I love this car, but here are the top 3 dumbest things about it:

[LeMansX5]

Originally Posted by marcx5

2) no height adjustable suspension (which WAS on previous models)

X5 is being positioned differently with other X models in BMWs future. X6, on other hand, sits lower than X5 and is expected to have that.

[trueX5er]

to add to the "dumb" things is the electronic parking brake.
I hate it!!!
I loved the satisfaction and reassurance of the "clicking" on the old parking brake, and to remove it, just pull down. I knew at all times the position of the p-brake. Now, I never know if it is engaged or not, I have no tangible clue that it is working, and I have no idea if it will turn off or not when I start driving.
Give me the old one!
(but it does look better...oh well...)

[topgear66]

On the subject of tailights, my Ferrari's tailights are a different configuration than those in the UK. Mine are red and are a full circle, in the UK they are orange dots in the center of the circle. It doesn't bother me it's just you will see other cars with amber or orange turn signals but some say there not allowed. For example, the honda prius has clear orange signals, the 07 sl550's have clear amber lights, 911's have clear amber lights, ml500 has clear amber lights, gl450 has clear amber lights and bmw's own 5 series, 6 series, 3 series coupe, x3, and 7 series all have amber lights.

[chris24]

I actually like the all red tail-lights, it's a cool/different look...

[luke.jenner]

I am failry dissapointed that Rear Side Airbags are gone!

Although these were optional in other markets they were always standard in Australia. Mercedes has them standard too. Between BMW and Mercedes they set the 'Gold Standard' for safety in Australia and the market has come to expect that in my opinion. It seems like one area where the X70 is less value for Money!

Regards,

Luke Jenner

[X5 Guy]

I guess it is because of the child seat connections in the seats near the rear doors.

They did not want to provide a way to deactivate them individually.

Airbags are cheap.....

Does the airbad curtain go back that far?

[xnsf]

Originally Posted by X5 Guy

I guess it is because of the child seat connections in the seats near the rear doors.

They did not want to provide a way to deactivate them individually.

Airbags are cheap.....

Does the airbad curtain go back that far?

the curtain airbags extend from the front A-piller to the C-piller after the door

[chris24]

Originally Posted by luke.jenner

I am failry dissapointed that Rear Side Airbags are gone!

Although these were optional in other markets they were always standard in Australia. Mercedes has them standard too. Between BMW and Mercedes they set the 'Gold Standard' for safety in Australia and the market has come to expect that in my opinion. It seems like one area where the X70 is less value for Money!

Regards,

Luke Jenner

Rear side airbags are great, if you ever have children in the back and wish to kill them........

BMW gets "Good" (highest rating) from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for front-offset and side-impact crash tests for every vehicle that they make (or at least every one that I've ever seen tested), with or without the airbag.

[luke.jenner]

Chris 24, I think you have convinced me!

My X5 has side rear airbags in the rear doors and the curtain airbags. It also has child restraint points for all three rear seats (these are detailed in the Australian Manual supplement). There is no mention of any way to deactivate the side airbags, although it does so not to put a child seat in the front with the 'forward facing airbag'.

I guess the child seat should be in the centre?

Thanks for the insight!

[PatX]

On my E53, the dealer disabled the SIDE airbag that my daughter's carseat was going to be on. They have to do it electronically somehow. As a matter of fact, they plastered a very specific sticker in the doorjamb indicating that the bag was disabled.

They did not, however, disable the side curtain. Supposedly, the side curtain wouldn't shoot the seat accross, but instead, simply act as a pillow against the glass.

On my new E70, I guess that I won't have any airbag to disable this time.