[TX3M]

I'm considering getting a 2021 X3 M40i now or waiting for the 2022 LCI which should be out in 2021. According to these spy shots, there are several exterior changes (none of which I like) although it's hard to tell under the camo. I can see:
1. Rear reflectors appear to be moved down onto the bumper
2. Lower section of the front fender appears to have horizontal slats rather than the honeycomb pattern on the current model.
3. X3M mirrors on the silver/grey vehicle.
4. New rim design

Has anyone heard about any other changes to the interior or engine tweeks for the LCI?

https://www.carscoops.com/2020/10/fa...est-spy-shots/

[JSY]

Later this year? Do you mean like September/October of 2021 because that's late next year. But that IS when LCI is coming out, right? I agree - not a fan of those things, but hard to know with all that camo. I quite like the rear tail lights of the current X3 since it seems unique in BMW's series, but these new tail lights look something like from a 2018 BMW sedan with the looping light, but fatter. Why would they go this route - it looks like it is going backwards. Maybe it's not showing the real design. Also, M mirrors belong on M cars - I don't think they looks great on a SUV/SAV. Personal preference, anyway.

I am going to guess that it will have full idrive7 with remote update capability.

[TX3M]

Originally Posted by JSY

Later this year? Do you mean like September/October of 2021 because that's late next year. But that IS when LCI is coming out, right? I agree - not a fan of those things, but hard to know with all that camo. I quite like the rear tail lights of the current X3 since it seems unique in BMW's series, but these new tail lights look something like from a 2018 BMW sedan with the looping light, but fatter. Why would they go this route - it looks like it is going backwards. Maybe it's not showing the real design. Also, M mirrors belong on M cars - I don't think they looks great on a SUV/SAV. Personal preference, anyway.

I am going to guess that it will have full idrive7 with remote update capability.

Sorry, I meant sometime next year (2021). Post edited.

[JBNH]

I would be surprised if they don't add the mild hybrid to the m40 in the LCI

[Yobyot]

Originally Posted by JBNH

I would be surprised if they don't add the mild hybrid to the m40 in the LCI

The photos show a non-USA LCI G01 M40i. We don't get the M badge on the front fender.

I'm sticking' with my (OG) MY19. It's aging well in the looks department and I like "cerium grey" on the mirror caps.

[satz]

It's the age old question with cars, and other tech...how long are you prepared to wait...and wait...

You could have the product in your hands now and enjoying it...or wait for an update.

Then when that time comes you might think about change of model which might only be a year or two away..

[TX3M]

Originally Posted by satz

It's the age old question with cars, and other tech...how long are you prepared to wait...and wait...

You could have the product in your hands now and enjoying it...or wait for an update.

Then when that time comes you might think about change of model which might only be a year or two away..

Well, in this case I wouldn’t be waiting very long. We should know what the full specs are for the LCI by June at the latest I imagine. I’m just wondering if anyone has heard any more news about the LCI.

I’m currently driving a 2019 X3 M40i. I’m contemplating trading it in for a 2021 or 2022 primarily because I hate all the loud pops and bangs from my 2019. I’m also going to upgrade and add the adaptive suspension, 20 inch wheels, and maybe the sport differential too.

[zilla91]

If you're trading in the same car then you may as well wait for the LCI so that it feels like you've at least made a bit of a change.

As for the changes themselves take a look at the LCI changes for the 5 and 7 series for an idea of what's coming - new front and rear light clusters, mild hybrid tech and a bigger iDrive screen

[XxDanoxX]

I think LCI based purchases are only worth it if you have a really special car. Important if say you've got an Aston Martin or a Porsche etc. But a BMW X3?

It's mass produced so whatever special feeling you have as a few people turn their heads in the very short term will be gone within a year.

As someone else said, you could be enjoying the car right now.

[satz]

Originally Posted by TX3M

Well, in this case I wouldn’t be waiting very long. We should know what the full specs are for the LCI by June at the latest I imagine. I’m just wondering if anyone has heard any more news about the LCI.

I’m currently driving a 2019 X3 M40i. I’m contemplating trading it in for a 2021 or 2022 primarily because I hate all the loud pops and bangs from my 2019. I’m also going to upgrade and add the adaptive suspension, 20 inch wheels, and maybe the sport differential too.

ahh..I misread your original post. I didn't realise you had an m40i currently. In that case, if you can hang onto it a little longer, you may as well wait for the update model

[Juris]

TX - I don't get the pops and bangs. If my 2019 X3 M40i does pop and bang I don't hear it. Seems it would save a lot of money to just modify your exhaust rather than to buy a new car.

