observations from day 3 with my 2010 X5 diesel
 

Just drove home with my new X5 on Tuesday. It is a deep green with beige interior (Premium Package, Running boards, Roof rails, Light Poplar Wood trim, iPod and USB adapter, Smartphone Integration, Cold Weather Package,
Rear Climate Package, Technology Package). I already have over 500 miles on my new car (averaged 25.2 mpg on way home) and wanted to share some observations, especially touching on some points that come up on Xoutpost quite often:

1) the torque of the diesel is amazing. I am babying it and haven't broken 3000 RPM yet, but highway passing power is effortless - especially compared to my 2003 x5 3.0, which was no slouch.

2) the handling with the new(er) steering and suspension is great. Still haven't been able to quantify compared to my 2003 as it feels "different" rather than better/worse. Will check back when I have more time on the twisties. I did notice that the power steering feels a little lighter than the e53, but hard to compare a 7 year old car with a brand new one... Also noticed less back and forth rocking on uneven roads with new suspension - the old car had plenty of suspension work near the end so I am comparing newish to new in this case :-)

3) Michelin RFTs. Very nice - not harsh. Comparable ride to what I had on the old X5 (standard Michelin MXV4s). I do wish I had ordered the spare, as I'd hate to have a trip interrupted while awaiting a special order tire...but these Latitudes seem to live up to their reputation.

4) the new nav system is great! At first I debated the expense compared to getting a new garmin, but having it all integrated with the car is worth it. Still learning my way through the numerous features (looking for turn by turn directions, haven't found yet). One question I am trying to track down is whether they give you a backup dvd to reload if you ever crash the new HD based system. will have to check with SA unless someone else knows the answer. One nice feature is being able to go to google maps from home computer, pick out a route, send it to your car, and then choose it when you start the car. Another question: How do you permanently turn off the warning screen that comes up at each startup? I feel sufficiently warned. Happy to sign the waiver and move on now...

5) new idrive is an improvement - glad I waited. The function buttons help with navigating the system, the HD based system is quick and the screen is excellent. I appreciated that many user customizable options (lighting, day running lights, automatic ventilation, etc) are included, rather than sending us back to the dealer to set codes for us.

6) Tow hitch - I had it installed by the Performance Center - the advantage being that they do a great job of install and it is covered by the 4 year factory warranty rather than the accessory warranty. The more I look at it, though, the more of a shame it seems that they did not have a more elegant solution for the e70, like plastic pop-out on the the e53 bumper. They do have to cut the bumper for the hitch, exposing shiny steel - others have commented that they have painted it with heat tolerant black paint and I may have to follow suit.

7) smartphone integration - I did this for my iphone (as well as blackberry for work). Some observations: you can pair up to four devices using bluetooth and then use idrive to switch which one is active. Takes about 10 seconds to switch. This isn't fast enough to respond to incoming calls to different devices, but enough to overcome the basic problem of needing to carry multiple devices.

8) ipod your BMW: snap-in kit for iphone - there are multiple iphone snap-in kits so beware. if you just want to use the antenna and charging function (why would you want just this?) then there is one version (actually a 2G version and a 3G version). If you want to ALSO use iphone for music, then there is another version (ditto). They installed the wrong one at PDC, and I picked up the right one the next day at the dealer. Once we installed the right one yesterday, I learned that (for music) you can only use the iphone in the snap-in kit OR use the iphone or ipod in the nearby usb port in the console. It is one or the other - the car will not recognize both ports for music at once (phone functions over bluetooth are separate and unaffected). Not a big deal but worth noting. So, if you don't want to plug the iphone in every time you get in the car for a short trip(but want phone to work and you want music) then leave an ipod plugged into the console USB port and leave the bluetooth on for the iphone in your pocket. Nice to have choices...

9) Rear seats. For those of you who picked up the 2009, you may have noticed that the rear seat pitch was manually adjustable. I liked the e53 adjustment that could be made with a button from trunk or from ceiling button. The 2010 is not adjustable. This is still a different version than the 3 row seat version, but they have removed the adjustable seat rake.

10) did you know that there is/was a factory installable cargo net that is integrated with the rear cargo area cover? While on the factory tour, we saw a special model e70 that had been sent to Japan for emissions testing and then sent back. This display model had an integrated cargo net that clipped into mounting points in the headliner - like the covered mounting points on the e53. Apparently, even the slots on the headliner are part of the factory ordered option as we saw headliners both with and without. Mine came without. No one on the factory tour was clear as to whether there was a dealer install version and if they need to do anything more than cut away a portion of the headliner to expose pre-installed mounting reinforcements - I suspect it is more complicated. Anybody order the cargo net before/after factory build who knows the answer?

11) ok - I don't have an 11 yet. Still learning. Hope the info above helps others who are either awaiting their car or also in learning mode.

Cheers

Very nice review! I have to agree with you on #'s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 9 since we are also coming from a 2003 3.0i. Passing used to need 4500RPM to pass in our old 3.0i, but we're zooming past people at the 3500RPM mark in this one truck! The non-adjustable rear seats were a cool option that could give some more trunk space, but didn't serve much more since ours was hardly used. We didn't get the nifty iPod USB adapters or smartphone integrations, so we're just using Bluetooth and the Aux In port and hoping that works fine.

ok - here is an "11"
 

11) ok - I don't have an 11 yet. Still learning. Hope the info above helps others who are either awaiting their car or also in learning mode.

Cheers[/QUOTE]


I forgot to share that everyone should do the delivery at the factory. The tour was great but the best part was the time on the driver course. Ask for Donnie Isley.

Great post, lots of information

Thank You!

So I'm not clear. If I have the 3rd row seats, can I still adjust the rake of the 2nd row seat. That was a huge perk I valued.

How exactly does this work? Is the new model capable of connecting to cellular data networks?

comes with a "phone" as part of bmw assist so that SOS and other functions will work even if your own phone is not paired with the car. You generally cannot make phone calls with it but can make a few emergency calls routed through BMW assist as part of the free provisioning. It can also pull down data. You do not need the optional convenience plan to make this work. You go to Google Maps, pick a route, choose "send", select car, then you choose brand and your unique email address and a password you gave to BMW at purchase. It will be waiting as a "message" under BMW Assist in the nav system when you get in the car. Open msg and use the route.

Great post. How about some pics? Haven't seen this exterior color in real life.

This was only ever available on those with 3rd row seats... not sure if the option for those with the 3rd row has gone......I would doubt it...

(I've used this before on my previous 2009 335xi) Small correction on the Google Maps/MyInfo part from the OP: You cannot sent a route to your car. You can only send a destination. Follow the directions mentioned above and then your NAV makes the route to said destination from wherever your car is located. You can even write a note when you send the destination, and when you send the destination it also sends the phone number of the location (if it's a business).

Here is the info from BMW's website: