X5 Likes/Dislikes; Auto Tailgate Function (Video)
 

Well I have had my 2008 4.8i X-5 all of six days now so I thought I would list the things I really like and the things I dislike for the benefit of potential buyers (YMMV.)

Likes:

1. Power, responsiveness and a very ‘solid’ feel on the road. BMW has done a very good job in creating a sporty driving experience in this 6,000 lb beast! I test-drove a number of the competitors (MB, Audi, VW, Lexus, Volvo & Infiniti) and in my humble opinion only the Infiniti approaches the ‘fun factor’ of the X5 for the driver. I did not test out the Porsche or RR so maybe those are better.
2. I have the premium sound system with the iPod adaptor and the Sirius radio. Although tastes in audio are highly selective I am pleased with the sound. I have experienced better (although not in an SUV type vehicle) and much worse! I especially like the iPod function. They appear to have gotten the bugs out. I purchased a second generation 8 gig IPod Nano refurb via the Apple Store, filled it with music, hooked it up….and it’s all there on the iDrive menu…great feature, seamless integration and enough music for lots of driving! The Sirius radio works well also. Not a lot of ‘high rise canyons’ (or canyons of any sort!) here on the plains of Kansas. So reception is always strong.
3. Head-up display---I was uncertain about ordering this…..but the demo I drove had it and I liked it. Having driven around with it for a while I am not sure I would ever want a vehicle that does not have it. Most of my daily commute is via urban streets with lots of opportunities to collect speeding tickets (I have attracted a number over the years!) The HUD really helps remind you of your speed. I am pretty tall (6’3”) so on many cars my view of the speedometer is blocked by the steering wheel (that’s my excuse anyway!) With the HUD there is no problem. It also works great with the Nav system displaying a portion of the map with turn distances…..great feature!
4. Auto tailgate---I delayed my production to November to get this & I am glad I did. Very useful, but at least more operational ‘tweak’ would make it even better! (see Dislikes)
5. Comfort Seats. The demo I drove had sports seats which seemed a bit stiff in that short drive. I ordered the active ventilated seats. Glad I did! Very comfortable….have not really played with the ventilation function yet, but the adjustability and overall comfort has been very good. I also like the ‘look’ of the perforated leather (may not be everyone’s cup of tea however.)

Neutral

1. IDrive—I approached my first encounters with the infamous iDrive with some trepidation having seen the horror stories about this piece of ‘enabling’ technology for years. Perhaps I missed out by not interacting with the earlier versions, but so far my experience with it has been fine. Takes a few minutes to figure out how it all works, can be a bit frustrating to work one’s way up & down the menu tree looking for something you know is there but just can’t quite remember where. Overall however not a bad piece of technology considering all of the functions it encompasses. Once you have things set up the way you want there is really not much need to fiddle with it. I think a touch screen would be an improvement but that’s just my preference, others may prefer the knobs & dials.

Dislikes

1. Gas Mileage—Having selected the large engine I was not expecting much (and the X5 has certainly delivered! Around 10 MPG so far.) That will improve a bit once it’s broken in. Not sure one should expect much different given the size/performance. I think this vehicle and the turbo diesel will prove to be a strong combo, allowing the best of both worlds…..a great SAV performance experience and much improved environmental stewardship (at least from my daughter’s perspective!)
2. Back-up camera----Yep all the horror stories are true……this dog don’t hunt (but it is a dog!) Daylight performance is marginal, low light/night time performance is abysmal….What does a good CCD cost…$10, $25 or so??? Come on BMW fly one of your procurement specialists to China and find a new source that produces a decent camera! This one’s a joke!
3. Operation of the auto tailgate function. Opening the tailgate is fine, dashboard button, key fob button or rear hatch button. Closing is another matter. For some reason BMW chose not include a close function of the key fob! All the others I have ever used have this…..not really a big deal but something that is an annoyance at times and one that was easily avoidable.
4. Brake Dust---I had read a lot about this one also…..as in the case of the Back-up camera it’s all true! Why BMW expects its customers to be happy with getting their nice sporty wheels constantly covered in dirty, grimy brake dust is a mystery to me (as well as to many others I suspect!) A number of posts indicate that all the dust is due to BMW’s choosing soft pads in order to provide optimum stopping with minimal squeaking. That may be the case but it is irritating. My family has a number of other vehicles and none suffer from this dust problem (nor squeaky brakes.) So I think BMW could do better here.

