[mobike008]

To complete the whole story of how it all started which was test driving cars for my niece and look where she landed after making me break the bank






Jan 16th, 2021 will be a date both me and Mahi will remember forever. We both got our cars delivered on exact same day (she got it in Boston and me in DC)

It's a top-end Toyota Corolla and it amazes me to see even these cars now look so futuristic and stylish with tons of technology

This is a top-end model and costed 26 grand which kind of is unbelievable as I bought a Mazda 6 (mid-variant) in US in 2014 for same price which incidentally is now 36-37 grand. A $10K jump in last 5-6 years. Whew !!!

She is happy and enjoying her new toy. Well, that's what it matters at the end !!

[mobike008]

As mentioned in my review, BMW Catonsville usually had a lot of M car's on display and most of them were actually sold and waiting to be delivered to their owners

As I was completing the paperwork for my car delivery, I was walking around and enjoying all the beautiful and glistening Bimmer's parked at the dealership

David (My sales guy) was mentioning that these M2's are some special edition and there are only 400 (not sure if I recalled the number correctly) that are produced

They had those beautiful gold alloys and an eye-popping MSRP of $90K + to boot

I wonder who buys these sedans at this price point as it's so small and is good only for 2 people as there is literally no space in the back seat











Btw, Wish I took the car delivery a day before. David mentioned he delivered this gorgeous gorgeous super special edition M5 Competition (650 HP Monster) to a customer just a day before. Guess how much this set back that customer? A cool 140 grand !!

Apparently, this customer waited for nearly 1 year to get this car as everything (color, interiors, tires, alloys, engine tuning etc) was customized for him personally.

He got a free ticket from BMW to visit their plant in Garching (Btw, I visited Garching a couple of times on office work in the last 2 years but, never got an opportunity to visit them...sigh !!) where all these customizations are discussed in detail

Color he chose was a nice hue of purple/violet which is one of the earliest dark colors on an M3 back in 90's

Here is a video that David shared with me. Looks simply gorgeous, doesn't it? ENJOY !!!

https://youtu.be/MKjE4reFWK4

[TheGearBox]

Awesome car, awesome color AND you have the roads to properly enjoy it on!
Congrats and wish you many happy miles.

Originally Posted by mobike008

It's a top-end Toyota Corolla
She is happy and enjoying her new toy. !!

Ah, life in the US! In India, most of us would have to make do with the old Alto/Santro lying around at home as our first car.

[itwasntme]

Coincidentally :
The BMW X3 M40i is the Best Do-it-All BMW in North America

https://www.bmwblog.com/2020/12/16/t...north-america/

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by TheGearBox

Awesome car, awesome color AND you have the roads to properly enjoy it on!
Congrats and wish you many happy miles.

Ah, life in the US! In India, most of us would have to make do with the old Alto/Santro lying around at home as our first car.

Thank you so much !

I totally understand what you mean. Hence, my comment about being spoilt kids. I forgot to mention she learnt driving on the soccer mom car (Honda Odyssey) but, got totally spoilt by her mom’s X5 and dad’s Mercedes GLC 300 (Who is not a car buff at all) so naturally the expectation is to get a similar type of vehicle as the first one. I somehow drilled some sense into her and sis decided on the Civic and on way to a Honda showroom, she stopped by at a Corolla showroom to check their new fancy SUV (forgot the name) and the sales guy didn’t let her walk her out without signing the deal….LOL!

And, come to think of it we both learnt driving on our dad’s humble Maruti 800 (White Color) and she had more experience than me in driving and also used to drive trucks in India (Nissan Datsun) to go around her campus in Hyderabad

And, after being super impressed with our Maruti 800. I incidentally bought my first car the same one (Maruti 800) in that rocking blue color and with my own money at a tender age of 22 or 23 (Ofcourse, chipped in by my parents)

I never shared these pics on social media till date. Those were the days

Originally Posted by itwasntme

Coincidentally
The BMW X3 M40i is the Best Do-it-All BMW in North America

https://www.bmwblog.com/2020/12/16/t...north-america/

Haha! I know what you mean by coincidence, thanks for sharing. Nice to know a BMW model that I never heard of a month ago is known as BMW’s best do-it all vehicle in North America. I guess my old instincts are still alive and working well with respect to making the right choices on enthusiastic type of cars

Here is another lovely article that I came across where the X3M 40i is thrown on a race-track and do check out the video and his excitement which is almost child-like and he is some accomplished journalist and track days veteran

Love the title (BMW X3 M40i- Unsuspecting, Surprising and Shocking )

https://www.6speedonline.com/article...-and-shocking/

After all this information being thrown at me, I already starting making a plan for a track day at MIS (Michigan International Speedway) which is just 60 miles away from home and is also the fastest NASCAR track in entire US.

