X3/X4 BMW iX3

[David Brent]

Well you only think so till you‘ve actually driven a hybrid for a bit of time. We had a C 300e for a bit more than a month and before we got it I thought a hybrid might be the best out of both worlds.

As an owner of a BMW 330e Touring delivered in November 2020, I disagree with pretty much all of your post, and I mean HUGELY disagree. Now, I want to make it clear that I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just saying my experience is completely different to yours.

Funnily enough, prompted by the post earlier in response to @Rolf, I decided to take the 330e out for a long (ish) drive this afternoon, and it really made me realise what phenomenal car it is. I'm speaking as someone who also owns a 318i (F30), an X5 xDrive30d (G05), and an R8 V10 (although that's kind of irrelevant in comparison to the 330e).

Now I know it just a bad compromise and I would always go for a proper EV. The electric range at 5-10 degrees was at best close to 30 kilometers (something like 55 were promised).

A BEV would be affected by temperature too. That's nothing to do with it being a PHEV. And not getting close to the official figures it the same for ICE, PHEV and BEV. It depends on how you drive it. The problem with PHEVs are that the electric range has a bigger tangiable impact. Getting 30km when 55km are promised stands out, yet nobody bats an eyelid when you get 500km in an ICE when according to the official figures you should have a range of 900km.

Just for info, I got 55.9km from a charge this afternoon, which is fairly close to the official range of 66km. People on another forum have seen over 72km in the summer, which is more than the official figure!

That‘s poor efficiency for an electric drivetrain and you don‘t get real highspeed charging in any hybrid yet, so the useful electric range is very limited.

95% of my driving is covered by the electric range on the 330e PHEV. I have no need for a BEV. I would be carting around any spare battery capacity, and how much would that weigh?! When I do the occassional long journey, then the ICE takes over, and that is better than having range limited batteries which if it was a pure BEV, would take a lot longer to recharge than filling the tank with petrol.

Then they are very heavy and the trunk is considerably smaller.

I agree the 3er Saloon has a small trunk, but I have the Touring and it's perfectly fine.

Electric driving was cool cause it was so comfortable, smooth and quiet but then the petrol engine would kick in sounding like a diesel tractor. So you’re enjoying driving all electric only to see the range diminishing quickly to then having to use the petrol engine which is just uncomfortable, noisy and polluting in comparison.

I suggest you try the 330e. It's literally impossible to tell when the ICE kicks in. The only way I can tell is by looking at the instruments which change slightly. I'm not exaggerating. This was based on it kicking in when cruising at 100km/h, so I appreciate the story might be different if I was accelerating hard.

For me it was a very unpleasing and stressful driving experience.
That‘s why would always opt for a BEV now if you don’t have to very long trips frequently. Hybrids are compliance cars to meet the CO2 thresholds and to ease the transition in the automotive industry. I‘m afraid they might even put most customers off electric cars cause of the poor experience with the electric range in most plug in hybrids.

For me it's the complete opposite. I was a HUGE BEV-sceptic, but my experience with the 330e has made me quite excited about the future now, and electric cars in general. When the 330e is on the battery, it feels great to drive, and also little things like pre-heating the car in the morning makes it very appealing. It feels very modern compared to my 318i.

The only thing that would put me off a BEV is the range on long journeys. The 330e solves that.

oh and obviously maintenance costs for a BEV will be way lower.

I barely notice the maintenance costs on any of my ICE cars either (apart from the R8 *cough*). The service intervals are so long nowadays.

The worst about hybrids is that the electric motor is very weak and there is nothing in common with the torque of a true EV. The electric drive is almost only cruising and slight acceleration and really creates a wrong impression about real EVs.

This is simply not the feeling I have with the 330e. It feels very lively, and I love the torque. It's plenty fast enough. Just because some electric cars can get from 0-100km/h in 3 seconds, it doesn't mean that my 330e is too slow. Who the hell is driving around day-to-day accelerating like that? It's something which looks good in a YouTube video, but it's meaningless in the real world.


