My new Stratus Gray X5

[KMA]

Been primarily a lurker of this site. Lots of great info! Picked up a 2006 X5 3.0 back in late Feb. Originally had placed a custom order about a week earlier, then decided on a model with a couple fewer options based on dealer locate that was available for immediate delivery (So much for patience as a virtue!)...

Stratus Gray/Black Leather/Auto/Premium/Cold Weather/Heated Steering/Rear Climate/PDC/Power Folding Self-Dimming Mirrors/Xenons

Options I went without that were on my original order: DSP (and now reading through various posts, >50% of you seem to think not worth it anyway) and rear heated seats

Did not want the Navigation, as I had an '06 330xi in which I did not particularly like the interface or usability (i.e., which I know is different than the X5 given i-Drive, but given that it is supposedly the "next generation" of BMW nav, knew I likely would not like the X5's). Currently using a Garmin Nuvi instead, which has outstanding usability and accuracy--and also has the benefit of text-to-speech functionality.

Traded in my E46 328Ci, which I miss for a certain fun factor I do not get out of the X5--but it still exceeds my expectations for a SUV-type (I know, "SAV") vehicle by any measure!

Only minor mod I made was to switch out the 130's (17") to 183's (18") I picked up here (Thanks SNIFFLES! Simple & painless transaction!) Parameter on this car was to maintain a moderate ride due to a newborn we have... i.e., wife's directive to get a car that does not jostle him like my coupe would have--hence no sports package and no 20's allowed . Oh, and I also moved my Dension IceLink over to the X5, which had a slight and faint "clicking" issue on the old HK system as the ID3 text scrolled, but works flawlessly on the X5's standard system.

Anyway, here are pics with old wheels and new.... (By the way, Stratus Gray is one of those difficult-to-accurately-capture-on-photo colors. Looks blue in bright light, gray in moderate light, and almost bronzish-gray in the dark with minimal light)