Well.....one 12 hour drive later....and the new (to me) 4.8 is in the driveway. It was great trip.....aside from some white-knucklin through the rockies....those stock Diamaris do not like the cold.

First impressions....(coming from an 01 3.0 sport owner). Aside from the power, there are alot of other pleasent surprises.
1. Steering....much easier to steer in the parking lot.
2. Leather....much softer.
3. Cargo cover is 100 times better.
4. Rear hatch 'sucks' itself closed....our 2001 needed to be slammed and now rattles
5. Steering wheel feels good....but I prefer the look of the 2001 sport wheel
6. Doors....feel more solid and sound better when closed.
7. Stock Stereo...I was under the impression that the stock DSP system had never been updated...but this does sound better than the 2001.

First thing to do is get winter tires/rims. If I was smart, I'd get 255-55-18's but I not and want something that looks better. Now...do I get 255-50-19's all around, or go staggered with 285-45-19's in the back....tough call.

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2001 X5 3.0 sport.
1999 328i sport