discussion IX3

[mullerza]

On point 4 , yes i have. The acceleration is amazing but its just fast, it has no charm, no character, no sweet spot when the cams come on song, no blip of the revs when gearing down for the corner, no need to open the window when i hit a tunnel..... You get the point

I get the point, but even that is disappearing. EU regulations are forcing cars to be a lot quieter. Soft limiters so you cant rev them in Neutral. Super quiet exhausts, most of the "engine" sound I hear in the M60 is fake sounds played through the speakers, even when you switch it off its not really off. Even from the outside you would not say there is an M motor under the bonnet.

 

[Mytfine]

I get the point, but even that is disappearing. EU regulations are forcing cars to be a lot quieter. Soft limiters so you cant rev them in Neutral. Super quiet exhausts, most of the "engine" sound I hear in the M60 is fake sounds played through the speakers, even when you switch it off its not really off. Even from the outside you would not say there is an M motor under the bonnet.

Its sad but i will be on deathbed before we run out of old coal chuggers thatbi can buy and enjoy.

I cant blame them though, its what majority in the market wants.

 

[m0lt3n]

On point 4 , yes i have. The acceleration is amazing but its just fast, it has no charm, no character, no sweet spot when the cams come on song, no blip of the revs when gearing down for the corner, no need to open the window when i hit a tunnel..... You get the point

Eish I dont know if I agree about the charm. There is just something about cutting through traffic in silence with instant response. I love it. You just dismiss everything silently and get ahead of whatever traffic situation there is. And you also dont abuse breaks while you are at it, my speed is determined by the length of regen breaking available. Something I would never have done with an ICE car.

I had the iX3 for 2 months when I went on a road trip with a friend in his X5M comp and I still missed my car even if that thing was epic.

 

[m0lt3n]

re the resale....the EV prices were dropping seriously last year, when we had load shedding. I was in the market for a long time, still have all my autotrader notifications setup. And since loadshedding stopped, I think they have been appreciating, or some serious stagnation on resale values.

Obviously not talking about the I pace many like to refer to, (and the IX, apologies). Unique cars never did well with resale.

 

[XPD]

If keeping only in warranty = electric
If keeping long term = 3.0d

 

[MR_Y]

If keeping only in warranty = electric
If keeping long term = 3.0d

Which explains why 30d keep their used values so damn high!

 

[mullerza]

If keeping only in warranty = electric
If keeping long term = 3.0d

To each his own, I'd happily keep our iX3 out of warranty, having seen some repair bills on a X3 3.0D I wouldn't touch one without maintenance plan.

 

[KPM3_30]

To each his own, I'd happily keep our iX3 out of warranty, having seen some repair bills on a X3 3.0D I wouldn't touch one without maintenance plan.

Pray do tell?

 

[Mytfine]

re the resale....the EV prices were dropping seriously last year, when we had load shedding. I was in the market for a long time, still have all my autotrader notifications setup. And since loadshedding stopped, I think they have been appreciating, or some serious stagnation on resale values.

Obviously not talking about the I pace many like to refer to, (and the IX, apologies). Unique cars never did well with resale.

Our car market is warped so generally doesn't follow the international trends.

Our watchdogs are a joke and manufacturers/dealers know they can take the mickey out of us with little to no consequence.

 

[m0lt3n]

random thing...
notoriously unreliable Jaguar has an EV, the Ipace...

check one out on webuycars.....take the VIN.....go to Jaguar website and search the service history.


even that car has been solid, (the iX3 is even better)
you will see a few 12V batteries, (they have been out since 2018), you will see brake fluid change, wiper change and software update.
Thats it.

 

[MR_Y]

Some context from Hagerty...

Gemini summary:

While the video predominantly focuses on the i3 and i8, it references the iX3 as part of BMW’s shift away from the radical "Project i" philosophy towards a more conventional approach.

The Role of the iX3 in BMW's History
The Shift in Strategy:
The video explains that after the high costs and practical failures of the carbon-fiber i3 and i8, BMW abandoned the "clean-sheet" design approach. The iX3 represents this new direction: building electric versions of existing, popular internal combustion engine (ICE) models rather than creating unique, standalone EV architectures [02:13].

End of "Project i": The narrator suggests that the iX3 marked the "beginning of the end" for the experimental "Project i" era. Instead of using expensive materials like carbon fiber to save weight, BMW pivoted to using standard steel and aluminum platforms that could support both gas and electric drivetrains [02:35].

Practicality over Innovation: The iX3 is framed as a more "realistic" product compared to the i3. While the i3 struggled with limited range, unconventional doors, and high prices, the iX3 offered a familiar SUV experience that was easier for traditional BMW customers to adopt [11:40].

