Please note that performance car is not my primary look out except that I have been offered one in my price range.

BHPian Wanderers recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I sold my 3.2L 4X4 Endeavour in January-24 and ever since have been looking for suitable replacement. While I am open to all options starting from Jeep Compass, Fortuner, X1, XC60 but off late it has come down to three- GLC (petrol) X3(diesel) and discovery sport (petrol)

Discovery Sport

The facelift discovery sport with new dashboard and pivi pro screen looks great but minimalistic. One need to use it to appreciate. They have done the best utilisation of touch and hold function giving multiple options instead of browsing.

Also this car gives the true feeling of SUV with commanding view and off road capabilities including transparent bonnet which is far far superior than Mercedes (it works even at higher speed unlike Mercedes)
At Rs 77.5 lakhs on road, this is very competitively priced with respect to others in the list. Just remember the recent price reduction is on account of slight strip down as we now have SE trim instead of HSE. Also no discount except some exchange or Tata employee referral- Rs 40K

Downside discovery sport suffers from feeling of being too old and badly needing a generation change. Also while it is cheapest of all Land Rover’s, things are pretty expensive during service or extended warranty. So these are the major deterrents and I have put it aside for time being. Also I am very clear- No great discount, no purchase (thanks to Amazon)

Mercedes GLC

The new GLC 300 is fun to drive with great interior and overall well packaged. It certainly drives better than X3 20d (take test drive to believe it) The sound system is mind boggling and class apart in comparison to other two.
What more it comes with attractive discount. Initially the good discount was only on MY23 cars but from April same is also available on MY24 cars.

Downside, the service, accessories and extended warranty are very costly and look wise not exactly a SUV. The seating position is more car like than a SUV. Also I am not great fan of all touch only controls.

BMW X3 20D/M40i

I love Xs, all the way from X1 to X7, so even though X3 is only available in diesel I was willing to take a plunge provided I get good discount. Well there are discounts which makes it cheapest of all three here but not with a great margin to jump for. Also my love for X was put to test as I really did not feel great while driving 20d in comparison to other two. The ride was bumpy and did not manage a good drivers view and car did not look planted to road which was very much in GLC. Overall it was a disappointment.

Then came a twist when the dealer saw that I was not keen on diesel, they offered a X3M40i at a whopping discount, which brings the X3 M40i in range, something I can consider although it was still high as such.

The car is CBU with manufacturing date (as per VIN decoder) May 23 and made in US plant. The car is currently put as display and has done only 22 km on odometer. There is nothing which looks old or bad about the car. As per VIN all the features mentioned in brochure are present. Also this is not a test drive car as I have seen the same as different.

I plan to keep the car for 7-8 years and accordingly invite fellow BHPians for their views and recommendation between GLC and X3 M40i. Any other suggestions also welcome.

Please note that performance car is not my primary look out except that I have been offered one in my price range. Also I will be driving this car to mountains, off beat locations and bad roads but not off road exactly.

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter

I love Xs, all the way from X1 to X7, so even though X3 is only available in diesel I was willing to take a plunge provided I get good discount. Well there are discounts which makes it cheapest of all three here but not with a great margin to jump for. Also my love for X was put to test as I really did not feel great while driving 20d in comparison to other two. The ride was bumpy and did not manage a good drivers view and car did not look planted to road which was very much in GLC. Overall it was a disappointment.

Then came a twist when the dealer saw that I was not keen on diesel, they offered a X3M40i at a whopping discount, which brings the X3 M40i in range, something I can consider although it was still high as such.
The car is CBU with manufacturing date (as per VIN decoder) May 23 and made in US plant. The car is currently put as display and has done only 22 km on odometer. There is nothing which looks old or bad about the car. As per vin all the features mentioned in brochure are present. Also this is not a test drive car as I have seen the same as different.

I plan to keep the car for 7-8 years and accordingly invite fellow BHPians for their views and recommendation between GLC and X3 M40i. Any other suggestions also welcome.

Please note that performance car is not my primary look out except that I have been offered one in my price range. Also I will be driving this car to mountains, off beat locations and bad roads but not off road exactly.

Here's what BHPian Rajjaiswal92 had to say on the matter:

Oh god, you are in for a big disappointment. I have been on a similar boat tried to find a replacement for my 2016 Titanium 3.2 AT but failed miserably.

You cannot expect the true blue SUV behaviour from any of these, none will come even close to it, i happen to own several cars from different luxury brands but none even come close to the pure grunt this ladder on frame SUV provides.

The only SUV which made sense to me was the XC-90 you should seriously consider it.

Here's what BHPian Varun_Hexaguy had to say on the matter:

Why is the GLC even in picture when the X3 M40i is the other car in consideration?

If you can do it, please go ahead and get the X3 M40i already. It is one car that you won’t regret buying. That car plastered a wide smile across my face during the TD that I took quite recently. This car drives better than most crossovers/SUVs sub 1cr on-road. There simply is no contention.

Also, if I may ask, what are the kind of discounts that are being offered on the same?

Here's what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say on the matter:

X3 M40i is a very different animal and is not exactly suited to long distance touring in Indian conditions, especially if you like to venture beyond the main highways. Pls evaluate very carefully on the space, practicality and ruggedness aspects. It will be like moving from a truck to a sports car, with the associated advantages as well as compromises. Pls especially consider the large alloys, the low profile tires and the spare tire situation.

I understand your predicament, there is no like for like replacement of the Endy, or even an upgrade of similar attributes unless you are looking to spend well in eight figures. The closest options in a realistic budget are the Kodiaq and Grand Cherokee. The upcoming new Kodiaq is not far away, and can be considered. Kodiaq is the perfect all rounder SUV.

As you have managed to find great deals with BMW, have you scouted for the same at Audi? The Q7 is a fantastic car that still comes with relatively same price tags and also carries additional handsome discounts. This just might be the perfect package you are looking for.

Otherwise, considering your touring requirements, it may well be advisable to compromise a bit on badge value and limit options to the Meridian and the super competent XUV700 AWD top model. Or even the Innova HyCross ZX(O). A lot of Innova sales come from potential luxury car buyers.

Here's what BHPian vb-saan had to say on the matter:

The immediate thought (almost as a no-brainer) would be the X3 M40i, but I said almost because the new X3 is just around the corner. So effectively you will be buying an outgoing generation car. The GLC on the other hand is relatively fresh in the market and is the option I would suggest at this point.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

This EV handles “almost” like a sports car. On the other hand, I have driven larger BMW SUVs like the X5 and X7 and in my opinion, the X3 is a lot more enjoyable.

BHPian mobike008 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

2023 Tesla Model 3 Performance vs. 2021 BMW X3M40i

Thanks to TorroRosso asking this question, “How does the Tesla Model 3 Performance fare compared to my BMW X3 M40i”. Well, it’s not the first time I got this question and surprisingly, I can never provide a straight answer to folks who ask me “Which one of these 2 performance cars is better" because it’s truly a very difficult answer as both are really fast cars and have many upsides with negligible downsides.

I decided to finally put a rest to this quandary and have been collecting my thoughts to see if I can nail down which of these 2 cars is better. I have owned both cars for a reasonably long time to tell the difference between each of them.

The final result may be surprising, keep reading and try to put yourself in my shoes and feel free to comment if you own any one (doubt if someone will have the exact same combo at home...haha!) of these amazing machines. Will your final result be different?

BMW X3M40i has clocked 34,000 miles (~ 55,000kms) in 3 years and Tesla Model 3 Performance is approaching 16,000 miles (~ 26,000kms) so that’s 80,000kms combined in 3 years with just me as the single driver (not counting the limited driving of my better half). This comparison is most certainly not an apples-to-apples type of comparison but, will have factors like emotional, tangible, placebo effect and not to mention the overall feel playing key roles.

Let’s look at the broad categories/parameters that we generally consider when selecting a car (All my car purchases till date have always focused on a single parameter for decision-making- “Performance” because I enjoy driving fast and love a good handling automobile. Other parameters are good to have but, they have never swayed my decision when buying any automobile).

Performance

Tesla Model 3 Performance

This is a drag strip king and will demolish everything that is stock that comes into its path- Be it a BMW M3/M4, Lamborghini or a Ferrari. Its instantaneous acceleration that propels you to 60mph (96kph) from a standstill in 3.1 seconds is an experience not for the faint-hearted. This acceleration is the #1 factor for purchasing this car. It’s simply an other-worldly experience.

BMW X3 M40i

This car is no slouch. A stock version does 60mph (96kph) in 4 seconds which is ridiculously fast as well. The feeling of how this accelerates is very different from the Tesla. It is loud, has lots of pops and bangs, rattles your internals and brings a thrill to your body that is felt till the bones. On the other hand, Tesla’s acceleration feel like you are sitting in an airplane and being propelled forward in complete silence which is quite eerie but, exhilarating at the same time.

Winner

Both have exhilarating acceleration but, giving it to Tesla Model 3 Performance purely for reasons of it being faster.

Handling

Tesla Model 3 Performance

Firstly, it’s a compact sedan and secondly, it’s lighter than the BMW so it has 2 primary factors favoring it. Obviously, it handles better than the BMW. Being a performance model, it has stiffer suspension, bigger brakes and can also be used as a RWD or AWD as the bias can be changed by flick of a switch (via. an internal computer). It’s easy to make this change when you want the tail to step out in corners.

In short, the Tesla Model 3 handles “almost” like a sports car. With a little bit of modifications to its suspension which I personally feel needs to be tauter (It isn’t even as taut as the X3M40i) and it can be compared with any Porsche in the handling department.

BMW X3 M40i

Well, it’s a BMW. It feels tight, crisp, and better than good handlers. It’s a Compact SUV, It’s heavier than the Tesla. Despite all these odds, It handles better than 90% of sedans out there. Having driven the larger SUVs in BMW stable like the X5 & X7, in my opinion, the X3 is nimble, changes direction pretty fast and being smaller it is a lot more enjoyable handling experience.

It certainly has some body roll (felt especially during the roundabouts near home) but, for 90% of regular road driving including tight cornering in mountains which I have been doing ever since I got this car, it feels absolutely marvelous. Its technology is highly reliable, and its AWD system never made the car miss a step even in horrible conditions (Snow Blizzards, Heavy Rains) in the mountains where I have never curtailed my speeds. In short, it can shame many sedans in the handling department.

Winner

Tesla Model 3 Performance as it’s definitely a better handler than the BMW.

Ride, Comfort & Braking

Tesla Model 3 Performance

Tesla has premium vegan seats (Optional) and they are big, soft, cushy and really comfortable. As I had mentioned before, it was designed with the big “American backside” in mind. It almost feels like sitting on a couch at home as they are that comfortable.

Ride on the 20” Uberturbine wheels is comfortable on “Tar” highways but, the moment the car traverses on cemented freeways, road joints, or patchy sections, the ride is not that cushy anymore and you can feel a bit of harshness creep in. However, it’s not really uncomfortable or harsh in any sense, especially on WA road infrastructure.

BMW X3 M40i

Leather Seats are BMW M spec leather which means it’s harder on touch and feel and also feels premium than the Tesla seats. Overall seat construction is on the harder side & the bucket-styled seats somewhat snug into your thighs (Including the hard pull of seat belts when you start from a standstill) so, it’s not as comfortable as the Tesla. Ride is better than Tesla being on 19” wheels and now with Michelins, it just glides over patchy roads. Washington state road infrastructure is excellent including in the mountains.