[sinbad4]

IDK.. Headlights and Taillights might be nice. I like current headlights, current taillights a bit big. I don't see much else changed.

Hopefully:

• Upgraded Sport Seats (USA)
• Extended Leather
• Upgraded / Full iDrive 7 (or later)
• Mild Hybrid

That hopeful list is enough for me to hold off if I was currently in a decent ride. My 2020 M40i didn't arrive until October 2020.. so Plan for close to a year from now.

[satz]

and who knows...the facelift might bring with it new colours...like that horrible (to my eyes) battleship grey that the X2's facelift introduced earlier this year.

[doomie_sf]

Originally Posted by sinbad4

IDK.. Headlights and Taillights might be nice. I like current headlights, current taillights a bit big. I don't see much else changed.

Hopefully:

• Upgraded Sport Seats (USA)
• Extended Leather
• Upgraded / Full iDrive 7 (or later)
• Mild Hybrid

That hopeful list is enough for me to hold off if I was currently in a decent ride. My 2020 M40i didn't arrive until October 2020.. so Plan for close to a year from now.

Just curious, what's not "full" about the current iDrive 7 in the X3 2021?

[TX3M]

Originally Posted by Juris

TX - I don't get the pops and bangs. If my 2019 X3 M40i does pop and bang I don't hear it. Seems it would save a lot of money to just modify your exhaust rather than to buy a new car.

Thanks but it's not the exhaust. The ECU for all US 2018 and 2019 X3 and X4 M40i's is purposely programmed to burble constantly every time you get off the gas in Sport and Sport plus. Much worse than that, it makes very loud pops (that sound like backfires) in Sport and especially Sport Plus when you are in the high RPM's and then suddenly let all the way off the gas. If your car doesn't do that you're lucky.

Fast forward to the 35 second mark in this video:

https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1543717

[TX3M]

Originally Posted by sinbad4

IDK.. Headlights and Taillights might be nice. I like current headlights, current taillights a bit big. I don't see much else changed.

Hopefully:

• Upgraded Sport Seats (USA)
• Extended Leather
• Upgraded / Full iDrive 7 (or later)
• Mild Hybrid

That hopeful list is enough for me to hold off if I was currently in a decent ride. My 2020 M40i didn't arrive until October 2020.. so Plan for close to a year from now.

I'll add to that list. In addition to more exterior colors, PLEASE give the US the option for the red interior!

[r1owner]

Originally Posted by doomie_sf

Just curious, what's not "full" about the current iDrive 7 in the X3 2021?

It doesn't have all the capabilities such as OTA updates and you cannot remote start it like you can the current X5 with "full" iDrive 7. For the remote start alone my wife held up on getting a 2020/21 X3.

[JSY]

Originally Posted by TX3M

Thanks but it's not the exhaust. The ECU for all US 2018 and 2019 X3 and X4 M40i's is purposely programmed to burble constantly every time you get off the gas in Sport and Sport plus. Much worse than that, it makes very loud pops (that sound like backfires) in Sport and especially Sport Plus when you are in the high RPM's and then suddenly let all the way off the gas. If your car doesn't do that you're lucky.

Fast forward to the 35 second mark in this video:

https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1543717

Lucky? To be honest, I miss this on my 2018. It was one of the selling features of it in the reviews before G01 officially came out and I thought it was great. I am very surprised that some folks were surprised back then that it made these sounds after they bought the M40is back then when it was one of the most notable features of the model. Now, it's just so muted and at first I didn't think I would miss it, but I do.

You know, you can set your Sport Individual with Engine set to COMFORT and everything else to SPORT/PLUS to minimize the sounds and still have most of the controls.

[BulkBen]

Originally Posted by TX3M

Thanks but it's not the exhaust. The ECU for all US 2018 and 2019 X3 and X4 M40i's is purposely programmed to burble constantly every time you get off the gas in Sport and Sport plus. Much worse than that, it makes very loud pops (that sound like backfires) in Sport and especially Sport Plus when you are in the high RPM's and then suddenly let all the way off the gas. If your car doesn't do that you're lucky.

Fast forward to the 35 second mark in this video:

https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1543717

You may not be a "tuner" kind of guy like some of us, but if you installed BM3 or MHD you can download a stage 1 tune and turn all of those noises off in the menu list.
Hell, if you really didn't want a tuned car I am pretty sure you can turn all that stuff off using the stock map.

