Consumer Reports Review of BMW X5
 

Video Review of BMW X5
Consumer Reports Video Hub - Cars - SUVs & Minivans - BMW X5 review

I would have to agree on the Ride and diesel noise. I found the Sport Seats to be much less comfortable then my previous X5's but the Comfort Seats are exceptional. I'm glad they upgraded the transmission because the one in my 4.8i has the WORST shifting pattern. BMW's aren't for everyone but I love nearly everything about mine

They've always knocked BMW for iDrive and the electronic shifter. iDrive has gotten MUCH better and the shifter isn't ever an issue to me once I understood it. I'm not into iDrive menus that often beyond switching my music input choices...so they must love rolling through menus at random.

My friends 2009 X5 with prev gen iDrive is a nightmare to work through and you compare that to present day and I don't feel it's needlessly complicated. Just because they have a several week experience doesn't translate into the long term experience where you learn the controls and they are second nature. And that is how I feel now operating it.

My ride quality did change when I went from 18's to 20's and every BMW we've had has been more sporty in character. Choppy isn't how I'd describe it. Firm and controlled.

I feel BMW could do more to insulate the noise of the diesel upon acceleration, but cruising around is quiet. I noticed a big difference in diesel clatter when I found a good quality of diesel. Cut rate stations diesel make it noisier. Just my personal .02 cents.

I've never felt the steering heavy - I just drove my buddies 2012 F150 and that was the lightest steering I've felt in a long time - 1 finger to turn it. And the brakes were oh so touchy I nearly launched myself several times out of the cab. (diff cars I know). I agree that the rear view camera should be standard.

Frankly the car is geared towards a specific market and I've never had a passenger / casual driver complain about the diesel noise, ride quality or the controls.

"have to go through menus to get to what you want"

No shit? I didn't know I'd have to OPERATE the system in order for it to be used.

:iagree:

Maybe the want the car to drive itself too.

So annoying how much review-shows critique systems for their basic operating principles.

"You even have to SCROLL to the other options"

As opposed to??? CHANGING IT WITH YOUR MIND?

Some people do like touch screens. Great on an iPhone. Not so great in a car IMHO. Its a longer reach, a longer distraction away from the road, more prone to hitting the wrong thing if going over a bump, and leaves fingerprints. I have no issue with the newer iDrives, especially with the most common of tasks.

I can't STAND touch screen and I LOVE my I-Drive. It's super easy to use

I think the point was that using the idrive while driving is pretty bad since there are so many different "menus" to select prior to getting to the menu you are looking for.. this is bad as in it distracts you even longer than it should from driving safely.