The E53 was an enormous success in Oz. Outsold everything that Mercedes Benz, Lexus, VW, Porsche, Volvo, or Audi could throw at it.

agree but it was too close size wise to the x3, and merc/audi/lexus all had the "big" 4x4's.

in fact i remember reading somewhere that in some ways the carrying capacity in the x3 was bigger than the e53 x5.

The E53 was on sale for a long time before the X3 came along. BMW deliberately sized the X3 close to the E53 knowing that the E70 was just around the corner. When the E53 came out the only MB you could get was the first-generation ML (no bigger than the E53), there was no Audi Q7, not even an Allroad, and the only Lexus you could get was the LX470 which was just a re-badged Land Cruiser.

i guess it depends on the dealer, but for reference i bought 2 other new bmw's within the last 12 months from the same dealer. in all honesty i think if i stuck to my guns i could have got it for 100k even.

also forgot to add that the 103k that im paying includes tint, they "value" it @ $895, but we all know the true price is half of that :bustingupat best!

it is worth noting that the ship that docked this week, my car was on it is the last with the current specs, other than what is on it you'd be struggling to find much choice. the one i got was the only black on black, innovation, sport + 20", pano roof... that was not allocated to a dealer.

also i dont think the corp discount is anything super special, they gross up the dealer delivery to something stupid like $7k, only to then drop it under the corp package to 3k.

dee has got a bargain here. I've paid alot more for alot less. What's the secret dee? - we'll start using your dealer!
My 3d must be in the same shipment - still waiting on delivery date. Communication is not a speciality for my dealer....

Different dealer, different saleperson will make huge different like you said you paid a lot more for a lot less. A friend of mine used to work in Doncaster BMW, now he is working in Bib Still Well and he told me he will have a much better deal for the same car with same options.

i do think the price is low, but not the bottom, i kind of got the feeling that i could have pushed that little bit extra.

i deal with trivett in sydney, bought my first 325 e46 coupe in 2004, then a 120i hatch in 08, followed by a 335 convertible in 09, and a 120 convertible in 09 and now the x5. every time the cars were loaded with options, so always had a good margin for the dealer to discount, i have dealt with the same person every time, never had a single problem. i think the key is the sales guy, he either makes or breaks the deal.

admittedly there are incentives from BMW to move the x5's due to LCI coming out, but in all honesty the LCI is very insignificant for the 3d, so to me its not an issue.

I guess .dee's repeat business was a big factor. Also, if I had delayed my buy a month or so I may have been able to get runout pricing. I ended up getting an x5 30d carbon black on black innovations msport, 20" 227 m wheels, 7 seats, pana roof, sunblinds and smartphone integration for iPhone - paid $117,500 cash - so I feel ripped off after seeing dee's deal... :( I did get front n rear BMW rubber mats n luggage mat "free".

can't agree more with my own experience. Doncaster BMW sales were happy not to negotiate.:stickpoke