another thing missing on those pics is the fog lights, BMW has to make a certain amount of their parts environmentaly "safe" in order to get some kind of tax credit. they made the X5 bumpers half painted and were not able to get any kind of credit becasue they were not recycleable, and thats why I think they decided to make the X3 bumpers totally unpainted, however, from what I understand, 2006 or 2007 will have an option to paint bumpers from the factory

Well they still haven't gotten a clue and painted the bumpers...
That thing would sell like hotcakes if the bumpers were painted.
I rarely ever see them in So Ca which leads me to believe they don't
sell at all as you see everything here...

The other day I was at a light and there were 3 X5s in front of me and 3 X5s behind me...

Yes...Orange County is the BMW capital...so seeing 5 or 6 X5s at once is not an uncommon sight.

The tax credit theory for unpainted bumper doesn't really fly on a $40K+ car...though, it might on a lower priced car.

The side running boards look slightly more integrated, and maybe narrower?

Do we know if the interior will be changed at all, and is there any confirmation as yet if this update is in general production from September?

I think it's going to be painted...you can tell from that pic that the bumper cover is now integrated into the lines of the body and not stuck on top of the painted part like on a 2005, and its the same part as the grill surrounds...there is no way that they would deliver the 2006 x3 with black trim around the grille...it's all going to painted, theres no other way it can be if thats the 2006 bumper

hmmmm.... don't know how I feel about that look. To be honest, I HATED the e90 UNTIL I saw it in person at the dealer (though I still hate that double-cowl in the dash). So, I would hope it's the same for the X3.

Juan

I read somewhere (AutoWeek, maybe?) that indeed BMW wanted to face-lift the interior as well with some "nicer" materials. Apparently, the biggest complaint among X3 owners has been the "plasticky" interior. We own one, and, though not as luxurious as the X5, it is still a very nice interior.

Juan

You know when you look at pictures of '07 cars there all kinda coverd up with like black coverings... I think thats what were looking at on those pictures of the X3. At least thats what i hope were looking at, for BMW's sake.

Also, I sat in the X3 and i was confussed about all the "plasticky" buttons they were talking about, i thought it was nice... But then i sat in the 3 Series... going back to the X3, it deffinently seemed like it needed a lil something more.

Well, unfortunately, I don't think that is cladding meant to disquise the vehicle. A

And, yes, the interior of the X3 is not bad at all -- especially if you have the premium package. The basic, bare minimum interior, though can be a little "plain."

Juan

Aren't there new kidneys according to the pics?