xx3, are you suggesting that with the production of the E70 beginning now (immediately after the line is switched over), that BMW will continue to produce the old E53 on the same production line? Sounds unlikely to me.

Completely different story with the E46, since there were multiple factories that produced them and they switched the factories over one at a time. Difficult to do with a single factory, even with the flexible manufacturing systems they have.

The E53 4.8 is no longer shown on the configurator at BMW.ca, suggesting that the only ones available are already in production or are built.

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2007 X3 3.0si, 6 MT, Premium, White

Retired:
2008 535i, 6 MT, M Sport, Premium, Space Grey
2003 X5 3.0 Steptronic, Premium, Titanium Silver
2002 325xi 5 MT, Steel Grey
2004 Z4 3.0 Premium, Sport, SMG, Maldives Blue