New to BMW/X5 need help with the right options
 

What's up guys as you can see I'm brand new to the forum and I'm in the market for a x5 but I know nothing about the x5 or even BMW (I'm coming from an Audi)

I'm looking for a car I can keep for the next 5+ years I'm not really to worried about the exterior or color I'm all about the interior and features/options but.
I'm finding a lot of 4.4i in my price range but not one 4.8is I'm not really interested in the 3.0 cuz I hear is the mpg is almost the same

So I wanted to know what features/options should I be looking for in the 4.4i that are the same as a 4.8is?

Almost every 4.4i I find online claims to be fully loaded

And I'm looking for a facelift 04-06

And how does a car seat fit in the back? I have 2 little ones

Welcome aboard.

The kiddy seats fit in the back using the LATCH system, standard on US cars since 2002 or so...

you should be considering the specimen that is closest to the end of the production life, closer to August 2006 manufacturing date - most old bugs have been worked out by then...

you should consider Sposts package (look for Shadowline trim, black trim around windows, as opposed to chrome)
Premium package, Cold weather package (rear glass is darker than front glass, from the factory), Nav system, Premium sound (DSP entry in the main menu on the screen), sliding cargo floor, rear airbags, heated steering wheel, air suspension on all 4, reclining seats in back
4.4 will come with xenons already...

some things you can't get without the 4.8iS version, they are exclusive to iS: it would be the special cluster with variable tach, white rings around the gauges, more potent engine, rumbling exhaust, different gearing ratio in trans, (in the 4.6 the center of gravity was shifted a bit lower with rerouting of drive shafts, probably same with 4.8), opposite shifting pattern on the 4.8 gear selector...

use bmwvin . com to see the factory fitted options before buying

thanks for the info and about the car seats I meant space wise 1 rear facing and 1 front facing

or how about some things to keep away from? I'm not really looking for a fixer uper

What he said. I have an 06 4.4 that IS pretty much fully loaded. Sport,premium,cold weather packages. Rear air bags and climate control, navigation. The only option i lack is DSP and i couldnt care less. Look for the nicest newest one you can afford. And drive em!

Sport with Premium pkg, and maintenance history. You must have a PPI on the one you really want before pulling the trigger.

ppi is pre purchase inspection?

If you want to keep her for the next 5 years .. You better off go with 3.0i .

I concur with ^ guy. You're not keeping a 4.4i, or 4.6is or 4.8is in NYC for the next five years without spending. And who told you a 3.0i gets the same gas mileage as the other big brothers? I get 18mpg city and 22-23 hwy on my 3.0i in NYC now.