Anyone else get banned from the G8X section for making fun of its looks?

[Fugly M3]

Sedan_Clan going down your path a bit. Bought the sensatec knee pad pieces. Hate the plastic and apparently they stopped the leather ones after the first year. Think the door card inserts are sensatec too (the handle and armrest are definitely merino). Still better than the plastic.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by Fugly M3

Sedan_Clan going down your path a bit. Bought the sensatec knee pad pieces. Hate the plastic and apparently they stopped the leather ones after the first year. Think the door card inserts are sensatec too (the handle and armrest are definitely merino). Still better than the plastic.

Attachment 3438655

It's fucking sad how many cost-cutting measures the G20 (G80) has received since the LCI.

You should be able to get them new in Merino still from the dealer, but they are very expensive.

The M Performance Alcantara knee pads are better, though not padded.

I have got full Merino upper dashboard and door cards in combination with Alcantara/Sensatec seats and my knee pads are plastic, too. Thankfully, my knee doesn't mind them too much.

[Fugly M3]

Originally Posted by swagon

It's fucking sad how many cost-cutting measures the G20 (G80) has received since the LCI.

You should be able to get them new in Merino still from the dealer, but they are very expensive.

The M Performance Alcantara knee pads are better, though not padded.

I have got full Merino upper dashboard and door cards in combination with Alcantara/Sensatec seats and my knee pads are plastic, too. Thankfully, my knee doesn't mind them too much.

It gets worse. I have xDrive and executive pack on my 2024, but somehow my car doesn't have a Sensatec dash. Was wondering if that was a factory f*** up, but went and looked at the builder online...the dash only changes to stitched if full leather is selected and full leather is 2550 across the board, not the 2300 it was for exec cars before. The option code has changed too for sensatec dash and no mention of it being removed with full leather. So, I'm guessing it's rubber dash and then sensatec with full leather and no leather top on the dash anymore!

[Arcades]

Originally Posted by Fugly M3

It gets worse. I have xDrive and executive pack on my 2024, but somehow my car doesn't have a Sensatec dash. Was wondering if that was a factory f*** up, but went and looked at the builder online...the dash only changes to stitched if full leather is selected and full leather is 2550 across the board, not the 2300 it was for exec cars before. The option code has changed too for sensatec dash and no mention of it being removed with full leather. So, I'm guessing it's rubber dash and then sensatec with full leather and no leather top on the dash anymore!

And they are charging you more for it! Ain't it fun?

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by Fugly M3

Sedan_Clan going down your path a bit. Bought the sensatec knee pad pieces. Hate the plastic and apparently they stopped the leather ones after the first year. Think the door card inserts are sensatec too (the handle and armrest are definitely merino). Still better than the plastic.

Attachment 3438655

It’s the little things bro. The small additions that make the overall experience better.

[Fugly M3]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

It’s the little things bro. The small additions that make the overall experience better.

Yea, if it had come from the factory with just the rubber dash stuff there I wouldn’t have changed it. It’s the cheap plastic I can’t handle. Also, the cheap plastic is hard on the side of the knee for long/spirited drives.

[mzcp]

Another beautiful day Canyon driving with jmg and the Malibu boys. Of course I was left behind lol

[Sedan_Clan]

Well, I finished my install when I arrived back in Nevada this morning. I chose to have everything painted including the brake light and the cowl that comes gloss black from the factory. I took the OEM active aero wing cover with me to make sure the paint match was solid. I even buffed the wing a bit more today after assembling it. I can’t wait for my “3.0” decklid badge to be done; it’ll finish off the exterior perfectly. Coding tomorrow, and the GT3 carbon buckets coming soon.

[mzcp]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Well, I finished my install when I arrived back in Nevada this morning. I chose to have everything painted including the brake light and the cowl that comes gloss black from the factory. I took the OEM active aero wing cover with me to make sure the paint match was solid. I even buffed the wing a bit more today after assembling it. I can’t wait for my “3.0” decklid badge to be done; it’ll finish off the exterior perfectly. Coding tomorrow, and the GT3 carbon buckets coming soon.

Love the Aero wing. 👍

[Fugly M3]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Well, I finished my install when I arrived back in Nevada this morning. I chose to have everything painted including the brake light and the cowl that comes gloss black from the factory. I took the OEM active aero wing cover with me to make sure the paint match was solid. I even buffed the wing a bit more today after assembling it. I can’t wait for my “3.0” decklid badge to be done; it’ll finish off the exterior perfectly. Coding tomorrow, and the GT3 carbon buckets coming soon.

Wowzers, what a wing!

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by mzcp

Love the Aero wing. 👍

Originally Posted by Fugly M3

Wowzers, what a wing!

Thanks fellas!!! I’m soooooooooooooooo happy!

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by minn19

Saw an XM in the wild today, first one I’ve seen in flyover country. Was pretty much all black, which is probably the best color for that thing.

