[x7bmw23]

Originally Posted by fkim119

My Alpina was ordered in June and finally picked up on 12/10/20.

My first impressions of the XB7 is exactly what I thought it was going to be.

My current SUVs in the house are 2021 Audi SQ8, 2019 Porsche Macan S, 2018 Bentayga W12. With that being said, this drives different compared to anything else I've owned. I love cars. I appreciate each individual vehicles dynamics for they were intended to do. I was a track junky in an earlier life.

Some impressions so far...

1. I drove the X7 5.0M many times and I thought the transmission and shift points was not as intuitive, precise as it should be. At times it should shift too late and keep the RPM in a range where there was a lull in power. I had ordered and cancelled my X7 5.0M after my dealer got a car for me to test drive. The XB7's transmission programming is much improved. Although it isnt a dual clutch transmission, it does its best to mimic it and the larger turbos keep it out of a dead zone in power and torque. Even in comfort transmission programming, the improvement in transmission program and power curve is night and day noticeable.

2. It drives like any other Alpina. If you have driven Alpina's in EU or the B7 here, the recipe is the same. Seamless monster torque delivery, comfortable ride and enough things to differentiate it but not scream "look at me".

3. NO auto stop and start feature. Love that I don't have to turn it off each time I get in.

4. The pictures are taken in my Sport Individual mode. Suspension, and transmission is in comfort. However, in the "Sport Individual" mode it drops the suspension drive height even in the "comfort" setting. Steering set to sport for added sharpness in 4 steer and turn in. Even in the lower suspension with comfort, the ride is excellent. Honestly, you can't really tell the ride quality different between "comfort" and "Sport Individual Comfort Suspension" setting. Riding on 23's and on rubberbands, this is phenomenal. I found the "comfort plus" setting to feel too floaty and too much body roll.

5. The exhaust note is pretty noticeable with the windows down. Windows up, it is almost too quiet. I wish I could hear it more with the windows rolled up.

6. My sirius xm lost its signal and will not play. When I access the radio id, nothing is there. Somehow, there is no radio ID. Called Sirius to see if the trial was not turned on, and it was. I think the system needs a hard reset to get it working again. Total bummer.

7. I ordered the RSE with the advice of many on here but the 2021 RSE does not have a HDMI port. Total disappointment.


8. The brakes grab and they grab hard. I had a 2019 Cayenne Turbo ordered with carbon ceramic brakes. I feel like they bite and grab just as hard as that. Amazing.

Lots of BMW fanboys in my area. Gotten a lot of thumbs up and been asked what is it at Home depot. I spent all day yesterday painting correcting her.

I am having Huper Otik put on it right now. 200 miles put on her in the 3 days. Will post more thoughts once I get more seat time.

Pictures taken in "Sport Individual "driving mode which is my default driving mode.

Yo, she 🔥!! Looks good on them 23's

[nogaroblue]

Congratulations! Enjoy in good health!

[ellipsis212]

I really don't like SUVs in general, but between this beautiful machine and the RSQ8 you've got the 2 best IMO.

[cfm56d7b]

The car selections in your garage ought to warrant a visit from Carwow team to film the next episode.

XB7 is a star. Great choice!

[GOLFFRR]

awesome!!

[scottg61376]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

There are a few ways to do it. Rear hdmi by the Blu-ray player is probably the easiest. A hard drive full of movies or memory stick is by far the easiest way to have a very large movie library in the vehicle at all times. You can also mirror cast from your phone as well. If you have a newer Samsung Galaxy you can use “dex” in the rear as well for a pc experience and streaming hub.

I've normally taken the movies on a thumb drive approach, but being able to stream Hulu or Disney+ would be awesome. We are an iOS family...so thinking the only way to do it would be to install an AppleTV to use Airplay to.

Unless anyone else has a better idea...

[M3ditate]

Originally Posted by scottg61376

I've normally taken the movies on a thumb drive approach, but being able to stream Hulu or Disney+ would be awesome. We are an iOS family...so thinking the only way to do it would be to install an AppleTV to use Airplay to.

Unless anyone else has a better idea...

You're correct on using Apple TV as that's the only thing that will work with iPhone currently. Either that, or a lighting to HDMI attachment, or lightning to USBC attachment.

[fkim119]

Originally Posted by themnmd

Wow great ride! How much better is the interior in the B vs the X7 50?

The one thing that lacks is the interior differentiation other then a few Alpina only trim choices, different gauge cluster, blue lighting on the gear shifter and idrive controller, Alpina illuminated door sills, Alpina leather lined floor mats, Alpina Lavalina steering wheel...

[fkim119]

Originally Posted by LSM

Congrats! Great write up. It's amazing those 23's somehow look small on the XB7 - prob just the pics

In any case beautiful

You are right. The 23's do look small. The wheel wells are huge on the XB7!

[fkim119]

Originally Posted by x7bmw23

Yo, she 🔥!! Looks good on them 23's

Thank you sir!

[themnmd]

Originally Posted by fkim119

The one thing that lacks is the interior differentiation other then a few Alpina only trim choices, different gauge cluster, blue lighting on the gear shifter and idrive controller, Alpina illuminated door sills, Alpina leather lined floor mats, Alpina Lavalina steering wheel...

