Things I love and not so much, about my X5 - One week review

[cravin]

Exactly one week ago, I purchased my CPO X5. Now that that honeymoon phase has worn off a little, I just wanted to state the things that I love and not so much about the X5

Love:
-Handles like it's on rails. I came from a Jeep Commander, and the X5 is a sports car in a mislabeled body.
-Active Ventilated Seats. I was thinking about going for a cheaper X5 that didn't have all the packages. Really glad that I got the loaded one. Dry back walking into a meeting on a hot day is priceless
-Heads up Display. Nice feature that keeps my eyes on the road instead of looking at the GPS

Not so much:
-I have what seem to be two common problems. Peeling trim on the steering wheel and a good sized gap between my rear bumper and body. Taking the car to the dealership on the 15th.
-The rear seat DVD screen is a pain in the ass. Because it folds forward, I keep smacking my elbow into it when it's down.

Awesome vehicle and definitely not my last BMW

[BGM]

Originally Posted by cravin

Exactly one week ago, I purchased my CPO X5. Now that that honeymoon phase has worn off a little, I just wanted to state the things that I love and not so much about the X5

Love:
-Handles like it's on rails. I came from a Jeep Commander, and the X5 is a sports car in a mislabeled body.
-Active Ventilated Seats. I was thinking about going for a cheaper X5 that didn't have all the packages. Really glad that I got the loaded one. Dry back walking into a meeting on a hot day is priceless
-Heads up Display. Nice feature that keeps my eyes on the road instead of looking at the GPS

Not so much:
-I have what seem to be two common problems. Peeling trim on the steering wheel and a good sized gap between my rear bumper and body. Taking the car to the dealership on the 15th.
-The rear seat DVD screen is a pain in the ass. Because it folds forward, I keep smacking my elbow into it when it's down.

Awesome vehicle and definitely not my last BMW

I keep my screen up the entire time. I'm 6'3" and need all the space for my Orangutan length arms on the armrest.

[cravin]

I'm 6'5, so I feel your pain. I've tried keeping it up, turned to the side, whatever, but it still gets in the way every now and then. Oh well, the sacrifice we must make for the kids

[Richard in NC]

Yes, the X5 handles impresssively. And not just as compared to SUVs.

Glad you are enjoying it.

[blue dragon]

Originally Posted by cravin

__________________
2008 BMW X5 3.0si - Comfort Package, Technology Package, Active Ventilated Seats, Cold Weather Package, Heads Up Display, 3rd Row, Rear Seat Entertainment, Premium Sound

The previous owner really did go nuts with the options! How much more of a premium did the fully loaded X5 command, compared to a "stripper"?

I stopped at the active ventilated seats and M package.

[cravin]

I don't know how they factor milage into the cost. The one I bought loaded had 25k miles. I looked at another X5 that had the third row seat and the cold weather package only. That X5 was 40k miles and the other dealer's lowest price was $4k less. If the milage is the difference of a couple hundred bucks, then all else was options. It's amazing how options that I thought I would never use are now topping the list of things I can't imagine not having now.

[jeremym]

Depends on the dealer and the area as well...

For instance, I went to a dealer in Greenwich, CT, who was asking $44,999 for an off-lease CPO 2007 4.8i with navigation, backup camera, cold weather, sport package and that was it. He went down to $42,500 but that was his final price. After a few calls back and forth and finally the salesman hanging up on me twice because I told him he was trying to pull a fast one on me, I got my $500 deposit refunded a week later. He was trying to compare to KBB values telling me he's offering me a "killer deal." Then I told him KBB means nothing to me and at this point, out of spite, I don't want the truck because I simply do not want to do business with him. He didn't take that very well.

I ended up finding, on the internet, a newer (August/07 versus April/07) 4.8 with cold weather, sport, premium, navigation, backup sensors, third row, HUD, comfort access and LESS miles CPO'ed for less than what the other dealership was asking, plus they moved a bit on my trade-in and on the vehicle price. This was in Bloomfield, NJ. Funny thing is, both dealerships are owned by the same people.

The difference is that Greenwich is a pretty upscale area. For instance, right across the street from the BMW dealership is a Ferrari dealer and they're building a McLaren dealer right next to that.

Bloomfield seemed kind of a "normal" town. The truck I ended up buying, the loaded one I mentioned up top, was owned by a doctor that lived in the Hamptons, too. MSRP was somewhere just north of $70k

At the end of the day, you have to be prepared to walk away from any deal, no matter how bad you want/need the item. There's always another.

Glad you went with the loaded one, it makes a huge difference in the overall "luxury" feel of the truck.

[cravin]

I bought this truck from Pace BMW, but it actually came from their sister dealership in Greenwich. I'm pretty glad that I got all the options as well. The entertainment screen bugs me, but all else is aces.

[jeremym]

Originally Posted by cravin

I bought this truck from Pace BMW, but it actually came from their sister dealership in Greenwich. I'm pretty glad that I got all the options as well. The entertainment screen bugs me, but all else is aces.

Yeah, I was trying to resist saying the name, but Pace is the ones who tried to screw me. I _HATE_ that old dude who smokes 27 cartons of cigarettes an hour.

What a difference it is, from their new car showroom to their used offices. The used building is like a typical used car office and so unlike what I thought BMW should be.

[cravin]

I luckily ended up with another sales guy, but I heard the guy that you're talking about speak. Sounds like he's going to lose a lung any minute. I think all the sales folks work out of the main building now though. I didn't step foot in that other building once.