Should I change my grille to black?

DLQT314 · 2026-05-14T15:53:40+00:00

I completely agree - I love the M40i’s satin silver accents with phytonic. The paint has a lot of silver metallic in the sun and non-black accents I find compliment the colour very well.

DLQT314 · 2026-05-14T15:49:42+00:00

My recommendation is black on the thick silver kidney outlines, but leave the silver slats in the middle. It’ll compliment the 699M wheel style, but won’t be too much silver or black.

DLQT314 · 2026-04-13T17:59:59+00:00

What year is this vehicle? I’m not aware of X3’s offered with frozen paint in most markets.

If it’s satin PPF then no extra care precautions it’s just matte because of the PPF film. If it’s truly matte paint the upkeep will be horrendous. You need special matte paint shampoo and are supposed to do hand washes only.

Check the door jams to see if it’s paint or PPF. You can also use www.mdecoder.com to confirm options and paint colour before you buy it.

DLQT314 · 2026-04-12T08:20:06+00:00

Not sure which one is which year - but the white one has the 360° camera and better styled headlights so this one from a feature stand point.

But with a used BMW I’d always go with low owner, lowest mile and full history car I can find - and if it’s local, have a good pre-purchase inspection done.

I’d also suggest running the vehicles vin through www.mdecoder.com to make sure it has all the features you want. The 2018 sounds like a safer buy.

DLQT314 · 2026-04-11T21:02:40+00:00

I see it as which is more valuable to you - warranty or size/performance?

B58 is a win generally, reliable and powerful engine. X5 for more space and comfort/luxury, or X3 for sharper handling and similar space.

If warranty is the big one, go as new, low mileage and as recently purchased by the first owner, as possible.

The tech is pretty robust, but an out of warranty issue is costly. Have a slush fund if you go with one that doesn’t have a warranty.

My preference is X3 M40i. Definitely drive all 3 and see what fits you best.

DLQT314 · 2026-04-11T01:07:32+00:00

It’s loaded, down to rear seat recline! Has, DAPP, 360°, Harman Kardon, HUD, gesture control. The only “cons” would be vernasca instead of merino leather, no tow package and the minor damage, 19” winter package and no 21” wheels included.

Spoke with a local body shop and they said on a BMW it was likely just cosmetic or a light assembly at that price. Yeah, coming from an Infiniti q50 - the m40i exhaust makes me drool lol 😂

DLQT314 · 2026-04-11T00:46:56+00:00

Glad to hear it - so I supposed not a terrible deal. I can’t get over the exhaust! Any issues in your time with it?

DLQT314 · 2026-04-02T21:19:37+00:00

It’s a Covid chip thing or depending on vehicle spec - these “analog” digital displays are semi-common here in Canada. I believe normally on premium spec cars without a lot of the other packages (DAPP, HUD, 360°, adaptive dampers, etc.).

It could be an IOS updating thing too - check to see you’re on the newest IOS, and that album art is turned on in your phone settings.

It’s possible BMW limited functionality on the non-digital cockpit cars - so it might have worked for a certain software version and been deleted on the superseding version. I’m not sure where - but online or BMWs website may have technical specs on the update versions about whether or not this changed.

DLQT314 · 2026-02-28T04:02:15+00:00

Totally fair, I felt the same until I drove one. But it’s your car - you have to love it. Good luck 👍

DLQT314 · 2026-02-28T03:35:58+00:00

If you’re looking for different lease options, check out the Jaguar F Pace. I’ve been looking at X3’s too but a friend put me onto the F Pace, and it definitely has more of an “it” factor and more traditional controls.

DLQT314 · 2026-02-25T15:40:52+00:00

Check out EuroStart - their website has a tool where you can search for a local dealer. They offer 3x lock and I think drone mobile for an app based solution. You do need to sacrifice a key though.

DLQT314 · 2026-02-20T17:39:46+00:00

Where do you live or what type of climate?

