inch of space management, these days even the small cars today are much bigger than their predecessors.

The latest BMW X3 is now as large as the original X5 which is technically a size bigger. BMW has completely redesigned the X3 in 2018 as the previous gen looked pretty dated and probably that is why they were losing ground to other luxury car makers like Audi and Mercedes. This redesigned look has put BMW back in the game and they have retained their #1 position in this segment

The design retains the typical BMW SUV styling but, now looks more modern with a lot of smooth integration of headlights, grille (thankfully it has the bean shaped grille and not the new funny M shaped grille which either you love it or detest it) and other elements which give it a cohesive look compared to the gaps in integration of the previous gen model

Overall the design is pleasing to the eye and thankfully with less sloping of the rear (gives better rear headroom) and nothing too radical to the overall design aesthetics which most car-makers are doing these days which either we love it or hate it!

The same is true about how it looks from the back, taillights flow cleanly into the tailgate. The X3 M40i wears more aggressive sheet metal, has an M badging at back and interiors to continuously remind you that you are not driving just any other BMW but, a special BMW.

The deep front end and rear bumpers look aggressive and body-color side-sill and also for me personally the most interesting exterior feature are quad exhaust outlets which looks fantastic and sound amazing too.

[mobike008]

Interiors

BMW interiors have always been a pleasing place to be in and they have only upped their game in the last few years. My CX-9 was also the top-end model and has luxurious interiors but this is a whole new level.

The interior looks extremely plush and luxurious and has decent head and leg room both in front and back allowing for a space for 5-adults (4 adults would be extremely comfortable). Front seats come with 12 way power adjustable seats with adjustable side bolsters and memory installed for the front row that changes the seat settings as well as the mirror adjustments. I don't recall if seat side bolsters are a standard feature in all BMW's or just for M cars as they really keep you snug in your seats and supposedly makes you not move in your seat at all when taking aggressive turns. There is also an extendable thigh support in front that you can slide in or out to give that additional comfort to your under thighs

Rear seat occupants are treated to reclining seat backs and cushioning on the seats is plush all through. Being the M performance variant, it comes with M badging in a few places like center console and on the front door sills

I chose the additional option of Cognac Leather which is a $1500 option but, totally worth the money and the pure leather looks and feel extremely high quality and luxurious. The leather color in person is beautiful and glad that i chose this over biege. Another optional item that adds to the sporty look is the carbon fiber trim on the panels of the dashboard and on door panels.

I forgot to take boot space pictures (that part of the car is something I really don't care ) but, it's quite spacious and is supposedly the largest in the segment and has all the regular features like 40:60 split and complete folding option until front seats to give you entire backseat space as an option to use for luggage (if required)

I will cover a few other features (fun, convenience and safety) including those of the iDrive 7.0 in a separate post

Infotainment & Connectivity

BMW’s iDrive infotainment needs no introduction as it has almost every features that a modern luxury car’s infotainment system should include. A 12.3-inch touchscreen display which is mounted on the dash and screen quality is so crisp that it’s surreal and features “wireless” Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (optional), apart from bluetooth it also has a wifi-hotspot and a USB port

iDrive control knob alongside BMW’s unique gear selector, and the same ergonomics of the BMW ownership experience for the past couple of decades. It leans more toward the minimalistic end, but there’s a undoubtedly premium feel to its simplicity. Controls for common functions like audio and climate are logical and easy to reach, but the iDrive circular controller for screen functions and even the pistol-like gearshift take some getting used to.

Instrument cluster has moved away from Analog to Digital in 2021 model and everything on the cluster looks neat, clean and almost spaceship type.

Instrument cluster will change colors each time you change the modes Sports (Dark Red), Comfort (Orangish’s Red) and Eco-Pro (Blue)

Below are some random pictures of the various options available in the iDrive 7.0 (I believe this version has lot more improvements over the 6.0) and I am still trying to explore all the options available as they are just too many (A good problem to have, I say !!)































