So, do you believe there will be two 'upgraded' X5's coming?

40X HP
500+ HP

I'd take 4xx at this point, but 500 seems to be where they need to be to be competitive with the (HP at least) ML63 and PC Turbo S.

It would make economic sense for BMW to use the same engines in the X6 in any updated X5's.

Per BMW birdie; X6 will always have more powerful engine than X5. If X5 3.0si gets the TT6 than X6 will end up with upgraded TT6 with more power. Same goes for X5 4.8i vs X6 50i.

According to the BMW Blog, the X5 and X6 will get the new iDrive in September as a 2010 model. I say it makes sense, since March always seemed kind of weird.

Source: http://www.bmwblog.com/2009/01/06/bm...-in-september/

As for March/Spring for new models, BMW has done March/Spring releases so many times, e.g. 2006 3-series, 2008 5-series, X6 35i, F10 5-series will release in Spring 2010, etc.

Its also good for BMW to have same iDrive version across their model line-up sooner than later.
I trust Scott and my sources more than bmwblog.

^ in that blog he states the nav screen will not change - talking about the higher resolution? Is that part accurate?

If BMW-Blog is right, I´ll go and cancel my orders as soon as possible

I wonder about this. Why would the mighty 5 series have to settle for the same tt the 3 series has? Why wouldn't it always have a more powerful engine as it carries a higher "premium" value? Or conversely why didn't the 3 series get limited to the 328 model and leave the more powerful tt for the 5?

It seems to me that the economics would dictate a fewer number of drivetrains. If the tt six is in the X5 and an uprated tt 6 is in the X6, unless it is the same basic engine with slightly different tuning for a bump in HP (Porsche does this), then BMW has to produce 2 entirely different motors, which based on history has only happened for a very short time until a changeover can occur.

Just my $.02 worth.

> plans always change.

Yeah, people sometimes forget that. For example, it is quite possible that BMW was planning to introduce the new i-drive to the X5 in March, but a technical snag developed and in reviewing it, combined with lowering sales projections due to the economy, it was postponed until the normal 2010 model year introduction.

I am not saying that is what happened, or will happen, but it is is an example of how, at a given point in time, a March introduction date could be 100% accurate, but the introduction not actually happening until later in the year.

But why do a lot of german dealers confirm Mar 09 (also those wo said Sept 09 before)? Are they lying to increase their sales?