[Jason]

ARTICLES:

Autocar
Autoexpress
BMWBlog
Offaly Express
PA Motoring
Pistonheads
Whichcar

[Rawhide]

This guy does a pretty good job on reviews too:

[prei1978]

I don't understand why BMW removed the gear selector stalk. I have a G23 M440xi and an F54 JCW Clubman and in both cars, I drive manual and at low speeds in traffic, I tend to have one hand on the wheel and one hand on the gear selector to shift up and down. When driving on the limit I have both hands on the wheel and use the paddles for gear changes. I love it. It provides the best experience in all driving modes and no, I do not and will not drive my cars in full auto because the transmission never seems to do what I want it to do.

Of all changes in the cabin that is the most offensive to me. I can learn to live with climate control switches on the big screen, but there is no replacement for the functionality the gear selector lever gave me.

[DocWeatherington]

Curious to see what the American magazines day or if any handling metrics improved. It's the class benchmark

[mondayze]

Originally Posted by prei1978

I don't understand why BMW removed the gear selector stalk. I have a G23 M440xi and an F54 JCW Clubman and in both cars, I drive manual and at low speeds in traffic, I tend to have one hand on the wheel and one hand on the gear selector to shift up and down. When driving on the limit I have both hands on the wheel and use the paddles for gear changes. I love it. It provides the best experience in all driving modes and no, I do not and will not drive my cars in full auto because the transmission never seems to do what I want it to do.

Of all changes in the cabin that is the most offensive to me. I can learn to live with climate control switches on the big screen, but there is no replacement for the functionality the gear selector lever gave me.

If you drive so much with a gear selector you should just buy a manual lol

[prei1978]

Originally Posted by mondayze

If you drive so much with a gear selector you should just buy a manual lol

If they offered one, yeah, by all means. Alas for those cars it is no longer an option.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by prei1978

I don't understand why BMW removed the gear selector stalk. I have a G23 M440xi and an F54 JCW Clubman and in both cars, I drive manual and at low speeds in traffic, I tend to have one hand on the wheel and one hand on the gear selector to shift up and down. When driving on the limit I have both hands on the wheel and use the paddles for gear changes. I love it. It provides the best experience in all driving modes and no, I do not and will not drive my cars in full auto because the transmission never seems to do what I want it to do.

Of all changes in the cabin that is the most offensive to me. I can learn to live with climate control switches on the big screen, but there is no replacement for the functionality the gear selector lever gave me.

Because they’re stupid!! The same reason they removed physical buttons for things that should have physical buttons. Rather than lead these days they’re following….right over the cliff.

[sikotic]

Originally Posted by prei1978

I don't understand why BMW removed the gear selector stalk. I have a G23 M440xi and an F54 JCW Clubman and in both cars, I drive manual and at low speeds in traffic, I tend to have one hand on the wheel and one hand on the gear selector to shift up and down. When driving on the limit I have both hands on the wheel and use the paddles for gear changes. I love it. It provides the best experience in all driving modes and no, I do not and will not drive my cars in full auto because the transmission never seems to do what I want it to do.

Of all changes in the cabin that is the most offensive to me. I can learn to live with climate control switches on the big screen, but there is no replacement for the functionality the gear selector lever gave me.

I do the same thing

[wdeerfield]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

Because they're stupid!! The same reason they removed physical buttons for things that should have physical buttons. Rather than lead these days they're following….right over the cliff.

It's cheaper to program a touchscreen than physical buttons. It's all about cost cutting while trying to convince the customer it's better.

[JonDT]

Originally Posted by prei1978

I don't understand why BMW removed the gear selector stalk. I have a G23 M440xi and an F54 JCW Clubman and in both cars, I drive manual and at low speeds in traffic, I tend to have one hand on the wheel and one hand on the gear selector to shift up and down. When driving on the limit I have both hands on the wheel and use the paddles for gear changes. I love it. It provides the best experience in all driving modes and no, I do not and will not drive my cars in full auto because the transmission never seems to do what I want it to do.

Of all changes in the cabin that is the most offensive to me. I can learn to live with climate control switches on the big screen, but there is no replacement for the functionality the gear selector lever gave me.

100% agree with you. This is one of the many reasons I just bought a CPO 2021 G20 M340i rather than a new LCI one.

[TractionControlDelete]

Looks like the F90. I like it

[AP]

Tempted to send Bmw a dictionary with page open at "E" with the word ergonomics underlined and ask their designer to read it because the people designing their latest cars obviously are not familiar with it.

I could rant on but all it will do is raise my blood pressure. I will simply not buy the car

[440i6MT]

Originally Posted by AP

Tempted to send Bmw a dictionary with page open at "E" with the word ergonomics underlined and ask their designer to read it because the people designing their latest cars obviously are not familiar with it.

I could rant on but all it will do is raise my blood pressure. I will simply not buy the car

Hard to believe this is the same company that designed the f06

[Unbuckled2579]

Originally Posted by Rawhide

This guy does a pretty good job on reviews too:

Love this dude. He is so unapologetically German in the best way possible.

