I think my spare is a 57, so that would be the logical choice (not a fan of the 130s).

Now the dilemma. I need to get new tyres for my 19s in the next couple of months, so I need to make up my mind sooner rather than later.

My two options are, get new tyres for my 19s and shop around for a set of 17s and put off roady tyres on them. Or, ditch the 19s and look more quickly for a set of 17s and get better tyres for them.

I really like the look of my 19s, but can see advantages for going smaller.

I can't put myself in your shoes but: If the 19s work for you most of the time and you like the look you might be better buying the new 19-inch tyres. In the meantime you can look for four s/h 17 wheels with tyres attached. Then stick them on and see what you think for general driving, not just bush trips. If you are happy with them and can live with the looks, there will always be a market for the staggered 19s, especially with relatively new rubber, so you can sell them and recoup some of your money. If not, you can set the 17s up as your bush and snow driving with appropriate tyres.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I've got a couple of months to work out what I want to do. I will be getting a set of 17s to put on when we go to the snow anyway, and as you say, I can always sell the 19s if I want to get some money back on them.

Thanks for the advice, I'm still a little undecided, but it was good to talk about it.

No problem. Good luck with it.

Just to let you know, I had a X5 that was written off by water as well. The floor pan in the X5 is double, its about 100mm thick (hollow). When you remove the seats & carpet etc there are crossmembers everywhere which the seat etc bolt onto.

In this lower section is all the optical fibre and electrics, all your computers etc, when they showed me mine it had an inch of water in there, you would not know. They pulled a couple of connectors off some of the electronic boxes and the pins had started to oxidise green, that was in a couple of days.

You would most likely also have water in your transmission if it was sitting there for awhile in the water. Mine was a statutory write off and only to be used as parts, it was sold at auction for $18k. Should have bought it myself, at 11 months old the 20" wheel were worth $4k, towbar $1,500, sports aero kit $3k etc

A result of the recent floods up in QLD?

A result of me driving thru the second cutting at Noosa North Shore onto the beach heading up to the beach house (no road, beach only access), the usual 6 inches of brackish water in the cutting turned out to be 600mm deep.

Drive thru it 100's of times a year and this night it was washed out due heavy rains and a king tide. $156k rightoff. Did it on Friday night had the insurance chq by the Wednesday.

Won't do that again?

Water and modern 4WDs/SUVs don't mix. Must have been a s**t experience on the night. My sympathies.

At least your insurance paid up quick. What are you replacing it with?

X5M?

I already got another M-Sport X5 White to repalce it. I need to order another X5 sometime this year, keep that for about 2 years as of late 2013 or early 2014 the new X5 model is coming out. That will have a hybrid version for sure, they are talking 4 cylinder diesel with electric motor in gearbox.

I looked at the X5M, at $180k with discount I did not think it was worth it, still has the 6 speed gearbox, no active cruise control. Where as the M-Sport diesel I have fully optioned (higher optioned than the X5M) only came to $160k after discount. $20k buys a lot of fuel and insurance and I believe has a better resale value anyway?

For speed I have the California, one fast car is enough?