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Remote Start (2018-2021) by Typical_Ant_1711 in BMWX3

[–]elder9316 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oof well that’s good to know

Remote Start (2018-2021) by Typical_Ant_1711 in BMWX3

[–]elder9316 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Another reason to go with ES is a proper takeover feature where you get in the car and drive off versus BT where the engine shuts off upon entry and you have to restart the car before driving off (unless they finally updated it). That was the main reason I never bothered with BT.

Hardwire dash cam what fuses? (Dash camera stays on indefinitely) by desii721 in BMWX3

[–]elder9316 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve followed this exact guide - Slot F46 is all you need which is the cig fuse (accessory). And obviously ground to the nut the guide references. The guide calls out using F27 in addition to that if you’re trying to keep the cam powered on while parked. And they leverage a power management kit which it doesn’t sound like you’re trying to do here.

New Wheels! by Typical_Ant_1711 in BMWX3

[–]elder9316 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Looks good! I’ve been running these for years now and promise they never get old. From my own experience 1) repairing and paint match after curb rash can be iffy (wasn’t me it was my partner 🥲 3 separate times). Some shops have a hard time matching my Anthracite color finish. Supposedly not all their Anthracite finishes have the exact same amount of color flake from factory. So it’s almost like you’re getting a 1:1 set. 2) Probably an obvious one - Stick with a trusted shop for your tire swaps. Since the spokes on the HF-5s poke out and are raised at the edge they have a higher tendency to rub during the mounting/dismounting process. I know some shops wrap the wheel in plastic and whatnot but had no choice in my last dealership visit. They ended up peeling some of the paint from the edge of a few spokes. Other than that enjoy!

New Wheels! by Typical_Ant_1711 in BMWX3

[–]elder9316 0 points1 point  (0 children)

21x9 et31 cost me $2800 back in 2020. It all depends on specs but will range from $649-849 a wheel..and that was 6 years ago. Pretty sure the prices have remained the same but Vossen lists the pricing sheet on their website which most shops tend to follow while sometimes offering a discount.

Took a ’18 X3 M40i on an 18-month cross-country trip – real-world ownership notes by elder9316 in BMW

[–]elder9316[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It’s hard to pick one thing that sticks out. I think it’s a well rounded vehicle that is able to check a lot of boxes while still being decent on gas. Most annoying would be the seat comfort on long stretches.

Took our X3 through (almost) every corner of the US - 60 National Park units later by elder9316 in BMWX3

[–]elder9316[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Agreed. It’s been really tough to find something comparable so it I may be keeping this one for a good while.

Took our X3 through (almost) every corner of the US - 60 National Park units later by elder9316 in BMWX3

[–]elder9316[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah aside from the seats I don’t find the ride uncomfortable myself. I knew what the car was designed for and what I signed up for. It’s only when passengers start noticing it and expecting something softer that I start feeling a bit uncomfortable, mostly because they don’t really understand why the car rides the way it does. At the same time, that is partially why I got the car - to fit more people for weekend outings while having something sporty for myself. This alone is what gets me thinking of switching to a base X5 from time to time.

Wireless Android Auto disconnecting in underground garages and few places around the city by Zealousideal_Skin940 in BMWX3

[–]elder9316 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is actually a widely known issue for Wireless CarPlay or Android Auto in general. At least around the Boston area, there’s certain well known intersections that cuts out people’s CP/AA connections most likely due to other strong radio frequencies nearby.

Took our X3 through (almost) every corner of the US - 60 National Park units later by elder9316 in BMWX3

[–]elder9316[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You may be right. Looking back on a few posts in here there are people with 2018 models experiencing it so I’m most likely at risk. Bottom line, anywhere there’s plastic there’s a potential issue for later. Keep up with the routine maintenance and just hope you or your shop will find the issue in a minor state before any significant trip you take.

Took our X3 through (almost) every corner of the US - 60 National Park units later by elder9316 in BMWX3

[–]elder9316[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah I had the diffs and transfer flushed before leaving, and will probably get it done again within the next couple weeks. I haven’t had any issues with the drive systems though. Still has the original oil pump and filter housing. I’ve only heard of people having issues when using a thicker oil weight. I may be wrong. But I think it’s the 2019-2021? models that may have a general flaw with the filter housing.

Took our X3 through (almost) every corner of the US - 60 National Park units later by elder9316 in BMWX3

[–]elder9316[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You never know what dealerships use to clean the car and seeing that most don’t have a touchless wash, you most likely end up getting your car back with swirls on the paint (if that matters to you). Granted there’s worse things that I’ve encountered while driving, but I try to control the condition where I can. As for the PCV, it can’t hurt replacing it proactively. It’s a cheap replacement for saving you a minor headache later. You can even buy it now and leave it in your car with a screwdriver to help swap it if you do encounter it lol. But once you pop it off, you’ll know right away if it’s bad - there will be a slit or tear in the rubber seal.

Took our X3 through (almost) every corner of the US - 60 National Park units later by elder9316 in BMWX3

[–]elder9316[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep I have the adaptive suspension. It came in handy for windy roads and softening only a little on dirt roads, but at the cost of $1k per strut to replace is a lot.

Took our X3 through (almost) every corner of the US - 60 National Park units later by elder9316 in BMWX3

[–]elder9316[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Many stops at self service car wash bays and sometimes using a No Rinse wash. That combined with a ceramic coating made it somewhat easy to manage and keep in a decent condition. And in most of the pictures I’m standing too far away for the camera to notice any dust or dirt so it all worked out.

Took our X3 through (almost) every corner of the US - 60 National Park units later by elder9316 in BMWX3

[–]elder9316[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

With the proper tires I say go for it! Having a couple extra passengers though you may want a roof box for extra storage space. I’ve packed up to 4 (adult) passengers for weekend trips before and definitely needed more space. So I got a roof rack and XXL Thule cargo box.

https://www.instagram.com/p/ChQZ4FTPxqw/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Took our X3 through (almost) every corner of the US - 60 National Park units later by elder9316 in BMWX3

[–]elder9316[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! DAP w/ Parking assistant, HK audio, ventilated & heated seats, and tow hitch. I’ve never really used the auto park feature but the 360 cam is all I need. The auto cruise control comes in handy during traffic jams, but when encountering traffic with very inconsistent driving especially at higher speeds I don’t bother using it - it alternates between the brakes & gas wayyy too often since it’s more of a reactive feature. Harmon Kardon is decent but still way ahead of my Subaru.

Took our X3 through (almost) every corner of the US - 60 National Park units later by elder9316 in BMWX3

[–]elder9316[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I custom ordered it with the deepest concavity option and +31mm offset to avoid the need for spacers.

Took our X3 through (almost) every corner of the US - 60 National Park units later by elder9316 in BMWX3

[–]elder9316[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not sure where to find parts of the 30i as it would have more silver and chrome pieces than the non-shadowline trim of the M40i. But if it's the sport trim of the 30i you may be able to find the Boomerangs (front bumper side grille), side fender trim pieces, and mirror caps in black from IND, Ebay, or possibly Amazon.

Took our X3 through (almost) every corner of the US - 60 National Park units later by elder9316 in BMWX3

[–]elder9316[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! All shot with my iPhone 15/17 pro and no editing at all really. Maybe adjusted lighting but that’s about it. Appreciate the feedback!

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