FWIW, the summer package you get in India on an X5 is way more solidly built (eg. no bubbling in upholstery since its the vinylish trim) doesnt look good but doesnt bubble either, the airfilters are different, same box but different filter for the dusty conditions. the leather is smooth with no ridgy texture, just more supple and softer (and yes BMW says its genuine leather), more black trim parts instead of body color even on 2003+ but most importantly even with potholed roads, it rides better, then again you cannot comapre missouri potholes to indian potholes ...
actually i can say the same thing about ford escort in india (way better built and optioned including leather
) then again its not the same escort as sold in US either ...
keep in mind and i dont know how to say this without sounding classist, someone who can afford an X5 in india has more refined tastes / upbringing / schooling / family lineage / old money than lets say an average buyer in US ... and BMW undertands that .. ... more so with a TKD factory in india now ... a typical X5 owner is treated like royalty and cars are pampered at the service station; lot more than job at stake if the guy does a short oil change or forgets to detail an airvent ... less plastic, the fan shroud is held by different pinchers than US ones, in short, i think there are quite a few differences in worldwide markets even if its built in spartanburg ...