Initial Ownership Impression '11 X5 3.5d

[SJCFlyer]

As a newbie on this board, I thought I’d “pay it forward” with my owner experiences with our new X5 3.5diesel, as I couldn’t find anything similar before we purchased.

Reference Points – Cars In Our Garage
2006 Mini Cooper S Convertible
2002 MB CLK 55 AMG
2001 MBE320 Wagon
1987 MB 300TD Wagon (Diesel)
2006 Acura MDX Touring/Nav/Ent (replaced by X5)
(Also owned a 2001 & 2004 MDX)

Purchase Goals
The MDX had always been our “trip vehicle” – had to be comfortable for 4 people, have room for luggage & stuff. All things it excelled at. We found it lacking in [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]mileage[/COLOR][/COLOR] and range, and really never feeling “connected” to the road…more of a “floater.” Mechanically, car had been bullet proof – never used the factory or extended warranty in 65k miles. Going to desert and mountains, were also looking for more climate control for all passengers

Purchase Incentives
Between the BMW rebates, $1,800 diesel tax credit, and huge 4 year tax write off for small business owners when used for business (25% of purchase price + $25k first year alone) it seemed worth the gamble. Unfortunately, we started our quest too late in the game to order a vehicle exactly as we wanted in time to have it in hand prior to 12/30/10 when the tax incentives ended.

Our X5 Diesel (couldn’t BMW have simplified the name? It’s impossible to say or keep straight!)
Space Gray with Black Nevada Leather
Options Included – Technology package, cold weather package, premium package, multi-contour seats, rear heated seats, SAV package with staggered 20” wheels, roof racks, rubber floor mats, Satellite Radio, running boards, side view cameras
Options Not Included – Comfort access, ventilated seats, 3rd row seats, spare tire, premium sound, integrated smart phone.

Initial Driving Impressions (First 500 miles)
We took delivery at sunset and only had a brief time for dealer orientation (no fault of the dealer). We then quickly packed the car up and headed for Palm Desert…at night…in the rain. Driving any car that’s new to you in the dark (especially with a black interior) is an acid test, and overall we were very pleased. The car felt and rode very well on good or moderately good pavement. Rutted or heavily patched freeway was almost too jarring (talking on the cell phone made our voice sound like someone was pounding on our back/impossible to read or write – though rear individual lighting is excellent!). This occurred for very short sections, and made me suspect the run flats were the main cause (at an additional 11lbs per [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]tire[/COLOR][/COLOR] and very stiff side walls, I’d had the same experience with our Mini Cooper).

We only encountered two challenges as we “played” with various aspects on our 2.5 hour drive. While front windshield wipers, with automatic control worked great, we couldn’t find how to operate the rear wiper which was becoming filthy. Call to dealer informed us it was the same stalk, just push it toward dash ~ viola! Set a course with the Navigation without any problem…but cancelling it wasn’t intuitive at all! Somehow we cancelled it, but not exactly sure how.

Drive Train – WHEEE! We were never dissatisfied with the MDX, but you can’t miss the X5’s 450lbs of torque that are always right there. Had planned on keeping it at 70 mph, but caught my self a couple of times at 90 – you would have never known it as it was quite as a church inside and the ride was completely composed. Excellent insulation – no wind or engine noise at all. On the outside, at idle and very low speed you could guess it was a diesel, but it wasn’t as loud as our ’87 300TD whose entire [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]engine[/COLOR][/COLOR] is encapsulized and pretty quiet too. While that same vehicle had significant turbo lag (Countdown….3…2…1 Boom!), the X5 had virtually none – maybe just a slight whisper from dead stopped but I’ve driven gas engine vehicles whom felt like they had much more.

“Diesel-ness” – Very different from the MB 300TD as at start up there’s zero waiting for glow plugs, it starts just like a gas powered car. No visible smoke from exhaust at all! In fact I crawled under the car to confirm that the exhaust tips were really connected to the exhaust, as they where “white glove” clean after 200 miles. Loads of power at any speed.