I was never impressed with Tesla’s braking power. Even though my Tesla has all round discs, bigger pads, bigger calipers etc. being a performance model. On the other hand, BMW brakes which are M-spec brakes are fabulous and have the correct bite and power. Its stopping power is phenomenal. It is a pleasure to use the BMW brakes compared to that on the Tesla.

Winner

BMW X3M40i as its ride and braking is better.

Safety Aids

Tesla Model 3 Performance

This car is loaded with safety aids. 12 different cameras, Blind Spot Monitoring, Auto Pilot, Auto Steering, Forward Collision Warning, Auto Braking, Sentry Mode and the shebang.

BMW X3 M40i

Mine is a full spec’d car (meaning with all options) with all safety aids. HUD, Heated Steering Wheel, Cooling Seats, Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Monitoring, DSC, ASC, Forward Collision Warning, Auto Braking.

Winner

Tesla Model 3 Performance for the sheer long list of technology & safety aids.

Technology

Tesla Model 3 Performance

Tesla is not a car but, a computer on wheels and is renowned in the industry for best all-round safety and technology features and has been rated as the “safest car” to drive in all important forums. I cannot list the entire list of technology features as it’s just too many. I just have to highlight that you can enjoy YouTube, Netflix, HULU etc. in the car with premium audio that makes you feel that you are not sitting in a car but, an IMAX theatre for it to win this category. Lol!

BMW X3 M40i

It has all the features that BMW has provided as options, so it’s pretty much loaded from a technology aspect. But it’s still no match for the technology features of a Tesla.

Winner

Tesla Model 3 Performance

Space & Comfort

Tesla Model 3 Performance

This may come as a surprise but, many times family and friends who rode in the car have mentioned to me that there is more space in Tesla than the BMW. Yes, it’s true. It’s an extremely spacious car and has good space at the back for 3 adults for leg and headroom.

BMW X3 M40i

This car also has decent space for leg and headroom both in front and back and is more than enough for 4 adults. In the back, it’s best enjoyed by 2-adults and fitting a 3rd adult would be a bit challenging and tight.

Winner

Tesla Model 3 Performance

Build Quality

Tesla Model 3 Performance

Tesla had quality issues in the beginning but, they have improved a lot over the years. Double paned window glass has been added to improve NVH, panel gaps have been reduced considerably, paint quality has improved, and overall quality levels have risen.

BMW X3 M40i

BMW build quality is several notches above the Tesla inside and out. Everything feels premium and it’s a clear “Winner” for this category.

Redlight Acceleration

Call me immature or childish. I have this habit of launching at every red light (whenever I am the first car at the red light). As soon as the lights turn green and I hear the chime, A simple dab to the accelerator on the Tesla, it just rockets forward and within a few seconds, I don’t see anybody in my RVM. I accelerate from 0-60mph (speed limit) and probably go up to 70mph. It’s absolutely eerie to see nobody behind me. Lol!

Same is the case of BMW, when I accelerate on the greenlight, the drama is much more, and the entertainment factor is several notches above as it’s loud as hell and B58 makes some ridiculously loud pops and bangs and it’s with some kind of childish pleasure I love seeing an empty Rear-View Mirror.

Winner

I would give this to BMW as it commands more respect than the Tesla on the road.

BMW Trivia

• Whenever I am in a fast lane, I always see the car in front of me give way (move into the slower lane) after they notice the quintessential “BMW Headlights” in their rearview mirror. This happens so often that I tell my wife by instinct that the car in front of us will move. We had a wager on this topic a few times and I won always. That’s the power of the “BMW” and I love it.
• I always park next to a BMW if I find one and I see that happens with me also so many times when I return to the parking lot, I see another BMW next to me.
• In the US, this is common. If I see another BMW on the road, he is either going fast, not giving indicators (Though, I personally follow all rules to the T) OR, wants to race you. This rather childish behavior is what the BMW brand has imbibed in the owners, and everyone seems to do it in some form or fashion. LOL!

Fuel Consumption

Tesla Model 3 Performance

Tesla has time and again proved that it can save 80% ++ of fuel consumption costs. That’s a pretty big claim…right? And it’s 100% true.

BMW X3 M40i

For a performance car, the fuel consumption of the X3M40i is applaudworthy as no other car with these performance specs can return a gas mileage as the X3M40i. The worst gas mileage I got was 19mpg and the best was 27mpg. But it’s safe to say that an average of 22mpg is what I get each tankful and it’s quite good for this performance beast.

Winner

Tesla Model 3 Performance

Maintenance Costs & Issues till Date

Tesla Model 3 Performance

Completed 15,000 miles and there has been no maintenance till date. No tire rotations, alignment or any kind of service done. I spent $0 till date.

BMW X3 M40i

Completed 34,000 miles and have got it serviced at BMW 4 times till date for regular stuff. Here as well, I have spent $0 till date. I recently changed the tires to Michelin Pilot Sport AS 4 costing $1200 for 4-tires which is the only money spent on maintenance till date.

Winner

For now, it’s a TIE!

Longevity (Life of the Car)

Tesla Model 3 Performance

Tesla claims that the original battery will easily last for 300,000-500,000 miles and/or, 1500 times charging or discharging. Well, I think this car can be passed down for at least one generation if not, two. A battery replacement for a Tesla Model 3 Performance will cost $14,000.

BMW X3 M40i

The biggest reason for failure for a gasoline car is the engine giving up and B58 has been proven time and again that it’s the most reliable engine coming out of the BMW stable ever. There are plenty of examples of X3M40i owners driving this car without any issues up to 180,000 miles (~ 300,000 kms). Stock power is 382HP but, it can handle modification up to 650 Horsepower without breaking sweat.

