The M40i, indeed! The name of the vehicle contains the letter M, but it is not a true M-car; rather, it is a M Performance vehicle, the most potent and sportiest model in the lineup.
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familiar sights and feelings
We were surprised by how similar the crossover felt to those sporty, low-slung cars after spending time in the 2022 BMW X3 M40i, 2022 M440i Gran Coupe, and new G42-generation M240i. An elevated eyeline seemed to be the only difference. The X3’s controls work together seamlessly, just like in the best BMWs, adding intuition to enthusiastic driving. This X3 exhibits stability and balance on a narrow canyon road that are amazing for any car, much less an SUV. However, on city streets, the appeal of the athletic aspect wanes.
One major offender is the M Sport suspension that is required on the M40i. It is an adaptable system that modifies its rates to accommodate various stiff drive modes. The cabin is constantly exposed to surface textures, and greater defects hit suddenly. This SUV maintains its supreme composure despite the firm tune’s excellent body control, but the rough ride quality undermines any attempt at elegance.
This is a common complaint we get from owners of other BMWs with M Sport suspensions. Although replacing the factory wheels and tires on our long-termer with a different, smaller set enhanced comfort and performance, we soon learned to endure how that car handled pavement.
The austere inside of our long-termer, as well as the majority of modern BMWs, is another resemblance. The materials are of good quality, but the design itself is spared flourishes in favor of trim panels and ambient lighting. That also distinguishes the 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, an improvement over the 10.3-inch model from the previous year. It uses the more modern, logical, and functional iDrive 7 user interface from BMW. The interior of the 2022 BMW X3, however, lacks style and comes out as more practical than luxurious when compared to other models in its class.
Why the “45” in “745” does not denote a 4.5-liter engine is explained here.
BMW’s portfolio has exploded in recent years due to the development of crossovers, and it will continue to expand with the impending inclusion of a flagship SUV at the top of the X series. The electric lineup is expanding concurrently with the emergence of more and more i-badged vehicles, including the i4, iX, and upcoming EV versions of the X1, 5 Series, and 7 Series.
The conventional models include the 3 Series Sedan, which gave birth to the 4 Series Gran Coupe, which isn’t a coupe, and the 6 Series, which now only has the peculiar Gran Turismo variant. The 8 Series has made a comeback and is available as a coupe, convertible, and four-door “coupe.” BMW even has a special division called Strategic Naming and Vehicle Identification because of the company’s booming lineup.
These individuals are continuously brainstorming new names that make sense in terms of the model’s location within the range, the type of traction (FWD, RWD, AWD), the brand and model of the engine, and the amount of power it produces. Sounds basic? Okay, so it’s not.
Transmission, engine, and 0-60 time
The X3 M40i does not receive a genuine M engine because it is not a member of the M division. The M40i is instead equipped with the B58, BMW’s most recent 3-liter straight-six engine. The identical engine, with a single twin-scroll turbo and variable cam timing, is installed in the other current ’40i BMWs. It generates 355 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, 20 horsepower more than the same engine does in the M240i but exactly the same torque.
The M40i sports an eight-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive, just like the full European X3 line. Launch control is one benefit that comes with having the crucial letter M in its moniker, though. This aids the M40i’s 4.8-second acceleration from 0 to 62 mph. The maximum speed is 155 mph.
Old Style, New Taste
Modern LCI modifications from BMW are often quite understated. No exception applies to the BMW X3 M40i LCI. Yes, its kidney grille is sportier and sharper, its headlights are thinner and sexier, and its taillights have a fantastic three-dimensional appearance (they actually look like the energy swords from Halo, which is awesome). However, the majority of its modifications are minor. That’s okay, though, because the X3 is an attractive SUV overall.
Even with its modifications, the X3 M40i still doesn’t have the most attractive SUV in its class. In fact, it’s probably at the bottom of the list because more fashionable SUVs like the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, Volvo XC60, and Alfa Romeo Stelvio are all available. The X3 M40i, on the other hand, has a lovely simplicity that endears it. It’s a vehicle that will get better looking with time and that its owners will come to value more and more as time passes. During my week with it, I undeniably learned to value its design more.
There are a few tiny updates within, but overall, things remain the same. The inside of the X3 M40i is familiar to anyone who has been inside a contemporary BMW. Its iDrive system, climate controls, instrument panel, shifter, and iDrive controller are all practically identical to those found in every other current-model Bimmer. Although the majority of its updates—including the new shift lever that replaces the previous one with a phallic design, the new iDrive system, and the prettier appearing iDrive controller—are appreciated, not all of them are upgrades.
For instance, although they seem prettier, the new climate control buttons aren’t as simple to operate as the previous knobs. The Live Cockpit Professional digital gauges on the new instrument panel are OK, but they look inferior to the semi-analog instruments on the pre-LCI car. The upgraded fully-digital gauges appear to have been updated mainly for cosmetic purposes, but they now really look worse. They hardly even provide any more customisation. which is a little irritating.
However, aside from that, the interior is almost unchanged from before, which is okay. The seats are amazing, the quality is good, and the outside visibility is outstanding. Long distance driving in the X3 M40i is enjoyable.
