BMW X3 M40i 2019 Review
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- BMW's X3 was a bit of an ugly duckling when it first launched a decade or so ago. Now, it's the size of the first X5 and much closer to the swan of the story. A bit.
It never had an M or even an M Performance, though. But things have changed with the third-generation X3.
Meet the first M Performance X3, the M40i.
Had mine since March 18 and it still make me smile every time I get behind the wheel. It blows me away, awesome car.
I have had my 2019 X3 M40i for about a month and LOVE IT. So damn fast off the line that I actually have beat several Mustang 5.0 off the line to 60mph. Friggin hilarious to see the look on their faces and it’s not even a full M version! I got mine used with 5600 miles, so no break-in period 👍🏻
I test drove the 2018 model of this car around a year ago and was absolutely blown away with how little body roll it had around the twisties, without sacrificing ride comfort.
Nice video as always :) You really captured what it's like to drive one of these.
Thanks again for watching! It is amazing how good these things are. But this one...hoo boy. Fast.
I have owned the X3M40i for about 4 months and I love it! OK - I debadged the M Performance and model number stuff at the back as I don't wanna be a cop car baiter and for a better aesthetic look. I tested the Audi SQ5, the Mercedes GLC 43, Alfa Stelvio and the Bimmer outdid them all. My only complaint (besides the sometimes horrendous fuel consumption on short trips to the supermarket - I'm talking 17mpg UK folks) was the piped in fake exhaust note. I used Bimmercode and deleted that annoying crap - an investment well worth it in my opinion.
The M40i has a Jekyll and Hyde ability to be a soft, quiet family SUV and when the family is not in the car an absolute beast in Sport plus mode. Watch your economy plummet then - but it's worth it!!
I use the Eco pro mode when commuting on the motorway)highway) to work - about a 60 mile commute - it then gives me economy of as much as 39mpg.
So in summary a fantastic car - versatile, fast with rock solid build and a great interior. I love it and no regrets in the purchase.
Hi Roger - thanks so much for watching and share your thoughts - great to hear you love it! The short trip economy is a problem in so many cars - it's partly to do with running the car rich to get the cat fired up. Not very helpful for emissions, but there you go! Thanks again and if you haven't already, don't forget to subscribe! Sorry I missed this when you posted it, RUclips forgets to tell me when I get comments.
Outstanding feedback on your M40i 👍🏻 I’m picking up mine today. Patience paid off and I was able to find one with only 5048 miles and 33 months of remaining factory warranty + 2 years dealership warranty up to 100,000 miles.
hi. still enyoying it? im tossing up between this and a macan s
Most cops have no clue what “M40i” means, trust me.
I just drove this, 2400 miles In 3 days from Las Vegas to Columbus Ohio, thru a major 5 hour rainstorm and was never fatigued. An impressive gas mileage too. Going an average of 75 mph. High altitudes (11,900) it performs like at sea level, no noticeable difference. I highly recommend!
Hey there Glenno - that was a pretty good drive! Thanks so much for getting involved and sharing your experiences. It's such a great car, I'm glad you find it as good as I did! Thanks so much for watching.
Love mine! Upgraded with a digital throttle controller and JB4 chip. Makes about 406 HP on a nice day. Good gas milage and super fun to drive and flex!!
Great work Peter. Another great vidoe. Keep them coming.
That is the proper M steering wheel. Just look at the new M5. The old style M wheel has been outdated for a while now. Unfortunately, BMW is still using up their old supply M wheels on the M2 and some other 2019 models.
The silver finish on the mirrors, and front end distinguish the M Performance models.
I like how this gentleman reviewing.
Thanks Greg! I try and have a bit of fun. Thanks for watching!
İve owned the sq5 for 6 months lost it in an accident i now drive an x3 M40i and can say it’s much better all round the only thing I miss on the audi is the virtual cockpit
Sorry to hear you lost your SQ5 in an accident, but very pleased to hear you're liking the X3. That's the problem with the "old" BMW design, no digital cockpit like the Audi's. The new one in the X5/3 Series, though. Wow! Thanks so much for watching!
Enjoyed your review, thanks.
Thanks SnowHarp! Thanks so much for watching!
What watch are you wearing? Just as nice as the X3
Love my 2019 and think the exhaust note may be better than the full M.
Wish the interior lights were daylight instead of cool white but that should be anyone's biggest problem.
Overall, great SAV and much more fun to drive than my old MDX Advance.
I really want to not like this car. But I know how good the M140i is, and I know how practical the X3 is. I'd probably still get the big diesel version though.
I have had mine for one month and I regret buying it. For every day casual driving the suspension is uncomfortably stiff and, on concrete roads with mild undulation between each segment of concrete, the car literally bounces down the road. I can sense no difference in suspension between eco, comfort, and sport. If the comfort mode was actually comfortable, say similar to a regular X3, then it would truly be an incredible vehicle.
Hi GT Kona - thanks so much for watching and sharing your experience. It's interesting to hear you say this - the X3 M is much stiffer and while I thought it bearable, many wouldn't, so I'm sending them the M40i's way, save the money or spend a bit more for an X6 M50i. It's good to hear a differing opinion and I guess in the end, springs are springs and if they're too stiff, the adaptive damping isn't going to change much. Thanks again for watching and thanks for the insight!
2:51 WRONG, it can have navigation, radio and media etc. This can be changed in settings. However not as good as Audi’s
Sorry Jordan, I am correct. You're thinking of the Live Cockpit which is not in the car I tested.
