You're comparing apples and oranges by providing slalom data. the track width of the M is 3" greater and also has wider tires then the 4.8is. A wider vehicle has an extreme disadvantage in the slalom test. In the '80s Nissan had an ad stating their 200SX out-slalomed the Lambo Countach (the 200 had less stick, it was narrow, that's the ONLY reason it beat the Lambo). A truer test is the stick of a vehicle, lateral G forces, 4.8 sticks to a .83G while the M can stick to a .92, 1/10 of a G is a HUGE increase! The mags (Car&Driver for one) are reporting 12.4 to 12.6 in the 1/4 mile for the new M, 3 seconds faster (around THIRTY car lenghts) then the 4.8is, that's an eternity. 0-60 times for the M are just over 3.5 secs (that's faster then my Viper!), VS over 6. sec for the 4.8. You have a nice truck, but it's no M! I am currently in the market for an X5M, I have driven both Xs and the difference is night and day. Lets not even mention the fact that the M division has improved transmission shifts and brake feel drastically!