Just taken delivery of a 50i

[Zod]

Just a quick introductory post.

I said I'd never buy a 4x4, but we have a third child due next week and the penny dropped last summer that my M5 would not take three child seats. Research made it clear that nothing else without three rows of seats would either. I have a long BMW history (E46 330Ci, E46 M3 manual, E46 M3 SMG, M3 CSL,E60 M5) and have always liked the X5 (despite not wanting to be an SUV-owner), so I gravitated inevitably towards the X5. I have a bit of a silly addiction to power, so ridiculously, I couldn't bring myself to buy a 40d. I also have a bit of an issue with the existence of the X5 M, having been told by M engineers on several Fahrer-Training courses that there would never be one because it wouldn't fit the M ethos. The X5 M isn't available with a third row of seats, so I was spared an internal moral dilemma and ordered a 50i M Sport.

I've gone into this with my eyes open, knowing that nobody in this country will want it when I want to sell it, but depreciation is just a fact of life.

Anyway, I took delivery yesterday. I don't have any photos yet, but the car is Titanium Silver (ordered Pearl Silver Individual, but had to change because the Individual colour would have delayed the car way past the VAT increase) with beige exclusive nappa leather and leather dash. I ticked most of the other boxes, other than active steering, powered boot lid and a few others.

First impressions are that it is pretty quick without being mind-blowing and that handling is fine (compared in both cases with the M5 and my other car, a DB9 with sports pack suspension). It will take some getting used to the distance from the ground The feeling of space inside with the cabin size, panoramic roof and lighter-coloured upholstery is a revelation (every car I've owned in the last ten years has had black leather or alcantara in the case of the CSL)).

It's on 19" winter wheels and tyres, with a set of 20" summer ones in the garage. I got used to having winter tyres living in Germany a few years ago. They transform my M5 from a car which would go nowhere in snow to one that can cope with almost all on-road conditions. I expect the X5 to be pretty impressive on the winter tyres.

I'll post more as I get to know the car.

[AW8]

Welcome aboard Zod,

Excellent 1st post which tells us a fair bit about you & the car which sounds great as does the DB9.

I haven't driven a 40d but not slow in class & would be expected to respond well to a remap.........that said I have never owned a diesel myself & I prefer petrols despite diesel being the better mpg choice.

Please give me 1st refusal before you abandon the 5.0i M Sport at the roadside due to lack of power

Maybe worthwhile creating a signature & sticking basic car details in same & sticking rough area in your personal details.........should you so wish of course.

Hope you stay around a while

[pvr]

Sounds like an excellent car, would not mind trying that one out indeed.

[535dboy]

Welcone aboard

Good to hear about the car, that will be as rare as hens teeth I'm sure.

Interesting decision between diesel and petrol. I suppose if money was no object I'd have the v8 but in the real world my remapped twin turbo coal burner does me well

I have some of friends that bought new X5s both at the same, one bought the V8 and the other an SD like mine (he too has a DB9). The guy with the V8 says he would rather have bought the diesel now but his v8 does sound lovely!

Look forward to pics

[X5Sport]

Welcome aboard. Sounds like a real 'Mean Machine'. I bet you can't wait to get it run in so you can find out what the 'loud' pedal can really offer......

[Sanj]

Welcome aboard - nice rare choice. I know pics are a must but can we have some of the DB9 too?

[535dboy]

[quote=""Sanj""]Welcome aboard - nice rare choice. I know pics are a must but can we have some of the DB9 too?[/quote]

I've got some pics of my friends that will make you cry !

[Sanj]

The convertible, right?

I cry all the time...

Go on then - upset me...

[535dboy]

[quote=""Sanj""]The convertible, right?

I cry all the time...

Go on then - upset me...[/quote]

Yup, you remember it?

[Sanj]

Yeah - lovely black number with one broken corner in the end...

Was on a track???

[535dboy]

[quote=""Sanj""]Yeah - lovely black number with one broken corner in the end...

Was on a track???[/quote]

Dark blue but yes, all fixed now, as is the porker

[Zod]

Thank you, everyone. I'll post pictures of all three over the next few days. It will help if the filthy weather clears up. The first day resulted in mud splattters all over the X5. The M5 is filthy from driving in two weeks of London snow. The DB9 is not too bad, but steamed up outside when I got it out of the garage yesterday. I hadn't realised the garage was keeping it that warm.

Just as I've started to feel that I want to keep the M5, a mate who has had his eye on it for a while has expressed an interest. Head says sell. Heart says keep. I wanted to keep the CSL when my first son came, but sold it after owning it for less than 18 months. Perhaps it's best to let go while you still want the car....

[Zod]

Oh, I'll just add that I am very happy with the leather dash. I regretted not ordering full leather on the M5, but it was an extra £4.5k and I couldn't stomach that. The cost on the X5 was much less. It makes a big difference to the feel of the interior. It's never going to match up to the Aston, but it is very good (and the Aston satnav screen is always going to look like something from the 1990s).

[535dboy]

[quote=""Zod""]Just as I've started to feel that I want to keep the M5, a mate who has had his eye on it for a while has expressed an interest. Head says sell. Heart says keep.[/quote]

If it is out of warranty get rid - they can be like timebombs !

[535dboy]

[quote=""Sanj""]The convertible, right?

I cry all the time...

Go on then - upset me...[/quote]

Before



After







both fixed all ok now although I see the bloke with the Aston a lot I haven't see the car, the Porsche I've seen quite a bit since