MD11F...Like you, I'm a current Benz owner S550, and former W211 E class (E55) owner. As much as people hate on the W211 about its poor build quality, I found my E55 to be solid over my 3 year lease. Lots of soft plastics that help to dampen any rattles or squeeks. My S550 has been a dream and probably the best car I've owned to date in terms of build quality.

After driving 3 E70s, I'm quite sure my rattles are an exception and like you, I test drove pretty much all the SUV's on the market and concluded the X5 was one of the, if not the best. But as I've driven it more and more, the center console, the cupholder area "creaks" when I go up steep driveways and there is that horrible rattle in the driver side dash somewhere that my dealer hasn't been able to isolate.

I know you have the rear entertainment, and on mines, the TV area that attaches to the center console creaks too when going over large bumps. Any noises from yours?

-Chris