If you are concerned about warranty it would be hard for a dealer to reject a claim if the car had never actually been tuned, ie boost, timing and fueling were still set to stock.

[TX3M]

Originally Posted by JSY

Lucky? To be honest, I miss this on my 2018. It was one of the selling features of it in the reviews before G01 officially came out and I thought it was great. I am very surprised that some folks were surprised back then that it made these sounds after they bought the M40is back then when it was one of the most notable features of the model. Now, it's just so muted and at first I didn't think I would miss it, but I do.

You know, you can set your Sport Individual with Engine set to COMFORT and everything else to SPORT/PLUS to minimize the sounds and still have most of the controls.

Thanks JSY, I knew about the pops and bangs before I bought my M40i. However, it took a few months of actual ownership to realize that I only enjoy driving in Sport/Plus and I really dislike all the noise. I'm surprised your 2019 doesn't do it? Mine was an October 2018 build, if yours was a late 2019 build then perhaps that's why?

I'm aware I can use Sport Individual to put the engine in comfort and leave everything else in Sport/Plus, and I use that as my "Comfort" mode whenever I need a break from all the burbles and pops. Unfortunately, when the engines is in comfort it doesn't pull nearly as hard and the throttle response is not as sharp so it takes away all the fun.

I'm hoping when I sell mine I'll find a fellow enthusiast who is looking to buy one of the last "loud" M40i's and will be excited to find one in such great condition.

[TX3M]

Originally Posted by BulkBen

You may not be a "tuner" kind of guy like some of us, but if you installed BM3 or MHD you can download a stage 1 tune and turn all of those noises off in the menu list.
Hell, if you really didn't want a tuned car I am pretty sure you can turn all that stuff off using the stock map.

If you are concerned about warranty it would be hard for a dealer to reject a claim if the car had never actually been tuned, ie boost, timing and fueling were still set to stock.

Hi BulkBen, I have strongly considered tuning and I would love to do that but I'm afraid of voiding the warranty. In my first year of ownership, one of my turbos and the wastegate actuator failed and they both had to be replaced. That could easily have been blamed by BMW on a tune (if I had one) and the warranty claim denied, so it reminded me of the chances you take when you do a tune.

As far as I know, the only way to turn off the pops, bangs and burbles is to do a tune. Mission Performance had their tune available very early on for the M40i and it does exactly what I was looking for (not to mention the great performance boost). I would have used them if I was going to do a tune.

When you say, "turn all that stuff off using the stock map" what exactly are you referring to? Doesn't that involve going into the ECU (which we now know BMW can easily detect and consider "altering" the ECU)?

[JSY]

Originally Posted by TX3M

Thanks JSY, I knew about the pops and bangs before I bought my M40i. However, it took a few months of actual ownership to realize that I only enjoy driving in Sport/Plus and I really dislike all the noise. I'm surprised your 2019 doesn't do it? Mine was an October 2018 build, if yours was a late 2019 build then perhaps that's why?

I'm aware I can use Sport Individual to put the engine in comfort and leave everything else in Sport/Plus, and I use that as my "Comfort" mode whenever I need a break from all the burbles and pops. Unfortunately, when the engines is in comfort it doesn't pull nearly as hard and the throttle response is not as sharp so it takes away all the fun.

I'm hoping when I sell mine I'll find a fellow enthusiast who is looking to buy one of the last "loud" M40i's and will be excited to find one in such great condition.

Actually my current is a 2021 and to say it is muted compared to my 2018 is a huge understatement. My 2018 was produced in Nov 2017 so it was the stage of when it was the loudest and most obnoxious. Now, I get light pops and that's it. Now, I haven't tried to tax it since I'm still in break-in period, but as you know with the 2018-2019, all you need to do was slow down so it would downshift at high rpm and POP POP POP BANG BANG. Haha not so much now.

But truth be told - there have been plenty of times with my 2018 where I wanted to be less of an disruptive ass so I used the Individual mode and it's not quite the same, but it makes it quiet. I did try putting the Engine in Sport PLus and the Transmission in Comfort and while it didn't eliminate the pops and bangs completely, it seemed to lessen it dramatically while retaining much of the feel of sport plus.

I'm very happy with my 2021, though, so no regrets. Traded in the sounds for more HP and torque so at the end of the day, it's all good. I now see the 2018/2019 X3 M40is as a legend. LOL - and my 2018 has the badges on the top part of the hatch before they moved it below a few months later.

I do think you will find those enthusiasts out there easily.