It also comes with a wireless charging station which is an optional package and is a good feature to have for emergency purposes

M40i comes with Paddle Shifters as standard and it also has a cool Launch Control feature for those wanting to better 0-60mph timings (But, it's a bit complicated process to engage in launch control- Wish they had just given a button and electronically the car engages into launch control)























I ordered these floor mats from Amazon. I was torn between red or blue color and finally went with RED as I needed the color to stand out as blue inside would have been a tad to inconspicuous

[mobike008]

List of safety features of " Blau Rakete"

This post list down the safety features that come with the car

Most of these features are taken from BMW website with a few inputs from my end

--9-Airbags (Driver, Front Passenger, Seat Mounted, Side Mounted for both passengers, Side Curtain for both passengers, Knee Protection for both)
--Occupancy Sensor (Warning beep when rear passenger don’t belt up-this is a great feature)
--Traction Control
--ABS and Driveline
--BMW Assist e-Call
--Seat Belt Pretensioner (Belts tighten up when you start driving)
--LED Low/High with Exterior Light Control
--Cornering Lights (These work wonderfully well when taking sweeping turns or corners as the lights fall ahead even before the vehicle changes direction)
--Day-time Running Lights
--Directionally Adaptive Headlights
--Illuminated Entry
--Parking Assist (It has 360 degree cameras and will show you a view from all 4-sides (Front, Rear,Sides) to help you park better)
--Parking Distance Control
--Directional Adaptive Headlights
--Keyless Entry
--Remote Start
--Adaptive Cruise Control
--Dynamic Stability Control
--Fatigue & Focus Alert Feature (Don't know the limit, but a coffee cup comes up on the iDrive after a certain # of miles to encourage taking a stop)
--Lane Departure Warning
--Blind Spot Monitoring
--Low tire Pressure Warning
--Parallel Parking Assist (Didn't try this but, sounds like a cool feature)
--Stolen Car Tracking
--14-way power front sport seats; includes 4-way lumbar support and 2-way power-adjustable side bolsters, 2-way manual headrests and thigh support; driver's-seat and mirror memory
-- Programmable Driver and Passenger memory settings including (Seats, Mirrors, Temperature Control, Lightings, Audio Presets and control locking preferences)

It has a bunch of driving aids like ( ABS, Brake Assistant, Drive-Off Assistant, DSC, DTC, xDrive, Automatic Differential Brake, HDC Hill Descent Control, Variable Sports Steering)

Another amazing feature that I'm enjoying is the ability to check all features and operate them as well from the comfort of my home or anywhere in the world through BMW's Connected Mobile App. Technology really has come a long way !!

It also gives a real-time 3D view of the exact location where your car is parked

Pretty cool. eh?

[mobike008]

Fun Stuff, Nice Features & Quirks

Ok, here is some cool stuff that comes with a fully loaded car

1. Gesture Control

This feature must be now available in most BMW's even in India. It's a bit cheesy but, it's a good feature to show off passengers in the car

This is how it works :

--Circle a finger in clockwise (Increases Volume)
--Circle a finger in anti-clock wise (Reduces Volume)
--Point your fore-finger and middle finger (lol !) at the screen and it mutes the system
--Fold your palm and jab and unfold in front of the system (Navigates to home)

Well, of course all of above are customizable and have a few more that can be assigned a gesture control. But, you get the drift. It's a cool and fancy feature which is a good tool to show of your new Bimmer

This feature is seamless and has zero lag. Somehow the video looks as if it's not responding in a few instances but, this probably is that that typical example when you want things to work and it doesn't...LOL!

https://youtu.be/HAW9J6zJQoo

2. Wireless Charging

This is a great feature and can possibly become a savior as in this age and world, we are always grappling with battery issues of our phones (Well, my iPhone 12 Promax has phenomenal battery life but, maps do drain them quickly and for long distance driving which i do a lot, its good to have this option) and how often we forget to carry a wire or lose wires that's stored in car for charging the phone. This is a blissful feature even though the charging speeds is average



3. Apple Car Play & Android Auto (Wireless is the key word here)

Until 2020, BMW was giving this as an option but, with 2021 models this feature is now standard and it's an absolute terrific feature as the moment you step inside the car, you are instantly connected (Just a simple comparison, there is so much lag in my Mazda that it would take literally about 2 minutes for the phone to connect and a call to transfer from phone to car speakers), here it's instantaneous

Freedom from wires and switching between more than one device is seamless and immediate

