[hudlander]

I have an 18 X3.
Rented a Camero, it was an auto 6 mind you, loved it and saw what real speed and sports car driving is all about.

I drove an X3, but just around a few miles in a suburb, could not really get a sense.
So let me ask, the M40 vs the X3, is there a substantial difference in speed, handling, and feel in town as there is between an X3 and a sports car? Or since it still is a turbo vs a high torque engine, not really and would it not be worth the upgrade?

Sidenote, I also drove an X5 in that same area, I did notice with that how much sturdier and solid it was.

[hooligan_G01]

Yes, there is a giant difference between the 30i and M40i, especially in power. If you have the adaptive suspension option on your 30i, handling might be closer, but I don't have anything to compare it to since I've never driven a 30i with the adjustable suspension.

[Nssmith1056]

Originally Posted by hudlander

I have an 18 X3.
Rented a Camero, it was an auto 6 mind you, loved it and saw what real speed and sports car driving is all about.

I drove an X3, but just around a few miles in a suburb, could not really get a sense.
So let me ask, the M40 vs the X3, is there a substantial difference in speed, handling, and feel in town as there is between an X3 and a sports car? Or since it still is a turbo vs a high torque engine, not really and would it not be worth the upgrade?

Sidenote, I also drove an X5 in that same area, I did notice with that how much sturdier and solid it was.

Night and day difference from 30I to M40. I had a 30I for all of 6 months before I traded in on an M40 and couldn't be happier

[cwbrow2]

IMO, big difference. M40i will smoke the camaro, up to a zl1, off the line. Traction control makes all the difference (summer tires). Visibility is also a big plus, the camaro is a death machine when it comes to blind spots and overall situational awareness when driving. Oh, not to mention the X3 is so much more comfortable and the ease of entry/exit from the vehicle is awesome....for us older folks.

[bbb83]

v6 camaros are slow as hell as are the x3 30i

[hudlander]

Originally Posted by bbb83

v6 camaros are slow as hell as are the x3 30i

OK, that's going a bit too far. X3 isn't slow.
The V6 Camero was quick.

Driving the M around town on US 50, it did not feel as 'rrr rrr' after the traffic light anymore than X, whereas the Camero did.
I thought maybe you only get that with a high torque engine, I guess I need a better test drive?

FYI, my X3 has the dynamic and I use the sport always.

[bcwalks2]

The X3 M40 will hang with just about anything on the road and is a HUGE difference compared to the X3 30i.

It is night and day.

[bbb83]

Originally Posted by hudlander

OK, that's going a bit too far. X3 isn't slow.
The V6 Camero was quick.

Driving the M around town on US 50, it did not feel as 'rrr rrr' after the traffic light anymore than X, whereas the Camero did.
I thought maybe you only get that with a high torque engine, I guess I need a better test drive?

FYI, my X3 has the dynamic and I use the sport always.

If you think an x3 30i or a v6 camaro are fast you have never been in a fast car. Go drive a 700-800 whp car and come back here and tell me how fast that x3 or camaro are

[M40i4me]

Originally Posted by hudlander

OK, that's going a bit too far. X3 isn't slow.
The V6 Camero was quick.

Driving the M around town on US 50, it did not feel as 'rrr rrr' after the traffic light anymore than X, whereas the Camero did.
I thought maybe you only get that with a high torque engine, I guess I need a better test drive?

FYI, my X3 has the dynamic and I use the sport always.

V6 Camaro 5.2 0-60
X3 M40i 4.4 0-60 (BMW Stated, but Motor Trend recorded a 4.2)

[prototyp]

Also, the M40i's driving modes make a huge difference in how its performance is doled out and how it is perceived. Comfort and Adaptive (most of the time) are very chill, the power is there but you have to dig for it. Sport mode (depending on settings) can add heaps of urgency to throttle mapping, engine-mapping, and transmission which make it feel like a completely different vehicle. Switches it from a nice around-towner to an absolute hooligan. It's kind of hilarious to have such a range of personality in the same car when you consider how much changes from Eco up through Sport+...

[fvfvsix]

The M40i is every bit as fast as my OG M2. Camaro with the 6? Cake.

[Oldguysrule]

Camaro? Hell no. Any of those GM, Ford or Chrysler retro builds with the V6 don't have a chance with the M40i.

[M40i4me]

Originally Posted by prototyp

Also, the M40i's driving modes make a huge difference in how its performance is doled out and how it is perceived. Comfort and Adaptive (most of the time) are very chill, the power is there but you have to dig for it. Sport mode (depending on settings) can add heaps of urgency to throttle mapping, engine-mapping, and transmission which make it feel like a completely different vehicle. Switches it from a nice around-towner to an absolute hooligan. It's kind of hilarious to have such a range of personality in the same car when you consider how much changes from Eco up through Sport+...

