2022 iX50–> Tesla Mannequin 3–> 2024 iX M60. A evaluate and my expertise.

I purchased my 2022 ix in 8/2022. Beloved it so, a lot. Then somebody rear-ended it in 5/2023. Now I’ve leased a 2024 ix60. Listed here are my ideas and experiences to your data and amusement. They reply among the questions posed in latest posts as nicely.

2022 ix50Pros
-Having had zero EV expertise, I wished to maximise vary and went with the bottom mannequin with 20″ wheels. They’re hideous. A lot in order that I had them powder coated black. With that, I believe they give the impression of being midway respectable now. BMW began making them this fashion for base fashions a pair months after I purchased mine, which saves the customer from having to pay $500 to do it themselves. However I used to be all the time irritated about not with the ability to get the improved seems to be of the game package deal. Regardless, there was a really welcome, sudden profit: the experience high quality. The mix of excessive profile tires with slim width (which flies within the face of the business development of more and more ultra-wide, ultra-low-profile tires on gigantic wheels) and the air suspension system resulted in the very best quality experience I’ve ever skilled. I had no thought a automotive may even be that comfy, and that is in contrast with my pals’/colleagues’ Rovers, S-classes, and many others. Coming from a 2016 X5m, the distinction was stark.

-The HK sound system is excellent. It is one of the best obtainable manufacturing unit put in sound system I would heard previous to the BW

-I would by no means skilled any ADAS system for any important quantity of driving till my spouse’s Cayenne arrived in 4/2022. It has InnoDrive, which is okay at finest, but it surely’s finest described as glorified cruise management. I would not pay for it once more. TJA, in distinction, was superb. I used it for about 8000 freeway miles, and it by no means made a mistake. It behaved as a non-aggressive human driver would. As soon as visitors would die down, it will require the arms to return on each 20 seconds or so whereas nonetheless driving the automotive completely. It was a tease for what the long run would maintain: arms free driving at freeway velocity. That future irritatingly got here lower than half a yr after I purchased the automotive with freeway assistant, and my need to commerce the automotive was sturdy. [side note: I think this general direction is more appropriate than what other companies are doing with their ADAS, as the number of variables on a divided highway is far lower. I wouldn’t want to assume the liability of errors/accidents made by a system driving around pedestrians, cyclists, dense traffic with intersections, etc (looking at you, Tesla).]

-Carplay is simply superb. It really works completely on this automotive, and the large broad display screen is ideal for it.

Cons
-The doorways sound hole while you shut them. And the frameless home windows add to an affordable/tacky feeling general. Luxurious vehicles ought to have a satisfying and strong “thunk” while you shut the doorways. Minor level, but it surely’s one thing you expertise each time you utilize the automobile.

-That is one other minor level, however the automotive has an undefeatable startup sound and undefeatable, loud, and really cheesy-sounding pedestrian warning noise at low velocity. It kind of sounds just like the noise made when UFOs fly in Fifties films – maybe made on a theremin? Not the largest deal, however once more, it is one thing you expertise each time you utilize the automobile.

-That is for principally all EVs now, sadly: the contact panel HVAC controls are insufferably unhealthy. This may by no means, ever, ever be okay. They’re laborious to navigate and albeit harmful to make use of whereas in movement. Whereas buttons and dials had grown uncontrolled with late mannequin German vehicles, having nearly ZERO buttons is far worse. I am certain the market will right for this over time, and I am unable to await that day to return.

-There is not any alcantara possibility for the roofliner. That is fully unacceptable for a $100k-range automotive.

-The pure leather-based is so extremely luxurious. It feels extra luxurious than the merino leather-based in my X5m. It’s totally high-quality grain, and it is value each penny. Even after they elevated the worth by $1k. If pressured to, I would contemplate paying $10k for it over the sensatec, which my father has in his iX (yeah, we have now owned 3 iXes in my household). Sensatec is tough and simply feels low cost. Sensafin’s one other story. I’ve since check pushed a pair 2024 X5s with it, and I’ve to say it is fairly good. I nonetheless desire actual leather-based, but when BMW strikes fully away from actual leather-based, Sensafin’s actually not unhealthy in any respect, and I desire it strongly to the cheapo Dakota and Vernasca leathers on lesser BMWs.

