We have a 2009 X5 35d out for an overnight test drive. Overall this would make a very nice replacement for our 2001 X5 4.4i that is now an organ donor after being hit from the rear at 60MPH - ouch. But we have come up with a few quibbles/questions over things we really liked about the 2001 X5*....

1 Is there an easy way to make either the passenger or cargo 12V outlet always hot?

2 Is there an easy way to adjust the seat belt warning chime volume or simply get it to turn off after a short while?

Thanks in Advance - Funf Dreisig

* Background:

We live on a small ranch about 1 hr away from the nearest Costco, etc. Since 2002 we have had a 12V cooler permanently installed in our X5. We plug it in when we leave home and unplug it when we get back. We have NEVER run down the battery, even though it was always on during "trips to town". The 12v outlet in therental we are now driving works like the 2009 X5 and it simply does not keep the cooler cold enough while we run into multiple stores.

Our driveway is over 1,000 ft long. We normally check the mail at the gate when we come home and frequently don't refasten our seat belts for the drive from the mail box to the house. We don't mind the reminder chime but we do dislike the loud nagging all the way down the drive. FWIW The property is fenced and we don't have livestock, etc. to run into.