Need HELP on which options most important: 2010 35d
 

I just placed an order for a 2010 X5 35d

Black Saphire Metallic / Black Leather
Premium Package
Running Boards
3rd Row Seat
Park Distance Controll
Rear Seat Entertainment
Roof Rails
20" or 21" future OEM wheel upgrade (not decided on style yet)

I really wanted the sports package, but I cant believe they changed the option and seperated the Adaptive Drive as a standalone option. THIS FREAKIN SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Because my wife has me on a budget, I am forced to choose between the following options.

$2200 Sport Activity Package
$3500 Adaptive Drive
$1200 Multi-contour seats

I though about getting the Sport Activity Package, then lowering my X5 in the future with the H&R springs and links for the rear. Will this improve handling??? I know it probably will not make it as refined as the Adaptive Drive, but will it make it close? I could also appreciate the looks of a lowered, more aggressive stance. I have H&R springs and Bilstein Shocks/Struts on my CLK 500, and that made a load of difference on looks and handling.

Multi-contour seats would be nice if I chose to not get either of the other two options, regular seats are too bland. Probably won't be goin this route.

The most expensive and seemingly important option: Adaptive Drive, that sports suspension just seems so important with a Bimmer. But if I do this, I will be stuck with regular seats. Are they so bad???

PLEASE HELP ME DECIDE, and share your opinions.

Drop the entertainment system, park distance control and third row seats. Unless you have little ones, they are useless anyway. The only good thing about the third row pkg is you can recline the middle row. Use this savings to get the sport package and adaptive drive. I am so glad I got the '09 sport pkg. The 19's look better than the 18"s and the steering wheel has a nicer feel to it.

Doesn't the sport pkg upgrade the seats? They won't be 20 way adjustable, but as long as I can pull out the thigh support (6'4"), I'm good.

I almost bought a non-sport pkg. It had everything else in it except sport and entertainment (head-up, prem sound, nappa seats and dash in mahogony-drool!) But it was a top-hat vehicle with 13K and one year gone on the warrenty and would not budge, which ended up better for me anyway. Got a new one.

Comfort seats ... the wife will be happy!

Adaptive drive is $$ and I have not read where is really is a huge difference in day to day operation..

Sport Act.. get you basically the sport steering wheel and sport seat.. thus with the comfort seats you only paying for the steering wheel.

Drive an X5 with sport suspension, then one without. You decide.
I got the Sport Package because I like the options in the package, and I'm not worried about getting 20- or 21-inch wheels, and I'm not worried about adaptive drive (others are, not me). I have my sporty 535i (sport package with Dinan upgrades) for fun. For more fun I have a 318ti that I autocross. A 5300-pound SAV doesn't have to have a sporty drive. It can do it's best, and being a BMW with great suspension helps, but it's still 2.5 tons of SUV.

Another good note about the sport package: you get sport seats (more support at thighs and bolsters).

Let us know what you decide.

(P.S. If it was in our budget, I would get the Adaptive Drive as well. But I was faced with the either/or situation, and I chose ZAP.)

It's just a tad more than wheel and seats.

Sport Activity Package
Sports Leather Steering Wheel
19" Wheels (Style 212) (18" on non-sport)
or 20" Style 214 for $950 more
Sport Seats
Shadowline Exterior Trim
Anthracite Headliner

I think the package is priced right for what you get. Some people don't like the options, others do. I'm going to like my car much more since I added this package.

+1. I wish I didn't get it. It's really not that good of a system. It gets in the way of the center console. Intial thought was that I'd have the car seat in the middle location, but it's really not good there. Car seats work better in the right/left passenger seats. Better fit and easier access to getting the kid in and out. If I could do it again, I'd put in the BMW accessory RSE that goes behind the two headrests. Yes. It cost more, but it can be added on later.

Out of the options you are deciding on definitely do the Adaptive drive and with the money saved from the RSE either the sports activity or multi-countour are fine.

He stated he was going to change the wheels to 21s anyway and the 35d doesn't come with 20s (which he had also considered) so really the activity pkg is only getting him the steering wheel, the trim and headliner. Sport seats he was thinking about going comfort anyway. Instead of paying $2200, he'd pay $1200 to get a nicer seat and only be missing the steering wheel, trim, and headliner.

If I were him, I'd skip the activity pkg, test drive with & without adaptive drive and decide from there. We in the past had an easier decision since we wanted much of the other inclusions in the sport pkg - I honestly don't know how much adaptive drive is helping my day-to-day, but the pkg as a whole was very appealing for what we paid. That's why I'm suggesting to test drive without adaptive drive and see if it handles well enough. The steering wheel you can replace later on if you want.

Options
 

Personally, of those options listed I chose the comfort seats. That was a must-have for me. They are the best seats! I found the sport seats to have a high bolster that made it a pain to get in and out of the car! I agree, personally, with the other poster in that adaptive drive is the only way to go in a BMW car. I've had three prior cars, all with the sport pkg. With this X5, I'm simply not planning on driving it like I have my cars. Now, if money was no object, of course I'd get it. We did drive back-to-back, one with, one without. For normal daily driving, we did not find enough of a difference to opt for it. Comfort seats all the way!! You won't regret it. I also added the heated seats, too.

A lot of it is personal preference.

Drop the 3rd row and rear entertainment system. Keep the PDC. Pick Activity Packet ZAV.

I don't care for Premium package. Why do you need Roof rails? Running boards are only for looks; don't anticipate any real use for them.

Black/black combo will be very hot in Texas.

Weird, why did BMW get rid of gray Nevada Leather :dunno:

I have black/black it's not hot unless you have your car parked outside all day/have no covered parking.