-The necessary panoramic electrochromic roof. It really works simply high-quality, however when it breaks, the restore prices over $10k. Others have posted about it on this discussion board. It is particularly NOT coated by BMW’s windshield restore program. The restore is not a easy substitute, but it surely requires an enormous disassembly that includes removing of a lot of the physique beneath. I consistently lived in worry of this occurring, and it’d find yourself being an costly hit to my insurance coverage. I would a lot desire the automotive to be cheaper and have the choice of an everyday roof. I do not care a few sunroof in any respect, and even when it had been a zero-dollar possibility, I would select an everyday steel roof over this factor.

-This brings me to the largest con of all: restore instances. All vehicles break, and all vehicles want repairs. I used to be lucky to have an iX that did not have any main intrinsic issues, so I did not must endure a cease sale or a prolonged manufacturing unit substitute of something. However out of 14 months of possession, I solely drove my automotive for six of them. Why? In 9/2022, about 1 month into possession, I facet swiped a low-set parking pole at work. It is solely like 2 ft tall, and it was in a bizarre place proper by the entrance of the parking spot. I would by no means pushed a automotive with IAS earlier than, so I wasn’t used to the tank-like steering, and I swiped it. Oh nicely. $hit occurs. Minor physique injury to the entrance fascia and quarter panel. Usually, this kind of factor would take every week or so, however no. This took 2 months. I get it….there is a elements delay, however that is nuts. I obtained my automotive again and loved it for six months, however I began searching for a 2024 iX to get freeway assistant. Commerce in values had been nonetheless affordable in March/April 2023, however then I check drove a 24 iX50, and the experience with out air suspension was distressingly worse. It was about as uncomfortable as my X5m. My spouse, who does not pay any consideration to vehicles, began getting nauseated and requested what’s improper with the automotive. I drove a couple of extra, throughout the vary with 20″, 21″, and 22″ wheels. The check drives had been standardized on the identical route, together with a pothole-ridden facet avenue by my office that REALLY assessments a suspension. All of the rides had been horrible. If my 2022 iX with 20″ wheels and air suspension will get a ten/10 for experience consolation, my dad’s 2023 iX50 (with air suspension) and 22″ wheels will get an 8, and all of the iXes with out air suspension get between a 2 and a 3. I gave up on the 2024 at that time, since I favored my automotive and could not get air suspension. Then in Might, a man rear-ended me at about 40 mph in an enormous dually in stop-and-go freeway visitors. The iX stored me secure and even remained drivable afterward. There was no injury to the drivetrain or battery. I took it to the largest BMW collision middle the place I dwell (in DFW), after which chaos ensued.

The driving force was an undocumented employee. Happily, I took video of the occasion, and it confirmed him in a tee shirt promoting the corporate to which the automobile was registered and insured. The proprietor was in Mexico and took nearly all the time allowable by legislation to reply. He lastly did, which allowed HIS insurance coverage firm to start out paying the tab, since his employee was accountable. Previous to that, it was on MY dime and MY deductible. The collision middle estimated damages round $25k (that invoice is now round $40k, regardless of there being zero drivetrain/battery injury). State Farm obtained me right into a rental, and amazingly, they contemplate a TESLA MODEL 3 as “comparable” to the iX. A mannequin 3. A 40k piece of rubbish. Okay. Positive. If it is for a pair weeks or so, no huge deal. However no. This wasn’t a pair weeks. Might became June, after which July. The elements had been delayed indefinitely. I began to inquire about simply buying and selling the automobile as is, however I did not just like the offers I used to be seeing, and I used to be instructed issues would transfer “any day now”, so I continued on this method for an ADDITIONAL THREE MONTHS. The final story went like this: “hey we obtained a lot of the elements, however we’re simply ready on this one further factor.” Then that “one further factor” would arrive, they usually’d understand they wanted one other “one further factor.” Then some bull$hit glue could be wanted, and that wanted to return from Detroit, then go to Germany for approval, then come to Texas. I gave up. 3 weeks in the past I requested the dealership to make me a suggestion on the automobile as is. They did, and with the cash insurance coverage paid for diminished worth and time misplaced from work, it was ok for me to simply finish this nightmare. I took benefit of the lease deal and leased a totally loaded iX60. The 2022 iX STILL is not repaired as of right now.