Ha, I drove one for a day, Friday ... it was interesting.

We don't need to talk about the exterior which is totally baffling - stickers for logos on the rear window?? but the interior is ... just ok. Very similar to my X5M except with that damn single screen which is just the absolute worst. But ok, let's say you get used to that - and you could - it just doesn't feel $150k.

And then getting back into my X5M, it felt so much nicer even though it's generally the same, and you realize how many little tiny corners have been cut everywhere in the new BMWs





My interior for comparison:



Also, the 2024 Porsche Cayenne just puts the new BMW interiors to complete shame.

In other news, the dealer had an e46 with 11k miles for $100k



And a sold Z8









And in carspotting news, I recently saw this insane 944 Baha Overland Restomod:

[swagon]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

Ha, I drove one for a day, Friday ... it was interesting.

We don't need to talk about the exterior which is totally baffling - stickers for logos on the rear window?? but the interior is ... just ok. Very similar to my X5M except with that damn single screen which is just the absolute worst. But ok, let's say you get used to that - and you could - it just doesn't feel $150k.

And then getting back into my X5M, it felt so much nicer even though it's generally the same, and you realize how many little tiny corners have been cut everywhere in the new BMWs





My interior for comparison:

The only car the ID8 screen doesn't look out of place in is the I20 iX, possibly the G70 7er.

Good wood in the X5. I'm so glad to have gotten the pre-LCI G21 before the big screen and big model-year cost-saving measures, too.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by swagon

Good wood in the X5.

ha, well back in the 00s I vowed to never have wood after a 99 A6 which otherwise, to this day, remains the fanciest car interior I've had.

So, of course, I had to get the carbon ... again & again & again. My e9x with the leather carbon was maybe the best, but eventually I just couldn't do carbon anymore, so in my F83 I got the white birch and it was pretty great, so the X5 has the ash and it's also good. not great, but it's more interesting to look at than carbon so I'm good with it.

It's also why I controversially got the chrome trim grille & gills, but the window trim blacked out. The chrome matches the wheels and tail pipes.

[NSX2M4]

The interior of the XM has to be designed after the interior design of The licking chicken in South Beach. I can almost smell the dank weed and stank hops from here.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by NSX2M4

The interior of the XM has to be designed after the interior design of The licking chicken in South Beach. I can almost smell the dank weed and stank hops from here.

It's not necessarily bad in isolation, it's when you compare it to just about anything$60k+.

Like the Suburban High Country has a better interior. Or Hyundai/Kias. Or Rivian.

The very sad thing about BMW is their lost style; especially when you look at the Z8, you see the super cool German/Bavarian art-deco swank. Even those chrome side gills are super chic

[Arcades]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

ha, well back in the 00s I vowed to never have wood after a 99 A6 which otherwise, to this day, remains the fanciest car interior I've had.

So, of course, I had to get the carbon ... again & again & again. My e9x with the leather carbon was maybe the best, but eventually I just couldn't do carbon anymore, so in my F83 I got the white birch and it was pretty great, so the X5 has the ash and it's also good. not great, but it's more interesting to look at than carbon so I'm good with it.

It's also why I controversially got the chrome trim grille & gills, but the window trim blacked out. The chrome matches the wheels and tail pipes.

After having a few years to think about it, I can understand why BMW changed their design the way they did. I don't agree with it but I can understand it from a non-car person perspective. Most of what car companies tend to do is to capture potential owners that don't have their brand. Best way to do that is to make the cars stand out more, in whatever way they can. Toyota had to make their cars way less boring from an exterior perspective.

The only thing I hope they and any other car company stop freaking doing is to shove screens everywhere.

On another note, a family friend traded in her Benz for another Benz after she started having a ton of mechanical issues 5 years in. So... they put her in a Benz EBQ and I was extremely unimpressed. Out of ALL of her Benz, they all have had problems one way or another. My mother's 19 year old SLK lasted 19 years with barely any issues wtf is Benz doing with their cars now a days that their build quality is this bad?

[Fugly M3]

And just like that, GrussGott has reemerged from the ether with characteristically great photos!

[NickyC]

Originally Posted by Arcades

After having a few years to think about it, I can understand why BMW changed their design the way they did. I don't agree with it but I can understand it from a non-car person perspective. Most of what car companies tend to do is to capture potential owners that don't have their brand. Best way to do that is to make the cars stand out more, in whatever way they can. Toyota had to make their cars way less boring from an exterior perspective.

The only thing I hope they and any other car company stop freaking doing is to shove screens everywhere.

On another note, a family friend traded in her Benz for another Benz after she started having a ton of mechanical issues 5 years in. So... they put her in a Benz EBQ and I was extremely unimpressed. Out of ALL of her Benz, they all have had problems one way or another. My mother's 19 year old SLK lasted 19 years with barely any issues wtf is Benz doing with their cars now a days that their build quality is this bad?

Your X5M is perfect!