Cool "Hidden" features of the E53 X5

[China Man]

used to have an LS400 and frequented the clublexus forums myself

[asawadude]

Originally Posted by withidl

Press the center interior light button on the overhead console, HOLD IT FOR 3+ SECONDS, and ALL interior lights will be permantely disabled until the button is again pressed. This saves the bulbs during daytime and keeps the battery from draining when the doors are open for a considerable time. I leave my interior lights disabled 99% of the time.

That's a new one I was not aware of! Excellent!

[RJRDenver]

Originally Posted by China Man

that happens quite a bit on my E60 ... a pain sometimes ...

I hopefully pick up my X5 tomorrow, but I've had similar issues with my 03 Lincoln LS, both with the windows and moonroof. My problems have been associated with bumps. For example, if I hit the auto up on the windows or the auto close on the moonroof and hit a significant bump while they are closing, they will stop and then go back down to the half way point, which is different than if the safety trigger was set (hands in window while closing, which causes the windows to go all the way down).

Its also for safety reasons that you can't roll your windows up from the key. I used to have a clifford alarm in my Mustang GT that would let you roll windows up or down and it was sweet. Windows rolled up upon arming the alarm.

[KENT4.8IS]

Originally Posted by X5Jay

How 'bout this one...

Fold down your rear seats and enjoy your exhaust music, especially if you have a modified exhaust. Pretty significant difference w/the seats down...

That is how I drive. It is the exhaust sound that sold me on this car.

[insofmarine]

I have owned 3 Lexus before: 1996 SC400, 2000 GS400 and 2004 RX330. I am now a proud owner of 3 BMW: 2006 BMW M6, 2004 X5 4.8iS, 2002 BMW X5 4.6is. My wife has taken my X5 and selling her Rx330. There is nothing better than a BMW!!!

[Sardonic]

Excellent thread with tons of valuable info...thanks to all the contributors.

Great for new and old X5 owners!

[Jeff330xi]

One I use all the time is turning the radio on without using the key by pushing the radio power button. Turns off automatically after about 20 minutes. I use it when cleaning the interior, etc. Much better than having to listen to the chime with the key in and the doors open.

[crosvs]

instead of like timer, mpg, arrival date and all that stupid stuff

?!?!?!

how is mpg and especially arrival time "stupid stuff?!" the main reason i enter destination in my satnav is precisely so i can keep track of my ETA!!

anyway ... in an effort to help contribute, i'm thinking hard about what else i can add since so many of you have already addressed so much.

but here's something:

If, like me, you often prefer to use the manual shift mode while negotiatin heavy freeway traffic so that you're always in the optimal gear to juice the car for a quick passing maneuver, you've probably noticed two frustating things: (1) the car takes a few precious moments to downshift and (2) it does so without blipping the throttle like newer automated manuals, resulting in a downshift that is anything but smooth, not to mention absent the awesome sound produced by blipping the throttle on downshifts!

This explanation will be easier for those of you used to driving a manual transmission car, especially those of you with heel/toe downshifting technique, but hopefully others will also appreciate this small but useful -- albeit tricky -- technique.

Basically, use the delay between downshifting to your advantage and manually blip the throttle just like in a manual transmission car. Here's the steps, enumerated:

1. Tap down a gear
2. brief (heretofore annoying, now useful!) delay
3. gearbox shifts into neutral
3. blip throttle
4. gearbox engages lower gear

Result? Almost seamless downshifts accompanied by the oh-so-satisfying sound of blipping the throttle, an especially awesome sound if you have aftermarket exhaust and/or the windows are down and you're driving beside a wall of some kind! But most importantly, the car won't make that sloppy downshift like a beginner trying to downshift in a manual transmission car!

Only caveat is that it's easy to mess up the timing, especially since the delay before the gearbox goes into and out of neutral is NOT always the same: just as with a manual, if the timing is off, the result is an annoying jerk.

BONUS: becuase the brake/throttle placement seems to be the same in the auto-transmission X5s as in the manual-transmission BMW models, they are fantastically placed for -- you guessed it -- heel/toe downshifts! Yup, you can use this technique even while braking if you know how, and the result really is fantastic for those occasional canyon roads or open track days where you need to brake while downshifting into a corner.

Ok that was a rather lengthy explanation, but I hope you liked it! Hm. I should try and demo this by video.... I'll see what I can do

[supersteve]

Originally Posted by crosvs

?!?!?!

1. Tap down a gear
2. brief (heretofore annoying, now useful!) delay
3. gearbox shifts into neutral
3. blip throttle
4. gearbox engages lower gear

Followed by the loud bang, the oil slick in the rear view mirror and the pretty sound of your transmission parts bounching down the highway.

Just like the "MythBusters" say. . . "Don't try this at home. We're trained professionals."

[crosvs]

huh? i've had my x5 since 37,000 miles -- it now has 113,000 miles. i've been using this technique since nearly the day i got it and not a single transmission problem. besides: logically, why SHOULD it cause a problem? if anything, if done correctly, then just like on a manual transmission, it's actually EASIER on the car cuz you get the RPMs to the proper speed of the lower gear