Winner

Tesla Model 3 Performance

Overall Thrill & Final Summary

This may come as a total surprise after seeing that the Tesla Model 3 Performance winning literally every category that I listed above. But, from an overall thrill, emotion and feel perspective, I enjoy driving the BMW X3M40i more than the Tesla Model 3 Performance and the primary reason for that is the relentless power, torque across every inch of the rev range, that amazing B58 exhaust note, the pleasure of using those paddle shifters to play with the rev range and finally, of course, the badge value which I feel is more prestigious than the Tesla.

B58 Exhaust (This is what makes you love this more than anything else in the world).

• BMW X3 M40i exhaust sound in sports mode
• BMW X3 M40i cold start

Driving the BMW X3 M40i for 50 miles in one of the craziest blizzards that I encountered in my life.

A useless feature from Tesla- But this makes you love it equally as much.

Well, I have several acceleration videos of both cars which I have always refrained from sharing on the forum so as not to break any rules.

Hope you enjoyed this "Apple-2-Oranges" comparison.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

32,500 Miles (52,000 kms) later, there is not a single rattle in the car. Absolutely and deathly silent inside the cabin. Love the build quality.

BHPian mobike008 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

3 Years Ownership Review after completing 32,500 Miles (52,000 kms)

Blau Rakete came home in January 2021 and it was a brand new leased car and my intentions were to enjoy it for 3-years and return it. But, during the course of these 3-years of ownership which as you may noted was absolutely flawless there was a bonding that developed that made me hard to let go of it after the lease completion period.

So, I went ahead and bought it.

Fun Fact : If I sell this beast now, I can make a cool profit of $10K.

Not a single car that I owned in the past made me grin like the Blau Rakete.

Even after 3-years, every single time I am behind the wheel of this car, I feel like a small kid in a candy store as the pleasure this car gives is indescribable.

Hence, I decided my time with this beast is not over yet. Now it’s time to make it even more fun by doing some basic mods which will happen over the course of this year.

This post is just a refresh of Day 1, check if anything significant has changed over the 3-years ownership and also after living with it for so long, time to “Hit Refresh” on my thoughts of “What I liked “and “What can be improved”.

Touchwood, there has been not a single issue with the car mechanically, cosmetically nor with tires till date so it’s obvious that the list of Pro’s are going to be longer than the Con’s.

X3M40i’s flaws are rather insignificant as listed below.

BMW X3 M40i (3-Year Update- Pros):

• 6- Cylinder Engine that screams gloriously to 7000 rpm that makes you forget everything about this nasty world.
• Having driven this in treacherous conditions on stock OEM tires, I’m beyond surprised and impressed with it’s grip as never a moment of slip, skid even when
  taking cornering at good speeds in the mountains on icy or rainy roads. Reminds me of a mountain goat clinging on to slippery mountain ledges. LOL!!
• I perform well at work when I hear the cold start sound in enclosed spaces (in my garage). It’s a sound to die for. Days that I don’t hear the B58 sound, I
  seem to lag at work related tasks.
• ZF gearbox never misses a gear and most importantly, never lets you even guess when it’s changing to a higher or lower gear. Brilliant piece of engineering.
• Well, it’s a traffic signal race magnet. Every other BMW wants to race with me at the signal. I find it childish but, I do indulge “always”
• Even after completing 3 years with minimum to zero TLC, its interiors don’t look dated.
• 32,500 Miles ( 52,000 kms) later, there is not a single rattle in the car. Absolutely and deathly silent inside the cabin. Love the build quality.
• Even till date, the brakes have awesome bite and can get this beast to a stop from crazy speeds to a standstill in a jiffy. These are stock brakes on stock pads
  and rotors.
• Ride quality is firm but, not unpleasant thanks to excellent road conditions.
• This never ceases to surprise me, Despite my hard style of driving, tires are still stock after clocking 52,000 kms. This may surprise you even further. They
  have never been rotated nor have any alignment done till date.
• Convenience features (Keyless Entry, Flawless connection to CarPlay, HUD is an amazing feature,
• Excellent Boot Space (No Spare Wheel so it gives even more space and depth below) and with seats folded, we carried 10 feet X 6 feet carpets, mattresses
  back home.
• Biggest icing on the cake, I have spent $0 on its maintenance till date ever since I got this beast out of the showroom 3-years ago.

BMW X3 M40i (3-Year Update- What can be improved) :

I had to really scratch my head to come up with below list of CONS as they are so insignificant, considering they are so minor :

• Couple of buttons next to the shift selector doesn’t feel new. When pressed, it feels aging.
• Music system quality sucks. BMW needs to really need to up their game here.
• Not a fan of the steel rims (19”) that came with the car. It was my mistake when configuring. I would have loved a 20” and black design wheels.
• While this car is touted as a 5-seater, but, only 4 large sized adults will be super comfortable from a width and leg space perspective.
• Wish BMW had made more distinctive changes to this car as it looks similar to X3 30i except the rear badge and exhaust tips. Makes it a proper sleeper.
• B58 is like Jekyll & Hyde- It returns an amazing mileage of 26-27 miles/gallon which is roughly 10kmpl to terrible low of 18 miles to a gallon ( 6kmpl) so the
  range is pretty wide depending on which mode (Ecopro or Sports+) you drive on. Heck, I didn't buy this car to drive on Eco-Pro so I don't care much about
  the FE while I like to track it religiously.

As an ode to this amazing car, I picked out a few pictures over the last 3-years (Mind you, it was difficult as I click too many pics of the car which is a bad habit of mine) and it has traversed nearly 1/3rd of America which is quite a feat and still perform flawlessly which tells a huge story about it's reliability.

Some of the states I have driven it are :

• Baltimore (Where I picked up the car)
• Michigan (Were we used to live)
• Pennsylvania
• Ohio
• New York State
• Massachusetts
• Rhode Island
• New Hampshire
• Illinois
• Tennesse
• Kentucky
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• Washington (Where we currently live)
• Oregon
• California

My ~ 1000 Horsepower Garage.

