[masmole]

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As posted on the other thread, M60 was there in its dark charcoal glory. Looked sharp! And like everyone has already said, once you see these new huge BMW kidney grilles in person, they’re really not bad at all, especially on a larger car like the iX. It almost looks normal, to be honest. I stuck around to observe random peoples’ reactions to it and contrary to all the negative reactions I’ve observed on car forums, they were overwhelmingly positive at the auto show. Most comments were “beautiful”, “futuristic”, “stylish”, “sharp” and so on. I heard one person say the grille was “too big” but generally loved the car anyway.

They also had a blue ridge mountain iX xDrive50 there, not on display floor but at a small indoor test drive course for rides. Since it was an indoor course, visitors were not allowed to drive it. Instead they had staff giving people rides who recited scripted feature highlights about the car along the way. On the same course, they also had an i4 and a Kia EV6. Rode them all. The iX was by far the nicest one to ride in. EV6 was really nice in person but after being inside and riding on the 2 BMW EVs and the EV6 back to back, the EV6 is not even the same league as far as luxury and perceivable quality, which is understandable because the iX is nearly twice the price. Just figured I’d mention it here since it seems a few of you are actually cross-shopping the iX with the EV6 despite being more of an Apples to Oranges comparison. In beginning of the test ride, they gave the iX a full launch. Impressive acceleration as expected that felt stronger than what the 4.6s 0-60 stat sheet suggests. Plenty of go that a big SUV has any right to have.

About the seats. They are very comfortable. I was very impressed. I know some here were concerned about the lack of extendable thigh support and bolstering. Perhaps you taller people might still find issue with this, but me and my wife being of average heights, she’s 5’4 and I’m 5’9, I find no need for additional thigh support. We actually have power extendable thigh supports in both our Audis with comfort seats and my M5, but honestly, I’ve never needed to extend them, so don’t miss it on the iX, and the iX’s front seats are more comfortable than all of our current cars. As far as lack of bolstering, I don’t find fault in this either. I see BMW was going for a lounge sofa effect and that’s what we’ve got, and it’s great! Perhaps the M60 variant at least deserves an option for sportier bolstered seats but I’m fine with the standard leather seats as I experienced them. The rear seats are about the most luxurious 2nd row I’ve experienced from any SUV, though admittedly I haven’t been inside a Rolls Cullinan. Rear trunk space is smaller than I expected, but should be adequate for most family road trips we’d dare take an EV on.

I brought my kids along, and they loved it. My daughter loved the i4 more but I think only because it was blue and she loves blue cars. They both preferred the black iX M60 over the blue ridge mountain iX, so I guess that’s enough justification to get the M60 instead?! lol.

Anyhow, I walked away impressed and now fairly confident that this will become our family’s first EV.

[Paladin1]

Great writeup and cute kids!

[masmole]

Forgot to add, that both M60 and xDrive50 seemed to be US-spec cars since they both had the amber and red side reflectors by the respective fore and aft wheel wells as required on US cars. Interesting observations though: No privacy glass on the rear doors of the M60 but the xDrive50 had it, and both cars had the 22” wheels (bright on xDrive50 and black on M60), but while the xDrive50 wore 275/40/22 Pirelli PZero summer performance tires, the M60 had 275/40/20 Bridgestone Alenza ALL-SEASON touring tires. I figured it would’ve been the other way around.

[Paladin1]

Noticed no fog lights on the US versions either (a la the current X models). Euro seems to have at least rear fog (which I believe is a requirement). <sigh> Some things I'll miss from my X5....

[patrobX5]

Originally Posted by masmole

Great pics, thanks for posting!

Is that Storm Bay Metallic paint colour?

[masmole]

Originally Posted by patrobX5

Great pics, thanks for posting!

Is that Storm Bay Metallic paint colour?

blue ridge mountain, according to the rep there.

[robby818]

The color of the M60 looks like Black Sapphire. Under bright lights, the metallic in Black Sapphire sparkles like in the photos. The lack of contrast with the glossy black plastics makes me think this is Black Sapphire and not Sophisto Grey.

UPDATE: Yeah, that's Black Sapphire, not grey. Black really suits the iX especially the M60. I think it makes the grill look better.

[patrobX5]

Originally Posted by masmole

blue ridge mountain, according to the rep there.

ok thanks!

[masmole]

Originally Posted by robby818

The color of the M60 looks like Black Sapphire. Under bright lights, the metallic in Black Sapphire sparkles like in the photos. The lack of contrast with the glossy black plastics makes me think this is Black Sapphire and not Sophisto Grey.

UPDATE: Yeah, that's Black Sapphire, not grey. Black really suits the iX especially the M60. I think it makes the grill look better.

