Oh, thanks for the link. Those are some great shots of the Monte Carlo Blue. Maybe I'll just stick with the Monte Carlo Blue.

Is the rear privacy glass standard on the X5M? If it is, it's hardly tinted at all from what I saw.

The third color down isn't a shade of super dark blue?

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...%20M/X5M15.jpg

That's carbon black. I drove carbon black X5 M on weekend. Pics in test drive thread.

We have yet to get the X5M at my dealer... it was supposed to be delivered today hadn't come in by the end of business day. I'm expecting to see the delivery truck parked there in the morning. Was talking about it with the foreman, he reminded me that it will be the fastest accellorating BMW produced to date! Faster 0-60 than the M3 or the M5.

He said he was "mad" that he would have to QC1 it... I asked why he had to do it, He said cause he was the boss and he wanted too! I'm at least gonna try for a ride along on the test drive.

Are those specs accurate?

Is the X5M faster acceleration than the current M3 and M5?

Really about the same. Most reviews have the M3 and M5 at about 4.6 secs 0-60, the X5M seems to be reviewed at 4.5 secs... Pretty much all about equal. Would love to see a 3 way heads up with the top gear guys.

My money is on the DCT M3 using launch control. If you haven't test driven one yet, I highly recommend trying it out. Especially since rumors are floating around about BMW killing off that transmission due to low demand and high cost. Sign of the times.

After driving the X5M on Friday, I had to ask myself, is the SMG really any better than this auto trans?
Had the conversation with a salesman and we were both thoroughly impressed with the auto.

I'm wondering (granted I'm a manual purist and like a 3rd pedal, H box...) what is the point of the SMG anymore.. We still get a great trans, paddle shifters, etc.

I guess a couple weeks of driving will tell us how good the auto trans in the X5M really is.

Yes, I was amazed at what they did with the auto in the X5M. The shifts are really fast and smooth and the response to the paddle shifters is almost instant.

Did you guys know that the trans marketed as an auto in the new Z4 is actually the DCT transmission with a normal shifter? I'm planning on peeking under that X5M when it is in the air (probably today) and seeing it that is the case here too.