I do too but the M-Sport shows the X5 more as a 2009 model whereas the aero kit is the 2007-2008 years. I have had 2 e70 aero kit X5's and have gone with the M-Sport this time.

(I would like to express my thoughts I what I believe will happen in the X5 used market in the next 12-18 mths here in Australia between aero kitted X5's and M-Sports X5's)

Firstly, I will be doing some extra colour coding via the dealer who has his own panel/paint shop onsite to make it look more agressive. The problem with the aero X5's here in Australia is that there are 3 or 4 of them on the used car lots of every BMW dealer and there either grey or black. They have been so popular that everyone has a aero kit.

With the extra cost of $8,000 for a M-Sport here (Aero kit costs about $3,000 fitted and you still have to buy the sport pack, another $5,000) and the fact it's a M badge X5 I am hoping that at the time of resale my X5 M-Sport will be able to sold quicker. I only hold my cars for about 12-18 months and both the Sports Pack with aero and M-Sport are nearly the same price new, so as I believe there are currently a lot less M-Sports out there and that being the same price that buyers will go for a secondhand M-Sport rather than secondhand sport pack aero kit X5.

I am also finding the dealers are telling buyers to buy a M-Sport rather than a Sport pack with aero kit because it cost more in the long run as you don't get colour coded bumper bars, painted flairs, M Wheels, M Steering wheel etc and you don't have to wait a week to get the aero kit painted & fitted to your X5.

I also have noticed that Sales people seem to be trying to say that one is a sports pack X5 and the other one here is a M-Sports and since they cost the same you would be stupid to take the old style, as if it is one step up the ladder of X5's. My dealer had both X5's on the floor last week and the M-Sport lasted one day before it was sold, it was the same price as the aero kit with sport pack X5 beside it!. (The impression I get is that he is not putting anymore aero kits on to sell X5's and that they are a after market option only now if anyone wants it)

So at the end of the day my feeling is BMW has created a defacto like change to the X5, 2008 Sports Pack Areo Kit X5's to 2009 M-Sport X5's, like its a natural progression, that this is the old style sports X5 and this is the new sports X5 the M-Sport, a defacto face lift. They did it to the X3 as well.

Line both X5's up beside each other, think 12 months ahead about resale and I believe you will choose M-Sport. Anyway that's my $0.02

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