When should I purchase my X5?

[stockguru]

There are no answers to the question because right now it is just guesses and rumors from the dealer. I have asked a couple of dealers who have given different answers. Anywhere from April that has already passed to Jan of next year. You'll find out a few weeks before whenever that is.

[BGM]

It really depends on your personal situation. Are you in dire need of a car, is your lease up, etc. For me my e53 is in great shape even at 8 years old so I'm so I'm just saving no car payments until I see the new V-8 TT, new iDrive/Nav and new 20" wheels--which looks like next Spring from all indications. But some people don't care and would rather take advantage of the special financing right now--which I will guess will be gone by next Spring.

[dbot16]

I'd prefer to have it before the next winter (Dec/Jan timeframe). The other factor driving my timeframe is my current car (C320) is 8 yrs old now, and it's going to start getting expensive to maintain. I'd rather put that $$$ into my next vehicle than into my current (dying) one.

The new iDrive is the biggest factor to me.

I also still have not seen any info on additional interior changes coming w/ the face lift. Can anyone provide info/references on it?


Thanks!

[BGM]

Originally Posted by dbot16

I'd prefer to have it before the next winter (Dec/Jan timeframe). The other factor driving my timeframe is my current car (C320) is 8 yrs old now, and it's going to start getting expensive to maintain. I'd rather put that $$$ into my next vehicle than into my current (dying) one.

The new iDrive is the biggest factor to me.

I also still have not seen any info on additional interior changes coming w/ the face lift. Can anyone provide info/references on it?


Thanks!

Well chances are your current car is not going to cost you $12K in the next 12 months (using a $1K new car payment a month x 12 months) you are still going to be ahead. As far as interior there probably won't be too much but earlier in this thread there are pics of the LED dash which is supposed to be in the next facelift (currently in the new 7 series).

[Zoich]

Originally Posted by dbot16

Hello,

I'm a first time poster, long time reader.

I am looking for some advice: I am going to purchase my X5, but I am not sure when I should.

Initially, I thought the new iDrive interface was coming out this spring, so I waited until now. But then, I read that the iDrive interface, plus facelift and new engines were coming in the fall production, so I decided to wait until then. But now, I am reading that some (it not all) of these featues will be out in spring of 2010?

Can someone give a definitive timeline on when these features are coming? I really don't want to have to wait another year to buy my X5. But I also know that I won't be happy if I buy one now, and the above features come out within a year.

Thanks in advance!

Here is my 2 cents. being a biased BMW owner for the past 12 years:
1) iDrive: Without sounding too sarcastic. Are you a delivery man? do you find yourself getting lost all the time? do you need to find your way home? Do you go on trips all the time? The only benefit of the new idrive is the disc-stored NAV info so it's a quicker access/turn around time to plan out the route. The new idrive has shortcut buttons -- I actually think it's worse. I have used it in the 528 loaner. you have to memorize the location of the short cut buttons! they are small and intrusive. Where as the old short cut is easy, toggle and hold (right=nav, down=radio, up=NAV, left=climate). However, once inside the idrive interface, it is just not that convienet to use. Germans still has a lot to catch up with electronics vs. Japanese.

2) New engine: If not too much of the wait, I'd like go with the new engine -- better gas milage. My friend is a die-hard of a normally aspirated engine. I don't really care, as long as the powerband is alwasy there when I needed the power. My 4.8 gets the job done, but gas milage sucks. Full tank only goes just below 300 miles. That's just crazy for a 21 gallon tank. Hopefully the new engine is better. If it gets better fuel economy. I'd wait.

3) facelift: That happens at the same time as the new engine I believe -- due to the x6 like front intake dams for the TT engine. If not, then I can careless about the new look. However, newer look may be better resale value -- being "newer".

Bottom line. If you're getting the 4.8 engine right now -- you won't be disappointed by its performance. 3.0 engine is adequete, but X5 is a heavy car. No matter which idrive you use, you will not like it (someone please prove me wrong...). But if you're getting the 6 cylinder engine. I may wait to see if the performance is that much better. The e39 528 vs. the 530 -- there was a big difference.

[BGM]

Originally Posted by Zoich

Here is my 2 cents. being a biased BMW owner for the past 12 years:
1) iDrive: Without sounding too sarcastic. Are you a delivery man? do you find yourself getting lost all the time? do you need to find your way home? Do you go on trips all the time? The only benefit of the new idrive is the disc-stored NAV info so it's a quicker access/turn around time to plan out the route. The new idrive has shortcut buttons -- I actually think it's worse. I have used it in the 528 loaner. you have to memorize the location of the short cut buttons! they are small and intrusive. Where as the old short cut is easy, toggle and hold (right=nav, down=radio, up=NAV, left=climate). However, once inside the idrive interface, it is just not that convienet to use. Germans still has a lot to catch up with electronics vs. Japanese.

2) New engine: If not too much of the wait, I'd like go with the new engine -- better gas milage. My friend is a die-hard of a normally aspirated engine. I don't really care, as long as the powerband is alwasy there when I needed the power. My 4.8 gets the job done, but gas milage sucks. Full tank only goes just below 300 miles. That's just crazy for a 21 gallon tank. Hopefully the new engine is better. If it gets better fuel economy. I'd wait.

3) facelift: That happens at the same time as the new engine I believe -- due to the x6 like front intake dams for the TT engine. If not, then I can careless about the new look. However, newer look may be better resale value -- being "newer".

Bottom line. If you're getting the 4.8 engine right now -- you won't be disappointed by its performance. 3.0 engine is adequete, but X5 is a heavy car. No matter which idrive you use, you will not like it (someone please prove me wrong...). But if you're getting the 6 cylinder engine. I may wait to see if the performance is that much better. The e39 528 vs. the 530 -- there was a big difference.

Here is the thread from LeMans on the new iDrive:

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ive-x5-x6.html