It's here: White w/ Saddle Brown

[Anmar Hussain]

Amazing. Only thing missing is the 'big wheels.

[rh71]

Originally Posted by elvism

what no running boards?? 20's??? .... looks great , enjoy!!

- running boards would be purely aesthetic - I test drove with them and they just got entirely in the way too much getting out. Actually right now with the sports seats curvature it's already awkward getting out. My wife has a much harder time and she's 5'4". Actually having boards may help her there, but it really bothered me.

- 214 20s would be sweet, but I just don't want to deal with changing tires back and forth for the winter every year. If it were not for that, I'd make a huge effort to get those things... they're perfect.

[Tango22]

Originally Posted by rh71

- running boards would be purely aesthetic - I test drove with them and they just got entirely in the way too much getting out. Actually right now with the sports seats curvature it's already awkward getting out. My wife has a much harder time and she's 5'4". Actually having boards may help her there, but it really bothered me.

Ordering the running boards was a difficult decision for me as well. All I could think about was ruining my pants (or my wife's dress) on a bad weather day. I naturally wanted to get in and out of the car without using the running boards but, my wife made me feel really stupid by reminding me that they're not just there to look at. I began to actually step on it as I got in and out of the demo car and all of my worries went away.

Plus, I knew that I would eventually add the aero kit and I thought that the running boards finished off the look of the car with the aero kit.

Anyways...your car is still ridiculously sick and you could always add the running boards if you change your mind.

[drod]

not sure what the fuss is on running boards... haven't had any issues with it so far. I wear business suits and it's winter time here (lots of rainy days)

i never had to use it when boarding on or off... and it doesn't get in my way when i don't...

really purchased it for the look...

it hasn't stained either... but i do use a liquid waxy spray cleaner after each car wash...


maybe in time.... just don't see it now

[Hunter]

Rh-

I missed this thread and saw your pics on the other forum and knew this was the new X. I wanted to say congrats. I have aero kit envy because it looks so great in white. I have never had a white car but the X5 does white very well. We've nicknamed ours Moby Dick.

I wanted to see Saddle and I think it is a great looking interior. Are the pics accurate as to color? Also my 2007 has different style of headrests are your standard sport package headrests?

How is it running so far?

[rh71]

These are very close to the saddle brown you see in person, in good daylight:

http://rh71.com/pics/x5/pages/IMG_4276.html
http://rh71.com/pics/x5/pages/IMG_4262.html

The headrests are the new '08 sport ones.

Right now, the acceleration could be smoother (maybe more of that drive-by-wire crap where you have to push it further than I'm used to) - also I sometimes get a heavy feeling on initial drive (as if it's riding the parking brake) after it's been sitting in the garage all night but it's ok after 5 mins on the road. I don't attribute this to a weak engine because again, it lightens up soon after on more stop-and-go. The tranny shifts are smooth throughout - I don't feel it. Enough power for highway passing. Shift it into DS for on-ramps if you must - depends on speed of the other traffic but it's got sufficient power overall.

Still getting 14mpg on local driving but I figure it will be better after break-in - same with the delayed acceleration. I only have 150mi. on it right now. Like I've said before, a 4.8i would be definite overkill for me. But it always depends on what you came from.