2022 BMW X3 M40i (inc. 0-100) review: Is this the best sporty luxury SUV?

We all love the X3 M - well, except your back. What if you really want a sporty SUV, but don't want to regret it every single time you hit a pot hole? Paul Maric thinks the 2022 BMW X3 M40i could be the solution to that problem.
Hardness tester results: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
More BMW content: www.carexpert.com.au/bmw
More BMW X3 content: www.carexpert.com.au/bmw/x3
Skip Ahead:
Intro: 00:00
Exterior: 00:56
Interior: 03:44
Infotainment: 04:56
Safety Tech: 07:11
Practicality: 08:24
On the road: 12:16
0-100km/h: 17:58
Verdict: 19:30
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#BMW #x3 #review

[@ObsessiveCarDetailer]

I picked my M40i up back in March 2018 and it puts a smile on my face every time I get in it. Just awsome👍

[@takjai20]

Owner of a 2019 X3 M40i in black. I’ve had cars like the Golf R, A45, M3 comp and X3 is by far the most enjoyable car IMO, best of both world. I am always driving with Sport Individual with everything set in sport plus except for steering and damping where they are in comfort. Engine is great just keeps on pulling and has the gearbox to match it. Just an all-rounder. I don’t find the suspension too harsh given the cars I’ve owned in the past. The start up always put a small on my face regardless of cold or warm start. 2.5 yrs of ownership with no complaints.

[@borghorsa1902]

As the owner of X3, would you recommend X5? Is it that more luxurious and more refined than X3 or no?

[@garageblitztv3215]

And the fuel economy from that B58 engine is nothing short of engineering brilliance … well done to the engineers!

[@mharro88]

Doesn't touch the m3 what are you on

[@mohammadmiran8484]

How can you compare it M3?

[@swarajpalsingh9513]

Excellent review. I was just waiting for this review to be done since I booked my vehicle back in October 2021. until it gets delivered this may 2022. I love your videos, you are doing an amazing work and your knowledge and experience shown in many videos are just amazing and helping us taking right decisions.

[@jasonparsons]

Really really like the overall design of the X3. I've been seeing a lot of them in that matte grey colour and it really suits the car. For some reason I really love the look of the tail lights and the way they stick out from the rest of the body.

[@simoncouch1523]

Another absolutely wicked review thank you!

[@CarExpertAus]

Thank you!

[@vivekgopinathan6960]

Great review paul. X3 lineage is terrific & so is the g01 platform

[@AndreiAnastasescu]

Awesome review!

[@swarajpalsingh9513]

I got mine with little more options, in Carbon black color , its just amazing vehicle and i am loving every bit of my ultimate driving machine.

[@LP640Fan]

@CarExpert would you consider using an app that measures db for the road noise portion? That way we get more of an idea how good/bad a vehicle is in this regard. Thanks

[@oph1066]

What a fantastic video review. I watch tonnes and tonnes of car reviews, videos from the UK, AU, and USA and I can honestly say this is the best most informative review I think I've seen. I feel it really gave me a true sense of the car (I have been considering one of these over my BMW x3 f25 msport 3.0d in august but even that car can be a little hard and not easy for long journeys feeling refreshed) so I think is m40i is not for me. I'll be looking through your back catalog to see if you've reviewed the m50d or LR Sport HSE

[@danielc7928]

Have been thinking to get an x3 for some time, this has convinced me that I should 😊

[@wturn5354]

Own a 2018, I have owned all 3 generations of the X3. Absolutely love this car!

[@I_am_Monty]

The 40i sound great and has a fantastic engine. The random dent on the bottom sides of the car are welcome lights.

[@jeremyhill3837]

Done 200k Kms in our X3 20D. Awesome family car with our 3 young kids. Very practical car, the only blemish is the run flat tyres. Oh, and the fact it isn’t an M40i 😂

[@tyukikiquinchi7367]

what is the srp when you bought yours?

[@adenkambo7470]

i own the exact same car at the same spec, cant complain about the car, its absolutley amazing. the brooklyen grey is an amazing colour

[@lukemccauley6160]

Another fantastic review, that Section that you noted on the side skirts if it’s the same on my 2021 330i M Sports, it’s the lights that light up side car on the ground at night.

