07_X5 : Where's the itch ?

[billjet]

I've owned 3 4.4 SP X5 so far ( 2001, 2003, 2005 ). I leased each time for two years and I am due for 02-08 ... I hope by then that some irritants will have been taken care of, namely :

1- Nowhere to be foud is the possiblity to install an OEM icth for 07.
How come there is no towing package available after all those years?
Have you lookked at the 07 rear bumper - No " door " for the itch !
New bumper needed ? Come on ! This must be a joke.
Is this a truck or what ... S'cuze me ... It's an SAV !
2- In Canada this SAV comes on run flat tires exclusively ... WOW !
Almost no availabity. Those tires are "city tires". If you ever have the
bad luck to puncture one of those babies in the boundocks you'd
better pray to I don't know who to have it change or be close to a big
city to have it fix , otherwise here comes the flat bed and a lost day
waiting for a fix ... And I am not talking $$$ ... I know, those are for
my security!
Option : Install conventional tires for 1.5K and eat those
run flat and get a latex can cuz there's no room for a spare !
3- I won't talk about the outrageous 07 price of that SAV in Canada.
The difference in price between the US and CDN is hard to swallow.
4- If you order the SP you'll have to do W/O the overdue double wishbone
suspension ... among other things. Well done BMW.

Hope all those will be adressed before the 08 model year otherwise my garage might be host to a MB ML63 AMG with the towing package installed
but no hand brake ( It's a US like pedal ) !!! You can't win them all ...

[Denalio]

Are you saying that if you order the sport package you don't get the double wishbone suspension?

[billjet]

Well ... if you "build" an 07 X5 on www.bmw.ca and choose the SP it will tell you that you must forget about the double wishbone suspension !
Dealer confirmed ! That is that ...

[Denalio]

Yes I did notice that. When I asked the dealer he told me that you still get the double wishbone suspension with the SP. I checked on the bmwusa site and there is no mention of the deletion of the front DWS??? Seems to be some confusion still. I agree with you on the hitch knockout, seems like a huge oversight to me especially when BMW state the accolades DSC and the trailer stability program in the marketing materials.

[Kewl X5]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98; PalmSource/Palm-D052; Blazer/4.5) 16;320x320)

BTW, look at the STICKY thread regarding the BMW acessories catalog for E70 which shows the price for the Tow Hitch install kit.

[LeMansX5]

Hitch comes from under the rear bumper.

[Denalio]

Those pics aren't anything like the pictures I've seen of the new X5. That rear is not the same, bumper is different, lights are different and the bottom fascia is painted. Is that the old style?

[LeMansX5]

Originally Posted by Denalio

Those pics aren't anything like the pictures I've seen of the new X5. That rear is not the same, bumper is different, lights are different and the bottom fascia is painted. Is that the old style?

These pics are of test-mule of new X5 and under the cladding its the same new X5 you have seen. So the hitch in new X5 is exactly how it shows in these pics

[DINANM3]

There is no way that BMW is going to only use DWB suspension only on non sports. DWB suspension is not something that you can get rid of easily. It is part of the design of the entire vehicle. You cant just go from DWB to struts and vice versu. It doesnt work like that. It would basically be a differently designed vehicle. Also the hitch will come from under the bumper for sure. No door or opening is necessary.
As far as run flats it is the only option but if you dont order the 3 row seats you do get a space saver spare tire on all X5s

[JCL]

For some time, the X3 web site configurator has noted that selection of the sport package deletes the strut suspension. It seems that there may be some difference in the two suspensions (sport and non-sport) at least on that model. The problem with the E70 web site note is that there is a wishbone suspension to start with, so I am not sure what it is changing to. It could be as simple as changing to a performance-tuned wishbone suspension, it is hard to decipher.

There seems to be some confusion on the hitch. Many of the early press photos have shown the European hitch, which is not a 2" square receiver. That hitch uses a 'gooseneck' style hitch that comes out from under the bumper. That same style of hitch has been used on previous X3 and X5 models in Europe, and other BMW models. It isn't suited to the North American market. The accessory catalogue (page 9, posted in this forum as a sticky) clearly shows a standard 2" square receiver, mounted under the rear apron, no cutout apparently required (although it is difficult to be sure, as we only have the photos to go on). The accessory catalogue notes that a fascia trim piece is required with this style of hitch, total cost less than $23. I would check with the dealer, and get a print out of the OEM hitch installation instructions. Looks like a dealer-installed option, same as the E53.

The run flats are an easy fix, just put standard tires on the rims. Sell the runflats as takeoffs to the first four E70 owners at your dealership that can't get stock of replacements at their tire store, and don't want to pay dealer pricing when they get their first flat. Carry a space-saver spare where the footwell for the rear child seat goes. Alternatively, carry a compressor and can of sealant, a la M3 and others. Also, carry a cell phone and the number of BMW assist. If I was out in the boonies, an E70 is the last vehicle I would want there with me. It isn't just an off-road issue, there aren't many dealers who can work on this vehicle out of the city centres in Canada. In BC, once you leave the Lower Mainland, there is just one dealer (Kelowna). It is 1500 km to the northern BC border, give or take.

Pricing in Canada? Why should anything change with this model. It is the same story as all recent models. Yes, we get different options as standard (cold weather, etc). Sometimes we get colours that aren't available stateside. With early M3s, we actually got the HP that never got included in the US models. We always get a price that is higher than US list multipled by current exchange rates. Usually true for cars, digital cameras, TVs, etc. Smaller market, etc, are the usual reasons, but you have a choice, you can always buy something else. This model has deliberately been priced higher, and IMO they won't have any trouble selling them. If you want an SUV that costs similar to the E53, BMW is offering you the X3.

Anyway, good luck with your selection. It appears the E70 may not be the best fit for you, at least until your questions get resolved.