[wj100]

...... Every time I get in my wife's X3 M40i after having exclusively driven my G87 for a few days, the X3 feels lighter, more responsive and less numb. Anyone have similar feelings?

Let the flaming begin.

PS, the G87 is not my first M car in case that was going to be one of the questions.

[JABCAT]

My wife has an X3MC, I disagree with your perception

[abrandonment]

Now I want to drive an X3

[jhstjh]

B58 engine's peak torque does come earlier than S58, so B58 feels more "punchy" at lower rev/city drive. S58's power delivery also feels more linear.

[BroDoze]

X3Ms are nice rigs. Driven a few recently. They were also $90k+..

[eluded]

For some reason I thought this was a review of wives vs husbands.

Originally Posted by wj100

...feels lighter, more responsive and less numb. Anyone have similar feelings? ....

[aerobod]

Having driven the X3MC and G87 M2 on track on the same day, the X3MC feels responsive for an SUV, but over confidence can be a problem as the brakes and cornering ability are somewhat less than that of the M2. The extra body roll from the higher CoG makes it feel like it is going faster, but it isn't.

[M2Sky]

Skinnier tires? B58 boosts a bit earlier? I’m clutching at straws here 😅

[kyrix1st]

Originally Posted by wj100

...... Every time I get in my wife's X3 M40i after having exclusively driven my G87 for a few days, the X3 feels lighter, more responsive and less numb. Anyone have similar feelings?

Let the flaming begin.

PS, the G87 is not my first M car in case that was going to be one of the questions.

Initial damping force will be higher for a 2-ton SUV i.e. less initial body roll for the X3, because unlike the lower CoG cars like the M2, SUV's body roll could be detrimental. This may make one feel X3 is more responsive, especially coupled with the higher initial torque of B58 engine. Side note: A bit of body roll actually helps with traction, that's why some of the sports cars have soft initial damping force that hardens with more compression.

However, the difference in weight soon catches up when making high speed transitions, sweeping left and right, since there's only so much that harsher springs and dampers can handle. Physics doesn't lie.

Maybe the M2 is feeling numb because traction control kicks in? Turn it off, drive without it and report back.

[Kevin_The_Clean1]

Interesting topic here. My X3 MC feels pretty dynamic & agile. But I doubt once it gets pushed harder the G87 M2 would feel heavier.

[aerobod]

Originally Posted by maxwell smart

My wife has a 2020 X3M and every time I drive it, I come back blabbing about that vehicle. Her S58 makes my M2 feel like I'm riding a minibike.

A perception of better performance, perhaps. In reality once off the line where AWD helps traction, even the X3MC only matches the manual M2 in acceleration from 100 to 200km/h, as I have confirmed on track. Both have similar power to weight ratios and the M2 has lower drag, the 8AT benefits acceleration at lower speeds, but not at higher speeds.

When it comes to cornering and braking the X3M falls short of the M2, but is very good for an SUV.

[iifymbro]

think you guys are missing where he said x3 m40i, not x3m

dude is crazy for sure lol, or trolling

[aerobod]

Originally Posted by iifymbro

think you guys are missing where he said x3 m40i, not x3m

dude is crazy for sure lol, or trolling

Our Macan S is very close to the X3 M40i in performance and feel (both were contenders for our shopping vehicle), drives like a minivan compared with the M2, but the M2 drives like a minivan compared with the Caterham. Comparisons are always relative and one gets used to how one vehicle drives until jolted back to reality in driving something that is more driver focused.

[wj100]

Originally Posted by iifymbro

think you guys are missing where he said x3 m40i, not x3m

dude is crazy for sure lol, or trolling

OP here again and this post is right, I'm comparing my G87 to an X3 M40i not an X3M.

And you can definitely call me crazy if you please, but I stick by my original statement. And yes I know much of it may have to do with the torque curve of the S58 vs the B58. I think that likely leads to the feeling of weight/sluggishness I associate with the G87.

To some extent I think the G87 feels like taking practice swings with a baseball bat with a donut weight on it. I know many disagree, but after owning a lot of M cars (and other performance cars), I just don't feel as connected to the G87 as previous vehicles.

Just my opinion of course.

[iifymbro]

Originally Posted by wj100

OP here again and this post is right, I'm comparing my G87 to an X3 M40i not an X3M.

And you can definitely call me crazy if you please, but I stick by my original statement. And yes I know much of it may have to do with the torque curve of the S58 vs the B58. I think that likely leads to the feeling of weight/sluggishness I associate with the G87.