Photoshoot with an M340i in Detroit, Michigan.

Cascade Mountains, Washington.

One of my favorite Picture- Detroit, Michigan with General Motors HQ in background.

Photoshoot with a Jaguar XF- Michigan, USA

Cascade Mountains, Washington.

Somewhere in Rainy Washington, USA.

Somewhere in Rainy Washington, USA.

University of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Drive along the Pacific Ocean- US101, Oregon, USA.

When new in Michigan, USA.

Artist Point, Cascade Mountains, Washington.

Continue reading BHPian mobike008's update for more insights and information.

One of the issues I felt in both cars is the aesthetics of the interior. Fairly below par for something costing in the 1 Cr territory.

BHPian Ponybha23 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Thanks everyone for your inputs. Test drove the fully loaded X3 M40i and the M340i back to back today. As expected the engine is mind blowing. And the burble, on the X3 especially (I think it’s an older version of the 6 pot?) was to die for. Oh, what aural pleasure!

Chennai roads are not the greatest and wanted to check out the ride which is of great importance to me since this is a daily driver. While the X3 was definitely better, the 3er wasn’t bad either. Was certainly better than my CLA. Took on the bumps relatively well. I am not sure how it would age though (my car is 7+ years old).

One of the issues I felt in both cars is the aesthetics of the interior. Fairly below par for something costing in the 1 Cr territory. I am not saying it’s not put together well but found the interiors or have a lot of hard scratchy plastics. Even the sensatec dashboard was scratchy. Almost like an MG Astor. Can’t even hold a candle to my CLA dashboard, definitely not the upper part. One special issue with the 3er was that it scraped on two speed breakers.

I know I am going back and forth but feel a little shortchanged to settle for a great mechanical car and fairly average interior. This would be worse with the special edition of the X3 (about 15L cheaper).

Waiting to test drive the GLC 300 and the NX 350h. Will probably do another round of test drives of the Beemers as well.

Fairly confused now! I am guessing going to get confused further with the other test drives!

Here's what BHPian nmn.070 had to say on the matter:

I was in a similar dilemma. I thought I wanted a great drivers car. But during the extended test drive for the M340i I realised that it's not even 5% of driving time when I can truly enjoy the b58. The ride to me was quite firm. The car really feels nervous at low speeds due to the suspension setup and the knowledge of having great firepower. I decided I'd rather have a daily which is taller to allow for drives in rains (waterlogging is an issue in most cities) and unknown terrains. X3 M40i would be perfect but for me it was stretching my budget conscience far too much. The other suv mid size options were:

• Audi Q5 - decent power and great comfort. But interior is very boring and outdated.
• Lexus NX - felt too small for what it is. Great materials but the design is too edgy and overall it did not feel exceptional. Unlike the excellent Lexus ES.
• BMW X3 - only offered in diesel now. Had they retained the X3 30i I would have picked it up in a heartbeat. Interior is again a little old but functional and well built. Rear biased AWD and good steering make the sedan-suv compromise more digestible. But I think diesel is very poor residuals if you keep the car for long.
• Mercedes GLC 300 - the power is good. Interior is the most updated but still creaky and not as well put together IMO. But driving pleasure is second only to the X3. Spacious and good looking. I found the ride to be on the stiffer side. Considering that I only explored SUVs for comfort, it was a bit disappointing. Also it lacked some basic features such as keyless go. But this may be the best contender in this price bracket. If you can excuse the chitzy interior and ride quality, this would serve well.
• Volvo XC60 - excellent comfort, simple but ergonomically amazing interiors. Felt it to be better put together than the merc. Only sore spot is the front biased AWD. But the seats, music system, massage function and overall look inside and out won me over. It is understated and elegant. I love the Android based infotainment. Google maps and Spotify in built is a big plus for me. I hate having to connect my phone for anything. I don't take calls when driving anyway. This system allows me to ignore my phone completely when driving. It's a little dated but I believe Volvo will not change it much. They are committed to going full electric and this would be replaced by an all new EX60. So the XC60 will serve for sometime with the ICE powertrain. Even if it changes, I think the interior and exterior will age gracefully over the next 7-8 years. The fact that it saves you close to 15 lacs over the GLC is sweet.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information

Handles like a sedan. Wonderful body control around corners and has decent ride quality.

BHPian XDriver recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello fellow BHPians!

In Nov 2023 I brought home the BMW X3 M40i to replace my X1 X Drive 20d M sport. I already have the BMW 530d M Sport G30 face lift LCI. So I was in the look out for an SUV to replace my X1. The cars I short listed were the new X5 40i and X3 M40i. Some well wishers suggested the Porsche Macan too. But as there is no dealer of Porsche in Hyderabad yet and the Macan is way too expensive for a base version (which is a 4 cylinder which was offered to me for 1.1 CR by the Mumbai dealer) I decided to drop it.

Front view:

Rear view:

Side view:

B58 engine bay:

The 2 BMW siblings together. In-line 6s. One diesel and one petrol:

Test drove both the X5 and X3 in 40i versions. I have posted my views on the X5 earlier in the forum. The team BHP poll suggested the X5 for the superior build quality and better ride and comfort but I decided to go for the X3 M 40i as it was sportier to drive, fits better in my parking space and the discounts I got. Thanks a ton to all who voted in the poll and gave valuable suggestions.

Overall am very happy with my purchase.

First thing was to get PPF and ceramic coating done for the car with Kavaca. Applied the 3M rodent spray in the engine well and wheel arches. I do this regularly every 3-6 months for all cars. (Had a rodent bite to the washer fluid tank on my X1) one has to learn from experience and now this is a ritual for me.

