:confused: WTF?? Sorry you feel that way but I in no way feel like I am driving a mom mobile...

i have the 3.0 6spd and my bro has the 4.4.. I have driven both and here are some comparisons:

3.0
- 6Spd makes it more fun, however as one stated, 1st gear is pretty much useless.
- Steering is like driving a regular car - lighter compared to the 4.4
- The shifter has long throws, and can't find anybody that sells a short throw shifter, or even a urethane bushing that would stiffen the throw at least.
- You have to shift pretty quick to get the acceleration going otherwise you'll be sluggish as a snail.

4.4
- Step on the gas and go.
- Steering feels heavy
- Acceleration is constant if you put it in sport mode otherwise there's also a bit of a lag in normal mode.
- Braking feels nose heavy.
- More power of course.

The manual 3.0 is still over half a second slower than the 4.4.

No. I drove a few 3.0 automatics and they felt way underpowered to me. I know the manual makes it about a half second faster than the auto version, but the only way I would buy a manual SUV is if it were a V8 or twin turbo inline 6 beast. The 3.0 engine just doesn't have power that I wanted in a vehicle that heavy. I love driving manuals, but BMW only mating it to the weakest engine doesn't make sense to me. I love the feel of rowing through the gears, but the 4.4 is mash and go and the extra power makes up for the auto trans, IMO.

Take a look at the x5s around you...say the next 10 you see. My guess is that 6-8 will be driven by women.

Doesn't matter how you feel, the 3.0 is sold mainly to women, families.

parents have a 3.0, I got a 4.4

although stick can be fun (I do miss my 6m M3), In this car, the pro's of a stick does not outweigh the sheer power of the 4.4

Pro's of 4.4 - sound, torque, look
Pro's of 3.0m - rowing through gears.

It's like getting a 5 series 525i manual or a 530 auto. Although the actual motions of driving a manual are fun, there isn't enough pull from the undersized engine to really make it entertaining.

Zerochief....is that bracketron mount...looks great. I am looking for a mount for my Pioneer 500BT GT....wonder if it would work?

To all who responded to my original post, great return posts and thanks for the discussions! I've driven the 4.4 and 3.0 automatics, and definitely feel the 3.0 is underpowered, and doesn't have the thrill of the 4.4 (had so much fun in the 4.4. that I extended my test drive). When driving the 5 speed steptronic in manual mode, perhaps not being used to the power/gear ratios of a 3.0 (I drive an Audi manual), I didn't find it smooth at all. So, I'll do a test drive in the 6 speed manual 3.0, just to see if the control gained through the manual makes it more interesting. But based on all the responses, as well as my own test drives, I'm leaning to the 4.4. Thanks again to all.

Panavise universal mount designed for the E53
 

Panavise part number 75103-600.

http://akamai.edeal.com/images/catal...img1693634.jpg

I bet you could mount the Pioneer AVIC-F500BT, but some modification would be required (judging from the product images I've seen). Hard to tell how easy or hard it would be without the unit actually in my hands. At least the dock (piece in the upper left of the pic below) is separate from the mount they provide. All you have to do is get the dock mounted on the Panavise and your good to go.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...pL._AA280_.jpg

I drove a 3.slow the 4.4then 4.8 they all have different charaterstics its all about what you ultimatley want i felt the the 3.0 was underpowered the 4.8 nice power but the price was really not worth the extra hp my 4.4 has a good balance for myself and wife if i want to got rip it wont be in the x5 it will be in my e46 m3 :thumbup: oh yeah also gas mileage pretty much the same so let your butt dyno decided