Why the Pivot Happened
Efficiency Lessons: The video notes that the i3’s extreme weight-saving measures (like carbon fiber and ultra-thin tires) didn't actually make it more efficient than heavier, traditional EVs like the VW e-Golf [10:39].
Cost Management: By moving to models like the iX3, BMW could avoid the massive $2 billion investment required for unique platforms and instead leverage their existing production lines [02:53].

In summary, the video treats the iX3 as the "correction" to the i3's eccentricities—a sign that BMW decided to stop being a "mobility provider" and went back to being a car company [03:43].

 

[mullerza]

yes and no on the video.

Yes the old iX3 recipe worked because it was a normal car they electrified so it appealed to those wanting to get into an EV, that was a car and did not want the whole futuristic look of the i3 etc.

No because the i3 and i8 was never meant to ne massive sellers, rather the lessons learnt from the i3 and i8 has been applied to the neue klasse (spelling?) models coming out now,

We swapped a petrol X3 for the electric version and liked that we got a normal X3 that looked and felt like a normal car, just the bits that made you go was changed over. I would not have made the leap for something futuristic. Now that I have experienced electric I’m a convert and I cannot see myself buying another ICE car. When its time to sell the X5 it will be for an EV making us an EV only family. The new iX3 is getting rave reviews internationally and I cant wait to drive one when they hit our shores in 2026.

 

[m0lt3n]

We swapped a petrol X3 for the electric version and liked that we got a normal X3 that looked and felt like a normal car, just the bits that made you go was changed over. I would not have made the leap for something futuristic. Now that I have experienced electric I’m a convert and I cannot see myself buying another ICE car. When its time to sell the X5 it will be for an EV making us an EV only family. The new iX3 is getting rave reviews internationally and I cant wait to drive one when they hit our shores in 2026.

same for us.
I had to work hard to convince my wife to go EV. From the reviews it was mentioned frequently how the iX3 is a great first-to-EV car as its more conventional.
It also worked for us, with same consequence, ICE just feels old now. the challenge for us is to get a 4x4 (not AWD) EV type thing as a second car. But there is still time.

Anyhow...anyone put bigger tyres on the iX3 yet? I need more sidewall and wondering if I should go smaller rim and two profiles bigger (with a more common tyre) or stick to the 20inch rims and go one profile bigger but concerned for rubbing. I also dont like the look of the rims (growing on me though) so this is a good opportunity to change.
The iX3 rides slightly lower than normal G01 X3

 

[Quick///M]

same for us.
I had to work hard to convince my wife to go EV. From the reviews it was mentioned frequently how the iX3 is a great first-to-EV car as its more conventional.
It also worked for us, with same consequence, ICE just feels old now. the challenge for us is to get a 4x4 (not AWD) EV type thing as a second car. But there is still time.

Anyhow...anyone put bigger tyres on the iX3 yet? I need more sidewall and wondering if I should go smaller rim and two profiles bigger (with a more common tyre) or stick to the 20inch rims and go one profile bigger but concerned for rubbing. I also dont like the look of the rims (growing on me though) so this is a good opportunity to change.
The iX3 rides slightly lower than normal G01 X3

Just make sure what ever tyre you go with does not introduce road noise, I had to replace a Tyre on the ix40 and bmw was scratching their heads because they could not figure out if the tyre the had in stock was for EV vehicles or a just a regular tyre turns out it was a EV tyre and the manufacturer changed the model and rating, it has special foam within the tyre which prevents road noise from being piped back into the cabin. People will argue that regular tires will be fine but when your wife has pin sharp hearing like mine their opinions mean squat

 

[m0lt3n]

Just make sure what ever tyre you go with does not introduce road noise, I had to replace a Tyre on the ix40 and bmw was scratching their heads because they could not figure out if the tyre the had in stock was for EV vehicles or a just a regular tyre turns out it was a EV tyre and the manufacturer changed the model and rating, it has special foam within the tyre which prevents road noise from being piped back into the cabin. People will argue that regular tires will be fine but when your wife has pin sharp hearing like mine their opinions mean squat

good point. I disabled all interior and exterior sounds so tyre noise is actually now extra important. And it doesnt help either with those rears being so wide.

This is what google says is on a 20inch ix40.I dont think our RSA ix will have a square setup with 235 wide tyres, but either way, looks like one profile up. Good to know. Do you have a square setup? (IX rim designs also much nicer looking than ix3 rims)
ix40

235/60R20 108HXL

8.5Jx20 ET28

ix3

245/45ZR20 103W 275/40ZR20 106W XL

8Jx20 ET26 9.5Jx20 ET43