[@davidt3196]

Thanks for another great review Paul. You said it has a similar engine to the Supra you had, doe's that mean you already sold it?

[@PicardZ4]

Is great all-rounder. Quick, practical, all-paw traction, with the heart of a sports car (Supra). Not thirsty and not over-pricey, given what’s on offer. Awesome sound as well. Best in class imho.

[@JammingwithKaRoger]

Hello, nice as always, love it. 02:41 by the way is the BMW M lines projector light location, just discovered it and wondering where was this projection coming out

[@mickjojic1141]

Had some fun by the look of it 👌

[@CarExpertAus]

Definitely!

[@randallswain8682]

Good review! Also the random space in the side skirt is for a light that shines along the side of the car. My X5 has the same gap but has the light.

[@alvin5610]

Non spoiled BMW 😂💯 especially loved those wheels.....

[@TN_AU]

I got a 2020 X3 xDrive30i as a new family car back in late 2020. Im not a fan of BMW, but the wife does, have to admit a nice family SUV. I would imagine the M40i will be a nice performance upgrade to the xdrive30i.

[@CarExpertAus]

It’s a nice thing!

[@Rolls87]

Does the cargo blind have storage in the boot floor like some other cars?

[@sambird3811]

Not sure if anyone below mentioned it but the random thing just behind the wheel arch is the light for the BMW carpet. Cool little feature.

[@CarExpertAus]

Thank you, mate!

[@brianh0000]

Great review Paul. I picked up my X3 M40i about 8 weeks ago, after having an X5 50i the last few years. I love the straight 6 but I do miss the character of the V8. Damping around town is better than I expected .. similar to the X5 despite this car being on 21s (20 on X5). Only blemish so fas has been the tyres.. have had two flat tyres in 8 weeks, one maybe from a pot hole, one puncture. Tyres are mega expensive compared to the (wider) X5 rubber and hard to get. Flat tyre in Jindabyne resulted in a flat bed truck trip to Canberra and 2 day wait to get a tyre. Looking at aftermarket 19s as 21s are clearly not suitable for anything outside metro areas. Best feature so far, autonomous driving. Will do full hands free driving under about 30kms per hour, which is awesome in Sydney peak hour traffic.

[@aussie8114]

My CX5 has a spare wheel, even fits a full size spare wheel.

[@md8744]

Your review is always over Carwow guy. Love it ❤, you should let viewers taste little music system of each lux car!!! That would be best

[@mattpowe]

My wife asked if you please do a review of X4 M40i? This X3 review and your review of the Toyota LC76 series are very good - thanks for posting!

[@shayaansarker2230]

the little hole on the side of the car on both sides projects bmw's welcoming carpet at night. Theres also lights inside the door handles that light up at night

[@cobbahall7463]

Awesome effort by BMW, that’s a drivetrain is so good, love it in the M340i

[@markallsopp2227]

The "random" thing on the side skirt is the Welcome mat lighting

[@CarExpertAus]

Of course!! Thanks for that.

[@salmilici2699]

Ripper review as always. You’re everywhere though ! Been travelling a fair bit for work the last few weeks so spent a lot of time in the back of Ubers. First thing I find myself doing is “pulling a Paul” and checking the toe room !!

[@aimanfitri0iv]

it looks very good especially in many colours including individuals colours

[@CarExpertAus]

Agreed! You can make it look damn cool.

[@Airwolfr]

Hey Paul, that notch behind the front wheel is for the welcome carpet light when you unlock the car.

[@sierracharlie7293]

When are you doing a review on the new WRX Wagon mate ? Have heard conflicting reports.

[@Rolls87]

Are you going to review the updated X3M/X4M? (Unless I may have missed it!)

[@Goglespurt]

Amazing beautiful car, ordered one recently and can’t wait for it to arrive 😍🚙

[@tomjackson2341]

What do you do for living you rich af

[@Goglespurt]

@@tomjackson2341 I’m not that rich haha, got a novated lease for it through my employer and I work in government as a Project Coordinator

[@dejanr2703]

How long do you need to wait for it?

