A Nice Find Here......PICS
 

Was Helping a friend with a search for an X5 and he sent me this nice 4.8is in Imola Red he had found online...
http://tinyurl.com/bzml2o (Hopefully the link is still active.)

Looked like a nice unit!!!!! Did some research, made some calls and confirmed everything was on the level. The price looked to be great (for a 4.8is) so working thru our local BMW dealer did a buy of the unit from the Mercedes Benz store for my bud so he could take advantage of the great financing (0.9% on 05's & 06's plus the first 2 payments paid by BMW) promo offered thru BMW financial as well as get it CPO Certified. Should be ready to deliver by mid week. After a check of service and warrenty, the unit came back clean....

My question is, I have not seen the interior seats with the "checkerboard" fabric inserts. Is this a common option? Overall, what are your guys feeling on this vehicle?

I thought 'is models didn't qualify for the 0.9% financing?

The seats are alcantara. I waited a while to get them in the 4.6is. Basically it's like Ultra Suede.

What's troubling to me, however is that they aren't red. In the 4.6is imola cars with alcantara got red alcantara. Maybe it's just the photos.

http://images.autotrader.com/images/..._A.562x421.jpg

Nice car. Still for the life of me can't understand why THIS ONE doesn't have front flares. BMW seems to be as consistent as a coin toss!

BTW, the carfax report doesn't come up. Weird.

US iS models never came with front fender flares

Are you sure about that? I've seen some in the US, and certainly on ebay, with front flares.

Those were added on as you can purchase them from your local dealers.

I believe the only Xs that had front flares standard were the 3.0d special/exclusive editions (only available in Europe) - which actually had flares all the way around. If you see a 4.8 with front flares, they added it later.

Wow, didn't know that. Thanks guys!

Appreciate the feedback so far:thumbup:
That said, I would take a second look. That is NOT alacantara, I am very familiar with it. That material is definately checkered in pattern and is fabric. Clicking on the larger picture within the link will open up the viewer with much larger images. Again, not knowing the "is" packages very well is why I posted the question.

Interesting about the carfax report. The dealer ran the VIN within their system and there was nothing as all, not even any warranty work done. The Oil changes, coolant changes, brake flushes and inspections are all current.

Looks like all the "M3, M5 and 4.8is in NOT available for the .9% offer. I will have to ask what rate he did get because they are moving ahead with the deal.

It is. Wait til you see it in person.

I will trust that it is then....it just sure looks like fabric in the pictures...even on door inserts above the side armrests. Must be the light. Just the same, can't wait to see it in person.

Its hard to tell from the pics because they are not clear. Alcantara has a checkered pattern for the 4.8 but not sure on any other models.

You know alcantara is a fabric right?

I think he means fabric as just fabric (cloth) and alcantara as suede.

Husker, as Zack said it IS alcantara (I have the same interior). It is backed by a deviating color cloth to show through the perforation.

http://www.indexofimages.com/uploads/3f7eae0c1a.jpg

Also wondered why. I've seen some Lemans 4.8's with my seats pictured above, but i've also seen them with the silver pattern this one has as well. Same for Imola - some red, some silver. Not sure why? It's very inconsistent.

PS How's the new car? It looks great. Much better than the OLD pitbull website LOL ;)

But I thought alcantara is not leather? Suede is leather.

Ok you got me. I was just trying to make it a little more cut and dry and ended up making a mess! Technically 'alcantara' is the name given to a synthetic composite material that was named after an Italian company (Alcantara SpA) that was set up to manufacture and sell it. The material itself was invented by a chemist working for a Japanese chemical company which was famous for Rayon manufacturing.

LOL :rolleyes:
car is great. waiting on coilovers :thumbup:

Guys,
Thanks for the photos and clarification, I was clearly wrong. It will be here tomorow and I will take a look. I have never seen the alacantara with a perforated finish, only solid as on the steering wheels of the ZHP performance model BMWs. I sure hope these seats don't "pill" or "roll up" like the steering wheel covers do.:wow:
I will not soon doubt your experience again. Looks like my buddy has ordered the factory mud flaps and running boards as well. He owns and lives on a several thousand acre farm so, unfortunately, some gravel roads will traveled daily.:(

I will take some pictures of the seats when I visit the dealership.
Thanks again....

sorry, couldn't resit
 

Goooo Biiiiig Reeeed!!!!!!!

I see we have a closet Husker Fan in jaybo12 !!! :thumbup:.....maybe not? :dunno: Either way, never a bad time to shout it out for the Big Red.....

Certainly the Imola Red color didn't hurt the decision to purchase this 4.8is.

I put in my time under Solich, the color is definately a bonus!

The seats don't pill like the steering wheel does. Ive got 45k on them and they dont look worn at all. The alcantara seats in my E36 have about 100k mi and barely show any wear.

Good to know the alcantara seats wear well....that was a concern when I saw the close-up in a previous post. Should be delivered in town today at some point. Will sneak out tomorrow and give it the once over.

I bought a couple of John Deere stickers that I stuck on magnetic film to affix to the sides of the 4.8is for delivery. He will get a kick out of it as he has a couple of 3/4 million dollar JDeere Combines he is pretty proud of as well. Can't wait to see his Face!!:bustingup:rofl: