LeMans... I have a 4.6is but as i was going thru your description of 4.8, I noticed that mine has your "point number 5". It has has tyre monitor system, as for sun/moon roof I need a measuring tape to check with my friend who has a 4.8is... anyway do we need a big moon roof to load our house furniture thru it!

All in all, definately a 4.8 should have a tad more of something only you can tell us, one thing, is the difference between 4.6is and 4.8is big enough to trade in (from your personal point of view)

LeMans: Is that 242km/h (video clip) in a garage/workshop or on track/highway!!? So far I ve gone to 231km/h with my 4.6is, but wish I was in Germany where speed limit is nothing!

Don't know man.

The looks are different. It has new AWD system which BMW introduced with facelift X5 and few other features which came with facelift and +5HP. I will post something I have which list all new stuff for 4.8is vs pre-facelift X5 and 4.6is.

4.8is oil temp gauge
 

Hi anyone know where the 4.8is picks up the oil temprature from? which switch and where is it located?

Not sure but might be #1 in the pic below. It's described as "Adapter with thermostat". :dunno: I'll keep looking.

Wait a sec ... does the 4.8 have oil temp?! Maybe just oil pressure gauge. I'll have to check that. The X is my wife's daily driver and I really don't remember. :rofl:

Okay, is it that X5s in the UK have the oil temp gauge in place of the water temp in the USA? I ASSumed it was for the US X5. Lemme look some more ...

Nevermind ... the oil temp gauge is in the lower portion of the tach. I never noticed. :D

RealOEM.com BMW E53 X5 4.8is Oil supply - oil cooler connection

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/l/r/141.png

Yep its the UK model, it has the oil temp in the bottom of the rev counter where the instant economy gauge normally goes.

yeah mine too does have an oil temperature gauge, i also wondered what the hell has that to do with the driver! my primary school science told me that oil lubricates and prevent metals or materials from strangling each other hot... so i expect oil to be hot too or somewhere there! Now if the dashboard gauge tells me "Your Oil is Hot" do I just to park my car under a tree and wait for it to cool down!? And when OIL is hot what causes it!?

The oil temp is one of the most important gauges a driver can have!

Oil's basic function is to be at a sufficient psi between bearing surfaces to keep them from touching. To maintain this psi, you have to choose the correct weight oil for the operating temperature you're experiencing. For normal use, you are around 210 degrees or so, but when racing can go much higher. If the engine runs hot, you want a 'thicker' oil to compensate for the temp difference and maintain that psi. If the engine runs cool, you need a thinner oil.

Of course on modern cars the manufacturer has already figured everything out for us, but if you want to know the why's and how's this is the best article I have ever read on the subject:

Everything you ever wanted to know about oil: Motor Oil - All Chapters, Inclusive -Copy and Save This - FerrariChat.com

Cold oil is thicker and does not move through the engine as freely as warm oil. Personally, I go no higher than 3000RPM when the oil is below 180* (or whatever that mark is between 120 and 210, I'm too tired to do the math). I'm assuming that's also why the cluster lights redline at 4000 when the motor is ice cold.