[@Goglespurt]

@@dejanr2703 Didn’t take long as it was a 2021 M40i with 4,000kms on it driven by a dealership manager and got it for 119k

[@shopafelic]

Dear, the "random thing" at the bottom on both sides @2:41 are the LED welcome/puddle lights.

[@gavins9946]

I never think SUV’s are particularly fun to drive, but this has changed my mind. That price though

[@PattyCat.]

Go check out/test drive a Mazda CX-5 Turbo(base model). Just picked mine up last week, such a blast to drive and very luxurious inside. Seems very comparable to this and less than half the price, I actually prefer the look too. Maintenance and repairs are cheaper plus you can use regular gas(which is definitely nice these days). It also appears the Mazda has better sound dampening and smoother ride(only has 19" wheels).

[@vkdlvkdl]

@@PattyCat. LOL no offense and sorry to burst your bubble, but it's ludicrous to say CX-5 is comparable to X3, let alone the M40i variant.

[@Goglespurt]

@@PattyCat. The Mazda CX-5 is nowhere near as good as an X3 M40i lol thats a complete joke. The CX-5 is also really ugly and has no sporty look to it at all, its also extremely slow compared to an M40i 😂 Assuming you’re a troll 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@danieduplooy4406]

Hands down the best suv on the market for its price.. also best build quality

[@mharro88]

For it's price lol no

[@silverathlon]

That random thing on both sides @2:41 is the projector for the welcome carpet lights.

[@kmuinde]

I love that colour

[@CarExpertAus]

It’s awesome!

[@CrapTrapSlap]

Saw this yesterday , THIS THING IS HUGE! At first glance thought it was the x5

[@BaggySu]

I like previous generation of the exterior styling than this one Is the wheel arches covered with felt?

[@BaggySu]

Piss off mate. Get a life

[@muhammadamirulfarhan9366]

For the fuel consumption, it is rated at 5.2l / 100km or 11.5l? Cause it seems the other way around for me 😂

[@RG-ld8wv]

Pls review Q3 and RSQ3

[@tobiassuen]

Owner of 2021 X3 M40i, lucky with wireless charger and head up display👍🏽 No complaints with it, only thing is everyone knows it a noisy BMW😂

[@mykhailosambur4448]

Nice car

[@RockGarden8888]

Alfa Stelvio Veloce would seem a better comparison rather than the Quadrifilgio . Can you do a review on the Veloce soon?

[@geraldyusko5499]

love my 2020 mw X3 M40i

[@Biker322]

Those little slots in the sills is the welcome carpet lights, unlock the car at night and see.

[@04tsxpower]

Boy you boys must be pretty delicate far as ride comfort. X3 M Comp I didn't find that stiff and this unit I thought was quite nice.

[@jldp24]

The b58 engine.. I'm getting a 340 soon..they bulletproof amd have lots of room for tuning..bmws flagship performance class engine

[@thabomusuka1473]

am a very big fan of bmw, please REVIEW bmw x5 mcompetition

[@aadishetty007]

It looks amazing will still not forgive what BMW’s design team did to the other bmws

[@CarExpertAus]

This is the last of the normal designs!

[@d.k.1394]

Pretty

[@_kingkaizen]

The 2022 x3 m40i will be my first car. Affirmation to self🤝🏾

[@chindibindi]

Great review Paul! Love the new X3 , I have the G01 30d for last 3 years and that’s a great straight six diesel with better fuel economy. I have a question re the tyres if you don’t mind - tossing up between the factory Pirelli run flats and Michelin Pilot 4S , what would you recommend? (mind you the wheels are 20 inch, so not as bad but still..)

[@Goglespurt]

Michelin Pilot Sport 4s are the best tyres 🛞👍🏼

[@RATB128]

Great review Paul, don’t agree with you on the ride though. I’ve had mine for the past 6 months and the ride is what you’d expect from a sports SUV. Sports plus mode is the best feature on this car.

[@PattyCat.]

