I am always fascinated at how different people's tastes are. Black Grill? I think I do not hate anything more on a BMW that a black grill. It looks like the front end is missing, or someone punched the double kidney grill out. When I took delivery of my Space Gray Launch Edition 2007 E70, I had them include in the deal, a silver kidney grill from a 4.8i (at the time they were over $200).

To me, IMO, the black grill looks cheap and entry market. I LOVE the look of the matte silver grill the 35d and 50i have. It makes the whole front end just scream BMW!! :)

Yeah, everyone has their preferences/rationale....I like your interior color choice, but wouldnt dare get it as the teenagers would thrash mine in 5 days or less....and i know damn well my wife wont want the hitch or the JBD programmer (although she loves the power of my truck)...I'm just not a big chrome fan, but i suppose i see your point on that being an iconic part of BMW so why understate it....

You'll probably love this one: Anyone source a "d" from the side numbers to put on the rear?....e.g. so it says X5d on the rear?

d on the back? WOW, I've been looking for one on eBay! I actually ordered a DMV customer license (vanity) plate that includes the word Diesel in it. I am very proud to have such a great, clean and award winning Diesel engine in my X5..and I want the world to know!! LOL

I too was honestly terrified of getting the Oyster Interior, as I have a very active and mischevious 4 year old! Unlike Sand Beige, where the carpets, door sills, mouldings, etc.. are all light, the Oyster is a 2-tone with black. So, the doors, carpets, door sills, foot wells, etc, etc are black. And the few little marks I've noticed on the oyster leather, have wiped up with just water on a rag. As my dealer pointed out, besides from oyster leather being up to 10 degrees or more cooler in the hot, summer sun, when you get a mark or stain...you notice it right away, and it makes you clean it and keep the leather clean. Total sales pitch? It actually works for me (I'm sure my OCD play a big role too). With black interior, I was never too concerned. Now, I want my oyster to be spotless....and so far, everyone who opens a door to my X5, the first thing they say is "ooooh" love the interior!!

I got the D on back..and the front too !
 

I miss the 7 digit plates in CA.... I think you can get 8 digits in NY.....

http://www.xoutpost.com/members/dies...re1314-dzl.jpg

You can mod it all you want ! Just reset it to stock before returning it !

Congratulations on the new vehicle.

There are OE and aftermarket hitches available. BMW listed 600 lbs maximum tongue weight for the E53, and I think the E70 is the same but it would be worth checking. One caution with the dirt bike hauler is that the BMW hitch loads specify a maximum distance from pin to load of far less than most motorcycle carriers have. Again on the E53, it was 8", so a carrier that is 24" deep has a calculated maximum tongue load of 200 lbs, and 50 lbs of that is used up by the carrier itself, leaving 150 lbs for the bike. You aren't limited by the hitch load, as much as by the bending moment.

Those carriers make some sense on a truck like your Dodge, which has a frame to bolt the receiver hitch to. On the X5, with the unibody, the hitch is bolted to formed sheet metal. Early X5s had issues with hitches bending down and deforming the unibodies (when using non-OE hitches). I would use caution when considering any hitch mounted rack. Small trailers work fine.

Wow, that's very good to know...i'll have to look at it more closely...not a big deal if it doesnt work...never would have guessed as i'm used to having hitches bolted to the frame as you said. Thank You.

Just want the JBD, but want to get my arms around what it's doing (guessing boost and pressure), how close to EGT Max it get's and how BMW programs "Detection" in the ECM...e.g. can they find out it's been programmed or does the BT Tool do a good job?

More boost. Fools the safeties. Not as solid an approach as maintaining the safety limits that BMW designed in, but there haven't been a lot of reported problems on his other products, so it seems a reasonable gamble.

BMW can absolutely tell you had it installed if they look for the tell tales.

weight limit on hitch rack?
 

So, JCL, carrying a 400# motorcycle on a hitch rack is NOT recommended? Uh oh. I was planning on ordering an X5d on Monday...
I understand the basic idea of the lever effect, but thought 400# would be fine. I've searched this forum a bit to find a 2nd opinion. Your thoughts?