My new 2011 X5 35d and PCD Experience

[mpriceii]

Not a big poster here, but have read lots from others. Many affected some of the decisions I made when purchasing my new X5. I thought I would share my experience in hopes it will do the same for others.

Ordered my wife a new 2011 X5 Diesel for Christmas and decided to do a PCD as part of the package. We have now over 1,500 miles on the new oil burner and I'll list my thoughts, impressions, pics, etc etc etc. Since the driving has included going thru the Smokey Mountains of NC, down and over to Memphis, then home to Dallas in "Snowmageddon 2011", including driving around Dallas for 5 days in 2" of ice, 3" of sleet, and now 6" of snow on Friday, I have a pretty good feel for what this vehicle can do. What a break-in period!

Overall, in case you don't want to read the entire post, the Performance Center Delivery experience exceeded all expectations and the X5 Diesel is amazing! This is our 6th BMW and having had several Tahoe's and other vehicles in the past, including my E92 M3 (which before the last 7 days I have said is the best overall car ever made), I will likely be ordering a new diesel 3 as my next car.

X5 Options: Space Gray, Tobacco Interior, Convenience Package, Sport package, 20" wheels, running boards, Nav, comfort access, premium sound, heated seats, comfort seats, roof rails, bamboo wood. MSRP: $67,575

I personally think the 20" wheels, flares, and running boards give this truck a totally different stance and look than all the other X5's. I know to each his own, but this truck looks awesome!! And for the tobacco interior, all I can say is PLEASE LOOK AT ONE IN PERSON BEFORE YOU MAKE UP YOUR MIND. It is way more 'chocolate' than the light reddish appearance it has in the broshure, online configurator, and in every picture I have seen posted online. It is by-far the best looking interior on the X5's..especially with the black headliner in the sport package. at night or low light its almost black...again, a nice departure from all black. Don't be scared to order one!

Performance Center Delivery Experience:

Car was ordered 12/18. Built on 1/7. PCD on 1/28. The Performance Center Delivery experience is first-class BMW all the way. From the pick-up in a new X5 at airport, to hotel, to dinner, to breakfast, to the driving instructions, to lunch, to M5 hot laps, to museum tour and factory tour, to the 2 hour perosnal delivery of your vehicle, I HIGHLY recommend doing this. I have read several posts about this experience, so I wont go into great detail. Yes, it's a fast-paced day-long experience--they have you doing something every minute.....sure the driving portion is only a few hours, but you are not paying $1,500 for a full day M school either. All in all, awesome day and kudos to BMW for offering this FREE OF CHARGE!! ONe thing we did that made it more enjoyable: Stay at the Marriott hotel a second night 1) you don't have to cart your luggage over to PCD 2) its nice to hang out at Museum and 'relax' some after your delivery 3) the town of Greenville SC is great...awesome downtown park, restaraunts, atmosphere, etc...you will definitely want to go down and visit....start your return trip home the next morning and don't rush your "experience".

The "Oil Burner":

The torque and drivability of this diesel is better than any car I own. Several of the instructors at the Perforamnce Center said "No one should get anything but a diesel in these". I agree. And I ordered this one without driving one first! Nothing like driving it in the mountains at 65, coming to a fairly large incline, then giving it very little throttle (1/2" or less?) and the engine revs up maybe 300-400 rpm, never shifts gears, and you look down and in about 5 seconds you're going almost 90......and our best highway average was 28.6, overall was about 25, which included lots of mountains and driving the last 9 hours home into a stiff 40 mph north cross wind.

Since arriving home, we have had and ice, sleet and now a 6" snow storm. The X5 has handled flawlessly. And it has summer 20" tires!!! No need for all-terrains or winter tires unless you get this kind of weather 5 months a year or live in the mountains..even then I would reconsider, because on dry pavement it drives and handles like a big M3.

Options Ordered and Not Ordered:

Thanks in part to lots of comments on this board, I did not get active steering or active suspension. In my seat of the pants opinion, with the 20"'s you don't need it. Having gone thru a few highway ramps at twice the recommend speeds and on some nice twisty mountain back roads home, I don't need a computer adjusting my steering and shocks. The 'BMW FEEL" of this truck is perfect....save that money for other options or pocket it. And as others have said, I don't want to be servicing those two particular items out of warranty!!!

Comfort Seats: Again, from others on this board, a must-have. Not that much more money and the most comfortable seats I have sat in....and I sat in them for 3 days straight for close to 12 hours a day!!!

Premium Sound: Kinda a pricey option, but amazing sound quality. If you like listening to music (not just talk radio!) then get it.....it's the sound system you wish you had in your car when you were 16!

As you can see I could go on and on......anyone that has any questions please feel free to post or PM me. I'm not a BMW apologist...I agree they are getting too electronic and sophisticated...out-of-warranty values plummet and service bills can be scary. But I believe they have hit on something with this diesel.....both in the X5 and the 3 series...a friend of mine has had the 335d for over a year....gets 40mpg and it runs stronger than the 335i

Mike
Dallas, TX