discussion 2026 BMW iX3 (NA5) Neue Klasse Debut

[tamgoem]

Ahhhh BMW owners. Always forgetting their past.

I can see exactly where this thing gets it's inspiration from, hell it is even in the Name.

nyway to the model at hand. Lets go with my rule of thumb.

1. It's German
2. It's Electric

It is going to be a null starter for me as i only buy used appliances and Germans and part pricing and their general lack of shall we say cost effective repairs mean nope nope nope.

 

[Quick///M]

I get the need for BMW to keep pushing boundaries - particularly for the new customers, in light of the Chinese brands that are taking away market share from the traditional European brands. As an example, look at how Merc is falling and failing... As an "enthusiast' the iX3 has zero appeal to me. BUT if it pays the bills to keep BMW going and for them to build proper bespoke ///M cars (M2, M3, M4, etc), then by all means, let then continue to build this crap to keep funding the cars that I really like.

I recently spend some time poking around in a new X3 - whilst the tech and cool ambient lighting, etc, might appeal to new buyers (and hopefully sell well), I was shocked at the amount of cheap plastics in the interior. Honestly, if you blindfolded someone and asked them to just feel the door handle on a new Corolla versus new X3, the Corolla would feel more premium. But I guess the cool features are party tricks that will appeal to new buyers - and that's perfectly fine as long as it keeps BMW afloat as a brand that survives and keeps the niche enthusiast segment happy as well.

One of the main reasons I skipped the X3 and went straight for the iX40 was the interior. The new X3 just didn’t feel like much of a step up from the previous generation, and for me that mattered more than the flashy tech features aimed at catching attention. Interestingly, after getting the iX40 I’ve noticed a wave of new X3s on the road. Credit where it’s due, BMW knows how to package finance deals in a way that keeps customers coming back.

On a slightly different note, I recently visited a Mercedes dealership with my father inlaw to look at their EV lineup. I was surprised to see that their demo and used EVs came with virtually no perks. With BMW, certain deals include the first year of insurance (underwritten by Santam and arranged through a broker, paid upfront by BMW), a R10 000 charging card, and a wall box charger (7/11/22 kW depending on the configuration and vehicle capability). On top of that, I often charge my EV at Midrand where I also get complimentary car washes when I’m in the area.

I’m pretty sure BMW is going through a phase with its design language, but I can’t deny their offerings are still compelling, especially with the way they keep customers tied into the finance loop 😂.



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