Things I might have liked to know before picking up my X5

[Boxsterfeet]

I think you'll find that the volume on the navigation voice can be altered up or down as you wish. When she is talking turn up (or down) the radio volume and it will actually increase (or decrease) her volume

[Gilles]

Item 16 (GPS Volume) is most likely onlya "training issue". I have a 5 and a 7 serie in Europe. You need to turn (Once) the volume button WHEN THE GPS LADY IS TALKING. This setting will be memorized in the car.
Let us know if it works.

[canamx5]

One more! The reading lights are very hard to locate at night.(in front)
The push button doesn't light up???? Was this the case in the E53??
Oh yeah, no light in center armrest storage.

[skarletknite]

2. Transmission is a little jerky and slow to learn driving patterns. I find myself babying the vehicle in order to have it drive more smoothly.

i agree here. maybe im still getting used to the transmission but when i need power and i am not in sport it is a bit jerky. in sport it goes very quickly. i also noticed the x5 really slowing in sport as i take my foot off the gas (pronounced downshifting)

3. Have the Comfort seats. Love the multi-adjustments of the seat. They have a little too much bounce in them and I would like to sit in the sport seat to see if it has the same bounce.

i have the sport seats, no bounce whatsoever. if anything, on the firm side but fits well.

9 Sunroof and wind tilt. Having noise issues with both sunroof and wind tilt. When sunroof is open, ther is only a fabric buffer to prevent buffeting and noise. Does an ok job with the buffeting syndrome. Does a really poor job otherwise. Also have noticed a howling noise whenever the fresh air tilt position for the dual sunroofs is engages. Would be interested in knowing if others are experiencing either of these issues.

i am not noticing a big difference in noise in mine from my last x5 (03).

12 Remote key fob opens rear hatch lock only intermittently. I have found myself enabling the arm while trying to repeatedly use the device to open the rear hatch when it does not open on the first click.

i am having the same problem.

13. Center armrest is a double open. Latches are not smooth like the glove box and require a little more force than you would like to open. Should open more smoothly and there may be a way to adjust.

i agree. the latches definitely feel cheap and mine get stuck almost all the time. sometimes it requires a LOT of force to open. it's a cheap little plastic hook latch. the dealer couldnt even open mine when i picked it up. i am looking for some silicone spray for the latches before i break them.

15. Gas mileage is 13/14 city, 17/18 highway. I have never been able to improve it in the 4.8 varying driving to see if it would make a difference. Based upon the literature, I was expecting better especially with all of the lighter alloy body cladding.

agree 100%

18. Trailer Hitch quote from my dealer has been quoted at $1200 installed. Seems a little high for an option that should likely be included on an SUV at this price. Any one doing better with their dealer??

same quote.

19. Floor mats did not come with car and are still on order. Again, should at least be in stock with delivery of the vehicle. Mention this if you are ordering so they will come with the car.

same with me, i was given the all weather mats (see my post with pics) and the rear mats are on backorder. perfect, just in time for winter (?!)

21. First car with I-Drive and except for the issues with the shortcut buttons listed above, I really like it. Takes about two weeks and then it becomes second nature. Tried to teach the wife to use it today and she cursed. Maybe it needs a lock feature.

i agree, i got used to i-drive pretty quickly and now i really like it. took the wife a little longer also but now she likes it too.

some issues i have:

1) default side and riew view mirror dim is pretty dark. i havent explored adjusting yet, and how to do that.

2) i wish the white reverse lights were much brighter, as the riew view camera at night is pretty dark. the audible alerts are helpful, though.

3) if you get running boards, you have to actually use them. i am 6'2" and if i try to step out of the x5, the back of my pants rub against the running boards. the end of the running boards seem pretty far from the edge of the seat. same goes for getting in.

4) HUD in my opinion is awesome. i highly recommed, esp when using nav for directions. i never have to take my eyes off the road.

5) in the NAV, i cant find a way to view the entire route turn by turn (to see if its taking me on certain roads). it should be able to be viewed in the split screen but the smaller screen can only view turn by turn that is one turn at a time. the traffic service on the day i drove my e70 home saved me from a 45 minute traffic backup by re-routing (it told me there was a delay 30 miles ahead and asked if i wanted to re-route). its great, i highly recommend.

6) i agree with everyone on the 3rd row. it's pretty much a waste. i only got it for resale value purposes, i didnt want to limit future buyers who had kids. only time will tell if i wasted the $ or not.

7) when using the bluetooth hands free phone, i cannot turn up the volume of a caller as far as i want. when driving fast i needed more volume and couldnt get it. any suggestions? (caller said they heard me fine)

8) in sport transmission i definitely noticed a rougher ride but it drives like its on RAILS. not the best mode for city driving, potholes feel like a sledgehammer is hitting the wheels. non-sport mode the ride feels about the same as my 03 x5. MAYBE a little bit softer.

thats all i can think of now. i welcome suggestions/comments/questions. great original post!

[canamx5]

Can't see HUD with polarized sunglasses.

[skarletknite]

Originally Posted by canamx5

Can't see HUD with polarized sunglasses.

i will double check but i am 95% certain i used hud already with my polarized lenses. i have maui jim sport in bronze/brown tint.

[canamx5]

Yep! not working (persol) I will try my MJ sport. Thanks!

[chor]

#13...I thought the same until my dealer showed me a trick. When you want to open, push down with your thumb and then open..It works

[canamx5]

Originally Posted by skarletknite

i will double check but i am 95% certain i used hud already with my polarized lenses. i have maui jim sport in bronze/brown tint.

It's official, HUD not visible with polarized sunglasses.

[PhoenixM3]

I have only a few gripes:

1. The fuel economy of mine just stinks! It is worse than I expected. I am getting 11 - 12mpg city and 16 - 17 on the highway. I feel like the EPA estimates are way off. All my other Bimmer's match their EPA estimates.

2. The transmission is a little herky jerky. It responds fairly quick, but lacks smoothness. I also find myself nursing the vehicle around to keep it smooth.

3. The sunroof makes a bit of noise when closed (and the the cloth cover open). The cloth cover masks the noise.

4. On the highway with strong wind, I have an air leak in the pillar between the front and rear driver side doors. I can hear it quite loudly through the seat belt hole, but only when it is very very windy (30+ mph).

With the exception of #1, I believe they are all just early production issues (which is common with every manufacturer). I feel my dealership will resolve these issues, but they really need to better warn customers about how poor the fuel economy is (even when driving like an old maid).