First post! Former E53 owner

[masmole]

Figured I'd get that out of the way.

I sold my '04 X5 4.8iS a few years ago when I frequented the other X5 forums like bimmerfest, etc. Now that I've taken interest in getting back in an X5 again, it was a pleasant surprise to discover that my favorite resource for X5 info, xoutpost.com from a few years ago has spawned its own forums!! (unless I was blind and it was here the whole time and never noticed it). It was this website where I learned how to install (retrofit) a BMW factory Sirius receiver, among a few other mods, not to mention enhance my overall ownership experience.

Anyhow, I'm waiting for my dealer to contact me once I can order their first allocation of the X5 Xdrive35d. It will be replacing an ML63 as my daily driver because as much as I love that AMG truck, I'm constantly getting crap from friends and family on why I drive a 510hp beast of a gas guzzler when 1) it hardly makes it out of the city where I live and work, 2) I never use the power it has, and 3) it's just plain obnoxious and creates a negative image of wastefulness considering my line of work and people I come in contact with. I normally don't care what people think of me and what kind of image I convey, but after two years with this truck, I think I'm actually starting to feel my friends and family are right. Not necessarily about the image a gas guzzler conveys, but the actual implications of driving one daily by myself with no real need for cargo space when there are greener and more practical alternatives. Once I heard of BMW's plans to release the 3.0L twin turbo clean diesels, getting one as an all-season city car started to make perfect sense.

And so I'm looking forward to be back in the X5 club. I know I will miss the stoplight launches and sheer passing power that the benz provides but I am also excited to get the updated iDrive CIC system and nice little options that can only be had with the E70. My '08 M3 DCT coupe has the old iDrive system and I've considered swapping it for an '09 model just for the updated iDrive but quickly realized how foolish and fiscally irresponsible that would be considering the depreciation hit I would take just for sake of gadget-love. By getting into a new X5, I shall get my grubby hands on the new iDrive after all.

If anyone would like to refer me to important X5 35d info links I should take a look at, I would appreciate it. Otherwise, I trust the search function is effective and I will use it.

Cheers.