First time Bimmer owner, what I'd do different!?

[srbarnes4ever]

Good day all....I'm a longtime Nissan lover, having owned an 01 Maxima, 05 Pathfinder, 07 G35x and 08 Armada...the wife of course drove the SUVs. She started rumbling about the size of the Armada so I researched and gave her 3 options: X5, Acura MDX or Infiniti FX. She quickly (without test driving any of them) chose BMW. I ordered a custom vehicle on Jan 14th and it was at the dealer for pickup on the 28th. It's a black sapphire (w cin brown interior) 3.5i Premium with Cold weather, Tech and Convenience packages plus multi contour seats, rear entertainment and rear heated seats.
Wifey loves it, it drives like NO truck/SUV I have ever been in -- and it pulls at me to drive it even more than my G35 these days! This is an addiction in the making..I am trying to stay out of the d@mn thing!
Having driven it for a few weeks and read tons of reviews, there is one thing I definitely would have added to the package if I could do it all over again -- I likely would have started with the Sport package with 20 inch summer rim/tire combo and ordered a set of 19s with winter rubber.....other than that, I'm tickled to death with this new addition....it might just force me out of my Infiniti in another 2 or 3 years.....
Great site and forum here...glad and proud to join the gang!

[deutsch100]

Congrats & Wilkommen an Bord

Yes, BMWs are addictive. They are not perfect, and they can even be beyond frustrating at many times, but the driving pleasure (Freude am Fahren) is not really replicated by any other mainstream brand. Enjoy your new X5, and your Cinnamon Brown leather is really a favourite of mine. I love my Oyster/Black 2-tone leather, but I know the Cinnamon with my Alpine White would be awesome!!

[Richard in NC]

Congrats and welcome to the board.

[onefish2]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

The driving pleasure (Freude am Fahren) is not really replicated by any other mainstream brand.

You summed it up quite nicely. I love cars and I am a driver. That is why I am a BMW fan for life.

[srbarnes4ever]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

Congrats & Wilkommen an Bord

Yes, BMWs are addictive. They are not perfect, and they can even be beyond frustrating at many times, but the driving pleasure (Freude am Fahren) is not really replicated by any other mainstream brand. Enjoy your new X5, and your Cinnamon Brown leather is really a favourite of mine. I love my Oyster/Black 2-tone leather, but I know the Cinnamon with my Alpine White would be awesome!!

I MIGHT have upgraded to nappa leather had they had it in Cin brown...that was clearly a pre-req from momma so couldn't alter that one. She also "had" to have the heated steering wheel which I believe would have been lost with the sport version or M package so that excluded that....as I said, I'd do differently next time - or if the next time I'm ordering for me!

[jackie]

I just bought my fist but I already want a second one too.

[JasonG]

"This is an addiction in the making..I am trying to stay out of the d@mn thing! "

Im in the same boat, bought for the wife but i want to drive it all the time!!!now must find the $ to get me one! :-)

Congrats and welcome!

[Kloogy]

I share your thoughts. I did some research and made sure to get the Sport with the 20" wheels. I try to stress that to people here before they buy. Enjoy your X5 !

[Richard in NC]

Originally Posted by Kloogy

I share your thoughts. I did some research and made sure to get the Sport with the 20" wheels. I try to stress that to people here before they buy. Enjoy your X5 !

But absolutely try before you buy. There is a penalty in ride quality.

[wallyx5]

Welcome to the party. BMW= Drivers Wanted!