X 5 Speccin' with loads of Questions.....
 

I'm thinking of ordering an E70 X5, now I'm torn between the 3.0 d and the Sd , not sure if the price difference is worth the additional cost.

I guess the Sd will give more performance, set off against worse fuel consumption. The 0-60 figures some have said don't tell all the differnce, and I know noone has actually diven an Sd yet, so its hard to say conclusively. This is one I'll have to scratch my head about.

I'm also wondering about colour combinations - I was thinking of Space Grey with Black leather - however, just today , having seen the camel leather on here, with the dark carpets, I was thinking of combining that with Monaco Blue? Any thoughts on how that might look? I really would prefer dark carpets for wet Irish winters on building sites as I'm in the construction business.

Also thinking of comfort seats - I have sports seats, with lumbar and adjustable wings and thigh supports in my current E90 325 M Sport, and I find they aren't that comfortable over a long journey actually. Ventilated seats appeal too, but I wonder about getting use out of them after the Summer we just had - would be of more benefit to you US guys?

I'm also debating the M Sport Pack - I'm not actually sure that it improves the look of the car, and I've always had them on my BMW saloons and Coupes to date, but does anyone else think that it makes the X look a bit odd??

Spec would be as follows:

3.0 Sd SE Style 214
Monaco Blue
Camel Leather
Dynamic Pack
20" Wheels
Media Pack
Comfort Seats
Xenons with High Beam Assist
Hi Fi Loudspeaker Package
Bamboo Trim
Running Boards
USB Interface
Front Seat Heating

I'm also debating about the sunroof, but at € 2500 , and I usually never open it, Im thinking it might be a waste, as airy as it makes the car look?

All thoughts and comments appreciated :)

The M sport pack does look a bit more odd to me. Personally not a fan of the one-tone matching bumpers either. If you're going for the more sporty look, the aero kit does wonders already.

Yeah, thats what I think - think the Aero will look better on a lighter colour like Space Grey too probably, lets the colour coded bits stand out more.

I think the black bumpers look more masculine actually?

Anyone know the price of the Aero Kit in the UK or Ireland?

My Dealer (McKeon) in Kells told me it was €1900 painted & fitted.

The UK accessories catalog (which I will scan and post next week) gives a price of £795 STG painted, but I am not sure if that includes fitting (I doubt it).

My dealer gave me an X5 for a day last week. It was space grey with the aero pack and to be honest very few people liked the colour. The Kit looks great, but Space Grey is just not as nice as I hoped.

I have palced an order for an SD + Sport Pack (although it does not have a production slot as yet) and with all the extras it's coming in at almost €130K - I am going to town on the extras.

The only thing thats causing me the problem is the colour. At this stage I am going for either Carbon Black or Monaco Blue.

I saw a Monaco Blue and it looked a lot darker than I thought, so I am leaning towards Carbon Black as there will be very few of thew in Ireland.

Thanks Jayo - not much difference in cost between Aero and M Sport really - I dunno why, but I'm preferring the basic look :)

€ 130k is really going mad on options alright, I'm at € 105k with some controlling of myself :rofl: - I can't resist options, but every car I bought so far I have overspecced and got cleaned out at trade in time, so I'm trying to behave.

Monaco blue is nice I think, but very dark , it works better in sunnier climes alright. Black will be hard to keep clean - we have a new TT in metallic black, and its lovely when clean, but one shower of rain, and its back to square one :rolleyes:

Theres a lot of square metres of metal to wash on an X5 ! :wow:

Go with the Aero kit in lieu of the M-sport. Put the extra cash in your pocket (or towards some nice wheels instead).

Aiden,

You'll love Monaco Blue......add comfort access and go comfort seats!

Cheers,

Get the comfort setting, it is a must. Not having to dig in your pocket for keys, but just having to touch the door handle and get in the car and push a button and go is awesome. Once you have this option you will never buy a car without it again!

Yeah Aiden, get the comfort access.

I have it on my 320D E90 and it's great. I really missed it for the day that I had the X5 on loan from my dealer.

It is one of those extras that is on my "Must Have" list for future cars.

If you want to see it in action give me a shout any time your near Navan or Drogheda and I will give you a demo!

For the '08 model in Canada (only one I've heard so far), comfort access is included in the premium package. Not the case for Europe yet ?

Great move for us (assuming it applies for US soon too)... the $4k prem package is worth it a whole lot more now.

Go for the SD model if you can. I changed my order from a D to an SD, my dealer recons it will be the model most people look for in a few years in terms of resale value. My dealer also said most of his customers were switching to the SD

In the Uk the sd is only a £2k premium over the d which is cheap in my mind...you also get updraded brakes with the sd. Someone like DMS charges £750 to chip the 3.0d, you don't have a manufacturers warranty or the brakes. Well worth it I think. The sd engine is absolutely fantastic, I have had a 535d for nearly three years.

Thanks for all the comments and thoughst ppeople :)

Think I will go with the SD now :)

Im still torn between M Sport and the Aero Kit........:confused:

Im also thinking of Space Grey, with the Aero and Black Leather / Bamboo, with the Aero now instead of Monaco Blue? I think the Aero gives a greater impact on a lighter coloured car?

