BMW X3M & X4M Competition Models Light Up the Road and Track

Car Throttle thoroughly test the X3M and X4M Competition models and find out that BMW got them right on the first try.

One great thing about the popularity of crossovers and SUVs is that it gives automakers excuses to make special high-performance versions of them. Mercedes AMGs all of the things in its lineup and now BMW has applied the M treatment to its X3 and X4 models to create not only the X3M and X4M, but higher-output Competition versions of them as well.

Thomas Holland and James Engelsman from the popular YouTube channel Throttle House got the chance to drive both of the Competition models in New York. The fellows also took an up-close look at the new engine that’s under their hoods.

Holland says, “They come with a brand-new 3.0-liter inline-six M engine, the S58. An engine that produces 473 horsepower in the X3M and X4M variants and a savage 503 horsepower in the Competition variants.” Torque peaks at 442 lb-ft. BMW fitted the S58 with hardware that includes a forged crankshaft, a pair of mono-scroll turbos, 3D-printed parts, and a high-pressure fuel injection system.

The guys discover what those numbers translate into on pavement by taking an X4M Competition through all 22 of the Monticello Motor Club’s 4.1-mile track. After setting his test vehicle to Sport+ mode, Holland is pleasantly surprised by its handling. “It feels genuinely neutral in the corners.” He finds the throttle response equally impressive. Even after several laps and multiple stops from over 200 kph (124 mph), the brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires show no signs of fatigue. All you need to see for proof of the S58’s thrust is the smile on Holland’s and Engelsman’s faces. Although Holland doesn’t deem the X4M Competition a true track vehicle because of its size and center of gravity, he does give it credit where it’s due. “I worked up a sweat because you can push this car. You can push it to its limits. It’s predictable.”

Holland and Engelsman leave the track to find out how the X3M Competition handles public roads. They don’t travel far before agreeing that it looks better than its swoopier X4M Competition sibling. They can’t agree whether the X3M Competition’s last-generation iDrive system is better than the new version, though. Given its more traditional SUV dimensions, the X3M Competition has a generous amount of headroom and a massive full-length sunroof. It’s also roomy in the second row.

It gets even better once the duo is on the move. Holland calls the hardest-core X3 “the perfect blend of sporty and comfort.” He compares it to the Porsche Cayenne S. Although the Porsche’s front end is slightly more direct, Holland praises the X3M Competition for its superior exhaust note and for being “so well-sorted as a driver’s car.”

Ultimately, the X3M Comp’s biggest rival in Throttle House‘s review is…the X4M Competition. And the winner is clear. The X3 gets the checkered flag.

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Derek Shiekhi

Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.

After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.

While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.

Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.

In addition to writing for a variety of Internet Brands sites, including JK Forum, H-D Forums, The Mustang Source, Mustang Forums, LS1Tech, HondaTech, Jaguar Forums, YotaTech, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts. Derek also started There Will Be Cars on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.