[BMWBear]

Serious question ... we looked at a new GLS63 in Moonlight Blue w/ black accents today and wow. We love everything about it. In pictures we didn’t think much of it but in person it really has a presence over the lower GLS models. For those of you who bought the XB7 why did you choose it over the GLS63?

[Caruser1]

Originally Posted by BYEIL

Serious question ... we looked at a new GLS63 in Moonlight Blue w/ black accents today and wow. We love everything about it. In pictures we didn’t think much of it but in person it really has a presence over the lower GLS models. For those of you who bought the XB7 why did you choose it over the GLS63?

Fwiw: had 2 gl63/gls63 in a row following 2 gl550s. Had a few problems with each one but the second 63 was the last straw for me with MB. One problem after another. Radiator, suspension, struts. The reliability was v poor. And the mbusa service was incompetent and arrogant. Loved driving it, but when the xb7 came along I was happy to finally have a real choice.

I did test the gls63 before choosing the xb7, just to be sure, but I preferred the more nimble feel of the xb7. Interior of the gls63 was very luxurious, but the alpina just overall felt a little more special to me as a car.

Final detail for me was the configurability of the second row seats. In the gls, they don’t go as far forward as the xb7. That was sub-optimal for me because I wanted more room in the 3rd row which I can get by sliding the 2nd row forward. In the gls, the 2nd row has a lot of space but can’t travel forward as much which prevents allocating more space to the 3rd row. Small detail but was a minor factor for me.

Hope that helps. I’m sure to drive you’ll enjoy either.

[CruiseControl]

I can take pretty much what Caruser1 said, with a few modifications and replace the GLS model -

I owned a GLS450 before my current x7 4.0. I prefer the more nimble feel of the x7. The interior of the GLS was nice, but the x7 just overall feels a little more special to me as a car. 😉

[LittleJoe]

I owned a GL 550 and two GLS 550's, never a GLS 63 although I test drove several. The issue for me was the thigh blosters in the GLS 63, they cannot be adjusted and always found them to be uncomfortable. As for the 2021 GLS 63, I posted pics of one at my local dealership. It's a nice looking SUV but was just tad plain-vanilla looking IMO. The interior is very nice but those handlebars and the MBUX touchpad are annoying. I did test drive several GLE 450's and found it tricky to use the touchpad while driving. I prefer the scroll wheel used by BMW. Also MBUX does not utilize the entire 12.3" screen for CarPlay which is odd and they don't support wireless CarPlay which is unforgivable IMO. MB appears to half-heartedly support CarPlay because they want their owners to only use their built-in tech.

When I jump in my X7 CarPlay comes to life without me touching my iPhone and uses the entire 12.3" screen to present CarPlay beautifully. BMW is way ahead of MB in this area. Buyers are being draw into MBUX because it's big and shiny but not as practical for everyday use compared to BMW.

There are two areas where the GLS excels (for me), more room behind the third row and more legroom in the second row when optioned with captains chairs. On the downside, the GLS's I owned did have some mechanical issues that the shop took care of. To date I haven't had one issue with our X7.

In the end, I would buy the ALPINA XB7.

[CruiseControl]

Looks like BMW may be heading in the direction of the big shiny screen too, as represented in the new BMW iX, keeping the scroll wheel though.

[bemagrp]

First ever, in dealer inventory, ALPINA BLUE METALLIC XB7!!!! Enjoy!!!

https://www.winslowbmw.com/new/BMW/2...a4a0dddf68.htm

[604MIIC]

Not digging the wheels, colors are nice tho, love the tartufo

[bemagrp]

Originally Posted by 604MIIC

Not digging the wheels, colors are nice tho, love the tartufo

In my opinion, choosing 21" on XB7 was very bad decision.
Mine will be on 23", but same color combo:

Model Year
2021
Model Code / Desc.
21SQ X7 ALPINA
Color Code / Desc.
X06 (Ind) ALPINA Blue Metallic
Upholstery Code / Desc.
ZBTQ (Ind) Tartufo Full Merino Leather

Options:
300 - Space-saver spare
407 - Panoramic Sky Lounge LED Roof
4NN - 5-zone auto climate control
6F1 - Bowers & Wilkins sound system
6FH - Rear-seat entertainment
X2A - (Ind) 23" ALPINA CS16 Perf Non-RF
XES - (Ind) ALPINA Walnut Nature Black Tri
ZLT - Shadowline exterior trim

[CruiseControl]

Originally Posted by bemagrp

First ever, in dealer inventory, ALPINA BLUE METALLIC XB7!!!! Enjoy!!!

https://www.winslowbmw.com/new/BMW/2...a4a0dddf68.htm

Not feelin that. Could be all the chrome including the wheels.

[LittleJoe]

Here are the pics. I really like ALPINA Blue and the wheels kind of work with the chrome hockey sticks. The 23" wheels should be bright silver like these wheels.

[Auricom]

It really needs full shadowline option or all satin alum/SS. All of the chrome bits clash with the shadowline window trim and roof rails especially on ALPINA blue but looks passable on MW.

[BMWBear]

Yikes ...these wheels really make it look dated. Im all about retro but there are terrible.

[robbys3m3]

Originally Posted by Auricom

It really needs full shadowline option or all satin alum/SS. All of the chrome bits clash with the shadowline window trim and roof rails especially on ALPINA blue but looks passable on MW.

yup! the good news is my wife and I really like the alpine blue so im glad we ordered it. bad news, we will definitely want to be toning down all the chrome. as I look at our current 40i msport, the black trim color doesn't look just jet black...more like a black chrome id guess. if I order oem black kidney grilles I wonder if my body shop guy will be able to match? maybe just paint and PPF the ones on it and have it all the same gloss black that he paints.

[Auricom]

Originally Posted by robbys3m3

yup! the good news is my wife and I really like the alpine blue so im glad we ordered it. bad news, we will definitely want to be toning down all the chrome. as I look at our current 40i msport, the black trim color doesn't look just jet black...more like a black chrome id guess. if I order oem black kidney grilles I wonder if my body shop guy will be able to match? maybe just paint and PPF the ones on it and have it all the same gloss black that he paints.

The factory shadowline OEM grills should/will match the shadowline window and roof rails color. You can probably source the OEM shadowline trunk strip and hockey sticks from dealer parts dept.

[robbys3m3]

Good points!

[LittleJoe]

[bemagrp]

Alpina Blue Metallic XB7 with Lavalina leather available in Germany.

https://te-in.facebook.com/autobild/...5671057838060/

[LittleJoe]

Originally Posted by bemagrp

Alpina Blue Metallic XB7 with Lavalina leather available in Germany.

https://te-in.facebook.com/autobild/...5671057838060/

Thanks for the post. Lavalina leather is beautiful, too bad you can only get it in Europe.

[bemagrp]

Originally Posted by LittleJoe

Thanks for the post. Lavalina leather is beautiful, too bad you can only get it in Europe.

I agree on Lavalina...

[LittleJoe]

Originally Posted by bemagrp

I agree on Lavalina...

After you and I take delivery of our XB7's they'll start offering lavalina leather in the US market.

😩

[bemagrp]

Originally Posted by LittleJoe

After you and I take delivery of our XB7's they'll start offering lavalina leather in the US market.

😩

Joe,

It won't happened, I read somewhere that lavalina leather will not comply with airbags or something like that.
That is why they offer lavalina covered steering wheel.
We are safe from lavalina obsession.
Paying 17-22K or so for lavalina leather, in my opinion....

[LittleJoe]

ALPINA Blue Metallic now available on the US configurator.