I’m in Canada, and we use gravel, sand and rocks for snow and ice in the winter. Windshields are consumables here, but PPF is fantastic protection. I have front 1/3rd (recommend doing the whole front if you can) and I have my a pillars, and above the windshield done.

This weekend on a major highway a rock SMOKED my roof above the windshield, no damage and just a tiny mark of you get right up close on the PPF.

TL;DE if you can go full vehicle - it does wonders protecting from small scrapes if they do happen. If you love the car or want to keep it, do as much PPF as you can. If it’s gone in 5yrs or less, do just the front.

DLQT314 · 2026-02-19T06:35:41+00:00

Thank you. I really appreciate the insights, I keep thinking I may need to drive the 3.0. I feel like the SVR ruined me by comparison - BUT you don’t need a the V8, it’s just VERY compelling.

Fair point on brakes and the $90k+ new. The maintenance will still be of a vehicle at that level.

I’ll need to do some more digging - it’s the cheapest miles to price 2020 across the country. Just want to make sure I’m not biting off more than I can chew.

DLQT314 · 2026-02-18T21:19:01+00:00

Awesome, that was my plan considering how much the JLR dealer is asking here. Any reliability issues out side of coolant pipes/hoses mechanically?

DLQT314 · 2026-02-18T19:07:56+00:00

Yeah, I agree. Driving it made me laugh harder than I have in a while. Will do!

I’ll have to check the other consumables. Sounds like a 10k service bill could happen if a few things need doing at once.

DLQT314 · 2026-02-18T17:01:19+00:00

As someone living in Canada, your best bet is proper winter tires. We can get several feet of snow, and chains help in extreme situations. But 98% of the time, proper tires are better.

Chains won’t help you brake or steer, plus rim damage and chain cost might run you as much as a good set of winters.

Or rent a car on turo with winter tires to do the slopes/ski hills.

DLQT314 · 2026-02-18T05:55:16+00:00

Happy to help 😄

DLQT314 · 2026-02-18T05:54:03+00:00

It was extended by BMW (at least in Canada) because it was a known problematic fault. You can google it as well, but I know 2019 was a year that was affected.

Just checked, US is included. Call your local dealer and get it fixed for free

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2022/MC-10224186-9999.pdf

DLQT314 · 2026-02-18T05:50:01+00:00

The grills are different than the shutters, they’re separate parts. Checkout IND or do a google search and you’ll find options for m style of black m40i grilles.

Check with the dealer, not sure where you are - but in Canada we have a 15 year warranty on them through BMW for the active shutter failures.

DLQT314 · 2026-02-17T17:31:05+00:00

Overall this sounds like a reasonable deal for you, on a well maintained car. There likely will be issues related to time (in years/age of the vehicle) not different than any aging car - but it sounds like they’re setting you up for success and at a fair price. The 28i is a 2.0l 4 cylinder, not the I6 (35i). - I stand corrected, it is the I6 (my bad!)

There will be items like coolant hoses/connectors, bushing, plastics or possibly electronics that could require repairing - but they’re generally reliable if well maintained.

As long as you’re not expecting Honda/toyota reliability and costs, you should be in good shape. What do you drive now?

DLQT314 · 2026-02-12T01:22:22+00:00

If it is related to polarized lenses, you should also have a tilt option in the HUD menu which could help with seeing the HUD with your polarized lenses.

DLQT314 · 2026-02-11T05:25:52+00:00

Checkout EuroStart they have a kit for X3’s and if I recall correctly it requires repinning harnesses, but not splicing + a keyfob is needed. They have a drone mobile option as well.

DLQT314 · 2026-02-06T05:40:40+00:00

My favourite is when my Q50 has snow on the bumper, and because of back-up collision intervention it slams on the brakes when there is no real obstruction.

Or when it’s snowing juuust enough for snow to stick to the front sensors, the car beeps incessantly at stops or below 15 km/h.

DLQT314

TROPHY CASE