Especially when it farts during shifts in sport plus!

[TJay74]

Originally Posted by cwbrow2

IMO, big difference. M40i will smoke the camaro, up to a zl1, off the line. Traction control makes all the difference (summer tires). Visibility is also a big plus, the camaro is a death machine when it comes to blind spots and overall situational awareness when driving. Oh, not to mention the X3 is so much more comfortable and the ease of entry/exit from the vehicle is awesome....for us older folks.

LOL...

As a 17 Camaro SS 1LE owner (sold it) and now a 19 Corvette Z06 owner along with a 19 Audi S4 and a 20 X3M, the M40i will not "smoke a Camaro" up until the ZL1.

The SS can cut a 3.8 0-60 and the ZL-1 is a 3.5, the M40i is a 4.2 0-60. The edge in both of those cases goes to the Camaro over the M40i. The Camaro also is not a "death machine" at all and blinds spots are blown way out of proportion due to people who dont set their mirrors up correctly.

I drove my 17 Camaro SS 1LE for over 3 years, vast majority of that time it was putting down 650rwhp. That car is one of the best handling vehicles GM makes and has the road racing track times to prove its pedigree.

To compare a true Sports car against a sport SUV is like saying a cherry is the same thing as a watermelon. Sure they both are fruits....

[Prof. Oak]

OP, sorry, but a v6 camaro is not quick or fast, you show your cards with that statement. I came to my 22 m40i after a long line of v8 mustangs, v8 camaros, vettes, etc. Those are the "real sports car driving" that you mentioned and absolutely blow the pants off any v6 or baby version of the same car. The 30i--m40i relationship is the same story, the base version has a great interior, great tech, but wasn't built for performance, was built to be an X3. The difference between the x3 and the m40i is very substantial. Id advise going to test drive one again throw it in sport or even comfort and head to a highway. Good luck.

[mbed]

Originally Posted by M40i4me

V6 Camaro 5.2 0-60
X3 M40i 4.4 0-60 (BMW Stated, but Motor Trend recorded a 4.2)

Amazing to see last gen M2/M240i 0-60 times on the new X340i.
There are hardly any on the lots so I only got to drive a '19 X340i and forgot to put it on sports+, but did try sports mode and it was still fun & made decent sound for a SAV/SUV.
Just knowing they now have the newest B58B30O1 engine is awesome.

[jdhiro]

No disrespect to the 30i, but when I test drove one it felt slooooooooow. Like, my 4-cyl turbo CR-V felt faster.

Now I have the X3 M40i, and a M3 CS. Honestly the M40i is capable enough in terms of both speed and handling that I don't feel like I'm missing a lot when I'm not in the M3 for 95% of my driving. I'll always pick the M3 for a Sunday drive in the mountains though

[hudlander]

So you basically are saying if I loved the way a V6 auto camera drove, that it felt like a real sports car vs my X3, that I can get an M and it would be pretty much like having a sports car?

If so, how come it didn't feel that way the brief time I drove it around town?

[dmanb2b]

I'm so confused by this thread

[5LEEPR_G01]

Originally Posted by dmanb2b

I'm so confused by this thread

So is the OP

[Jen4BMW]

I am confused by this thread to.This one definitely spun off in a lot of interesting directions.

Getting back to OP’s original question, there is a night and day difference in “performance” M40i vs 30i. The M40i is a wolf in sheep’s clothing for a SAV. The 30i is just a boring little sheep. Engine/exhaust noise in the M40i really adds to the experience whereas the 30i never speaks up in any drive mode.

In terms of handling, road feel and ride comfort, on the highway, there is no big difference 30i vs 40i if both cars are running similar tires. The M40i maybe feels a bit more substantial due to weight.

In town and/or on tight twisty roads again you’ll feel big differences. In sport or sport+ the M40i firms up to the point of harshness on sport+. The 30i in any mode is fairly mellow. M40i brakes are quite a bit grippier too and you do really notice this difference if you drive them back to back which is what I am doing now while my M40i is in the shop for an oil change.

[bbb83]

Originally Posted by hudlander

So you basically are saying if I loved the way a V6 auto camera drove, that it felt like a real sports car vs my X3, that I can get an M and it would be pretty much like having a sports car?

If so, how come it didn't feel that way the brief time I drove it around town?

You gotta be trolling