The standard and optional features vary from 30i, 30d, 35d and 48d. BMW also has revised and updated the features and options at various times so a new 35d may not be exactly the same in this regard as one that is twelve months old.

Are you still looking at buying a low-km second-hand example or are you now thinking about a new one?

Anzer, Just a footnote to your fuel consumption. It's well documented here that you won't get your best economy until your X is well run in. US member FunfDreisig even posted an excellent graph of the fuel economy of his 35d and you can see clearly how the consumption of his X has gone as the kms roll by.

Thanks again Fraser your help is appreciated. Still thinking fresh low km rig but finding it hard to spot examples in Sydney that tick the boxes. It's either compromise on what I want and save some money or get it all and spend the extra.

Meanwhile I'll keep collecting information and greatfully receiving therapy here when I get it wrong!

It's great to have this thread as a sounding board for Aussies!

You could go from blonde to grey (pardon the poor joke) waiting for a second-hand example that has all the right options. The best approach may be to narrow down the core options that you want to a very short list and be prepared to compromise on the rest. There should be good savings to be had. If you do decide that new is best, don't forget that the so-called 2011 spec cars aren't far away and they bring a multitude of changes with new engines (40d, 35i and 50i) plus eight-speed gearboxes etc etc. Unfortunately, you would have to think that they will also bring a noticeable price hike on all except the 30d which will be the least changed of the new models and the price leader.

bike rack
 

Any one has a bike rack on their X70?
brisbane BMW quoted me $2200 for a tow bar, $800 less without the wiring if I just want a tow bar for bike rack.
I read that in US there is a bike rack that can hold 2 bikes, and it is attached to 2 points on the rear bumper. It is around US $450. I might check if the dealer has it.
Just wondering what people are using to transport their bikes. I don't tow anything.

2011 X5 specs and pricing ..have some info
 

All

Walked through 2011 options yesterday with dealer. Very interesting.

Price hikes across the board, but more standard features.

e.g.

40d is $113,000 retail excluding (was $105) on road BUT comes with a few extra apart from updated engine and gearbox e.g. SPORTs is standard and with 19's, metallic paint option standard, sunroof standard, sport seats standard - add innovation for around $14k (lots more in inno now - see below)

50i (which I'm interested in) has added a lot of extra fruit when the Innovation pack is added, but once again price hike over 48i
48i RRP was $121k,, now $133k BUT sports standard as above with the new 336 20" wheels, comfort seats wit Perf leather (nice), latest nav/idrive etc !! innovation on top of this for $10k for 50i adds:


comfort access seats with Perforated nevada leather (nice)
HUD
high end stereo with USB for ipod connection
HIDs with washer
electric tailgate
folding mirrors with camera for top-view (I have this now and its pretty handy in tight spots)

all up retail drive-away about $152k (ouch) .. that about the same as a secondhand Boxster S and new X1 for short family school runs ;) perhaps I need to reconsider my options :)

How does BMW justify the price hike with the Oz dollar at over 90c USD for last several months?
I guess they will charge whatever people are willing to pay.

Exactly. It's never a matter of a fair price, it's the price that people will pay that counts. I guess that if BMW thinks it can make hay while the sun shines (ie with the better exchange rate) it would be silly not to.

The fact is that BMW has never had any problem selling X5s in Australia and despite the best efforts of Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Porsche etc, the X5 has always been the preferred luxury 4WD in Oz. Just have a look at how well the resale valve holds up.

I think they are trying to justify price hikes by ..
 

adding more fruit as standard .... and arguably they are as I suspect a similar specced 48i as the 50i Innovation would be around the same driveaway price around $150k.

BUT ..its still a shed load of dollars. I suppose what has changed is a whole bunch of new models on the market that are a size down from X5 (Q5, XC60, new Tourag etc) that are somewhat attracting people who at one point may have looked seriously at X5 ..this is certainly the trend in the US where X5 sales have tapered off over the years ...

Whilst the X50i sounds superb .when I step back and regain my sanity for a minute I think its overpriced ....or perhaps I'm just getting old and out of touch with the cost of things like our grandparents use to when they struggled to understand a load of bread costing more the 25c ;)

Fraser - cruised around today doing decent runs with few stops ..and guess what ..my diesel usage dropped down to 13l / 100 !!! if I had of reset it for just today's run I'm sure it would be more like 11 ... perhaps as you say when it runs in it will get better etc ... I'm pretty happy about that ..

So no one has bought the bike rack that attaches to the bumper from US? Apparently they don't comply with the stupid ADR and thus not available for sale here.