This is where out dealers differ, mine says that its a huge improvement. I could have had a 3.0d by now but my dealer advised me to hold out for the sd. Unfortunatly ive not test drove the sd yet, they dont get their demo in till mid nov and then im first in the queue for their next one. You have waited this long, go for the sd, it will only eat away at you!

Well, I have a weekend test drive of the 3.0 d coming up this weekend, so that will tell a tale :)

Srill fiddling with my spec though, and unless the 3.0 is amazingly good, I think I'll go with the Sd anyway :)

Hi Aiden,

Did your dealer ever get back to you about the availability of the SD productionh slots.

i am still waiting for confirmation from mine:(

Nope Jason, but I'll be seeing him tomorrow, so will ask when Im picking up the demo car.

Hes still trying to steer me towards the single sturbo though - I see the Sd has vanished off the configurator on BMW.ie as well...............

I had a 3.0d demo for a day and I must admit I was impressed with the power - That said I am coming from a 320D, so you may not find it as impressive compared with your current drive.

I was a bit shocked also when the SD vanished from the online configurator. The day I was in Frank McGowans the sales rep said he was ringing 6 people who had been waiting on an SD to tell they wouldn't be able to get one!

I have been fearing a similar call from my dealer.

I reckon I will hold on for the SD, it's not really that much more expensive over the standard diesel.

Im looking forward to the try out over the weekend - it will reveal a lot to me Id say :)

Well, I'm very impressed by the performance of the X5, seems to get up to 75 very fast, I suppose 8 secons to 60 is amazing really for a car this size - it seems to be more than adequate performance, but I suppose we are all power hungry to some degree.

Im used to a 3.2 Audi TT, which will hit 60 in 5.7 seconds - the weakness of the X5 is dynamic - all the extra power is going to mean heading into corners faster and having to scrub off all that extra speed faster, which is more problematic for it, due to its size and weight - the TT can do it, as can a smaller sportier car, but its a feat for the X to achieve, and perhaps this is due to some of the narrow B type roads I drive, and which are predominant in Ireland, but I'm just wondering is more power a real need?

Its a great handling vehicle for what it is, but its still a big machine !!

Fuel consumption - to Belfast and back last night, with quite a bit of 90ish on the motorway, around 29mpg, today, 100 miles on back roads, 28ish.....its not a tree hugging vehicle ! :rofl:

Sounds good. Ive only had a 20 min test drive in both the 4.8 and 3.0d. Must be nice to have one for a day prior to purchasing. Did it have adaptive drive? Apparently it gives you an extra 6-8 mph through bends.
I agree with the speed thing though, its a SUV/SAV at the end of the day so no point compairing with a hot hatch. But at 8.1 sec for the 3.0d its great. Have you decided to go for the 3.0d or wait for the SD? Are there problems in Ireland now getting the SD?

Nope, no adaptive drive, just the dynamic pack with sports suspension :)

I have had the car from Friday afternoon, giving it back tomorrow afternoon - pretty good service from my dealer alright :)

I'm torn on which engine to go for - the d is adequate, more than in fact for the purposes we will all be driving the X for - but yeah, equally, we all fancy more and more power - and its not a massive amount to upgrade I guess.....I honestly don't know which way I'll swing just yet - I am confused I must admit - Im trying to keep the cost around € 100k, and the SD will put me over - I'll keep thinking !! :rofl:

Well, I've been having a dalliance :)

Had thoughts and been looking at the new V8 M3 - I have always wanted an M car, and just got the notion that I should try one before I get much older !! Im 42 now, so thought it might be good to get it out of my system :)

Reports of 16ish mpg though aren't encouraging me, and with fuel prices on the up and up, it leads me back to diesel again.

My dealer is tempting me by offering me a black / black / bamboo 3.0 X5 for january delivery - spec is almost, but not quite what I fancied.

I'm just totally confused now, don't know what way to swing.

The X5 is approx € 15k less than the M as well, so that is a factor as well.