I experienced NASCAR in 2018 and felt it was more thrilling, raw and true blue racing experience than an F1 race

They allow to bring in cars on that track on weekends for a nominal fee. Will explore taking the Blau Rakete there as soon as this crazy vortex type of winter weather gets over here

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by mobike008

https://www.6speedonline.com/article...-and-shocking/

This video is so much fun to watch. I didn't realize it till I watched it till the end as previously gave it just a cursory watch

His comments while driving the X3M 40i on the track is hilarious

https://youtu.be/ncofxAMpiAE

Shot this tonight of my Blau Rakete, basking in the "dark"

[idpsharma]

Awesome Avi! Congratulations. Very nice detailed review, i am sure you are having fun with your M40i. I liked the M badging at every possible place. Cockpit view is amazing.

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by idpsharma

Awesome Avi! Congratulations. Very nice detailed review, i am sure you are having fun with your M40i. I liked the M badging at every possible place. Cockpit view is amazing.

Thanks DP for your wishes. I totally miss riding with you and still fondly remember the many many long rides that we did together. Looking forward to reviving the "3 Musketeer" tag whenever I'm back in India

We were slammed with snow for last many weeks and this time the snow is usually high and winter has been quite brutal with temperatures dipping to -20C (Don't even ask me what the feels like temperatures were..LOL!)

Folks like me who live in such conditions are always looking for an Opportunity
to hit the road. And, last weekend was one such lucky day when the tempartures were a little bearable (-5C) and quite sunny

So we decided to go to our favorite place for a walk which is in downtown to a place called "Riverwalk" where the iconic General Motors World Headquarters are located and boy 'o boy their location is to kill for as it faces the Detroit river and just across is the Canada border (< 2 Miles away)

Detroit river was frozen (actually we were a little late as most part was in melting stage) and it was a sight to behold. Will share some pictures and videos in the next post

While coming back home afer that invigorating walk, we hit a milestone of completing 1000 miles

P.S : Keeping the forum rules in mind and also before anyone comments on the speedo number, Here in Michigan the speed limits vary from 70mph to 75mph in sections and you are allowed a little bit over

[mobike008]

Continuing from the last post, I'm sure many of you may have visited Detroit and lafter iving here for last few years, started loving this place for it's sheer beauty and Michigan is a nature lovers paradise. Best part of being here is the multiple opportunities to enjoy everything auto (Visited Ford, FCA and General Motors on official and personal capacities)

Detroit being the motor city and folks on forum would love things related to auto, I though of sharing these pictures of General Motors HQ where we normally go for a walk if weather is good (once or twice a week)

Visited inside G.M many times, perhaps a separate thread or post for inside pics in future

Another favorite spot for us to go for a walk is slightly on the other side to a beautiful park- Belle Isle Park where you get a different view of General Motors building from other side of the water.

Not to mention the gorgeous scenes of Detroit river half frozen with a massive US Coast Guard ship coming to moor on Detroit side (buildings on other side is Windsor, Canada)

Enjoy !!

https://youtu.be/JGXLk3I80_8

https://youtu.be/97wrPyIpVp0

https://youtu.be/JGXLk3I80_8

Edit : Forgot to mention, you can click the pictures to see a close-up views

[mobike008]

Every BMW owner when they get their brand new car must be eagerly waiting for this moment which is break-in period to be completed. Due to poor weather, it took me a full 7 weeks to complete 1200 miles. And, now it's time to try that Launch Control over this weekend





Just loved this shot



I know it's rather shameful to talk about this topic but, for all my steeds in the past I have religiously tracked the fuel efficiency and Blau Rakete doesn't get a different treatment...LOL!

After 4 tankfuls ( I'm still on my 4th one) below is a roughly calculation of the fuel efficiency of this super delicious B58 engine

I have ensured the break-in is done properly so kept cycling between Sports, Comfort, Eco-Pro (Used Sports + maybe a couple of times for a few miles) and ensured I accelerated hard, braked adequately and kept around 4k RPM at the maximum

If I was roughly 60% in Sports, 30% in Comfort, 10% in Eco-Pro

FE : 19MPG (5.15kmpl)

Current tankful which still is 1/4th full , I tried driving majority of the miles in Eco-Pro the roughly split between the modes usage is

60% in Eco-Sport, 30% in Sports, 10% Comfort

As per DTE, I calculated it to be 25.5MPG (6.9kmpl)

What a phenomenal difference in FE when using these modes appropriately and I have been using only 93 Octane gas

Eco-Pro is perfect for long distance highway drives where it's confirmed to give 30+ MPG

I thought of sharing this info as it will help the buyers of this car in India and set an expectation of the mileage they can expect. Due to Indian traffic conditions, it might be lower in their cases

For such a powerful engine, I'm super happy with these results

Enough of this FE talk, time to plug into the "Sports + Mode" this weekend

[ChargedGarage]

Originally Posted by mobike008

As per DTE, I calculated it to be 25.5MPG (6.9kmpl)

I thought of sharing this info as it will help the buyers of this car in India and set an expectation of the mileage they can expect. Due to Indian traffic conditions, it might be lower in their cases

With fuel prices as they are in India, (Power99 at Rs 132/L in Delhi) it will best if new M340i owners don't look at their Fuel Efficiency screen.

