X5 Purchase Advise - Purchase now or later

[jlackey49]

Thanks for all the advice. Good to hear some real users of the X5 and the old iDrive. The reviews are brutal.

I only keep a vehicle about 2-3 years, so would the old version be obsolete and impact resale? Would this be avoided if I lease?

Thanks all!

[mtech8]

Originally Posted by jlackey49

Thanks for all the advice. Good to hear some real users of the X5 and the old iDrive. The reviews are brutal.

I only keep a vehicle about 2-3 years, so would the old version be obsolete and impact resale? Would this be avoided if I lease?

Thanks all!

I haven't done any calculations, but typically if a person only plans on keeping a vehicle for 2-3 years, leasing is the better option. Not sure how true that is in this economy where BMW is pushing harder for purchasing.

I'm sure having the old iDrive would make it harder to re-sale the car. Not to the point where no one will buy it, it'll just rule out the tech-savvy guy looking for a used car and perhaps give the knowledgable buyer more reason to ask for a bigger discount. Leasing would definitely eliminate the problem. At the end of the lease, you simply return the vehicle. Re-sale is then the dealers problem.

As for the version of the iDrive, if you are only driving for 2-3 years. Old or new is fine. The old isn't as bad all the bad reviews. It's nothing to rave about, but it works fine. Honestly, for all the real functions you'd use on a regular basis, there are buttons there to do the same task (AC & Radio). Only real gripe is the navigation, rear view camera resolution and slow boot up. New better of course, but you have to factor in the wait plus price difference and impact on re-sale if you are purchasing.

[Fastbuck]

Originally Posted by mtech8

New better of course, but you have to factor in the wait plus price difference and impact on re-sale if you are purchasing.

Not to mention whatever gremlins BMW have decided to engineer into the new iDrive!

[jlackey49]

Thanks for all the comments! I have someone wanting to assume my lease on my 335 so I'm going to price out a couple of 2009s. Maybe I'll return as a proud new owner of an X5...I'm sure I'll have a ton of questions after that!

Happy holidays!