For its price point Bmw could or should kick up a notch or two the interior. One of the main thing they lack compared to some other lux sport SUV's. Eg: RR sport SVR even MB etc.

[LittleJoe]

Originally Posted by themnmd

For its price point Bmw could or should kick up a notch or two the interior. One of the main thing they lack compared to some other lux sport SUV's. Eg: RR sport SVR even MB etc.

ALPINA offers optional LAVALINA leather for the XB7 which is quite beautiful but BMW doesn't offer that option to the US market which is a shame. While it might be an additional $10K to $12K it would really differentiate the XB7 from the X7. ALPINA covers the seat backs and second-row cup holders that come with the captains seats in LAVALINA leather. I hope BMW and ALPINA start offering LAVALINA to the US market in the near future.

https://www.alpina-automobiles.com/e...terior-design/

[BadBoostedBMWM3]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

There are a few ways to do it. Rear hdmi by the Blu-ray player is probably the easiest. A hard drive full of movies or memory stick is by far the easiest way to have a very large movie library in the vehicle at all times. You can also mirror cast from your phone as well. If you have a newer Samsung Galaxy you can use "dex" in the rear as well for a pc experience and streaming hub.

First and foremost, very nice xb7!

But, I'm not following you... how do you stream MM?

[jct_m3]

Awesome ! hopefully the roads aren't bad where you are! i'd hate to go through so many wheels

[mjr24]

Love those wheels on the Alpina!

[themnmd]

Originally Posted by LittleJoe

ALPINA offers optional LAVALINA leather for the XB7 which is quite beautiful but BMW doesn't offer that option to the US market which is a shame. While it might be an additional $10K to $12K it would really differentiate the XB7 from the X7. ALPINA covers the seat backs and second-row cup holders that come with the captains seats in LAVALINA leather. I hope BMW and ALPINA start offering LAVALINA to the US market in the near future.

https://www.alpina-automobiles.com/e...terior-design/

I would agree. If I were in the market for the B , I would gladly lay out the extra for the upgrade

[Auricom]

Originally Posted by Irina Gonsk

Alpina all the way, Alpina takes BMW to even upper level.
Very nice machine, enjoy it.
There is a differentiation in the engine compartment, air intake ducting, Piston heads, l believe a modified exhaust system & transmission as well. Just be carful with potholes, those beautiful wheels are prone to bend easily.

Sure, most considering a XB7 would know the significant mechanical upgrades that but if you're spending that much on a vehicle then the interior should be more special than a X7 M50i than just the trim.

BMWNA should have offered ALPINA Lavalina full leather interior and individual options. Unfortunately a USA XB7 would have had to be shipped back to Germany for finishing since Spartanburg doesn't (yet, or no plans to) have an ALPINA interior and customization finishing in the USA.

[djbonsu]

Very nice!! Congrats!

[LittleJoe]

Originally Posted by Auricom

Sure, most considering a XB7 would know the significant mechanical upgrades that but if you're spending that much on a vehicle then the interior should be more special than a X7 M50i than just the trim.

BMWNA should have offered ALPINA Lavalina full leather interior and individual options. Unfortunately a USA XB7 would have had to be shipped back to Germany for finishing since Spartanburg doesn't (yet, or no plans to) have an ALPINA finishing line in the USA.

Are you saying European-bound XB7's assembled in Spartanburg are shipped overseas with no interiors for ALPINA to finish the interiors? Can you post a link to a website or article where you've read this? Thanks

[Auricom]

Originally Posted by LittleJoe

Are you saying European-bound XB7's assembled in Spartanburg are shipped overseas with no interiors for ALPINA to finish the interiors? Can you post a link to a website or article where you've read this? Thanks

Apologies, let me correct and clarify my previous post - there is an ALPINA finishing facility at Spartanburg for XB7s for North America markets.

All of the hardware for the ALPINA XB7 is built in Buchloe, such as the engine, wheels and all of the other mechanical. That hardware is then sent to Spartanburg for final assembly. It's also finished in Spartanburg, as a specialized team of experts, trained by ALPINA, give the car the brand's famous "white glove" treatment.

Correction and clarification from my previous post:

For the US and Canadian markets, all final hand assembling and finishing is done in Spartanburg. For markets outside of the US, the hand-finished details are done in Germany.

"...with the arrival of the XB7, Bovensiepen (company boss) tells Autoweek has been designed with American buyers very much in mind, and will be finished at a special Alpina facility at BMW's Spartanburg, S.C plant." - Autoweek Aug 12, 2020.

The cars are still assembled in Spartanburg but are then shipped to Buchloe for additional finishing, details and client customizations - eg custom interiors, Lavalina option 1 and option 2, then shipped to client from there, alongside other ALPINA vehicles.

Also ALPINA XB7 isn't the first ALPINA to be built in Spartanburg. Previously, ALPINA versions of the X3 and X4 were also built in Spartanburg, as well as the 2003-2006 ALPINA Roadster S (Z4).

[laraider]

Congrats! Very good looking !

[fkim119]

Originally Posted by laraider

Congrats! Very good looking !

Thank you!