When BMW introduced the new iX3, most press images showed an interior with an option that wasn’t available at launch. Six months later, the white steering wheel can finally be ordered. The German configurator was updated this week to reflect the newly added extra, which costs an additional €250.
As previously reported, the white steering wheel is only available in combination with the Digital White interior. The package costs 1,080 euros in the iX3’s home market and covers the seats in Veganza. That’s marketing jargon for faux leather, which is also used on the steering wheel. The cabin isn’t all white, as BMW balances it out with satin gray fabric accents throughout. Otherwise, the headliner is finished in anthracite, while the door armrests are finished in black Veganza.
Customers can order the individual white steering wheel in the basic equipment. In other words, BMW isn’t forcing buyers to upgrade to the more expensive M Sport or M Sport Package Pro. The subtly updated roundel is front and center, although the subtle changes may go unnoticed at first glance.
Alternatively, the steering wheel is also available in the usual black, with an M logo on the lower spoke. This version is also wrapped in Veganza and as far as we know the vertical spokes are identical to those of the white wheel. As good as the white version looks in BMW’s new 3D configurator, it remains to be seen how long it will last, as white surfaces typically require more maintenance.
The white steering wheel isn’t the only new option added to the configurator this week. BMW has expanded personalization by introducing three new colors: Fire Red, Eucalyptus Green and Individual Frozen Space Silver. In addition, the “AC Charging Professional” option offers an AC charging capacity of 22 kW as well as a vehicle-to-load function with an output of up to 3.7 kW. The latter, also called V2L, essentially turns the vehicle into a power bank on wheels to charge external devices.
The “NA5” iX3 now also has a stainless steel loading sill when ordered with the Contemporary, M or Individual interior designs. Customers who opt for the M Sport package or the M Sport package Pro will receive a special vehicle key with the iconic three M stripes in blue, purple and red.
Heated rear seats are still missing from the German configurator, but there is a reason for that. BMW previously told us that the option will initially be available on vehicles ordered in South Korea and Japan starting in March. Ventilated front seats are also missing for now, but they are expected to be added later in the iX3’s lifecycle.
Deliveries haven’t even started yet, so there’s probably a lot more to come. Further individual colors are planned for this year, alongside new model variants such as the iX3 40 and the iX3 M60 xDrive. Looking ahead, the X3 M “ZA5” is expected to become the flagship in 2027.