[Unbuckled2579]

Originally Posted by prei1978

I don't understand why BMW removed the gear selector stalk. I have a G23 M440xi and an F54 JCW Clubman and in both cars, I drive manual and at low speeds in traffic, I tend to have one hand on the wheel and one hand on the gear selector to shift up and down. When driving on the limit I have both hands on the wheel and use the paddles for gear changes. I love it. It provides the best experience in all driving modes and no, I do not and will not drive my cars in full auto because the transmission never seems to do what I want it to do.

Of all changes in the cabin that is the most offensive to me. I can learn to live with climate control switches on the big screen, but there is no replacement for the functionality the gear selector lever gave me.

Since the new Alpina B3 still has the lever, I wonder if we'll be able to buy a third party option at some point.

[Tallest]

Are there any reviews of the non Msport car I wonder...

[Jimjamz]

Originally Posted by mondayze

If you drive so much with a gear selector you should just buy a manual lol

Shame they don't offer a manual anymore either (unless you get an undertuned M3). Both BMW and Porsche are removing the gear selector stalk functions so you have to use the paddles. Not a good trend. The race to full auto is gathering pace. Soon enough with full autonomous driving the steering wheels will start disappearing as well!

[mondayze]

Originally Posted by Jimjamz

Shame they don't offer a manual anymore either (unless you get an undertuned M3). Both BMW and Porsche are removing the gear selector stalk functions so you have to use the paddles. Not a good trend. The race to full auto is gathering pace. Soon enough with full autonomous driving the steering wheels will start disappearing as well!

They under tuned the manual M3 so people wont blow their transmission trying to launch the car lol

[MachinesWithSouls]

Originally Posted by sikotic

I do the same thing

I hate the removal of climate control buttons, I do agree. And I'd rather have a shifter, but I will ask, are you sure the car won't shift how you'd like?

I've driven a bunch of ZF BMWs and the trans has always been pretty flawless.

[mondayze]

Originally Posted by Unbuckled2579

Love this dude. He is so unapologetically German in the best way possible.

the most german jawline lol

[BklynNYBMW]

After reading some of these reviews and watching the youtube videos. Chances are I will be buying my current M340i xdrive at the end of the lease. Seems like the updated version is missing / not available a few features of my current 3. No power trunk, laser lights, heated rear seats, missing buttons for a/c, fan, temp and, toggle switch instead of a shifter. Even with these missing features the price is about the same as mine and I ordered Tanzanite
Maybe I am in the minority but I don't think the LCI makes it look more aggressive. I think it actually looks less so with some of the lines removed.
Also there isn't much upgrade in terms of power and handling. The new interior with the new instrument panel and toggle gear (not a fan) isn't enough to make me really want to get the newer version. I remember years back when BMW brought out the 7 and put the shifter on the steering column. A few years later with the following generation the shifter was back in the console. Maybe we will get lucky like that
Maybe when the all new version finally arrives in a few years that will peak my interest. Would like to hear what you guys and girls think
__________________________________________________ _________________________
2017 X6 5.0 MSport, Carbon Black Metallic w/ black leather. All options except vented seats and B/O sound system. AKA the Tumbler
2021 M340i xdrive. Tanzanite Blue with W/Oyster with Red Calipers. All options except Adaptive M suspension, Driver Assistance Professional Package, Cooling and High Performance Tire package. AKA Blue Angel
*Retired 04/30/21: 2018 340i MSport Xdrive sedan. Glacier Silver w/Oyster. All options except active cruise control and window shades. AKA Airstream

[peelerec]

Originally Posted by BklynNYBMW

After reading some of these reviews and watching the youtube videos. Chances are I will be buying my current M340i xdrive at the end of the lease. Seems like the updated version is missing / not available a few features of my current 3. No power trunk, laser lights, heated rear seats, missing buttons for a/c, fan, temp and, toggle switch instead of a shifter. Even with these missing features the price is about the same as mine and I ordered Tanzanite
Maybe I am in the minority but I don't think the LCI makes it look more aggressive. I think it actually looks less so with some of the lines removed.
Also there isn't much upgrade in terms of power and handling. The new interior with the new instrument panel and toggle gear (not a fan) isn't enough to make me really want to get the newer version. I remember years back when BMW brought out the 7 and put the shifter on the steering column. A few years later with the following generation the shifter was back in the console. Maybe we will get lucky like that
Maybe when the all new version finally arrives in a few years that will peak my interest. Would like to hear what you guys and girls think
__________________________________________________ _________________________
2017 X6 5.0 MSport, Carbon Black Metallic w/ black leather. All options except vented seats and B/O sound system. AKA the Tumbler
2021 M340i xdrive. Tanzanite Blue with W/Oyster with Red Calipers. All options except Adaptive M suspension, Driver Assistance Professional Package, Cooling and High Performance Tire package. AKA Blue Angel
*Retired 04/30/21: 2018 340i MSport Xdrive sedan. Glacier Silver w/Oyster. All options except active cruise control and window shades. AKA Airstream

Totally agree 100%. I don't appreciate the new screen and design as well as the toggle switch. Imo, the new face and rear are hideous.