Whether a PHEV is suitable to you depends entirely on your circumstances. Someone whose daily drive is around 60km may find a PHEV pointless. However, someone like me who rarely has a daily drive of more than 50km, but who does want to drive it on longer journeys occassionally, would fine a BEV a pain in the arse. Carrying around battery capacity which I don't need on short journeys, and which take the space of an ICE which would be more use on long journeys, is of no use to me.


All just IMHO.

 

[Tapsa70]

According Automobilwoche 1.2.2021 iX3 will get a successor already 2024:

"Gaps in electric SUVs

iX1 should replace i3 The iX1 is intended to replace the Ur-i3 internally. But as a successor it only fits to a limited extent. As an SUV, the electric X1 has to be bigger and more spacious than a city runabout. Nevertheless, the i-model is allegedly not an 08/15-X1 with batteries in its belly, but a visually upgraded and aerodynamically more sophisticated electric car with an independent character. Production is scheduled to start at the end of 2022.

Otherwise, BMW is holding back with the electric SUVs and is still leaving gaps in the booming segment. After the iX3 from China, which is just starting in Germany and is to be replaced by a successor as early as 2024, the new flagship iX will follow in autumn, which is expected to produce 30,000 units per year. The iX claims to be as functional as an X5, as dynamic as an X6 and as present as an X7. That is why BMW is initially not planning an iX5, an iX6, iX7, iX8 or even smaller e-crossovers like iX2 and iX4."

 

[bimmer6]

As an owner of a BMW 330e Touring delivered in November 2020, I disagree with pretty much all of your post, and I mean HUGELY disagree. Now, I want to make it clear that I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just saying my experience is completely different to yours.

Funnily enough, prompted by the post earlier in response to @Rolf, I decided to take the 330e out for a long (ish) drive this afternoon, and it really made me realise what phenomenal car it is. I'm speaking as someone who also owns a 318i (F30), an X5 xDrive30d (G05), and an R8 V10 (although that's kind of irrelevant in comparison to the 330e).




A BEV would be affected by temperature too. That's nothing to do with it being a PHEV. And not getting close to the official figures it the same for ICE, PHEV and BEV. It depends on how you drive it. The problem with PHEVs are that the electric range has a bigger tangiable impact. Getting 30km when 55km are promised stands out, yet nobody bats an eyelid when you get 500km in an ICE when according to the official figures you should have a range of 900km.

Just for info, I got 55.9km from a charge this afternoon, which is fairly close to the official range of 66km. People on another forum have seen over 72km in the summer, which is more than the official figure!




95% of my driving is covered by the electric range on the 330e PHEV. I have no need for a BEV. I would be carting around any spare battery capacity, and how much would that weigh?! When I do the occassional long journey, then the ICE takes over, and that is better than having range limited batteries which if it was a pure BEV, would take a lot longer to recharge than filling the tank with petrol.




I agree the 3er Saloon has a small trunk, but I have the Touring and it's perfectly fine.




I suggest you try the 330e. It's literally impossible to tell when the ICE kicks in. The only way I can tell is by looking at the instruments which change slightly. I'm not exaggerating. This was based on it kicking in when cruising at 100km/h, so I appreciate the story might be different if I was accelerating hard.




For me it's the complete opposite. I was a HUGE BEV-sceptic, but my experience with the 330e has made me quite excited about the future now, and electric cars in general. When the 330e is on the battery, it feels great to drive, and also little things like pre-heating the car in the morning makes it very appealing. It feels very modern compared to my 318i.

The only thing that would put me off a BEV is the range on long journeys. The 330e solves that.




I barely notice the maintenance costs on any of my ICE cars either (apart from the R8 *cough*). The service intervals are so long nowadays.




This is simply not the feeling I have with the 330e. It feels very lively, and I love the torque. It's plenty fast enough. Just because some electric cars can get from 0-100km/h in 3 seconds, it doesn't mean that my 330e is too slow. Who the hell is driving around day-to-day accelerating like that? It's something which looks good in a YouTube video, but it's meaningless in the real world.