4. Lighting Carpet

I like to call this feature with above title. It's literally like a lighting carpet which comes on either side as soon as you open the car with remote (doors needn't be open) and it's almost like the Rakete is welcoming it's master by throwing this carpet out to usher him inside







5. Ambient Lighting

This is by far one of my favorite feature and have been playing around with it ever since we got the car. There are about 12-14 different colors (Solids as well as solids mixed with white) to change the ambient lighting inside the car. Some of the colors are totally gorgeous (Lilac, Gold, Orange are my favorite) and has option to keep it color bright or dim it for long distance driving at night so it’s not too distracting)

Tried making a detailed video of the different ambient lighting options. At night, Rakete looks like a spaceship

https://youtu.be/YSImZMDIhZ8

4. Wi-Fi Hotspot

As our phones come with unlimited data packages and unlimited calls (all paid by the company), this is a feature that I might never use. But, good to know that it's there for any emergency

5. 12-speaker Audio System (It's not a Harman Kardon, though I asked for it but, somehow got missed in the whole equation) but, the sound quality is crisp, loud and nothing to complain. You can probably check it in gesture control video above

6. Heated & Cool Seats

Heated and Cooled Front and Rear Seats is an mandatory feature especially the "heated seats "considering my location. The steering wheel is heated (Blessing for folks living in super cold place like me or useful also to folks living in a hot climate). Steering wheel is completely heated unlike Mazda which gets warm only at 10'0clock-2'0clock

7. Heads-up Display (HUD)

I had the HUD in Mazda CX-9 also and glad that this car also has it as I was totally used to this feature in the last few years and is a great way to keep your eyes on the road ahead. However, BMW HUD takes the overall experience to a different level as it has these additional features which wasn't there in my CX-9

a) Clarity of the HUD is surreal (Think it's HD version)
b) Turn by Turn direction on Apple Maps (G-Maps not supported)
c) It has a camera detection sensor and HUD displays a large Camera icon if the sensor detects at any traffic signal and it comes up well before you approach the signal
d) HUD also shows the entire songs playlist on the screen and you can scroll from different songs or switch between FM/Carplay using the scroll button on the steering

8. Parking Assistant Plus

Reverse camera has a plethoras of options and due to it's 360 degree camera, also has an overhead view option which makes parking a breeze.

It also comes with automatic parallel parking option

https://youtu.be/2MzZuyUdvX8

https://youtu.be/K80e0bRDcWU

Boot Opening

Imagine, both hands are full with groceries or something else and can’t reach for your key and you want to open the boot? Not to worry!

Just hover the foot below the boot and boot opens up automatically and hover the leg again for a few seconds it closes the boot. You can also has regular options of opening the boot via. the key fob or from a button inside the car. This is a great convenience and fun feature

Auto Start-Stop

While I understand that shutting the engine to save fuel and do your part to help the environment is fine but, I don't really know whether I get annoyed by it or like this feature as I go through both these feelings. But, engine shutting off and then restarting happens so quickly that many times it's not even felt unless you are paying close attention

There is an option (below the engine start button) to completely disable this feature which is pretty useful

Seat Belts

These seat belts are something I'm experiencing for the first time. I don't recall if this is there in my sis's X5 but, when I get belted and start moving away. There is a almost vicious pull from the belt (this feature is available for passenger as well) to pull you snugly into the seat. First time, I thought BMW is trying to strangle me for purchasing it's vehicle

Adaptive Cruise Control

CX-9 also has this feature where the car stops and continues on it's own when there is a vehicle is in front unlike the regular cruise control which gets disengaged when you place a foot on brake. I'm yet to explore this feature as I forgot to engage this when driving back from Baltimore

[mobike008]

During entire purchase process which was pretty short, I was consulting a local Bimmer owner and and specialist as well as a friend (Bhavi) who had owned 2 different BMW's in the past and currently owns the same engine spec’d car but, in a sedan version

Btw, Bhavi happens to be the same guy who took my Bonnie pictures when I got that bike in India and he now lives in Detroit (Life is full of coincidences..Eh?)