Daily Sweet Spot
Almost every time I suggested folks buy a BMW, they would reply to me and say they had fallen in love with it and made the purchase. The X3 is not just the market leader in its segment, but the M40i version strikes the ideal balance between extreme vehicles like the X3 M or Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio and more mainstream vehicles like the Acura RDX. The X3 simply delivers more of everything while still being a BMW, which means it’s solidly constructed, feels and appears to be a high-end product, and—most importantly—continues to drive like a sports car. One of the last SUVs still available uses a longitudinal straight-six configuration, which means the power first goes to the rear wheels before being distributed to all four. In other words, it’s a sports automobile dressed in a suit appropriate for a family. The mid-cycle facelift debuts with the 2022 model year. The redesigned headlights, grille, taillights (which now strangely resemble lobster claws), flashier colors, new wheels, and modest interior changes are all referred to by BMW as LCI, or Life Cycle Impulse. Yes, the LCI does help the X3 resemble BMW’s newest models a little bit more. However, it continues to be incredibly weird-looking. The most potent model before upgrading to the full-fat X3 M is still the 2022 BMW X3 M40i. It belongs to BMW’s M Sport range of cars, which includes some vehicles that aren’t quite M cars but provide enough M infusion to get the fabled letter. These variants feature upgraded brakes and suspension elements and are often more powerful than their standard equivalents. In this configuration, a mild 48-volt hybrid system has been grafted onto the same turbocharged 3.0-liter straight six that provided power in the previous configuration. The combined output of 382 horsepower and 369 lb-ft remains constant. The electric motor increases productivity overall and fills in during shifts. An eight-speed automatic gearbox from ZF is in charge of those shifts. BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system is a standard feature on every X3. With these features, the M40i will accelerate quickly from zero to 100 km/h (in 4.4 seconds), outpacing all other vehicles in its class. In true BMW form, the price isn’t low. The dreadful item costs $66,900 to access. That is, of course, before adding on all the extra packages, which will set you back a bundle. A special note should be made of my tester’s $7,900 Advanced Luxury package, which is roughly equivalent to a pre-owned MINI Cooper. The Brooklyn Metallic Grey X3 you see here had a final sticker price of $84,335.
How quick is the BMW M40i?
According to the tire specification selected, the X3 M40i’s 382-horsepower, 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine can accelerate the vehicle from zero to sixty miles per hour in under 4.4 seconds.
What does M in BMW German mean?
The word “Motorsport” refers to the BMW M Series, which was initially developed to support BMW’s racing program. Over time, the BMW M program started to add customized vehicle models to its roster, which are now accessible to the general public.
A BMW X3 M40i’s top speed?
The period of production for this BMW X3 M40i is 2017–2021. It belongs to the G01 generation X3 system. When the 2021 BMW X3 M40i was released, it took the place of the 2010 BMW X3 xDrive35i. It is a midsize 5-door SUV with all-wheel drive and five seats. The BMW B58B30 3 Liter 24v Inline 6 gasoline engine, which has 355 horsepower, propels the X3 M40i to 62 mph in 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph. It has a curb weight of 4156 pounds, gets an average fuel economy of 28.6 mpg, and has a range of 491 miles between fill-ups of its 17.2 gallon fuel tank. It has an automatic transmission with eight speeds. Maximum cargo capacity is 1256 lbs, and there is 19.4 cubic feet of luggage room that can be increased to 56.5 cubic feet for heavier loads. Visit BMW USA for more information about the BMW X3’s attributes. Last revised on July 14, 2021.
What factory makes BMW X3 M40i?
While the Spartanburg factory in South Carolina is thought of as the origin of the X models, SUVs are also produced in other locations. The X1 and X2 aren’t even assembled there, while the X1 and X5 from China with their extended wheelbase are also not assembled there.
The size of BMW’s production network, which includes the Araquari factory, will amaze you. Since it began operating in 2014, it has created more than 70,000 automobiles. Along with the 3 Series, it is now building the X1, X3, and X4 crossovers. The X3 M40i and X4 M40i, the most powerful BMWs in Brazil, have just begun manufacturing.
The BMW Araquari Plant is now producing what it describes as the most advanced vehicles produced in Brazil using electricity from renewable sources. The inline-six engine’s potent pair generates 500 Newton meters (369 pound-feet) of torque and 387 horsepower. The 3.0-liter punch’s turbocharger enables a dash to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.5 seconds. The two M40i variants may reach a top speed of electronically controlled 155 mph (250 km/h). The X3 and X4 M Performance models produced in Brazil have xDrive and an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The two crossovers are true world travelers, having been constructed in numerous countries. BMW also produces them in Rayong (Thailand), Chennai (India), Kaliningrad (Russia), and Kulim in addition to Spartanburg and Araquari (Malaysia). Additionally, the X3 is also assembled in Cairo, Rosslyn, and Jakarta, Indonesia (Egypt).
The iX1 from the Leipzig factory in Germany, where the similar MINI Countryman EV will also be made, will add to BMW’s SUV lineup at the end of the year. Additionally, the Spartanburg assembly plant will start producing the XM plug-in hybrid dedicated M model by late 2022. The expanded X5 Li, which shares the same wheelbase as the larger X7, was just introduced in China.