Floor protection - mats vs. liners

X3 received - check
Clear bra installed - check

Now it's time to add floor protection.

I am trying to decide between floor liners and floor mats. The links point to the WeatherTech products. BMW sells almost identical products (in fact I suspect BMW has WeatherTech make theirs). While ultimately I will have to decide between BMW and WeatherTech, what I'd like your input on is comparisons between the liners and mats, regardless of vendor.

For example, will the high wall edges of the liners droop, wrinkle or curl over time and start to look tacky?

The liners kind of look like I am resting my feet in a rubbermaid container. Do they really look like that?

Does anyone have both types? Do you swap 'em out depending on the season - liners for winter, mats for summer?

I had the mats in my old X3 and they did not protect the carpets on the edges - do the liners do a good job of that?

Thanks!

I almost got those liners last year when I just got my X3. But I stayed with carpet mats because the plastics or rubber liners just don't look as good or as comfortable.

How much was the clear bra installation? How does it look?

I had a 330d with velour floor mats and was always cleaning them because the kids got mud on them (they were grey too). My x3 came with black velour mats as standard so I decided to buy the BMW rubber mats and they are very good. I was concerned they would squeak in wet weather but they are oil resistant and no squeaks at all. The lips are good as well and I do not think they will curl - why - because my parents had some for years and they always come up clean. When I wash the car, I actually pull them out and let them get covered in water and soap suds as I am washing it - quick scrub and rinse and they are as good as new. I also baught the boot liner as the lip on the rear bumper looks far too nice to scratch - that is money saved

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2013 X3 M-sport Deep Sea Blue, Black Leather, Xenons, DIRAC Professional Sound sytem, Pro Nav, 19" Wheels, Tinted windows, Folding Mirrors, PDC, ASS, DAB Radio, Aluminium trim inc roof bars

I live in MN, so I use the the BMW / weathertech floor liners in the winter. The floor liners offer great protection for your interior from the snow, slush, mud and salt. In the summer I replace the liners with the carpet mats.

The BMW floor liners are made by weathertech and the only difference that I know of is my mats say xdrive where the weathertech logo would be.

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The BMW ones have Velcro that match the other side of the Velcro in the carpet. I have the weather tech all around and they do a really good job. Front, back seats and trunk. I placed my own super sticky Velcro and it doesn't move around at all.

I got the weather tech because it came out alittle cheaper when you buy all three with shipping charges then buying the BMW version.


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bmw rubber mats are awesome

Question - would any of you guys use these if you lived in a nice weather state or not neccessary? I was contemplating for the cargo only for Home Depot trips etc.

Originally Posted by ponti33609

Question - would any of you guys use these if you lived in a nice weather state or not neccessary? I was contemplating for the cargo only for Home Depot trips etc.

I had the rubber mats and the cargo liner in my '05 X3 (all made by BMW).

While I live in a cold weather state, the mats were just as useful here in the summer because they kept the rocks and gravel out of the carpet. My driveway is a quarter mile dirt road. Also very useful when we traveled to the beach along the Texas Gulf to keep the sand out of the carpet. The cargo liner was also a good investment. There were a couple of times when that sack of dog food developed a hole and dumped half the bag in the cargo area. Cleanup was a breeze - make a funnel out of the mat and sweep the spilled kibble back into a bag. Without the mat, I would have spent the day picking it out of the tie-down channels with tweezers!

Some sort of non-carpeted floor protection is definitely going in the new X3...

For my new model I am trying to decide between the rubber mats and the rubber liners....

The mats are thick and liners thin. The rear mats leave the hump unprotected but the liners cover it. For best fit, both require removal of the carpet mats but we removed only the driver's side. Both keep the carpet mats and bare floor fairly clean. My daughter didn't like the appearance of the liners and chose mats. I didn't trust the edges of the mats and chose BMW brand liners. We both are happy with our respective choices. The trivial snowfall here was not bad enough for melted snow fallen from boots to overflow the mats. The liners have not lost their shape after 18 months. Both X3s have Weathertech cargo mats with cutouts following the outlines for the rear pockets and the four D-rings. No liquid spill has been large enough to test the cargo mat edges or berms around the cutouts.