Please do share a video of launch control if possible.

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by ChargedGarage

With fuel prices as they are in India, (Power99 at Rs 132/L in Delhi) it will best if new M340i owners don't look at their Fuel Efficiency screen

Wow, I never knew it has crossed Rs.100 in India. And, I am sure down south (especially in Bangalore where our members are buying, it is the most expensive, is it 140/liter?) This is crazy pricing and agree that when you slot the M40i in Sports + mode and see the DTE numbers sinking like a brick in water, it will most certainly give a panic attack...LOL!

Wish there is a toggle screen to make it disappear as I think there is no option because the DTE number is right in your face and does create a bit of worry when in Sports mode the numbers really drop fast. Just some wild number I am throwing here based on what I seen on my instrument cluster.

Every 1 Mile I travel, the DTE drops by 3-4 miles when in Sports mode...I am going to buy a nice sticker to hide that portion of the screen....Haha!

Originally Posted by ChargedGarage

Please do share a video of launch control if possible.

Of course, I do plan to share it here for sure. But, for that I need the following

1. An empty and safe stretch where I can safely do this monkey business

2. Someone who sits in backseat and record via. iPhone. I do have a GoPro but, too lazy to bring it out, use it, edit video etc.

Or, I can use this opportunity and change my participation from a spectator to a racer

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/team-...ml#post5021793 (Team BHP USA meets in Detroit)

Well, I never done this ever for any of my past steeds (and, I have owned plenty of them in past) as I felt accessorizing based on an auto you own is bit immature.

But, I reckon fell for this trap now and was OK'ish because this is not just any car. It's my first BMW and that too an M-Power !!!

M-Power to fight Coronavirus



M-Skin to take pictures of my M-Power



More to follow in future......

[ChargedGarage]

Originally Posted by mobike008

Wow, I never knew it has crossed Rs.100 in India.

Might I recommend taking a look at the fuel prices thread. Even normal petrol has crossed Rs 100 in a few states and probably soon all over the country. XP100 which is the new 100 RON fuel launched by Indian Oil (equivalent to 95 pump gas in the US) costs around Rs 160/L.

Originally Posted by mobike008

Ofcourse, I do plan to share it here for sure. But, for that I need the following

1. An empty and safe stretch where I can safely do this monkey business

2. Someone who sits in backseat and record via. iPhone. I do have a GoPro but, too lazy to bring it out, use it, edit video etc.

In solution to your issue, might I suggest investing in a https://dragymotorsports.com/ and a windshield phone mount? You will get super accurate readings and you can then easily compare the difference if you install modifications or different tires, etc. and video making will be super easy too.

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by ChargedGarage

Might I recommend taking a look at the fuel prices thread. Even normal petrol has crossed Rs 100 in a few states and probably soon all over the country. XP100 which is the new 100 RON fuel launched by Indian Oil (equivalent to 95 pump gas in the US) costs around Rs 160/L

Oh Yeah! I did check it out after you mentioned and I'm surprised to see this hike in prices. And, we still have the M340i sold out in a day. That say's a lot of the enthusiasts who dont care about the fuel prices as long as we get the best of the products in the market

I'm bleeding myself as during pandemic days the fuel price for a gallon had dropped to as low as $1.20 and since last few months back it has jumped back to higher than previous levels and now hovers around $2.75-$3.00/gallon for 95 Octane but, thankfully still doesn't pinch the pocket as much as it's roughly $45 a tankful

I wish BMW had a scheme of free gas for ownership period. Wishful thinking

Originally Posted by ChargedGarage

In solution to your issue, might I suggest investing in a https://dragymotorsports.com/ and a windshield phone mount? You will get super accurate readings and you can then easily compare the difference if you install modifications or different tires, etc. and video making will be super easy too.

Thanks for the link. I did hear about Dragy a lot in several YT videos and other places but, never really checked it out.

I enjoy driving fast but, never a drag type of person. But, this looks to be a good product to buy to know the best times for self satisfaction

[mobike008]

It's raining B58's on the forum.

It appears to me the biggest problem is when someone drives this car; they gotta get it. Be careful with test drives of this car, you might end up buying it!

Prakyath89 who lives in Michigan and whom I met during the Detroit Meet took the decision to sell his Dodge Charger Scatpack and get the X3M 40i

His Dodge Charger ownership review is available on the forum



This is 3rd car in as many months in US on the forum, Looks like we are competing with Indian buyers. Like Nikhil, hopefully he will also pen down his ownership review soon

Meanwhile, I got this for my Blau Rakete