It is always start in 2nd gear even in sport mode. I got the 4.8i because the 3.0is was too slow off the line for me. Also the 4.8i probably would get a better gas mileage if you like to accelerate. If you like to have cars that are quick off the line and if money is not an issue, get the 4.8i. It a blast to drive. Enjoy...

I noticed the lag after delivery but started improving after a few thousand miles. I'm at 15K now and I don't feel any lag upon acceleration

WTH, why even have the 1st gear then?

http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e70-forum/...ut-others.html

as mentioned a lot in that thread, the 2nd gear thing has a lot to do with it. If you actually give it some gas (more than your avg car), it does great.

The TT diesel will address this problem nicely I'm sure. If you're sticking with the 3.0si, get accustomed to the slower starts or give it more gas than usual. You can feel some good torque to the vehicle too if you do it. I don't feel underpowered, just requires a modified driving style - more gas off the line.

I believe that goes away after break-in.

That's not true. If you come to a complete stop in sport mode or punch it hard off the line while rolling, it will drop to first. And of course if you use manual mode.

I've found that in manual mode, if you let the computer downshift when you stop at a light, it only goes to M2 as the lowest. And that's where it starts off on the green.

Ok, so let me make sure I have this straight. I regular auto/D, it'll always use 2nd even from a stop. If you use Sport mode, it'll start off in 1st?

Has anyone checked the difference in fuel consumption between D and Sport?

It does start in 2nd from a stop either in auto or sport mode. You can perform your own test doing this: Start the car and drive for 100 yards. Come to a complete stop. Put in Sport mode and upshift (bring it towards you) without accelerating. You will see the gear selection telling you are in manual mode and 3rd gear.

With regards to the difference in fuel consumption between D and Sport is about 2 to 3 miles per gallon.

That may be true in that situation, but that's because the computer defaults to that program when you don't shift it yourself. But try this...when in manual mode, put it in 1st at the light so you can see what it feels like when you take off. Then at the next stop, try what I said earlier...put in sport mode and come to a complete stop or punch it hard while barely moving, and it will drop to first in both cases. You can definitely feel the difference.

This was actually an issue with the E53 4.4i because the transmission wasn't very smooth and if you weren't careful it would try to drop to 1st but couldn't do it smoothly...as a result, you would get a slamming sensation as it banged into 1st gear...so bad in fact that it would feel like you were getting rear-ended.

That's the main reason that it usually starts in 2nd...for smoothness, as well as for gas savings. It will only drop to first if you force it to and it can do it smoothly.

The wind noise is the same as the 07 X5.
Was hoping it would be less.
Road noise is also same as 07.

Performance seems the same to me however gas milage so far, is about 2mph less than my 07.

I will have to notice what gear it starts off in.

All 3 of the BMWs I have owned hesitate when the gas pedal is tromped on.
Can get scary when passing on a two lane road.