Anyone considering this but not trying to spend that much should look at the Mazda CX-5 Turbo. It basically has all these features plus cooled seats, heated steering wheel, remote start, heads up display, quieter / smoother ride, wireless charging. Only downsides of the CX-5 is no USB-C, smaller sunroof, and the infotainment does not have a touchscreen(plus the key fob isn't great). I prefer the look of the new CX-5 too, especially the base Turbo trim. It's really quick(0-60 in 6.1 seconds), fun to drive, and costs half as much.

[@daweigo6851]

Personally, think the cx5 looks to old fashion, but that's all subjective...

[@EWL-55]

Imagine a next gen GR Prado with this engine or the B57 diesel 😍😍😍

[@davidramsay2173]

Yep I own a 2022 X3 M40i a big fan of the B58 engine, in fact I have a 2018 M240i which also has the same B58 engine. Only problem I have is the X3 M40i is so good I may have to sell the M240i 😢

[@I_am_Monty]

Yep great car! even on track where I got to test drive the car 👌

[@wilhelmtaylor9863]

My wife got me one in 2018 for my birthday when the M40 came out. I reciprocated on her last birthday by getting her a new 440xi. (Traded in a 535 & 328 coupe) Both have the same engine. We love our cars and will probably keep them til the wheels fall off. They are both optioned to the max and are just plain fun. She drives Boulder to Steamboat Springs a lot to visit grandson - 150 miles of mountain driving; she avoids I-70. Used to be a drag - not any more. I've driven the X on several 3000+ mile trips and can't think of a car I would rather have. 4 years old and NO issues at all. We both are averaging about 22 to 24 mpg. The long trips were 27 mpg.

[@nathanip72]

What happened to Chris Atkinson and his performance reviews? They were enjoyable to watch and informative

[@whaggwhagg]

2:40 That's for the night welcome light projector

[@c-9226]

An owner of 2019 X3 M40i, still loves the crackles and pops from the cold start / sports plus exhaust. This car is just so good to drive, I have got an ever better experience coming from my previous F30 gen 330i

[@CarExpertAus]

Nice one. How are you finding the ride longer term?

[@c-9226]

@@CarExpertAus The ride has always been consistent with your verdict - firm, but yes the adaptive suspension does help a bit over bumps but overall you can always tell if the roads are not even and the steering wheel will always react base on the road surface quite quickly as well. But overall long term driving on the country road is still pretty comfortable IMO. But saying that I am very used to the run flat tyre noises after driving BMW for many years.

[@Tomoyo0827]

Excellent choice, brought an X3M after a test drive of the Macan, bargain of the century. But I do hate the ride when I have to go over any bump

[@I_am_Monty]

@@Tomoyo0827 apparently the MSS suspension will fix that issue.

[@I_am_Monty]

The x3 m40i is a fantastic car, I got to drive it on the track and was really impressed at how capable it was. It also sounds 👌

[@davidalenick1246]

I cannot stress enough the importance of picking the right wheel and tire combo for the X3 M40i. If you pick the base 19” wheel it is very comfy even with runflat tires. If you pick the 20’s go with a non-runflat tire. And we’ll, just don’t pick the 21” tires unless you like getting flat tires and bending rims.

[@user-B-tastic]

Hi David I have the 21” rims on my x3 m40i. Your comments getting me worried 😧

[@davidalenick1246]

@@user-B-tastic hopefully you drive on relatively smooth roads and never have a problem. But having non-runflats will definitely help.

[@user-B-tastic]

@@davidalenick1246 yes runflats make the ride bouncy even in comfort mode. I shall explore non run flats! But damn the 21” rims look good!

[@miata1370]

I'm expecting our 2023 x3 M40i next month....getting at the U.S. Performance Center in Greer, SC. I opted to stick with the 19" standard wheels with their RFT tires. Those tires may "go" quickly depending on the ride quality (or lack thereof!) but 19" will become great winter tire wheels.

[@user-B-tastic]

@@miata1370Congrats on the new ride! You will enjoy the B58 engine trust me. Sports Plus mode turns the car into quite a scary proposition (at least to me) as the beast is unleashed! 19” rims should help the comfort considerably even with runflats! Have fun!