Whether a PHEV is suitable to you depends entirely on your circumstances. Someone whose daily drive is around 60km may find a PHEV pointless. However, someone like me who rarely has a daily drive of more than 50km, but who does want to drive it on longer journeys occassionally, would fine a BEV a pain in the arse. Carrying around battery capacity which I don't need on short journeys, and which take the space of an ICE which would be more use on long journeys, is of no use to me.


All just IMHO.

Interesting that your experience is so different to mine. 55 kilometers of real world electric range in winter are a completely different story than merely 30 so that must have a pretty big effect on the overall experience.
It also doesn‘t really take me by surprise that your experience is better cause I‘ve been reading before that BMW gets considerably more range out of their PHEV‘s.
Still we had the estate version of the C-Class too and the trunk was very small compared to it‘s ICE siblings.

How bad the petrol engine was surprised me too. A friend of me who‘s quite interested into cars asked if it was a diesel hybrid when he joined for a ride.

Higher service costs obviously don’t come into play in the first year of ownership but for those who intend to keep their car for 5 years or longer it’s pretty safe to assume that a BEV will be much cheaper to run than a PHEV.

So yes there probably are better hybrids out there than the C300e and for some a PHEV might make sense. I still think that most modern BEV alternatives will be better to drive, more efficient, more comfortable, more spacious and cheaper in the longrun.

 

[klier]

The iX claims to be as functional as an X5, as dynamic as an X6 and as present as an X7. That is why BMW is initially not planning an iX5, an iX6, iX7, iX8 or even smaller e-crossovers like iX2 and iX4."

Not a good idea imo. Many would pick a (likely inferior) iX5 over iX if only for the interior and exterior looks.

And what I also don't get, is that the iX3 is coming out looking like an old X3 when the facelift with updated lights and grille and stuff is just around the corner? How is this even remotely possible?

 

[dalab]

iX3 is coming out looking like an old X3

I don't know if it arrived at the right time but it is on the way

2022 BMW iX3 BEV Facelift already spotted out testing

In some new spy photos, we can see the upcoming BMW iX3 LCI facelift, which is coming sooner than on most models.

www.bmwblog.com

 

[advantage20]

Poor performance overall

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[Mr. Mercedes]

Maybe it's because I am on my 4th bimmer and I am getting old, but I find the current centre console incredibly user friendly.

The HVAC control panel is one of the best and has rotary dials for temperature. It and the shortcut buttons will be discontinued in favour of on-scrren controls.

Disclaimer: My G01 X3 is the family donkey. We consider it to be an appliance for us.

Yes usability is top notch, but aesthetically it's dated.

 

[Centurion]

Yes usability is top notch, but aesthetically it's dated.

The exterior is very soft looking car too. Not a dream car from any angles. However, it's a highly competent allrounder. We specced adaptive suspension, acoustic glass and the smallest possible alloys. It rides so well that you could mistake it for having air suspension. It will ride even better when we switch to non-runflats.

3-4 years ago, we imagined ourselves laddering up to an X5 or Range Rover, but find the X3 to be the sweet sport in size, ease of parking, specs and running costs. When our finance offer ends, we will likely buy the car outright as there is no option that we badly wish that we specced.

For driving without the kids, both my partner and I prefer my modded M140i. On bumpy and undulating b-roads the M140i rides better, has less body roll and can carry more speed through corners. However the M140i has 18 inch non-RTFs and doesn't clonk when hitting sunken manhole covers.


Here is my X3:

 

[martinbo]

Maybe it's because I am on my 4th bimmer and I am getting old, but I find the current centre console incredibly user friendly.

I believe that models in that specific generation, (F20, F30, G03 etc) have the most ergonomically excellent interiors I've ever used. Usability is peerless.

Yes usability is top notch, but aesthetically it's dated.