I'm also torn on these last 3 options:

1. Sunroof? This is Ireland remember, no sun !! :D I had a giant sunroof on a MINI previously, and it was very noisy when open, probably just due to its sheer size, and as a result, I rarely opened it - how do you guys who have it find the noise levels?
2. Comfort access - I know you guys rave about this, but isn't it a little overkill? I know it has advantages, but............
3. Reversing camera - is this needed when PDC is standard?

<----------Continues scratching head.........:rofl:

I find that the sunroof really brightens the interior of the car, but I do agree that the pano's are a bit noisey.

I sat in an E70 in Joe Duffy's with the Anthracite Headlining and a Pano - i really liked it.

As for the Comfort Access - get it you will love it! I have it on the E90 and the wife's R56 Mini - it will be on every car I ever buy in the future.

I had similar decissions.
In the end I ordered the Msport in the SD. Even though I don't get the car till late December, the dealer had a 4.8 sport in reciently and it looks so much better than they do in the pics. Yes the aero kit looks good but they are different looks and im sold on the sport, but each to their own.
I also went for the sunroof which as other posters say really brightens the interior. I don't expect to have it open much in the UK though. The Rev Camera as much as it seems to get a panning on the forums, for £250 has to be worth a punt just cos it looks cool.

Im considering the comfort access also. Its an expensive option here in the uk. How does it work if two of you have your keys on you and you each have your own setings? if the passenger gets in on the passenger side will it confuse it?

Anyone else considering the soft close doors or comfort seats over the sports ones?

I have Comfort Access on my E90, and if me and my wife are both in the car with our keys it actaully seems to pick up the key in the driver seat!

Now I dont have memory seats, but the all the audio settings seem to follow the driver.

The price of the premium package in Canada increased accordingly ($700) because of the addition of Comfort Access

@dwarfer, yes from what I've read I'm going for the Comfort seats. Not entirely sure how Soft Close doors work but they sound good so it's also on my list!!!

I'm still waiting for dealer allocation (Hertfordshire), I'm number 10 in the queue for the 3.0sd MSport. Dealer is estimating a March delivery.

Existing soft close on the tailgate is not that good IMHO.. so I'd be careful about soft close on the doors ...after all when you shut the door you shut the door right.? . I personally think soft close is daft.!ouch:

I agree, soft close doors are probably the last option on my list and ive not specked them so far. Im a bit concerned that as just about everything in the UK is a charged for extra that none of these items add to the resale value. The sales guy told me only things like sports trim and wheels will add to the vlaue and pritty much expect to loose the value on any other extra's. As I look to swap my car every two years and this is the highest specked bmw ive had so far im concerned that they don't add any resale value, but thats BMW and cars in general I guess

Thats why I'n scratching my head long and hard on Speccin' - you may as well burn pound / euro notes as everything is pretty much worth nothing at trade in time :(

The US has it better with the cheaper option packs, which almost everyone specs, so that becomes the standard then.

If you are keeping it for 5 years, I'd spec it up, but for us who change in 2/3 years, I think we need to be a BIT careful not to go mental........

Yeah, I'd like to see the M Sport in reality - no substitute for real life :)

I wouldn't bother with soft close doors - people will still slam them anyway ! :rofl:

I think that the things that M Sport pack gives you over the aero-kit are Carbon Black exterior color, Nappa leather interior, M sport steering wheel and M sport suspension. Maybe this could be a reason to go for the M sport pack.:dunno:

I generally agree with the points on loss of value re the options but I think there are certain options that people almost expect a car to have in the resale market and other options that will definately reduce resale time and will improve the price (e.g. panoramic sunroof).

I recently sold a well specced 535d and got significantly more than lesser specced cars will lower mileage.

Given the US economy it is no wonder they are getting better deals. The Australian dollar is at 18 year highs to the USD.. yet we have had no price decrease here (Yet !!).. BMW are not making money in the US they are making it elsewhere..!

Yeah, the Euro is at an all time high against the dollar at the moment, yet the prices in Ireland have increased - how come you get such a good deal in the US?

Hmmm, my dealer is being very sensible for me actually - telling me NOT to overspec !

Reckons the standard sports seats are fine versus the comfort seats, and that the reversing camera is mainly useful if towing? :confused: Highly recommends the sunroof though.

Hmm, this is all good financially, but............:rolleyes: ..........less gadgets !!!

My dealer is saying the same. I guess they make enough profit on the basic car espically as they don't have to discount due to high demand more so on the new SD model that there not intrested in making money on any extras. Maybe thats why the sales guys are happy to tell you the truth.

Strangely hes telling me not to bother with the SD either, that the standard D is more than adequate - says its hard to notice the difference in a 530d and 535d for example? :dunno:

I dunno, 50 extra bhp and 50 extra torques have to make a difference?

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.

Hi Aiden,

Did you make up your mind yet?

My dealer came back to me today with a production slot for a 3.0SD in week 2 2008 with delivery around mid march - I am a happy camper!