He also happens to be a hobby’ist photographer with does some assignments for local events. He had dropped in home and after a nice hot cuppa coffee, we headed out to a parking lot near home and spent maybe 20-30 minutes shooting (as it was freezing cold, windy and around -5C temparatures) we could only snap off a few quick pictures from his Sony Mirrorless Camera (You can probably make out the ones taken from Sony viz-a-viz others taken from my phone (iPhone 12 Promax) in this entire review

If the weather was better and sunny maybe the pictures would be better. But, on second thoughts, I love the gloomy and cold feeling these pictures emanate

Thanks to him for some of these lovely pictures !!!

BMW M340i Vs. BMW X3M 40i

[mobike008]

Finally, for now i cannot share the exhaust note which is the most amazing feature as I'm still in run-in period (completed 800 miles) but, here are some videos from the internet (Youtube) that gives a sense of the exhaust note

Below are some favorite videos of my car out there on the web


0-60mph/100kph timing of X3 M40i (Incidentally by another Indian owner from Florida)

https://youtu.be/f87Ksk6-z7w

My most favorite review of this car on the internet. Simple, Honest and Regular people like review

https://youtu.be/xeNmle0y_C0

Car review and reviewer both are cool

https://youtu.be/8lnA4RoYG08

And, she too knows how to drive a car :P

https://youtu.be/Z5kK66XoRYY

X3 M40i and M4 (Revv Battle)- That M4 sounds insane

https://youtu.be/7ZRWGBurPPs

https://youtu.be/GfCdXSgeNxU

Last but, not the least, here is a video that showcases it's top speed on the German Autobahn

https://youtu.be/bZZoHlT_MpE

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Reviews section. Thanks for sharing!

Congrats Avi! Have seen your journey from an Accent to now an X3, congratulations brother . Am sure there was an insane party in Detroit the night you got your BMW. To those BHPians who don't know Avi, all I can say is, he is the biggest people's person I know. Takes to large groups like a fish does to water. A "small" party thrown by him means like 30 people .

Your car is going to our homepage today. Wishing you lots of fun & road-trips with your X3.

[vb-saan]

Thanks for sharing this brilliant (and detailed) review. Congratulations on the true-blue ultimate driving machine!

In my opinion the X3 M40i probably the best package in that segment that provides fun, pace and practicality. This (or the more expensive Macan) will be my choice if I am shopping in this space.

Happy driving! Your interstate runs are going to be much more fun

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by GTO

Congrats Avi! Have seen your journey from an Accent to now an X3, congratulations brother . Am sure there was an insane party in Detroit the night you got your BMW

Thanks for your kind words Rush Yeah, it has been a journey of baby steps from Accent to a BMW M (Well, I owned a couple of cars before the Accent but, never penned their ownership down on the forum)

Originally Posted by GTO

To those BHPians who don't know Avi, all I can say is, he is the biggest people's person I know. Takes to large groups like a fish does to water. A "small" party thrown by him means like 30 people

Haha! This is a true compliment coming from someone who runs such a fabulous and fantastic forum with 100K+ members. As you know, I have always been a people's person and love being in company of like-minded folks. You still remember my wild partying ways- To tell you honestly, not a bit of that has changed over all these years (Maybe that sales blood running in me makes me connect with people better than most others. However, I think of that as my biggest plus point). Thanks again bud!

Originally Posted by GTO

Your car is going to our homepage today. Wishing you lots of fun & road-trips with your X3.

Woah! That's an honor!!!

[a4anurag]

Congratulations Avi! Wishing you many happy (s)miles with the Bimmer.

Originally Posted by mobike008

Yeah, it has been a journey of baby steps from Accent to a BMW M (Well, I owned a couple of cars before the Accent but, never penned their ownership down on the forum)

Who can forget the White Annihilator and those Hyderabad T-BHP drive meets with that car in picture. Was tough keeping up with it.

[mohansrides]

Congratulations mobike008!! What a car and what a review!! Whew! It took me 15 minutes and I am not even down to 30% or the narrative.

Very nicely done. Also, I must congratulate you on the CX9 and on making full use of the US interstate system. Driving in the US is an unmatched pleasure. The roads, the amenities, the scenery, and the absolute settled feeling that one has behind the wheel. Incredible. That is the single biggest thing that I miss about life in the States.

I wish you many many miles in this absolute stunner of a Bimmer. Drive hard and be safe.

God Bless