2023 Tesla Mannequin 3

I drove this cell bathroom for six months, so this is my evaluate.

Execs
-green gentle chime. It needs to be customary on all vehicles.
-Autopilot does not require hands-on very a lot. It capabilities nearly like freeway assistant, simply not nearly as good.
-The display screen is sweet
-The vitality utilization show is totally implausible. That is simply so very nicely finished, and it permits me (clearly an obsessive man, per this publish) to feed my dependancy to quasi-meaningless information

Cons
-The construct high quality is a joke. The whole lot pops, squeaks, and rattles.
-The pretend leather-based is actually one of many worst supplies I’ve felt. It wears shortly, trying like 20-year-old cracked leather-based in a few month.
-The experience high quality is a joke.
-The NVH is off the charts. I would guess Elon’s Area X rockets have much less cabin noise than this.
-The windshield. This factor rejects zero warmth, and it made me recognize the iX’s barely orange thermal defend on the windshield. It makes me surprise if Elon secretly designed it this option to attempt to burn us peons like ants within the solar beneath a magnifying glass.
-As a result of I used to be in a mannequin 3 for six months, I stored having to trade for brand spanking new ones at Hertz as soon as each 60 days (per coverage). There is a saying: “no 2 Teslas are the identical.” I can confirm this. All of them had their bizarre foibles. And so they weren’t overused vehicles. All of them had <10k miles on them.
-No CarPlay. This stopped me from even contemplating a Mannequin S or X within the first place, earlier than I check drove them for enjoyable a couple of years in the past. CarPlay is simply so significantly better than some other interface, together with BMW’s.
-And my pals’ newer Mannequin Ses are the identical because the Mannequin 3: low high quality vehicles constructed by a very fascinating tech firm that occurs to construct vehicles.

2024 ix60Pros
-The standard. I am unable to stress sufficient how jarring it’s to go from a Tesla to an iX. It is simply SO, SO, SO significantly better. The match and end are superb. Zero issues rattle. I believe that is truly slightly higher put collectively than the 2022 iX I had. At 70 mph, I measure 61 dB(A) within the cabin, which is 1 decibel quieter than my final iX. This brings me to the following level:

-21″ wheels. I used to be afraid that the larger wheel and 255/50 tires (in comparison with the 20″ wheels and 235/60 tires) and stiffened suspension within the m collection would lead to an uncomfortable experience. They did not. On the size I described earlier, I give this automotive a 9.5/10 for consolation when driving that standardized test-drive route I discussed. This was an enormous, enormous aid, since I would by no means pushed an m mannequin with 21″ wheels.

-The startup sounds/pedestrian warning noise are completely different on the m mannequin. The startup sound is a really satisfying growl, and the pedestrian noise is each a lot better-sounding and quieter. I want I may simply disable all these, however a minimum of now I truly just like the noises. (and sure, I’ve disabled the silly iconic sounds)

-Freeway assistant. It is good. I’ve pushed about 500 miles now with it, and it simply works. It jogs my memory of the massive tech leaps I’ve skilled in my life, just like the transition to HDTV, the introduction of the iPhone, the change from PC to Mac round 2008, fiber web, and many others.

-Storm grey. That is my first non-black automotive I’ve ever owned. It is simply beautiful, and the colour is a bit completely different relying on the lighting. In direct daylight, it is particularly implausible.

-BW sound – wow! I used to put in automotive stereos one million years in the past, so I’ve an ear for high quality sound, and that is one of the best I’ve ever heard in a manufacturing unit system

Cons
-Regardless of the lease deal, this factor continues to be costly.

-I did not really need or want the m60, however this was the one option to get all of the options I would like with out putting a particular order. And when you spec out a 50 equally, it is nearly 110k anyway.

-Concern. I dwell in fixed worry of one thing occurring to this automotive, after which it’s going to be the identical bull$hit once more with the restore store.