Just returned home from the Performance Center with my Big Blue fun machine.
This is my 1st ever SUV and I LOVE sitting up high! It drives like a dream.
1st Impressions and many of these you have heard before:
Cons: No headphones with Rear seat entertainment. Seems wrong that you could pick up your car in Greer SC and on your drive home cannot operate an expensive option you paid for.
Ashtray:They should offer a felt or rubber lined alternative. looks way dated.
Rear underneath compartment: Earlier X5s had a rubber cord that attached to hold compartment cover up. Current ones shipped to Europe have a small pneumatic cylinder that more elegantly does this. Our X5Ms have nothing at all. Not good.
When being guided by Nav if you get a bluetooth incoming call, the Voice Guidance stops. Is there a way around this? Tricky if you Need the guidance and want to take the call too. Speaking of Nav....I tried every voice command I could think of to cancel it. Do you need to know German?
Could not figure out how to charge my iphone 3Gs. According to the PC folks BMW has to develop software to to this. No charging capability with included connector wire or optional cradle. Seems weird and deficient.
Pros:
Everything else. Easiest car to break in ever. So powerful that you can enjoy decent acceleration without even toying with the idea of exceeding recommended RPMs. Smooth at any speed. Love the engine/exhaust sounds.
Does not call attention to itself but those who know....know.
Great cup holders.
Fabulous handling. Great seats. HUD is wonderful! Getting around the Polarized Oakleys may prove challenging but no doubt fabulous at night.
Love the folding mirrors.
Jury is out on sound system. Sometimes it seemed thin and weak and other times it had punch and depth. What is the trick to take songs on Itunes (Apple Computer) and put them on the hard drive? Ipods and iphones will not do this.
The pictures were all taken in the little room where we took delivery so the light is not the best. Off to get Laser Jammer and Radar detector installed before snow hits the Sunny South.
Update:Tried to post some pictures of the car but got an error message. Is it better to post 1 at a time rather than the allowed 10?
BTW the folks at the Performance Center are truly gracious and welcoming. They even overlooked the fact vegetarians are not wild about Wiener Schnitzel and Pork Gyros and made us special Veggie Burgers! Highly recommend a visit even if you do not pick your car up there.