These gearboxes are adaptive and respond to the driver's style by varying the part-throttle shift protocols. You say that this is not your car but your father's and he may have a different driving style. A short drive like you mention you do may not be sufficient to start adapting the gearbox to you. My experience with both the E53 and E70 single and twin turbo diesels and their five, six or now eight speed autos is that all the 'boxes generally shift up readily to the higher ratios and hang on to them by feeding off the strong mid-range torque.

Not sure I understand that logic, given that a diesel, and a new one at that, would be worse at dealing with short trips following cold starts, and have higher consequences for such use, than a 100,000 mile gasoline engine. Is it just that it is then his problem instead of yours?

I agree, a diesel is much worst for cold-start short trips but why wear out your car when you can wear out the old man's?

Since it is only a lease, after the lease is over, it will be neither of their problems I guess. :dunno:

It's a lease. If something goes wrong on the X5, its within warranty or the next owner's problem.

He was incredibly stubborn when he just showed up with it. Didn't test drive or do any research. Financially, the lease deal wasn't good and pushes the family budget. He complains that it's a bit loud and that diesel is expensive in Northern Virginia. I told him that premium diesel cures the engine rattle, but he says he doesn't want to bother looking for it. :dunno:

I also told him that diesel is cheaper than premium petrol, but that my observations reflect prices in Central, Southern, and SW Virginia. I can't possibly predict prices in Northern VA because I don't drive there often.

Ironically, I'm the only one in the family that can park the behemoth. The tire tracks on the grass near our driveway have been caused by.......well it wasn't me :rolleyes:

X5 3.5d - No Sleeper
 

After putting more than 200k on a 1987 MB 300TD - the only time Mercedes put a turbocharged I6 engine in the states, the X5 is, by comparison a race horse!

Between the great comfort of the seats and the (mostly) great ride, it's easy to "gently accelerate" and suddenly you're going 90 ~ all in serene silence (with the pararamic fully open, but the sunroof closed. That's at freeway speeds. But it can also leap from a standing start, too. There's nothing but smiles on our end!