Just taken delivery of a 50i
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 7:45 pm
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.
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.