[@franklinriccelli]

volvo xc60 t8 ou bmw x3 m40i???

[@73willyg]

I’d say a good competition for this would be xc60 polestar. Cheaper too

[@zachbackar5389]

This SUV has a Sporty Soul and I love mine. Would not trade it for anything. Perfect empty nester.

[@frankkhoza5666]

I love this car ❤🫶👌🔥

[@Poundy]

so, two things... Was that 184 or did I miss it higher than that? Good Job, it's a sweet little ride. Second, where is the full 6 minute video describing what happened to big red, and how it returned?!?! You can't just put a "G'day I'm back" tag on it and not explain !! :)

[@alexanderbotha4362]

That little thing on the side, lights up the outside of the the car at night.

[@bradulovic82]

Love the JAPBMW licence plate on the Supra.

[@CarExpertAus]

😁

[@_b_k]

👍🔥🚀

[@Mundoormaadan]

21 " wheels comes standard with X3 m40i?

[@miata1370]

Here in the U.S.; the standard M40i wheels are 19" with RFT tires.

[@donaldbanner2185]

" Check Your Engine " Light.................& Re- Sale Plummets Freak'n Euro nightmares!

[@cerglabs3646]

The prices seems incorrect $83K USD? Maybe I missed something...

[@marcelfotomoto]

M340 must be the thinking man's car

[@AMore429]

Why the fake vents ?

[@FarQew]

I have a 2021 X3 m40i and I’m sad to hear that they have got rid of the pops and upshift fart sounds (not sure what the correct name is). A sign of things to come I guess…

[@I_am_Monty]

Yep they did. When you drive the 2022 x3 m40i in sports plus mode you can here the pops but they are suppressed. Maybe installing an after market exhaust system will fix that. I think the got rid of the upshift burps though.

[@FarQew]

@@I_am_Monty It's a shame... the new styling looks great though. Aftermarket exhaust is a solution I guess just some people would be put off when BMW voids the new car warranty for doing it.

[@I_am_Monty]

@@FarQew true.. the new styling really looks good. I guess for warranty purposes you could go akrapovich but that's pretty expensive 💸💸💸💸💸

[@zoltrix7779]

No Suede seat option again. At least it has a volume knob.

[@rynomite_]

@CarExpert The thing that you didn't know what it was on the lower rocker panel (2:40) houses the LED exterior "Carpet Lighting" for night time entry/exit.

[@normansoh]

What is the dimension of the red suitcase that you use in your reviews (i.e, HxWxD)? It would also be great to know the boot dimensions as it would be very useful for people like me that lug around golf bags, buggies, larger items around.. Most car reviews just show the boot but don't go any further in terms of measuring the HxWxD... Thank you Paul and keep up with the great reviews..

[@pastorofmuppets8834]

Can you get cooled seats?

[@User-cb4jm]

Yep. On a top grade Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage or Mazda CX-5. Buy two for the price of the X3 tested, but even a single one will outlast the BMW drivetrain…

[@pastorofmuppets8834]

@@User-cb4jm I'm not sure what all that means sorry. I asked if this car has it. That's all.

[@madden2680]

No cooling. only heating.

[@brianh0000]

You can option cooling on the standard seats but not if you get the Msport seats, then it’s only heating.

[@dsinghr]

I just got fully spec'd and blacked out BMW 330i M Sport with comfort and visibility package from BMW dealer here in Vic. What a car, having a blast on that sport mode keeping suspension on comfort as part of individual adaptive mode. It is a mile muncher. I am trying really hard to avoid speed fines hahaha

[@AndreiAnastasescu]

It doesn't have the wireless phone charger because of the chip shortage, bmw press release

[@paulredfern2252]

misses out on so much for the price, like propper rear seats, wireless charging, cooled seats, so it has a good engine and zf box, still so expensive to get a bit of performance sorry.

[@PicardZ4]

Chip shortage explains some deleted features. Shop carefully.

