Long-term review of my 2022 BMW X3 M40i

It’s nice. I get to drive cars for a few hours, or a few days, make a judgement, then move on. I’m a serial car dater – you’ll never get me to commit. That’s a lie, of course. I’ve loved my time with this 2022 BMW X3 M40i, but as you know, it’s time to move on.

What was it like to have one for 40,000 miles?

What broke on my 2022 BMW X3 M40i

I promise, BMW has gotten better. Over three years, I’ve had only a few minor issues:

• Reprogramming the rear differential at 12,000 miles, because it wasn’t talking to the xDrive computer. Don’t ask me what that means, I don’t know either. The dealership made them go to counseling.
• A wheel bearing went at 35,000 miles, but…
• A dealer replaced both front control arms, even though I don’t think they were an issue. I had brought it in for the bearing, they replaced the control arms, and the car still made the same sound. Then, they fixed the bearing.
• There is an open recall for the cargo rails in the trunk, but no fix was available at time of turn in.

And that’s all.

What was the maintenance like?

I just followed BMW’s recommendations:

• Oil changes every 10,000 miles.
• The rear brake pads had just 2mm left of life in them, normal considering the weight of the car.
• The tires wore quite a bit – I replaced two of the summer tires in the front. I put winter tires on for two out of the three winters I had the car. In 2022, we had a warmer season.

If you do have summer tires on your car, I’d still recommend winter wheels – xDrive won’t help you stop in terrible weather.

How did the 2022 BMW X3 M40i wear?

Very well. The Sensatec on the seats was so much better than leather – it had a few creases, but nothing like a real leather chair would. Merino is great for M cars that are pampered, but on a BMW that’s used every day, with kids…

That said, the seats themselves became uncomfortable. I thought they were good upon delivery, but after experiencing so many cars over the past three years, neither myself or Mrs. Machines will miss them.

This was a COVID car, so it was missing the lumbar support on the passenger side. BMW didn’t mention it until the car was delivered, and to be honest, I’d gladly pay the $200 credit they gave.

I’d also say that the car isn’t as solid now. It’ll rattle over bumps, perhaps a little more than other BMWs I’ve had. Nothing terrible, but you notice it.

The ride was also pretty crunchy from the passenger seat, and especially the rear. That’s sort of okay – this isn’t the Ultimate Passenger Machine, after all. But riding around in a Mercedes, you notice the difference.

What did and didn’t work so well?

iDrive.

From the key fobs not knowing who was driving, to the phones not hooking up for CarPlay, it stunk. Everyone else has it figured out by now. It’s not just the X3 – it’s my M3, and pretty much every BMW press car I’ve had. Hell, even the loaners from the dealers did it.

The other issue was the auto start/stop – it was brutal and harsh, and you couldn’t turn it off unless you left the car in Sport mode. BMW, it’s 100 degrees outside, I need the air conditioning – stop turning the car off! I cringe to think about the starter lasting much longer than a lease.

But everything else? Terrific, from the transmission to the wonderful B58. My wife drove it every day, and I never worried.

It’s also plenty roomy – I’d fit all four wheels and tires inside by folding the rear seat down. The hatch was wide, though I do wish the tailgate split like in the X5.

What was the X3’s overall mileage?

22.3 MPG, with a true mix of highway and city driving. I thought that was pretty good, considering the 382-horsepower engine and 4,300-pound curb weight. I can name a lot of cars that were slower, less practical, and less fun, with worse mileage.

Summing up the 2022 BMW X3 M40i

A Z4 M40i review is imminent. In it, I will tell you that it felt like a kind of scaled down X3 M40i. It’s pretty much identical inside, with the same engine and transmission. When you build a sports car with SUV bits, you get a sports car that feels like an SUV.

On the other hand, you get an SUV that handles like a sports car, or at least more than a tall wagon has any right to. Fun, fast, frugal (reasonably, anyway), and spacious, I still find it to be perhaps the best small SUV in the segment. Relatively affordable too, coming in at $58,000 before options.

It might have been the best car BMW made from their early G range, all things considered. No wonder it’s their sales leader. Add the fact that this car lives on while the X3 M died, and the choice is clear.

So farewell G01 X3, to both the 30i and M40i I’ve had for five years total. I can only hope our new X does as well. 

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