March production to be confirmed by end of week??

[King]

Contacted my dealer today and they said no news yet on the 2nd gen I-drive. He figures it will be the 2010 model towards the end of the year. I mentioned to him that I have heard otherwise and it may be early March production.

To that note he said March procuction allocation will be out by the end of the week, and if there are any changes or updates to the vehicle equipment, they should know by the end of the week...

I hope this is true and will keep my fingers crossed! Can anyone else confirm this?

[IloveNYC]

We also have this information over here in Germany - all updates will be released not later than end of January.

In Germany buyers awaiting an engine update and the new iDrive starting with March production. iDrive update is the most expected update over here!!

Maybe the US-Models differ because of the mid MY!?. I guess BMW makes X5 and X6 buyers a big birthday present (10 years SUV) with some nice surprises! The year of the X ...

[morecowbell]

I can see them doing an I-Drive update.... I can also see them putting the Twin Turbo 6 in the base model. I sincerely doubt they will replace the 4.8 with the 5. twin-turbo, unless it will be some kind of "M" edition.

I have 4.8 on order now. Replacing the 4,8 wit the 5.0 would piss me off. The I-Drive update I don't really car about.

[Penguin]

I am holding off on an X5 purchase until the new i-drive and twin-turbo six appear. I would be surprised if both are not in the 2010 model, and possibly sooner.


Though I must admit that BMW seems to be trying to drive away people that actually like to keep their vehicles a long-time and work on them, and turn them more into a luxury toaster, e.g. I can get factory technical data, including TSBs, for virtually all makes, including Mercedes, Porsche, Lexus, etc at a reasonable cost from the AllData service, but BMW stands alone in refusing to do a deal with AllData to make technical data available.

[BGM]

The current 2.9% financing deal on X5s is through 3/2. So, it's "possible" that they add some changes after that.

[vinuneuro]

Don't forget the lack of dipsticks, coolant temp gauges, etc.

Originally Posted by Penguin

I am holding off on an X5 purchase until the new i-drive and twin-turbo six appear. I would be surprised if both are not in the 2010 model, and possibly sooner.


Though I must admit that BMW seems to be trying to drive away people that actually like to keep their vehicles a long-time and work on them, and turn them more into a luxury toaster, e.g. I can get factory technical data, including TSBs, for virtually all makes, including Mercedes, Porsche, Lexus, etc at a reasonable cost from the AllData service, but BMW stands alone in refusing to do a deal with AllData to make technical data available.

[King]

Originally Posted by Penguin

I am holding off on an X5 purchase until the new i-drive and twin-turbo six appear. I would be surprised if both are not in the 2010 model, and possibly sooner.


Though I must admit that BMW seems to be trying to drive away people that actually like to keep their vehicles a long-time and work on them, and turn them more into a luxury toaster, e.g. I can get factory technical data, including TSBs, for virtually all makes, including Mercedes, Porsche, Lexus, etc at a reasonable cost from the AllData service, but BMW stands alone in refusing to do a deal with AllData to make technical data available.

BMW is a leader in research & development. Others are followers! When the 7 series came out with i-drive for e.g., it was a whole new concept and a year later the S-Class had it, and then Lexus, and Infiniti and Acura and AUDI and the neighbour's lawn mower. I wish BMW would patent more of their technology and make it more difficult for others to copy. Perhaps this is why they don't make their tech data readily available to everyone.

[Penguin]

> Perhaps this is why they don't make their tech data readily available to everyone.


They are only making it difficult for individual owners, not other companies. BMW will give access to the information, by U.S, law, but they charge over $2,000 a year for access, as opposed to the $25 of Alldata for individual vehicles.

So BMW is only stopping access to individual owners, not other companies.


As far as advanced technologies, I wish BMW could figure out the rear camera technology that Ford and almost every other company has. I think I could also do without the advanced parking brake technology, which requires the X5 to be towed to a dealer on occasion, as opposed to the primitive cable technology.

[rh71]

In a way it's good other companies adopt the technology as it also gives everyone else a chance to challenge and improve upon it. BMW looks like it has stepped up with this latest idrive release. BTW, I hate that Toyota / Lexus has the same alarm lock/unlock sound though.

[morecowbell]

I'll admit...that electronic parking brake concerns me...