[@teenee4]

🤜🤛

[@mrnicktoyou]

Most common colour of any BMW or Mercedes I see is always white. Seeing how costly any other option is, I can now see why.

[@lordcaptain73]

Did you ever get an answer about the seemingly poorer performance of the BMW laser light? This is a wonderful little SUV but I’m not a fan of this particular colour.

[@miata1370]

I agree with you on this "chalk" color....was initially attractive but now is so prevalent with many manufacturers, it's no longer special. We ordered our 2023 x3 M40i in standard classic BMW Alpine White. Too bad.....they no longer offer the Glacier Silver that was on our '14 328xi Touring...loved that combination with the red leather interior.

[@sydneyNemesis101]

it should come with wireless car charger, as new bmw has keys on your phone as well

[@miata1370]

My experience with wireless charging on my former '19 230i xDrive was that it was a very slow charger that seemed to heat up the iPhone more than charging it. I did not option it on our ordered x3 M40i.

[@howardtang618]

A Volvo XC60 Recharge will be a similar size car to compare

[@SR145]

Macan too expensive and way too small for me. SQ5 nice but no where near sporty as the other rivals. Mercedes GLC LOL its just nice. Thats it. Bought the X3 M40i. Thank god I bought the 2019 version. I cold started the 2021 M40i and no more crackle and pops. Now its more farting noises.

[@jameshinchy7758]

No wireless charging on any X3 at the moment due to the conductor shortage Normally every model gets it

[@CarExpertAus]

Good point!

[@seanxiong2455]

you can buy one after market, its just around $100 and perfectly fit to the car.

[@Saltwat5]

Yes that’s not negotiable with me, going to have to wait

[@User-cb4jm]

Wireless CarPlay is a bit useless without wireless charging and vice versa

[@User-cb4jm]

@@seanxiong2455 not good enough on a $120k car. Any Toyota or Hyundai 1/3 the price has this. Especially when the point with “luxury” cars is you have all the little options and accessories you want on your car without hacking the centre console out and putting in some aftermarket crap.

[@aussie8114]

Good suspension and a spare wheel is a factor for me. Our roads have become bad. I think these European cars are intended for their better roads.

[@simmadotyeni2614]

Hi paul sorry mate am not really a fan of these new BMW speedo's...I hate how they look in our days..video games like look,I love the analogue look designs even though their electric styling.perfect for me

[@karkybibek]

I drove my mates x3 and its pretty good but after 130k its starting to give trouble n its not cheap to fix, so my choice is lexus 450 h and ordered one. Lexus might not be punchy as this as per many car reviewer but i know i did right choosing lexus.

[@TN_AU]

Well, you can say that to pretty much every car out there, not just the x3, so to single out the x3 just because your mate's x3 has issues is biased. Too many factors come into play as to why it has issues after "x" amount of kms, same goes for any car. So, just keeep in mind that this could happen to your new Lexus as well.

[@yodesuyo]

@@TN_AU stats say otherwise, lexus is ranked higher than bmw in reliability

[@Saltwat5]

Go read the car of the year review of the new Lexus in wheels magazine. From what I’ve heard Lexus are not that durable or reliable either

[@User-cb4jm]

@@TN_AU not really “every car out there”. Japanese cars (and Korean cars these days) just keep going and going. Toyota, Mazda, Honda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, they’re reliable and trouble free and you’ll easily get to 200,000km. Anything American or Eurotrash, good luck. It might get there but with you spending half the value of the car in the process. Sure you can have a perfect BMW or a dodgy Lexus but in the long haul the Japanese earned their reputation for reliability. Audi, BMW, Mercedes, a huge amount will become repair nightmares, don’t even get me started on Italian, French and British cars, they’re a league of their own at the BOTTOM of reliability charts.

[@TN_AU]

@@User-cb4jm yes valid point.

[@SunJinjianM]

$120k.......personally would chose BENZ-GLC 43......interior and exterior is more premium.

[@brianh0000]

I priced the GLC43 before I got the X3 but it was about 40k more expensive

[@davidw4987]

What is the point if you have to wait months or even a year for your car - all the cars reviewed here are going out-of-date while you wait.