Since the last software update (v28?), the sensibility of the camera seems to be better:

Thats what I had before (in my garage without light)

http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimag...8/DSC00037.jpg

and thats now (in the same light conditions)

http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimag...8/DSC00046.JPG

very noticeable improvement. I wonder how that compares to the reknowned Lexus cameras...

Looks like the bottom picture was taken with an overhead light on. I'd say my camera gets the same quality of the image when it is bright, or when road surfaces reflects well (ie snow-covered). Are you saying that you had the same overhead light on in the top picture ? In the top picture, a car covers the floor of your garage, thus nothing to reflect the light from. See if you can park a car behind and do the exactly same shot... We need to compare apples to apples here :)

BTW, how do you know what SW version your iDrive is running ?

If you think an E70 is slow to boot up you should have driven my 2004 535d that took ages to boot up....as for how slow my 2002 E46 M3's Satnav, that was just painful.

I have only had my car for a week...I don't think the camer is that bad.

:wavey:
http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimag...8/DSC00037.jpg
http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimag...8/DSC00049.JPG

In both case, it is no extern light, only the (red) back lights of the car

Not bad !

I happen to drive a 2008 RX350 loaner car last week when I brought in my 2000 RX300 for its 120K service, I tell you the Lexus system is way much better. It is touch screen based and so is very intuitive. Comparing it with the iDrive system, I think it's comparing the PC-DOS and Windows operating sytems. But I still love my X5 more ;)

it took me a week to get used to the iDrive, but I agree that touch screen is more intuitive. I am dreading the day my wife will take X5 for a drive, because as of today she complains about touch-screen on her Lexus :)

With iDrive you love it or hate. I got used to it, I already know a bunch of shortcuts and series of clicks I need to do to get to a menu/option I need. I can actually do things with the iDrive without taking my eyes off the road - while with the touch screen you need to look at the screen to know where to touch !

^ plus getting locked out while driving isn't any fun.