Could be. Even in person, it was hard to judge due to the varied lighting from adjacent displays at the show. I have seen BMWs in black sapphire before, and this iX M60 seemed like it had more hints of brown-purple-grey from different angles and did not look like black sapphire as I knew it. Another argument for the likelihood of it not being black sapphire metallic is that BMW NA’s release bulletin does not list black sapphire as an available color for the M60. The color selections for the M60 drops mineral white, sophisto grey, and black sapphire from the regular iX color options and replaces them with Dark graphite metallic and Oxide grey metallic. I know some have argued that DGM and Sophisto are the same color but named for different markets, but if this is indeed black sapphire, then this US-spec car at the auto show is unique in that it not meant to be a standard available color option for US-spec M60. Anyhow, regardless of what color this really is, I agree with you - the iX looks fantastic in black or whatever dark shade of grey that looks almost like black, sophisto or dgm or carbon black included!

Colors for iX M60 from BMW NA Press release documents:

Alpine White (STD)
• Dark Graphite Metallic
• Phytonic Blue Metallic
• Blue Ridge Mountain Metallic
• Storm Bay Metallic
• Oxide Grey Metallic
• Aventurin Red Metallic

[hugo_nz]

Oxide grey has been added to the entire lineup as an option. For the New Zealand market it’s the third individual colour (along with Aventurine Red and Storm Bay Metallic).

[Paladin1]

Dealer and SA told me that Sophisto Grey and DGM are not exactly the same color (I can't tell the difference in photos, and I think the difference is A90 and B90 in the color codes), and apparently Sophisto Grey had been added to the US market for this car. Auto Show M60 looks like DGM. I did check out the Sapphire Black on an X5M and it was hard in the showroom light to distinguish from Jet Black unless you got within a couple of inches (although I know in bright sunlight it looks different). Oxide Grey has almost tan or gold overtones. BMW paints are famous for their almost birefringent colors. Would be nice to see on the actual cars at a dealer....

[masmole]

Anyone know (seen) how similar Oxide gray is to the M5's Donnington grey? My M5c is in Donnington grey and while I have not seen Oxide grey in person, the internet pics I've found of Oxide makes it look so much like Donnington that I wonder if it's the same color but just renamed.

[slampert]

Nice writeup Masmole! I'm sure the iX50 vs M60 decision is now even more difficult to resolve.... I assume the show environment did not lend itself to having a quiet moment to demo the B&W system assuming the vehicles were so equipped. Something to look forward to in the near future....

[nosnoop]

Originally Posted by masmole

Another argument for the likelihood of it not being black sapphire metallic is that BMW NA’s release bulletin does not list black sapphire as an available color for the M60.
Colors for iX M60 from BMW NA Press release documents:
Alpine White (STD)
• Dark Graphite Metallic
• Phytonic Blue Metallic
• Blue Ridge Mountain Metallic
• Storm Bay Metallic
• Oxide Grey Metallic
• Aventurin Red Metallic

In the configurator in Canada for the M60, we also have Black Sapphire as well as Mineral White in additional to the colors above.
All colors except Aventurine Red and Storm Bay are no charge options.

[B///MWGuy]

Any opinion on unadjustable headrest?
I heard shorter folks could be uncomfortable due to the metal insert piece under the headrest as they could be resting their head on it.

[ggalanis]

Originally Posted by B///MWGuy

Any opinion on unadjustable headrest?
I heard shorter folks could be uncomfortable due to the metal insert piece under the headrest as they could be resting their head on it.

I don't think there is much that can be done about it for shorter people other than to use one of those pillows from the X7 headrests.

[masmole]

Originally Posted by B///MWGuy

Any opinion on unadjustable headrest?
I heard shorter folks could be uncomfortable due to the metal insert piece under the headrest as they could be resting their head on it.

No issues here for me and wife at 5'9 and 5'4 respectively. Seats were very comfy for both of us. From the looks of it, you'd have to be shorter than about 5'2 to have the problem you speak of.

[yousefnjr]

Wish my wife would pick up that M60. Thanks for sharing.

[PhilD]

Originally Posted by masmole

No issues here for me and wife at 5'9 and 5'4 respectively. Seats were very comfy for both of us. From the looks of it, you'd have to be shorter than about 5'2 to have the problem you speak of.

Hmmmm... will be interesting to see if my wife has any comments after her test drive tomorrow. She's just under 5'2".

[masmole]

Originally Posted by PhilD

Hmmmm... will be interesting to see if my wife has any comments after her test drive tomorrow. She's just under 5'2".

The height threshold could very well be shorter... 5'2 was just a guess from me. Hopefully your wife finds no issue.

[T_N_C]

This is growing on me then again never hated the look and bet in person is gonna be even better.

[paul223]

To me all BMW current SUVs are ugly except for x7. Last gen x5 was masculine n beautiful.