I bought the liners as protection from the kids dropping things. The lip on the liner seemed easier to contain spills and dirt so I can pour them out and clean them up afterwards. Of course Murphy's law has come in to play and the kids haven't spilled anything since I got them!


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Originally Posted by ponti33609

Question - would any of you guys use these if you lived in a nice weather state or not neccessary? I was contemplating for the cargo only for Home Depot trips etc.

If I lived in a warmer climate I would just stick with the carpet or buy the rubber mats.

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Greg, I have the Weathertech liners in my wife's X3. Their factory is only a few miles form me. Yes they make the BMW liners. They are like a tub and will keep your interior clean in the winter. We use the carpet mats now that winter is over, They work great and you can take them out as needed and wash in a laundry sink if needed. They fit great!! The material is a little stiffer than tupperware. I used the regular rubber mats in the back seat since no one sits there very much. They do hold a little water in them if you get a lot of snow in them but t evaporates. The only area that will get dirty is under the accelerator pedal where the lip is the lowest.

ML

Originally Posted by edbiology

How much was the clear bra installation? How does it look?

I had it done by Action Line / Elite Auto Salon in Colorado Springs. The same guy did my '05 X3 over seven years ago. Tony is an Excellent craftsman. Lifetime warranty on the workmanship. He is also a very nice guy and honest person.

His work is excellent - essentially invisible. I did 18" on the hood and fenders, backs of the mirrors, edges of the doors, lip of the hatch and head/fog lights. About $450, 3M Scotchgard (5 yr warranty). I am going to go back and have him do the front bumper which will add another $200.

It was the best money I spent on my '05 X3 given all the airborne gravel and grit in Colorado. It was the first thing I did with my new '14 X3 - I drove right from the dealer to Tony's shop last Thursday.

Has anyone tried the custom fitted Maxpider all weather floor mats/liners thats for sale on ebay. They look pretty good. Since you still can't find anything for a 2014 X3 I'm assuming the 2013 X3 (f25) mats/liners will fit the 2014. Is this correct?

In my experience the rubber mats give you better "foot-grip" than the liners.


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Wouldn´t consider anything but the velour mats. Have had them for 7 years all year through, and we get more rain and wet snow than most.

With rubber mats you have a pond in your car at all times leaving foggy windows until you empty them.

Since you're in Colorado I'd recommend liners in the fall/winter and rubber in the spring/summer. Liners do a much better job with melting snow and thick mud. Rubber mats are more comfortable for one's feet- especially the driver's. The liners tend to curl a bit and get to be a bit annoying to the driver. The rubber ones fit more nicely all the time.

Weathertech and BMW liners are exactly alike except for different logos. I bought the the BMW rubber ones- and use the 2 season system.

Originally Posted by debuck

Has anyone tried the custom fitted Maxpider all weather floor mats/liners thats for sale on ebay. They look pretty good. Since you still can't find anything for a 2014 X3 I'm assuming the 2013 X3 (f25) mats/liners will fit the 2014. Is this correct?

There is no change in the X3 body, interior or exterior, from 2011-2014. So mats for 2013 will fit the 2014 models.

I have no experience with Maxpider.

Thank you, all, for your kind and thoughtful comments and information.

I'm in conversations with my managing partner on this topic

I bought the new BMW X Drive all season liners which fit like a glove and have the X Drive logo. The cargo Matt is much nicer and heavier then the Weather Tech liners. They have a rubber lining underneath which makes it heavier. The rubber liners have a tendency to be slippery with wet shoes while the all weather 2013 BMW do not!
I got them during Christmas season when Murray dealership in Denver had them at 25 percent off.


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