Sounds nice MrBlonde - a good combo. The innovations is worth the dollars for better lighting, power mirrors and tailgate - nice choice.

Just a note on the price of X5s in Oz given the strength of the Aussie dollar vs the US dollar. The Spartanburg plant in the US where X5s and X6s are made is fully owned by BMW AG, not BMW North America, so I suspect that when BMW Australia 'buys' an X5 off BMW AG it's the strength of the Aussie dollar vs the Euro that counts, not the strength against the US dollar.

congrats the topview camera and the new idrive are worthy options!

Thanks, but I don't have a tow bar, and I don't plan to tow anything, thus not willing to spend $2200 one one ($1400 without the wiring).
I am hoping someone had ordered one of these from the states : http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...rack-pics.html

Fraser - if that was the case then we should be still seeing 15 - 25% more value in our X5's as the Aussie has appreciated against the Euro over the last few years ... a price hike just doesnt make sense and I suspect its pure price gouging by the dealerships to offset changes in competitive landscape and increase profits for the mothership that has suffered temporarily due to GFC ... I would have expected prices to either hold ground or increase by a few % + all the goodies thrown in to represent additional value in line with increase in value of Aus $$ .... the price increases could be a bad move for BMW Aus as Audi. Merc and Porsche etc start to introduce new alternatives that will take some market share away... perhaps they just don't care ?

In some ways it will continue to keep the X5 a bit more exclusive - and hold up the value of the secondhand market for a while longer :)

Hybrid X5 ??
 

Any of you guys know when hybrids will start coming through in the X5 ? perhaps the next model change in 2012/13 ?:dunno:

Not saying that the prices will move in relation to the $A vs the Euro, just saying that the $US doesn't come into the equation. And it's BMW Australia that sets the prices of new Xs, not the dealers. The dealers can tweak things here and there, throw in something for free etc but the starting point is the manufacturer's list price as set by BMW Australia.

Hate to break the news but most large global corporates hedge big-time against the US ..including BMW AG.. I should know ..I work for one :)

My point is that BMW Aus (dealerships all being part of it) are starting to take the piss with pricing ... will be interesting to see how they go this year ..even though with Aus econ lifting quickly BMW Aus won't be shedding any tears short term ...

Yes, I know that international companies always hedge against the US $, but this is now a decreasing trend. And, most BMW dealerships in Australia are not owned by BMW Australia, they are privately owned.
I agree BMWs right now are more expensive that they should be but tell me what new cars in Australia, apart from Great Wall, Mahindra and perhaps Ssangyong, aren't. Doesn't seem to be too many bargains over at Audi, Mercedes or Porsche. Even a top-spec Prado with a rotten 127kW four-cylinder diesel will set you back $100K on the road

Dealer tells me they will get it in "approximately 10 days" .. so I'll be waiting a bit before the car is in my hot little hands!