Indeed, I guess I am just not an acceptable demographic to the BMW product planners. However, with the decline in sales, I apparently was lucky enough for them to make a one-time exception and sell me an X5 this time around.

As noted, the non-adjustable slant of the rear seatbacks makes it mandatory to lower the seats to get any serious packing space, which then opens-up the rear doors to all sorts of nasty nicks and rubs with the cargo one packs. My solution was to buy three of the cheap urethane backpacking sleeping pads, cut them to size, and use them to line/protect the doors and front seatbacks. I managed to get everything in and still see out the rear window, but it was rather tight, and taking a cooler, tent, sleeping backs, campstove, food, etc. would be rather difficult if one had more than two people and couldn't lower the rear seats.

No battery problems, but it was clear the battery was getting a bit low, as the charging voltage was at 15.1 volts when we set out for home. Next trip I may run a couple of wires from the jumper terminals to near the front grill so I can measure the battery voltage when it is "sleeping" and get an more accurate indication of charge state.

I had my battery jumper along as back-up and did not have to use it, but but it certainly appears being parked a while with the power rear hatch and doors being opened a few times is not the X5's forte. I expect it will need battery replacement sooner than my other vehicles to keep a sufficient "power draw while parked" safety margin.