The Redline I own one as well. It depends. If you have the HUD you need to turn it off. It is standard on all G01 cars in Australia from the S20i to M40i . It comes standard with the part digital and can be upgraded further more to be fully digital like your car. ALL M40is in Australia have it. For example look up online ‘BMW X3 instrument cluster navigation’ you will see many. Therefore I am correct.
You're being intensely picky. It still has two dial shapes baked into the dashboard. It's not very inventive and it's not a patch on a proper digital dash.
The Redline I know that’s why I said that it is not as good as Audi’s. However it can display nav, media etc
*sigh* So did the dash in my old 1 Series, it doesn't make what I said wrong.
nice review. keep them coming. subscribed
Hi Damian O - thanks for watching and for subscribing!
Can you comment on 21 inch wheel? Should downgrade to 20 inch for comfort?
Hi Alex! Thanks for watching and thanks for the question. From what I can tell, the 21s were pretty good and I took the car across some pretty rough stuff. The 20s won't make a huge difference to the ride but will probably knock the edge off the handling and, if you're from a really cold climate where you need winter tyres, you can *probably&* fit them (check your local dealer etc.). But apart from that, I think it rode pretty well on the 21s. Thanks again for watching and make sure you subscribe!
If you want comfort then ditch the 21” alloys and alloys. On the 20s it may not be as planted but it will be much more comfortable. Also getting rid of run flats, give you better handling & tad more comfortable ride
I test drove both the SQ5 and the M40i and no way in hell does the SQ5 have a tighter suspension. You might want to get your butt sensor recalibrated 😜
Hi DJ - Hah! Maybe. But I think I meant that in Comfort mode the X3 rides better. In Sport, they're about the same, the SQ5 maybe *slightly* stiffer or the shorter wheelbase comes into play. I'll ask for them both again and see what happens :-D
What amazes me is how fast the M40i is compared to the SQ5. BMW is known to lie about the real power output of their engines. VW does the same thing. My guess is they do it to try and keep the insurance costs down for consumers when power-to-weight ratio is taken into consideration.
Ah, just realized that the wheel size may have played a part in the difference is the feel of the ride. Both the SQ5 and M40i I test drove had 19” rims. As you know having a larger rims will result in a firmer ride. So make sure to watch out for that as well 😉
I test drove both back to back, X3M40i is a lot better!
Twin scroll turbo = almost no turbo lag 👍🏻
It's quite something. Almost as good as the Ferrari V8's response. Which is pretty damn good. Thanks heaps for watching!
I want a Ferrari too! 😀
Help me will u choose this or new macan ?
Hi Taylan - thanks for watching! Um...give me a couple of weeks, I've got the new Macan for a carsguide.com.au review, so I'll let you know!
Mine was the first to be delivered in Australia last June. I ordered it last Feb when told that BMW were going to bring it i to OZ.. only option I didnt order was heated rear seats and Apple car play as I use Android. Im extremely happy with mine and if asked what I dont like I would have to say the start/stop function that the system defaults to when in eco or comfort mode. Also the steering feels like you are fighting against it if you leave it Sport mode with full sports settings. Advice to owners. Go into " Sport individual mode" and set the steering on "comfort". It is really a amazing car. I will be fitting all the go fast parts once the X3M comes out and i know what the changes are.
Hey L Mac, thanks so much for watching and thanks for sharing your experiences with the car. There are two types of people in this world: those who don't mind stop start and those who hate it :-)
Pity it doesn't have Android Auto, but I guess it's a matter of time. Luckily iDrive isn't too bad.
Thanks again, and make sure you subscribe for more!
Well said, however, my personal preference is steering wheel in sports all the time, I enjoy the feeling of the battle with steering wheel. On my old 3 series I even set my sports mode chassis only, to have benefit of heavy steering wheel while not putting any stress on the gearbox and engine!
Mirrors I would like to see blue colour match truck
Me too. I bet you can if you want, though.
You should have tried the launch control bud. It is alot of fun 😁
Sometimes I can't bring myself to use LC. I have this weird mechanical sympathy for cars...except, weirdly, the NISMO GT-R...
5:28
Where was this filmed in AU? Beautiful area.
Hi Ritter TX - it was filmed in Nagambie in Central Victoria. Try searching around the area of the Mitchelton Hotel and there are some straight and squiggly roads on either side of the highway. Some of shots were take on the Kongadee Road near Melbourne airport (I think, all of the external shots were from the b-roll supplied by BMW Australia). Thanks so much for watching!
@@TheRedlinedotcom sorry i thought it was the illawarra. ignore that comment above
I test drove this car and really wanted to like it. I get the exhaust is great and is best in class but the seats, ergonomics, dash and weirdly positioned accelerator pedal off to the right put me off.
Hi d - it's amazing how something so small can change your view of a car and the fact you weren't comfortable is a sure-fire sign it wasn't the car for you. Good decision!
are you local to the Illawarra?
Hi again Damian - I'm a little further north but I did go to Wollongong Uni. We shot that video in Otford.
@@TheRedlinedotcom thought i recognised the countryside. have you looked at the SQ5?
can those exhaust pops get turned off?
Yeah, I think if you're in Comfort mode, they stay off. It's not particularly loud, certainly not AMG loud. Thanks heaps for watching, hope I answered your question!
Just confirmed with BMW that if you're in Eco Pro or Comfort mode, it's pop-free. The X2 M35i, on the other hand...
@@TheRedlinedotcom I'm all about sport mode so I'll have to learn to live with them🤣 Thanks for looking into this and replying to me!
@@mindovrmatter33 No problem at all! Like I said, they're not really very loud, so you'll probably not notice them after a while.
the wheel is in the wrong side..
We drive on the wrong side too!
Audi SQ5's are fuckin' whack as hell.