Just drove home with my new X5 on Tuesday. It is a deep green with beige interior (Premium Package, Running boards, Roof rails, Light Poplar Wood trim, iPod and USB adapter, Smartphone Integration, Cold Weather Package,
Rear Climate Package, Technology Package). I already have over 500 miles on my new car (averaged 25.2 mpg on way home) and wanted to share some observations, especially touching on some points that come up on Xoutpost quite often:

1) the torque of the diesel is amazing. I am babying it and haven't broken 3000 RPM yet, but highway passing power is effortless - especially compared to my 2003 x5 3.0, which was no slouch.

2) the handling with the new(er) steering and suspension is great. Still haven't been able to quantify compared to my 2003 as it feels "different" rather than better/worse. Will check back when I have more time on the twisties. I did notice that the power steering feels a little lighter than the e53, but hard to compare a 7 year old car with a brand new one... Also noticed less back and forth rocking on uneven roads with new suspension - the old car had plenty of suspension work near the end so I am comparing newish to new in this case :-)

3) Michelin RFTs. Very nice - not harsh. Comparable ride to what I had on the old X5 (standard Michelin MXV4s). I do wish I had ordered the spare, as I'd hate to have a trip interrupted while awaiting a special order tire...but these Latitudes seem to live up to their reputation.

4) the new nav system is great! At first I debated the expense compared to getting a new garmin, but having it all integrated with the car is worth it. Still learning my way through the numerous features (looking for turn by turn directions, haven't found yet). One question I am trying to track down is whether they give you a backup dvd to reload if you ever crash the new HD based system. will have to check with SA unless someone else knows the answer. One nice feature is being able to go to google maps from home computer, pick out a route, send it to your car, and then choose it when you start the car. Another question: How do you permanently turn off the warning screen that comes up at each startup? I feel sufficiently warned. Happy to sign the waiver and move on now...

5) new idrive is an improvement - glad I waited. The function buttons help with navigating the system, the HD based system is quick and the screen is excellent. I appreciated that many user customizable options (lighting, day running lights, automatic ventilation, etc) are included, rather than sending us back to the dealer to set codes for us.

6) Tow hitch - I had it installed by the Performance Center - the advantage being that they do a great job of install and it is covered by the 4 year factory warranty rather than the accessory warranty. The more I look at it, though, the more of a shame it seems that they did not have a more elegant solution for the e70, like plastic pop-out on the the e53 bumper. They do have to cut the bumper for the hitch, exposing shiny steel - others have commented that they have painted it with heat tolerant black paint and I may have to follow suit.

7) smartphone integration - I did this for my iphone (as well as blackberry for work). Some observations: you can pair up to four devices using bluetooth and then use idrive to switch which one is active. Takes about 10 seconds to switch. This isn't fast enough to respond to incoming calls to different devices, but enough to overcome the basic problem of needing to carry multiple devices.

8) ipod your BMW: snap-in kit for iphone - there are multiple iphone snap-in kits so beware. if you just want to use the antenna and charging function (why would you want just this?) then there is one version (actually a 2G version and a 3G version). If you want to ALSO use iphone for music, then there is another version (ditto). They installed the wrong one at PDC, and I picked up the right one the next day at the dealer. Once we installed the right one yesterday, I learned that (for music) you can only use the iphone in the snap-in kit OR use the iphone or ipod in the nearby usb port in the console. It is one or the other - the car will not recognize both ports for music at once (phone functions over bluetooth are separate and unaffected). Not a big deal but worth noting. So, if you don't want to plug the iphone in every time you get in the car for a short trip(but want phone to work and you want music) then leave an ipod plugged into the console USB port and leave the bluetooth on for the iphone in your pocket. Nice to have choices...

9) Rear seats. For those of you who picked up the 2009, you may have noticed that the rear seat pitch was manually adjustable. I liked the e53 adjustment that could be made with a button from trunk or from ceiling button. The 2010 is not adjustable. This is still a different version than the 3 row seat version, but they have removed the adjustable seat rake.

10) did you know that there is/was a factory installable cargo net that is integrated with the rear cargo area cover? While on the factory tour, we saw a special model e70 that had been sent to Japan for emissions testing and then sent back. This display model had an integrated cargo net that clipped into mounting points in the headliner - like the covered mounting points on the e53. Apparently, even the slots on the headliner are part of the factory ordered option as we saw headliners both with and without. Mine came without. No one on the factory tour was clear as to whether there was a dealer install version and if they need to do anything more than cut away a portion of the headliner to expose pre-installed mounting reinforcements - I suspect it is more complicated. Anybody order the cargo net before/after factory build who knows the answer?

11) ok - I don't have an 11 yet. Still learning. Hope the info above helps others who are either awaiting their car or also in learning mode.

Cheers