What’s to like:

• Beautiful design, proportionate and balanced. Perfect size and style of the double kidneys.
• An enthusiasts car. The legendary B58 in-line 6 cylinder with 360hp and 500nm torque is just brilliant to drive and sounds terrific (better than the X5 40i)
• Spacious and practical. Sporty all-black interiors with carbon fiber trim.
• All the bells and whistles like 360 degree camera, parking and reversing assistant, 464 W Harman Kardon system (though needs a bit of tweaking in equaliser to get best out if it)
• Handles like a sedan. Wonderful body control around corners and has decent ride quality. M Sport differential and M sport brakes aid in composure and stopping.
• Good ground clearance with 500mm water wading.
• Adaptive dampers gives a decent ride
• Mild hybrid system (though not mentioned in brochures)
• M Mirror caps and blacked out twin exhaust tips
• Exclusivity as it will be available in limited numbers
• No annoying speed warning chimes at 80 and 120 as I guess it’s a CBU. I was so pleased with this!
• Presence of physical buttons for climate control, short cut buttons. I use the latter as speed dial presets.
• Massive panoramic roof gives an airy feel to an otherwise dark interior and acoustic glazing of windows helps keep unwanted noises out.
• Sun blinds for rear windows (manual) which is missing in M340i

What’s not:

• No request sensors on doors for a 1 CR plus car
• Misses the latest curved screen displays with iDrive 8 of newer models. I actually like the iDrive 7 better so not a deal breaker for me.
• Stiff ride but better than M340i as it has adaptive dampers
• Reduced boot space from 550 litres to 480 litres due to stowed spare tyre
• Cheaper hard plastics on lower sections of doors
• Expensive as it’s a CBU
• Loves to guzzle gasoline especially if driven hard but that’s the point of buying this car. FE of 7-8 kmpl average.
• RFTs
• No BMW digital key or ADAS
• Minor niggles. Have a rattle in the left front door. More on that below.

Interior design:

Though its interior is older design it is extremely well put together. It feels robust, the older screens with iDrive 7 with physical controls are more practical and still upmarket. The drama of the newer curved screen is missing but iDrive 8.5 has may menus and sub menus and not as intuitive as iDrive7. The black interior with carbon fiber trim is sporty and looks good. The sport seats hold you snug and are yet comfortable. Leg room at rear is more than adequate (almost similar to X5). Wireless charging pad is nice to have (though seldom used). X3 a M40i only comes with black sensatec letherette seats. More colour choices would have been nice but black will be easy to maintain. The black interior goes very well with the Brooklyn Grey exterior paint colour though.

The Cockpit:

The M Sport Steering:

Front seats:

Rear seats and space:

Exterior design:

Exterior looks are pleasing and the Brooklyn Grey metallic paint with black M grill, M style door mirrors in black, piano black bumper, rear diffuser with shadow line lights look fantastic. It has a very clean design with an aggressive sporty front and rear end. What I can say is the X3 design is proportional and balanced. The LED lights have the shadow line package with adds to the sporty appeal. The 20 inch light alloy wheels with red callipers suit the car well. What’s impressive is the smaller foot print of the X3 vs X5 that makes it more convenient for daily self driving and parking in cellars and on narrow roads.

Aggressive front:

LED headlamps and M wing mirrors:

Rear 3/4 view:

M40i badge:

20 inch M light alloys:

Shadow line tail lights:

Tail light signature:

Drive and handling:

The main reason for me to upgrade from X1 X line 20d was the B58 in-line 6 engine. I know these engines will soon go out so wanted to own one asap. The M40i has the slightly de-tuned version with 360bhp vs the 374hp unit in M340i(really don’t know why) but the difference is not felt in daily usage. The claimed 0-100 time is 4.9 seconds but I have not tested it yet as the vehicle is still in the run-in period. In comfort mode it is super smooth, with excellent NVH, and is very responsive. Just a light touch in the A pedal it just surges forward without fuss. It has a dual personality like the M340i. It’s calm and composed in comfort more and transforms into a hooligan in sport mode. It’s a proper sleeper vehicle and will take people by surprise with its brisk acceleration and sound. In sport mode the exhaust and engine sounds are louder (maybe a bit pumped in via speakers). The A pedal response and gear shifts are more sharp and in no time it will zoom into triple digit range. The suspension also firms up and is stiffer in sport mode. You will feel every bump, crater or expansion joint in sport. Heck, you could even pick out a needle or dropped coin by going over it. Better to go into sport individual and keep engine and gearbox in sport and suspension and steering in comfort. The FE will drop to 5-6 km in sport mode if driven hard. I am averaging 7-8 in mixed city and ORR driving. The absence of irritating speed warning chimes allows one to enjoy the car even more uninterrupted.

The folks at KUN BMW were not aware of that it has a mild hybrid system. But it seems to have it as I see a purple cable (indicative of mild hybrid) running behind the engine and the car RPMs drop to zero while coasting. Also turbo lag is barely felt. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Handling is tight around bends and body roll is negligible. Overall the X3 m40i drive is nimble, firm yet decent and is very responsive and a hoot drive. The RFTs I have are Bridgestone ones. Wish I have the Michelins (as on my 530d) which I feel are better. I plan to continue with RFT till I wear these out. Then may go for tubeless in future.

Build quality:

Build quality isn’t on par with the X5. The Sensafin seats are better in X5. No hard plastics anywhere in X5. Doors on the X5 feel more solid and ride comfort is superior. I have the 530d which is better built (just like the X5) and it compensates for the X3 for me on luxury factor.

Niggles:

Now the niggle part. I have a rattle in the left front door. KUN BMW sent the engineer home to check it out and after some test runs figured out that a screw and washer that holds the side skirt to the door is missing from inside. Didn’t expect this from BMW. They have ordered the part and it will take 2-3 weeks to come from Germany. It’s very annoying to drive with the subtle rattle. Someone with even mild OCD will be pissed off. I have attached a pic below of the missing part.