That’s it to this point. Overall I am quite satisfied with the vehicle and would recommend it to others who seek to make their driving experience both comfortable and enjoyable.

Apologies for the video, I did not take time to set up a tripod, so things are a bit shaky....should give you a reasonable idea of how it works though. Note: The opening height can be adjusted via the iDrive. Mine is on the default (max) setting. I suspect both opening & closing would take less time at lower settings.

Great write-up and video. Thanks!

Congrats on your new ride!

My 3.0 was the last week in October production, so I didn't get the power tailgate :(

I'm getting 16.5+ MPG, VERY glad that we got the 3.0! At an average of 30PMH I'm getting over 18MPG. (just over 600miles on her)

After reading all of the posts about the camera and sensors I wipe them off often to keep 'em clean. The picture on the camera isn't great, but I'm still pleased with it. ...I've yet to hit anything! ;)

Good review, we have identical packages except the HUD and auto tailgate and I don't miss either. I would have to agree that they missed the boat with the auto close. If you have to reach up to activate the button you might as well pull it closed.

Even after 1000 miles gas mileage is still dismal but does make up for it in fun factor.

So if you press the Lock button on the remote the tailgate does not close... sounds like they will fix that with a software uodate later on maybe ?

I doubt in US it will ever work... I found that very annoying when I was looking at Audi Q7 as well. Also, my wife had an issue with reaching the button on Q since trunk was open full height and I bitched to the dealer about that.
I was told that you can lower the height of the hatch to reach the button, but for safety reasons, they would not allow to close the hatch without anyone present at the hatch.
I am also pissed of at BMW for now allowing to close windows and sunroof from the remote, many other manufacturers allow that but apparently BMW is afraid of lawsuits and they are disabling this function in US.
I hear that European software allows closing of the windows and sunroof from remote for European cars, I would not doubt this functionality being extended to Auto Hatch for European X's

While I dont see the huge advantage for Auto close since you have to be present, I am not finding it very comfortable to close it without actually grabbing the outside of the hatch which can be dirty and there is no specific handle for closing.
anyone found any easier way of closing hatch manually?

Huh, are you saying the US can't have auto close functions for the tailgate?

you didnt read my reply correctly.
you cant use autoclose any other way other then actually pressing autoclose button on the hatch itself.
It would not close from remote nor from inside of the car. Its a shame that for liability reasons they cant enable the function the way it would make things much more convinient.
I know my wife 5'1" and she ether way has to seriously reach to close the hatch if there would be the button or if she has to manually close it, there would be no advantage for me what so ever for Autoclose.

You can have a key fob shut a tailgate remotely, BMW just didn't put one in Ford and Chevy have had this for a while now.

nice write-up!! and thanks for the vid...

mileage sucks on the 4.8 which is why i opted for the 3.0si..

tailgate not that bad although it would be nice if you can control it from the key fob...

let's hope there aren't any issues with the second year production...

can't wait for mine...should be a few weeks more!!

don't minivans have auto-closing side doors with a sensor that would stop/re-open it if it detects something in the way? Why not the same concept here? Half-a$$ing it again?

Nice Write-up, enjoy your new ride!!!

a bit of a long shot this, but have you tried holding the lock button for 2-3 seconds to see if it activates the auto-close? Holding the lock button (in Europe at least) closes the windows and sunroof if they are open.

I tried that in my US model last night. It did not activate auto-close. Other posts have said that this auto-close functionality has been disabled in the US.

can you close the auto tailgate with the button on the center console???