To some extent I think the G87 feels like taking practice swings with a baseball bat with a donut weight on it. I know many disagree, but after owning a lot of M cars (and other performance cars), I just don't feel as connected to the G87 as previous vehicles.

Just my opinion of course.

I've got a lot of seat time in X3 m40i, only things I can think of that would make it feel like you describe is the steering differences (the relative lack of return to center pressure on the G87) and I don't think they have as much of that bank vault feel/sound insulation as the G87. The G20 has it too, the new gen of X3 probably will follow suit.

The S58 is definitely a bit tame under 3k rpm, I'm still in break-in but as soon as I go into the 3k-4.5k range it wakes up a lot. Big difference in general between comfort mode and turning everything up a notch or two.

Responsiveness is 100% in g87's favor though, it darts around way more then the x3. And when you start throwing them into corners the G87 is a whole other ballgame obviously.

[JMcLellan]

Originally Posted by wj100

OP here again and this post is right, I'm comparing my G87 to an X3 M40i not an X3M.

And you can definitely call me crazy if you please, but I stick by my original statement. And yes I know much of it may have to do with the torque curve of the S58 vs the B58. I think that likely leads to the feeling of weight/sluggishness I associate with the G87.

To some extent I think the G87 feels like taking practice swings with a baseball bat with a donut weight on it. I know many disagree, but after owning a lot of M cars (and other performance cars), I just don't feel as connected to the G87 as previous vehicles.

Just my opinion of course.

My G87 is my 2nd BMW I have owned. Previous car was a 2019 M240i rear wheel drive automatic with the B58 motor. The low end torque on my previous car was insane. When I test drove the G87 it did feel "sluggish" as I was so used to the low end torque blast from the B58. However.......my 240i both stock and when it was tuned had soooo much unusable power and the rear would break loose way too often (even after fitting the car with wider/stickier tires and a M Perf LSD). A basic stage 2 tune and I had about 430 horsepower but 500 foot lbs of torque; the car was super imbalanced and so frustrating at times to drive.

Now, it feels like the G87 doesn't have that low end grunt but isn't that by design so the car is actually driveable and civilized? Once I started to experience the high end revs of the S58 then I started to realize how much better this motor is overall and the "lack" of the low end was forgiven.

I have never driven another M car so I can't compare but I feel like the M2 is tuned down a little bit but for good reason to ensure it's really driveable. My two cents based on the shit-show that was my M240i.

[Ravenseal]

Lol. That's because the limits of an M2 are on a track, and the limits of an X3 are at the grocery store.

[SMED]

I currently own both vehicles. There is no comparison at all. Yes, the X3 M40i is a very capable, fast SUV and punches above its weight class, but it's in no M2!

[Tag]

Originally Posted by wj100

OP here again and this post is right, I'm comparing my G87 to an X3 M40i not an X3M.

And you can definitely call me crazy if you please, but I stick by my original statement. And yes I know much of it may have to do with the torque curve of the S58 vs the B58. I think that likely leads to the feeling of weight/sluggishness I associate with the G87.

To some extent I think the G87 feels like taking practice swings with a baseball bat with a donut weight on it. I know many disagree, but after owning a lot of M cars (and other performance cars), I just don't feel as connected to the G87 as previous vehicles.

Just my opinion of course.

Aside from the X3 M40i being more eager off the line it's also an AT. Are you comparing that to a MT or AT M2?

[two_three_two]

happy to do so. you're crazy.

[Squidget]

Originally Posted by JMcLellan

Now, it feels like the G87 doesn't have that low end grunt but isn't that by design so the car is actually driveable and civilized? Once I started to experience the high end revs of the S58 then I started to realize how much better this motor is overall and the "lack" of the low end was forgiven.

It's not a "goal" to be civilized. It's the physics of motors, you can *in general* tune power for the low end of the RPM range, or the high end, but not both.

This is why the B58 is more punchy than the S58 at low end, but gets completely toasted by the S58 over 5000 RPM. The S58 pulls strong almost all the way to 7000.

To over-simplify a bit, if you are tracking a car you want power at the high end. So the S engines tend to be tuned high since they are intended for track use.

[sikotic]

Comments are funny lol. OP said X3M40i, yet everyone is comparing it to their X3M experiences.
OP has a solid point. The B58 engines are known for their lower end torque, while the M2 sees majority of its glory in 3rd gear or higher, and becomes a monster.