The missing screw and rubber bush:

Hope this clears some doubts of those considering this performance SUV.

My garage now has the turbo diesel and turbo petrol 6 cylinder BMWs and an EV (Tata Nexon EV) which is our beater city car.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I also checked out other amazing cars at the showroom but it was the BMW X6M Competition and the XM that caught my eye.

BHPian mobike008 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

30,000 Miles Regular Service Report

I had scheduled an appointment with BMW of Bellevue for a regular 30,000-mile service (My odometer reading was 28,500 miles) and they promised me a loaner.

But when I arrived on time, I was told the loaner was not available as due to delay in repairs most cars are not being returned on time.

As compensation, they offered me a "Test Drive" of the latest BMW and got me a nice sandwich lunch with an unlimited flow of coffee.

Besides the above, my service adviser-SAF promised to get me the car in 3 hours or before while I hung around in their massive showroom.

I requested SAF to check the tire tread depth as its stock runlets and he measured all 4 tires and each of the tire tread depths. Typically the depth when new is 9 or 10 and it's advisable to replace the tires at 4. Both my front tires were at 4 and my rear tires still have decent tread and were at 6.

Imagine stock tires that have never gone through any wheel balancing or alignment till date. I'm super pleased as well as a bit shocked at how lucky I am on these tires despite driving the car hard 80% of the time.

The regular service included the following checks and replacements:

• Oil & Oil Filter Replacement
• Brake Inspection
• Windshield Wiper Fluid Replacement
• Key Fob Battery Replacement
• Wash & Vacuuming

The final bill presented to me post this service was a grand US $ ZERO.

The day (January 18th, 2021), I bought this bummer home to this date, I have not spent not even a single $$$$ on this amazing machine.

As promised, I got the car back in 2.5 hours. How did I spend those 2.5 hours?

• I took a leisurely test drive of a new BMW for over an hour.
• Ogled at some amazing machines parked in the showroom namely the BMW M440i, BMW 780i, BMW X7 and BMW X5M.
• However, what caught my eye was the BMW X6M Competition and BMW XM (There were 2 of them- Black and Blue).

My dream SAV is the BMW X6MC (It costs $150K OTR) and the BMW XM is the next level of luxury and looks like a cruise ship and costs a whopping ($180K OTR).

Here are some pictures of a beautiful 3-hours spent at BMW of Bellevue.

Front tire is at 4

Rear tire is at 6

Nice and Clean Blau Rakete.

Ready for Delivery

One picture in the sunlight.

BMW X6M Competition- Dreams cannot get bigger than this.

Crazy Price Tag.

I love this angle of the BMW X6MC and color is just outstanding.

The mighty BMW XM- Check the wheels. The size even by US standards is ridiculously massive.

$180K OTR

Note: A brief Test Drive Report to come up soon. Keep watching the thread.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Given my track record, it'll probably clock only about 30,000 km in the next decade.

BHPian AbhiJ recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

A Dash of History

It's fair to say that I've been a devout car enthusiast for as long as my memory can recall, a trait I've proudly inherited from my father. The love for vehicles started with our trusty 1996 Daewoo Cielo Automatic and gradually evolved when we introduced a Mitsubishi Lancer SFX to the mix. The crowning jewel, however, was my father's final purchase - a BMW 3 Series F30 320D. Even after a solid nine years, this gem remains an integral part of my collection.

In 2014, following my father's sudden departure from this world, life's relentless demands and monetary restrictions put a momentary damper on my love for cars.

Current State of Play

Now, the occupants of my garage include a 2014 BMW F30 320D, a 2020 Hyundai Tucson Diesel AT, and a 2018 Honda City Diesel MT. The City dutifully serves as the everyday runabout, while the Tucson, with its practicality and comfort, is my go-to for chauffeured rides. However, the BMW, though seasoned, still holds a special place in my heart and hands when the urge to drive takes over.

My professional life calls for an SUV as factory runs aren't exactly friendly to saloons. As I recently celebrated my 40th birthday and find myself in a comfortable financial position, the prospect of a swankier car, budgeted at around Rs 80 lakhs, has become quite a tangible reality.

If I opt for an SUV, it would serve the dual purpose of leisure and work. But let's be real, it's not a necessity. A bit of a sad confession though - while my love for driving still runs deep, my hands-on time behind the wheel has dwindled. Proof? My loyal BMW has only clocked less than 30,000 km over its 9-year tenure.

The Candidates

Option 1: The BMW M340i

Pros:

• Now, here's a machine with promise - a 6-cylinder petrol BMW!
• The engine's growl is pure music to an enthusiast's ears.
• Typical BMW handling - precise, responsive and a joy to manoeuvre.

Cons:

• Given my track record, it'll probably clock only about 30,000 km in the next decade.
• Backseat comrades may not be too pleased with the ride quality.
• With the march of the EV brigade, I wonder if I'm investing in a soon-to-be relic?
• And let's face it, the colour palette is a bit on the humdrum side.

Option 2: The XC40 Recharge

Pros:

• Here's a curveball - it's quicker than the M340i!
• The power delivery is sheer insanity, in the best way.
• Then there's the famed Volvo safety and reliability - a comforting reassurance.

Cons:

• Again, the backseat ride quality is a bit on the stiff side.
• And, let's not mince words, the interior feels a bit yesterday

Option 3: You are missing a great option!

Am I overlooking any other splendid options that might suit my needs? Your insights would be much appreciated!

P.s. I already test drove and ruled out the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6.

Option 4: The "Patience is a Virtue" Approach

Why hurry when we might have some promising contenders on the horizon? The 2024 BMW 5 Series / i5 models were recently announced, and the Volvo C40 is also launching soon. I am also hoping that Hyundai might launch the Dual Motor IONIQ 5 in India sometime soon.

