E53 to E70, thoughts after a week
 

Ok,
After having the E70 4.8i for a week and trading in my E53 4.8is, here's some random initial thoughts:

1) Ride is better...could be the longer wheelbase, could be that the sport package is different on the new car.

2) Never had a car with iDrive before. My Audi has MMI, which I think is more intuitive, but the BMW can do more. Just takes getting used to.

3) Annoying that the E70 doesn't have adjustable seatbelt height when the E53 did. Can't imagine what the thought pattern was there.

4) Power is just as good on the new car. I was concerned it wouldn't be, because it's bigger, but it feels the same.

5) Love the nappa leather...super cheap upgrade for 1200 bux.

6) Washed the car for the first time and BMW has figured out that it's nice to be able to raise the windshield wipers without interfering with the hood :)

7) Most importantly, I remembered that I absolutely loathe the MPG dial on the speedocluster. What a completely useless gauge that's very distracting! (the 4.8is has an oil temperature gauge, which *is* useful)

I'm sure I'll think of others!

Thats interesting... I think the ride on the runflats 18's is much worse then the ride on the e53 with 19's on. Also, the e70 FEELS smaller and lower (to me) then the e53. I dont like the I-drive at all - the interface is overly combursome. I prefer touchscreen. I also dont get the need for the fancy shift selector.

I do like the comfort seats a lot (didnt have them on the e53) and love the pano sunroof. Also like the comfort access a lot.

I did have an fx45 for a short while between the e53 and e70 and I have to say that Infiniti got the technology aspect just right. The tpm screen showed real time pressure in PSI, the nav was very well put togather with a simple interface and a readable screen (resolution on the e70 kind of sucks). I wont get into the other aspects of the the FX though... :p:

Its really all a matter of pesonal preference. I like the ride better too on the E70, and LOVE the IDrive and shift selector. They were both odd at first but now they are second nature....wouldn't even consider going back.

I am very covert about what cars I drive at work. I don't like people to assume things about me based on what I drive. I like what I like, and that's it. However, I have a co-worker who will go out of his way to tell me how much better Japanese cars/trucks/SUV's/Freight Trucks/Scooters/Tricycles are than BMW's or anything German.

So, yes, I'm absolutely certain there are certain things that most every imaginable car has better than a BMW...but warts and all I still like it enough to drive it and buy it :)

(I still wish it didn't have that &%$#@! mpg gauge in the dash though!)

After side-to-side comparo with CPO E53 it was no question what the Missus wanted.

Love the sport option, wife especially loves the sport seats as she has no back/sciatic nerve problems.

Handling is incredible for an SUV. Even for a car. If you haven't tracked one I highly encourage it. Brakes no slouch either.

Great road trip vehicle. Last summer we drove to NorCal by way of San Antone and returned on I-40. Pure driving pleasure and 21/22mpg, except in West Texas with that 80mph speed limit that I might or might to have exceeded by 10-14 mph.

Great off-road too. We drove the test course in SC and were amazed. We'll probably never use it, but it is there for those who do. You cannot believe the lateral grade it will hold w/o rollong over. Not just a pretty face.

Size was surprise to us when we returned home and found it would not fit in the 99 Jeep GC Ltd's spot in the garage. It looks and drives smaller than it is.

Hate iDrive. Am told it has improved but it takes two (one to drive, one to iDrive) of us to operate it on the move.

Would have loved to V8, but between cost and mileage it was not much choice.

Hate the manual shifter - I keep getting it backwards and having to check the shifter in order to go up/down. Seems to me like you should push to go up and pull to downshift.

Wife has no problem with shifter, but I have trouble park/nuetral/forward/reversing.

I don't really like the starter button. Just one more motion to get 'er fired up or turned off.

Our first BMW and we are probably hooked.

Wife is thrilled with it (it's really hers) so I am thrilled. Mama ain't happy ain't nobody happy. ;) And did I mention the handling!!!

Gotta comment on this one! I really dislike that stupid MPG gauge in the dash too! I know that I'm burning gas at a high rate!

What's funny is that my passenger on the weekend, a Volvo SUV owner, acted really impressed by the MPG gauge. I was at a loss for words... :confused:

I like having all the options that you can really customize the car but using iDrive while driving is distracting for sure (hence the warning sign every time you turn the ignition on)

I have Comfort Access and the starter button makes sense. I love it because the key stays in the pocket and I grab the handle to open door and push to start engine and just drive away. I hate fiddling with the key to open the door and push in the fob in the slot and all that. I'm just too lazy. :) great post though. thanks

I love the fuel usage gauge, it helps remind me to drive more responsibly

idrive is 2nd nature to me by now while on the move. As long as you know where the Menu button (by the thumb) is, you're golden. Think of it as a home key - then you get to whereever you want to go - I always swap between the nav and entertainment. I think it's very quick though initially it took some getting used to, especially the nav sub-menus... about an hour to figure the whole thing out but it's easy now.

If you can figure out navigating a cellphone, you can figure out idrive. A "back" button would've been great for this version though I'm sure. ;) And touchscreen is worse in my opinion - physically moving and watching what you're doing is actually a further step and does take more effort.

And comfort access is great. I've not once stuck the key fob in the slot... I'm not even sure it works. ;)

I dont mind the fuel usage gauge at all as it brings some nostalgia with it. It reminds me of the same in my dads 1984 Opel Ascona back in the old country. I remember asking him about it as a child...