The louder engine sound and busier ride of the LCI gave it a more raw sporty feel compared to the LCI2 which seemed much more mature in comparison.

BHPian Santoshbhat recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

I managed to test the updated LCI model (LCI 2) and the pre-update LCI model (LCI) back to back and here are my observations.

Both cars drove into BLR town. The LCI2 from the house to the Kun Lavelle road showroom and the LCI from the showroom, back home (north BLR). As I drove both cars back to back and on pretty much the same roads, I was able to get a good feel for how the LCI2 changed compared to the LCI.

First the LCI2. Brand new car with only 50 km on the clock. I was able to quickly adjust the seat and steering to a comfortable position. I’m 6’2″ for the ref. The engine started smoothly. The first thing their sales manager mentioned was that the LCI2 is quieter than the LCI, especially on cold start. It doesn’t roar like the LCI. I hope that’s not the case! The new flat-bottomed steering wheel was nice to hold. The large flat screen that houses the infotainment system and instrument cluster, although stylish with some. high resolution graphics, seemed a little overwhelming for someone like me, used to simple, clean analog dials. Within a few seconds of driving, I could tell it was a comfortable car. It was quiet and absorbent and felt like a real car. luxury These are roads that I know very well. I know how the X3 and the GTI behave on these roads every time I go in and out of my house. the Bellary road to get an idea of ​​driving in the “rigid” framework. Bellary Road and I was able to rev up a bit in both comfort and sport to unleash the power. The power delivered is quite linear. There is no sudden burst of torque that I get in my 30d X3. In comfort mode, the exhaust note was rather muted. In sport mode, the sound got a little louder, what you’ll call a low growl. I expected more. We enabled “signature sounds” in the menu, which improved things by playing sound through the speakers. I also had a few pops and bangs. The steering was light and direct with good feedback.

Once we arrived at the showroom, we hopped into the LCI and headed home the same route. It was a demonstration car with 5,000 km on the odometer. Immediately you could tell the car was noisier. When starting it was louder and even at parking speed it was noticeably louder. They say that the LCI has been calmed compared to the pre-LCI. I can definitely say that the LCI2 is quieter than the LCI! Apart from that, two other observations that I was able to make very quickly. First, the management. LCI management seemed heavier, but lacked feedback. We felt a little disconnected in the straight ahead position while the LCI2’s steering was precise, more direct and lighter. There have definitely been some adjustments here. Second, the suspension. Immediately, the ruts and imperfections made themselves felt. It was stiff and reminded me of the feel of my GTI on such roads. On the move, the ride was rougher and busier while the LCI2 was smooth and flat on the same surfaces.

The louder engine sound and busier ride of the LCI gave it a more raw sporty feel compared to the LCI2 which seemed much more mature in comparison. Overall, the LCI2 definitely seemed like a more enjoyable car to drive around town. Steering feel in the LCI was a bit disappointing. I don’t know if this was a problem with this car in question. In my X3, the steering becomes heavier in sport mode, but it also loses some feedback and feels artificial. It was a bit like that. The LCI 2’s steering was lighter and offered more feedback, very reminiscent of the X3’s comfort-tune steering feel.

Besides the addition of the adaptive M suspension, other changes to the LCI2 are

• Full leather seats instead of part Alcantara. I’m used to hard BMW seats
• Modified AC vents, similar to new X5/5 series, etc.
• Flat bottom steering wheel
• There is a dedicated button to disable auto start/stop next to the engine start button. I was unable to locate this in the LCI.
• The new design all black wheels are not as attractive as those of the LCI

Other observations

• The overall build quality and material quality are top notch.
• Rear seat legroom in my driver’s seating position was average.
• The new switch shifter is such a disappointment. It’s so delicate and strange.
• Physical buttons for AC etc. who I sorely missed. I had difficulty navigating various items on the move.
• I didn’t bother turning on the music system.

I know a short city trip like this is no way to judge a car like this. I know what my X3 is capable of on the highway. In the city, I can’t even realize 20% of its potential. This dynamic must be considered in this perspective. I’m sure the M340i is a beast on the open road.

According to the sales manager, there may be only one black LCI car available at the factory. They are offering this at 85.60L OTR. The LCI2 arrives at 93L OTR. I haven’t had the breakup yet, these are just verbal numbers given to me. The 5K done demo car is available at 79L OTR, if anyone is interested.

The big question (perhaps hypothetical given the lack of availability): is the LCI2 worth 7.4 lakhs more than the LCI? I think the LCI2 will also have much better body control on the highway. The adaptive suspension is a pretty advanced piece of kit. Just because it’s more comfortable doesn’t mean it will have more body roll. I’m sure it will be rock solid in this sporting setting. The quiet is a bit depressing. I’m sure it’s repairable with an MPE. But this means additional expenses. I know how well the adaptive suspension works in my X3 and I’m sure I regret not choosing it when it was available. After driving both back to back, it would have to be LCI2 over LCI if I were to buy at this point, despite the higher price.

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