Sound System/iPhone Integration – Initially I was upset would couldn’t find an X5 with the premium sound option, as I’m a huge audiophile type person, but the “standard” radio is awesome! Great clarity and base, HD radio really upgrades broadcast reception sound, and iPhone/iPod connections (through either Bluetooth streaming or hard cabled) were really awesome. Easily pulled up all my phone info and did everything through voice without a glance at the instructions. Those I spoke to didn’t know I was hands free (a first!). All my music played very easily with cover art when hard cable connection used (Bluetooth doesn’t pull art). Only challenge is to figure out how to shuffle. Also discovered that up to 4 phones can be programmed/recognized.

Seating – While the standard “sport seats” are really nice, the multi-contour are everything a seat should be. Supremely adjustable (even side bladders to pump up to your own “just right” designation) as well as lumbar support. Back support splits seat back into two sections vertically, particularly good for shorter people or those with back issues. Wife really wanted them and it was a great investment, especially when using seat heaters (not only can amount of heat be controlled by 3 steps, but through iDrive, you can even control what parts of the seat are or aren’t heated!). Rear passengers weren’t compromised at all, as their seat heaters were great, especially when we got into the low 30’s.

Storage – While initially I was concerned that we couldn’t haul nearly as much stuff as we did in the MDX (especially when the 50lb dog had to fit too), the smaller cargo area dimensions are blunted by the very, very large storage area underneath the cargo floor where they normally put either the spare tire or the 3rd row seat. Removable cargo privacy net works well and snaps out quickly.

Moon roof – Personally, I hate black interiors. Always seems like living in a cave, but with the solid cover slid all the way back it was as if the car had a glass ceiling! Lightened things up considerably, net created zero noise. And when opened all the way even 2nd row passengers enjoy the sky. No buffeting as long as rear windows cracked 1” Much prefer this to the Mercedes GL and Audi Q7 “window blind” approach which not only seems flimsy, but will not be nearly as effective in blocking strong desert sun as this solid cover. Plus sun roof can vent in two places. Also discovered you can program vehicle to ventilate itself at preset times (i.e. 10 minutes before you’re off work), pretty trick.

Observed Mileage – Drove 426 miles with an indicated 24.5 mpg (with more than an hour of just sitting idling between dealership and other place), and the tank still indicated more than ¼” tank before empty. Already better than the MDX.

Shortcomings – No vehicle is perfect. The question becomes how far they are from the goal? The X5 is pretty darn close. One shortcoming was very surprising, [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]BMW[/COLOR][/COLOR] being such a “drivers” car, it was the turn signals. Not the “automatic 3 blink option” which was quickly disabled, but where the actual indicators are on the dash. With your hands at the proper positions, they are completely hidden by your hands (I could hear them, but I couldn’t see them!). There seemed to be plenty of room to put them inboard of the speedo at tack clusters, rather than locate them out side of them. Another similar surprise – No engine temperature gauge at all! This was especially surprising in a diesel whose temperature can change considerably. Hard to believe this has just been downgraded to an idiot light (more investigation due here). Running Boards – Should be renamed “automatic calf dirtying devices” as they are difficult to use in getting into the vehicle, impossible to use when getting out. But if you’ve just driven through water or mud, you’ll be wearing it on the back side of your calf’s! Apparently they do perform one good feat – keeping mud & rocks from chipping paint on the lower portion of the car. Run Flat Tires – We haven’t even tried the “sport” [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]suspension[/COLOR][/COLOR] yet and the ride feels shortchanged by these tires. From the [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Mini [COLOR=blue !important]Cooper[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] experience (it was like driving a shopping cart…but they wore out very, very quickly and were $$$ to replace), I think we’ll be swapping these out immediately and buying a can of inflate-a-tire and keeping our AAA membership active.

That's all for now -- Additional reports coming as the miles roll up!