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

You have a very sorted garage. The oldest car is the 320d, but there really is no point in selling an 8-year old BMW that is working perfectly, reliably and giving you driving pleasure. I am sailing the same boat with my '13 530d. We'll get peanuts for our perfectly running cars, so better to use them for a little longer.

As much as I love the M340i, you already have a BMW sedan and very low running. If you decide to buy it, hold off for a few years. Sell your 320d once it has aged, then replace it with an M340i. Even better, a pre-worshipped M340i.

If you have to buy a new car today, it has to be the X3 M40i. An SUV you can drive to your factory without worry, has adaptive suspension (huge advantage) and will be way more practical than the M340i for your purposes.

Are you open to used? You already have a luxury sedan & an SUV. How about a used Mustang? Or a Porsche? Or an ///M car / AMG? A sports car with a luxury sedan (320d), SUV (Tucson) and beater (City) will be quite a garage. I even found a Macan S for you. It is so much fun that you cannot imagine!

Personally, I am in the same shoes as you. Have decided to use my existing cars for longer and hold off on that "special purchase" for 2 - 3 years. Invest that 80-lakhs, make it 1 - 1.4 crores, then go buy something even more special. Am only saying this because you already have a great garage and this 80-lakh spend will be a completely discretionary purchase.

Here's what BHPian revsperminute had to say on the matter:

Why not an X3 40i? It's an SUV which you will be able to use every day, has all the niceties and the same B58 from the M340i. You won't catch me recommending an SUV over a sedan anywhere on this forum but yours is the perfect scenario for the X3.

PS- If you really feel like going all out, a Mini convertible will be super fun to drive

Here's what BHPian Paddleshifter had to say on the matter:

As you have been already owning the 320D, I’d suggest a different car this time (in context of the //M you listed alongwith XC40 recharge). You have mentioned about backseat in your post so you will not be a solo driver I guess. As I have never experienced cars from this segment, I’d refrain from making recommendations and listing my reasons. Secondly, good pre owned options have already been listed above so i am sticking with the new purchase in my post.

I would love to know why you did not consider the Volvo S90, Audi A6, Mercedes E class (slightly above budget) or the Lexus ES300h? All these are nowhere close to being the driver’s car (like the M) but are known to be super comfortable for all pasengers, in their respective territories/ categories. The base of Lexus being the Camry, it shall be super reliable too for more than a decade of ownership.

Here's what BHPian Jatin247 had to say on the matter:

I am of the view that one should definitely have a luxury performance sedan in his garage and M340i is the perfect car to fulfil this gap in your garage. Though it wouldn’t be an upgrade in terms of space as compared to your 320d but every time you will push the accelerator, you will feel the difference.

Spending big bucks and not using the car much is a big disadvantage as you wouldn’t be able to get that value out from the product.

On the other side you should really consider X3 M40i too. It would be a perfect car for factory runs too and with the B58 inside the hood, the performance would be great too.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The BMW X3 M40i will be imported into India via the CBU route.

BMW has announced the launch of the X3 M40i in India, priced at Rs 86.50 lakh (ex-showroom).

The BMW X3 M40i is the sportiest version of the X3 besides the full-blown M version. It gets a sporty body kit featuring a more aggressive front bumper with larger vents, dual-tone 20-inch M light alloy wheels, dual exhausts and M-specific ORVMs. 

Inside, the SUV gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. It gets carbon fibre interior trim, an M leather steering wheel, M seat belts, a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting and 3-zone automatic climate control.

The X3 M40i is powered by a 3.0-litre, turbocharged 6-cylinder engine like the M340i sedan. However, in the X3, this engine develops 355 BHP @ 5,200-6,500 rpm and 500 Nm @ 1,900-5,000 rpm. The engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive system. BMW claims a 0-100 km/h time of 4.9 seconds, and the SUV can reach an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h.

The X3 M40i also gets several chassis upgrades, including Adaptive M suspension and M Sport brakes. The SUV packs an M Sport differential and a Variable Sport Steering wheel as well.

The BMW X3 M40i will be launched next month. The SUV will be imported via the CBU route.

BMW has started accepting bookings for the X3 M40i xDrive in India. The SUV will be available in limited units and can be booked at the BMW Online Shop by paying a token amount of Rs 5 lakh.

The M40i is the sportier version of the X3. It gets a sporty body kit featuring a more aggressive front bumper with larger vents, dual-tone alloy wheels, dual exhausts and M-specific ORVMs. Inside, the SUV gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

The X3 M40i is powered by a 3.0-litre, turbocharged 6-cylinder engine like the M340i sedan. However, in the X3, this engine develops 355 BHP and 500 Nm.

The engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive system. BMW claims a 0-100 km/h time of 4.9 seconds, and the SUV can reach an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h.

The BMW X3 M40i will be launched next month. The SUV will be imported via the CBU route.

The BMW X3 M40i is expected to be imported via the CBU route.

Earlier this month, we reported that BMW was planning to introduce the X3 M40i in India soon. Now, as per the latest reports, the SUV is likely to be launched next week, with deliveries set to commence in May 2023.

The X3 M40i is a high-performance version of the regular X3. It is powered by the same 3.0-litre, turbocharged 6-cylinder engine as the M340i sedan. However, in the X3, this engine develops 355 BHP and 500 Nm.

The engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive system. BMW claims a 0-100 km/h time of 4.9 seconds, and the SUV can reach an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h.

The X3 M40i also gets a sporty body kit featuring a more aggressive front bumper with larger vents, dual-tone alloy wheels, dual exhausts and M-specific ORVMs. Inside, the SUV gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

The BMW X3 M40i is expected to be imported via the CBU route.

Source: Autocar India