A couple of comments -

Technomage - good pix and very nice ride. The BMW gloves are a very nice touch.

East Coast X5world members have cleaner cars than the West Coasters these days. But that will end as soon as these dreaded rains stop.

Slushboxes are great, but nothing beats the synchronicity between hand, foot, brain, and car while mowing through the gears of a manual transmission.