Got my X5 diesel and did a 350km run down south of Sydney to Moss Vale which has some nice freeway, winding roads with 15 km/h hair pins and some nice rough roads... The car handled like a dream.. The diesel pulls like a horse... absolutely stunning in that department. Nothing like entering an uphill hairpin and pulling the car out of it with that diesel engine ! I've found the transmission changes pretty good as well.. I am running it in so am driving conservatively... Navigation was also great.. took a while to work out i-drive but I think I almost have it now.

USB audio has not dropped out once (using 16gb usb flash drive)... Stereo sounds great plenty of bass (12 speaker Hi fi option).. Bi-xenons are also great.

Voice recognition is also good a, lthough I have to learn the commands... bluetooth phone supplied with car paired flawlessly but I need to transfer my address book across in the new Nokia...and get the cradle when it comes into stock.

The only downside at the moment is getting used to those side steps... I think I have it mastered but as per other comments in this forum they can make you brush your leg and seem a bit awkward at first.

Sports seats (without lumbar) are also good . I was worried that I would hate them.. although the higher bolster combined with side steps does take some getting used to !

Fitted my stainless steel pedals , cargo mat and wheel locks and Mitec Angel eyes ... still some other stuff to go..

Dislike is the rear view camera quality but we all know that one, and the inability to combine PDC and camera some how on the screen...Also switching between PDC and camera via i-drive is cumbersome.. unless I am missing something here I'd love a button to toggle through Camera/PDC ?


Will post some pics later .. was to busy driving it today to stop and admire the car...