No, that doesn't work either. It's interesting that when you press the button on the center console with the auto tailgate open, that you hear a little click inside the tailgate but nothing happens...

They do - at least my Honda Odyssey 05+ Touring does that... I agree, this is a "partial" solution IMHO...

Well, this has to do with liability, for them to enable it, it would only be a simple software update, but they dont want to take ANY chances. I seriously done alot of research for windows up function years back and BMW would not do it eventhough its available in Europe.
And to be honest, I know AUDI has the same thing AND... if you activate the auto close and then hold the tailgate not letting it to close, the autoclose will stop and open it back up.. (I am sure BMW has that too) The safety is there.. its a liability problem and want it or not, its not available from the dealer...
No one is stopping you from wiring up the button to some kind of a remote, but then again if you do that you cant hold anyone responsible.

and you are trying this in park too? what is the point of a button on the tailgate.... i don't see how that's any more convenient than just closing it with your hand.

i'm now wondering if i should NOT have ordered this feature....

Interesting on the Fob, on my Tourareg I have to push the button the trunk as well, that is the only way to close it, but I can open it from the keyfob and driver's side door

I so hope that the European versions are going to have the ability to close the door by using the fob. I would be very disappointed if not.

Please report back when you get it.
Also can you do all windows up from remote, just like we all can do windows down (including sunroof)?

In US you can only do windows up with an actual key in the door when you are present next to the vehicle.

My car doesn't arrive until next month (it's mid atlantic currently) but I am pretty sure that you can close all the windows from the remote. Every BMW I have had dating back more than 10 years have been able to do that, my M3 Convertible allowed you to close the roof from the remote. There definitely weren't anti-trap features on that.

can you close the trunk manually if you want? just grab it and slam it closed? will that work?

can you open it faster by pushing it up too?

Yes :); Not really, but you can grab it and pull it down faster; Yes, you open it faster by pushing it up :)

I am glad I did not wait now for the auto tailgate.

If there is no auto close.... it is not really worth it.
I really am shocked that they did not program it that way.

I think you'll find auto close everywhere except US... :confused:

Why is that the case?

It does stink that it's not auto open AND close! ...How much extra $$$ was that option? ...I was in the last production in October, so I couldn't even get it. Everyones complaining about this makes me not feel as bad for not being able to get it! Thanks. :)

You'll find it in the US too, just not on a BMW.

Regardless of it not being perfect, I am very happy to have the auto tailgate. The number of times that I've seen my wife and kids battle with the tailgate on the Mercedes ML makes this something to REALLY look forward to. Even for myself, unloading the trunk and being able to close the trunk with my hands full is great. To each his own...

Thats correct, MB and Audi has autoclose for Windows.
Cant say anything about MB auto tailgates, but after a personal visit to Audi dealership, auto close on the tailgate is only available by pressing the button while you are physically at the tailgate and press the button it.

for some Liability is a scarry thing..
Example: I know a lounge owner who decided not to serve tea or coffee just because he was afraid of lawsuits and there is no other reason behind it... (just no hot drinks). It sure pissed off and inconvinience guests, but he feels that its more important to be safe and inconvinience people rather then provide hot drinks and charge $5 per cup.

My Navigator would auto OPEN and auto CLOSE from either inside the vehicle or by a press of the button on the transmitter.

MB you can close it from a button up front and possibly on the keyfob as well. It beeps and just has a detector that stops it if anyone is standing under it or too close too it. Had it demonstrated to me a couple of months back before I chose the X5

this is ridiculous that the BMW autotailgate doesn't close with at least the console button!! now i kinda wish i didn't order this feature... in fact, why didn't they just put a spring on it so it would open automatically like many trunks already do... and i can just close it manually, since you have to reach up and push the button anyhow!

this part of the vehicle must have been designed by the idiot who replaced the orange turn signals with red ones.