Nice write-up Op....I'm also in MN and have done quite a bit of business over the years with Motorwerks, Carousel, Morries, Sears and now BMW of Minnetonka...

I know just about everybody at Mtka, including Peter the owner...I'd be curious to know who your sales rep was. I give them the highest praise as a dealer from Sales to Service to Parts..

I've owned an X6 35i, X6 50i and now 2011 X5 35d...Can you guess which one is my fave?

The diesel! Wonderful torque, gas mileage and I just love the sound of it too..And, it will be towing my boat out to Minnetonka this year too..

PM me if you want to talk dealer or cars more...We probably know a lot of the same folks at Target hq too.

PM sent!

If you're considering the diesel, go back for a second test drive. Leave it in drive, and accelerate around a corner somewhat slowly. Let it shift into second, then third. Then, roll into the throttle (don't stomp on it, or you'll provoke a downshift...just roll even pressure into it until you have about 80% throttle application).

This produces rapid, torque fueled acceleration, coupled with one of the sweetest exhaust notes around on a stock vehicle...which in turn produces giddiness and inappropriate giggling on the part of an X5d driver.

I've had a drive of the new Grand Cherokee (V6 not V8) and wow what a great leap forward from the previous generation GC with live axle at the back. I believe the new one is build on a platform co-developed with Mercedes-Benz before Benz sold its interest in Chrysler. In Oz the new GC is also half the price of an E70. Still, I probably wouldn't buy one over the X unless I wanted the GC's off-road ability.

I didn't get Active Steering on my 535i since it was a $3700 package option, but I always thought of it as variable ratio rather than variable assist, with a faster ratio for parking. I suppose if the assist varies more than the ratio it could be helpful in parking as well. It may be a moot point, however, as it isn't offered on the 35d, and the OP seems pretty happy with that model. It is available on the 35i and 50i. Presumably they are trying to keep the price down on the 35d and the base model 35i by restricting options.

On our last X3 we ordered Servotronic steering, variable assist based on vehicle speed instead of engine speed. We wouldn't have normally considered it, but my wife had undergone several surgeries after a bicycle accident, including to her shoulder. It was a great feature, and reduced effort while parking while maintaining traditional BMW steering feel at normal road speeds. We don't need it now, post-recovery, but are used to it and like it. Too bad BMW didn't carry on with it.

Those few who deride all such options as 'Lexus-like' are probably happy to see it gone.

Yep, Active Steering is a variable ratio system especially designed to reduce the number of turns of the steering wheel required when parking, or with slow-speed manoeuvres in tight confined places. It's obviously a different thing than variable assist.

I didn't like it myself when I tried it in a 5 Series but it might be fine when you get used to it.

Cliff notes?

In regards to the X5 having a split tailgate and the Jeep having a solid, 1-piece rear tailgate. TRUST me...the split BMW rear is THE BEST. You can open the top part, and especially groceries will not go rolling into the street. I remeber when I went from my Range Rover (2 piece tailagate, sourced from BMW) to a Mercedes ML...I missed the 2-pieces tail gate. I am SO happy the E70 kept the split tailgate, just like the first gen E53 BMW. I also, think the 2 piece tail gate makes the rear look more athletic, and less Mini-van ish!!

I agree. A two-piece horizontally split tailgate beats a one-piece tailgate hands down. But Range Rover sourcing a two-piece tailgate from BMW? Range Rovers had a two-piece tailgate 30 years before BMW even produced its first SUV/SAV. Just because the current generation Range Rover was originally designed and developed when BMW owned the Land Rover group, doesn't mean that Range Rover sourced the tailgate from BMW.

We have a 2011 Range Rover, and we had 2 E53 X5s. The Range Rover 2003-2011 tail gate lock, unlock button, hinges, loading dock material....100% BMW. So yes...a Range Rover tailgate sourced from a BMW!!!!! Remember BMW owned Range Rover for a while. The E53 came out in 1999, the Range Rover in 2003. The Range Rover to this day, still has TONS & TONS of X5 parts.