Considering making the upgrade E53 to 11'/12' E70, few questions
 

Hello fellow E70's...First thanks in advance for any and all inputs. I currently have a 2005 E53 w/ 156k on the clock. Was thinking of upgrading to the 2011 or 2012 E70. I was considering the Range Rover Sport but seems like the reliability is worst.
Anyhow, found a few Platinum Gray w/ oyster int. Does anyone have the Oyster interior? how's the maintenance on that particular leather/color? ie does it get dirty rather quickly and or hard to clean? I am a smoker and i am just worried ash or something might be noticeable. I do love the contrasting color combo. However, I am very ocd with interior. Minus the smoking::dunno:
Also, does the brighter corona lights as DRL only come stock in 2012 ?

thank you again. :thumbup:
need to update my sig...sorry

I have an 8/2011 with LED coronas as DRLs.

I used to have an E60 M5 with silverstone II interior and I can tell you that the light colored leather will require more maintenance. If you are looking to own the car for a very long time, black will show less wear over time due to the color vs the oyster. I in the process of finding a 35d with the oyster interior as I really like the contrast but we don't have kids or animals that will be in the car. If you have either I would probably consider the black leather option.

Thanks for your inputs fellas.:thumbup: I too like the contrast. i do not have any pets and or kids. 80% riding solo and rest with buddies. But major concern if cigg ash would stain the oyster leather. I do a lot of SoCal driving on the westside (lights/traffic) mostly 60fwy/40%city...would i benefit from 35d vs. 35i?

thanks jo...was it stock and looks like the 2012 DRL's? i see a lot of 11's with the halogen colored rings...but all the 12's has the led AE rings in DRL.

thanks again.

Factory. It is that bluish-white, HID color and they use four LEDs instead of halogen bulbs in the inner headlight position. After the LCI update for MY2011 (~10/2010 build date), there was a lighting upgrade/change around/in the first quarter of calendar year 2011 that updated the coronas among other things.

Tell you the truth, I'm looking for halogen colored LEDs right now as I really can't stand the bluish ones. The factory ones are plenty bright though.

X5M - never had the LED coronas unless 2013 model year and then it was an option (Full LED lighting)

35i/50i - all 2012+ models will have the LED coronas. All 2011's have halogen.
35d - same as above with the exception of 2011 models. For those it depends on the build date - everything up to late March 2011 will have Halogen, late March to August or so would have the LED.

Difference being, 2011 diesel production continued to August of that year, whereas the gas models became 2012 models starting with late March production.

Platinum over oyster is a sweet combo if you don't have kids. I've also seen Platinum over Cinnamon :cool:

Thanks for the input jiggz. Yea I'm digging the oyster int. Hope it won't be too hard to wipe off. I keep a microtowel always inside to keep it dust free or jus in case.
Oh on your guys 2011/12. Do you guys have a thermostat gauge ? If so how does it show up. How would you know if tstat is going bad or worste case overheating ( happened twice on my E53... Yes ptsd ) lol. Thanks guys for ur time.

I think I came across a platinum gray or space gray/oyster int 35D at the San Diego Carmax. I believe. If I recall correctly.
:thumbup:

Thanks for looking out! Unfortunately that X5 isn't very well equipped but I do love that interior.