They've always knocked BMW for iDrive and the electronic shifter. iDrive has gotten MUCH better and the shifter isn't ever an issue to me once I understood it. I'm not into iDrive menus that often beyond switching my music input choices...so they must love rolling through menus at random.

My friends 2009 X5 with prev gen iDrive is a nightmare to work through and you compare that to present day and I don't feel it's needlessly complicated. Just because they have a several week experience doesn't translate into the long term experience where you learn the controls and they are second nature. And that is how I feel now operating it.

My ride quality did change when I went from 18's to 20's and every BMW we've had has been more sporty in character. Choppy isn't how I'd describe it. Firm and controlled.

I feel BMW could do more to insulate the noise of the diesel upon acceleration, but cruising around is quiet. I noticed a big difference in diesel clatter when I found a good quality of diesel. Cut rate stations diesel make it noisier. Just my personal .02 cents.

I've never felt the steering heavy - I just drove my buddies 2012 F150 and that was the lightest steering I've felt in a long time - 1 finger to turn it. And the brakes were oh so touchy I nearly launched myself several times out of the cab. (diff cars I know). I agree that the rear view camera should be standard.

Frankly the car is geared towards a specific market and I've never had a passenger / casual driver complain about the diesel noise, ride quality or the controls.

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2007 328i Sport, Monaco Blue
2011 X35D - sold -Space Grey
2004 X5 4.4i - sold - Kalahari Beige
2001 X5 3.0i - sold - Pearl Beige
2006 325i Sport, Sonora Beige
2000 323i - sold - Sienna Red