I had an '01 4.4 sport when i lived in Hermosa Beach, you won't regret the sport package in So. Cal... handling is great, the ride is great... in fact, i wish I still had the '01, but now that i live back on the east coast, the 19"'s and big rubber was horrible in the snow. If you get the sport package and you plan on going to tahoe, big bear or any other ski/snow area, you might want to think about getting a set of snow tires/smaller rims, but if not, you won't be disappointed in getting the sport package at all.

You didn't say where in So. Cal you live, but stay away from Sterling BMW in Newport and Irvine BMW,.. I got my X at Long Beach BMW and not only was the sales process easy and quick, but their service department was pretty good too. Sterling was a nightmare and wasn't willing to deal. I actually got a letter from their GM about a month after leaving the showroom and not buying asking me to call him and explaing why i didn't buy from them, and when I respectfully told him that LB came in $3000 cheaper he hung up on me! So instead of me driving a Sterling BMW badged X5 to work every day (did i mention that I worked for about 70 automotive publications at the time?) and giving Sterling a ton of free advertising, Long Beach got the free boost.