I'm looking to buy an x5
 

I am looking to buy another x5. I crashed my 2001. What options is wwhat and what should I look for and what can I pass on. Thanks

General consensus is that Adaptive Drive is great.

It really depends on which model you are planning to get...the options list is deep and combinations are complicated. Start by figuring out which model you want and go from there.

Premium and sport packages have some essentials, but that varies by model. Comfort seats are great. The 20" wheel package makes a big difference for handling. The Nappa leather dash makes the interior much nicer. The M sport package looks great. There is a new M performance package which is a must. The M sport steering wheel with paddle shifters is very nice, also.

Adaptive drive is fine, but not worth the $3500 IMO. I had it on my last 2 X5s but didn't choose it on the latest one and I can rarely tell any difference. The stock and sport suspension is nicely dialed in. If it was under $1000 as it is on every other BMW, i would have gotten it.

The best thing about the technology package is the auto hi-beams, which can't be ordered separately. I had the tech package on my previous M and rarely used the HUD or the side-view cameras. Premium sound is nice, but not mandatory. Ventilated seats are nice, but I was always worried about spilling something on the perforated leather...and when I did, it was really tough to get out.

TahoeM3 thanks,

I was thinking of this x530i here are pics

Vehicle Photo: 2009 BMW X5 xDrive30i

Tell me what you think, i wanted to go with backup camera, nice stereo, dvd tv, i wanted bluetooth but i dont see it here can i install it seperately?

No prob. Bluetooth and backup camera are standard. You can see the backup camera on the tailgate to the right of the license plate if you look closely.

plus 1 for the adaptive drive option ...

adaptive drive is standard with the sports pkg for the '09s and judging by the steering wheel it has it.

as far as I can recall, the bluetooth and backup camera were a part of the tech pkg... looks like you have navigation which was also in that pkg so you should be good. Unlikely they ordered the navi a-la-carte.

But steering wheel has nothing with the adaptive drive option!

It is the sport button behind the shifter verifies the AD available ...

in the more recent models this is true. In the ones prior to LCI, the sport pkg included adaptive drive and a tell-tale sign of having sport pkg is the silver trim on the steering wheel. You could also look for the black headliner or sport seats or even the 19" style 212 wheels. He linked to an '09 that matched all 3. The sport button may also indicate this but functionally it is not exclusively for adaptive drive.

The LCI sports activity pkg is mostly an aesthetics thing now and AD is typically standalone.

My 2008 X5 4.8i with sport package had a separate option for "Active Steering (217)". List on that option was $1,400. It makes it easier to drive around town and park. It makes the X5 track better at highway speeds.

I have not driven another SUV that does these two things so well.