i haven't compared directly with a 3.0 side by side per se but i do agree the gap between the wheel and the wheel well looks very big.

before I settled on the 35d w/ adaptive drive, I test drove the 30, 35d, 48, and 48 w/ adaptive drive... the 30 and 35d was very soft, the 4.8 was responsive but harsh... the 4.8 adaptive drive was responsive but the bumps didn't transmit through like the standard... it was the best compromise out of all of them. I ended up going with the 35d becasue my SA said the 35d w/ adaptive drive will be the same...

that being said... I have to say the 35d adaptive drive also isn't as "responsive" as my old 745Li's Adaptive Drive or the 4.8 that I test drove. Yes, you definately know that its there and it hugs... but there's a fraction of a second delay on the thing... you feel the body start to roll then it kicks in and holds it in place... I'm guessing the springs are different betwen the 35d and 4.8 and the programming isn't tuned to the 35d... I'm hoping a software update in the future will address it. though i'm not too concern as i'm not exactly going to autocross the x5.

-john