But that's fine with me:
1. Interior quality
2. Ergonomics, connectivity and usability
3. ICE quality
4. Convenience and storage
5. Aesthetics

 

[klier]

I believe that models in that specific generation, (F20, F30, G03 etc) have the most ergonomically excellent interiors I've ever used. Usability is peerless.

PARTICULARLY (had to use capitals here sorry) when compared to all new cars these days. For instance the new Golf....that interior is a downright crime so bad. Go to submenu 204.5 to adjust the temperature on a non responsive touchscreen. And BE HAPPY.

As old as it may look, the X3 interior is a bazillion times better than all this new buttonless crap.

 

[Centurion]

PARTICULARLY (had to use capitals here sorry) when compared to all new cars these days. For instance the new Golf....that interior is a downright crime so bad. Go to submenu 204.5 to adjust the temperature on a non responsive touchscreen. And BE HAPPY.

As old as it may look, the X3interior is a bazillion times better than all this new buttonless crap.

Less technically inclined people tend to use features that they can see and click. On either of our cars, I've never seen my partner bother going into menus unless setting a destination.

Bimmers have a feature that enable you to change the air coming out of the top vents between warm and cold - independent of the overall temperature in the car. On F series cars it's physical wheel but on G-Series cars it's buried in menus.

 

[advantage20]

BMW had reached a goldilock zone (G11, G30...) with those gloss black control surfaces that look more like mini touch screens than separate buttons and yet are conveniently grooved so that one can find them almost without taking the eyes off the road

The actual symbols in this type of solution may be backlit instead of painted white (probably still cheaper than an actual screen) so as to only be visible when the vehicle is turned on and look like a clean black screen surface otherwise - something Porsche is doing very nicely; likewise, the rotary climate controls may be replaced by these elegant Porsche style knurled pusher buttons or by VW type slider controls

So, lots of solutions available that are user-friendly and touch-satisfying yet esthetically clean, instead of going all hard cold screens just for the sake of it.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

I believe that models in that specific generation, (F20, F30, G03 etc) have the most ergonomically excellent interiors I've ever used. Usability is peerless.

But that's fine with me:
1. Interior quality
2. Ergonomics, connectivity and usability
3. ICE quality
4. Convenience and storage
5. Aesthetics

You do have a more pragmatic assessment of vehicle qualities that are important to you. I derive a lot of 'joy' from the emotive response I get from the aesthetic qualities of a vehicle and would probably put it up at around #2. If I don't feel the looks, I just can't love the car no matter how good it is elsewhere. Like, but not love. Yeah I'm superficial.

 

[agem]

LCI

 

[Matski]

iX3 gets BOTCHED dental surgery in CHINA leak shocker!

eh... looks alright... not amazing, but not bad.

 

[klier]

Well there we have the facelift for the most part. Probably the best looking X3 yet, it already looks good in these crappy shots, and the color is disgusting (as are the black wheels).

 

[dalab]

A model of the most successful (X3), it seems to have not merited major changes, it is one of the softest of all the last LCI, the lights are blacked and divided and the grill attached, I guess the normal is the same but with the mesh grill or something like that.

That said, it is unlikely in my opinion that the interior (which is perfectly fine), has changed in anything other than the new digital instruments and the larger screen.

 

[klier]

A model of the most successful (X3), it seems to have not merited major changes, it is one of the softest of all the last LCI, the lights are blacked and divided and the grill attached, I guess the normal is the same but with the mesh grill or something like that.

The lights are entirely new. Thinner and more stretched, even closer to X5 now. Rear lights are just different graphics like the 5er LCI. And this X3 will get an updated interior, so in reality the G30 facelift was smaller.

 

[klugscheisser87]

Damn, that looks really bad.
The worst part are the kidneys, the grille better say nowadays... looks cheap

 

[dalab]

Thinner and more stretched

I think that the overall shape and size of the exterior did not change.
The interior redesign and the blacking creates the illusion to make them look more slender and elongated.