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BMW X5
1507 messages, Last post on Mar 07, 2012 at 12:47 PM
You are in the BMW X3 & X5 Forum.What is this discussion about? BMW X5, SUV
#65 of 1507 X5 30i by time430
Jan 10, 2001 (5:17 pm)
1-9-01, I traded my 2000 E E430 for the X5 30i, 2001, and love it. As you can tell from my name, I am/was a Mercedes E430 lover. However, things change especially with customer service. There was no special reason for getting rid of the E430, just wanted to get back in a SUV. I looked at the ML 430 mainly for my love of Mercedes cars. During my conversations with my sales guy in Houston, TX, I informed him how unsatisfied I was with their offer for my trade in, and that I was not in a have to buy mode. In the 13 months of owning the E430, I had 3 service visits to fix the same electrical SRS problems... the connections to the air bags (no accidents, just electrical issues). I bought my car in Dallas at Park Place before ownership went to Auto Nation, who now owns the Park Place M in Houston where I now live. The sales man took a tact that baffles me to this moment. I was informed that Auto Nation had issued a "firm" mandate that only people who bought a car from that center would get a free rental for service or maintaince jobs. A threat? An attempt to get me to not look elsewhere? Trying to get me to just make the decision? I took it as a threat, like, "if you don't buy the ML 430 here, you will not get a free rental from us, which includes future service with your E430." The sales man at Advantage BMW, DT Houston, Mauricio, was the best car sales man I have ever, ever, dealt with in the car buying process. I love the X5, it rained today, never felt so sure on wet roads, and I feel safe all around. I have read about the problems for the X5, but someone show us a car that does not have problems other than the lucky few who do get that perfect car. However, I am getting to the point that I will not except the customer service attitude of luxury car sales people, "you want the car, and I know you will buy it, so just do it" attitude. Two, we all need to start taking a stand against the options/charges on things that should be standard. All in all, I am in love with my X5, and I am now a BMW guy. Yes, I still love some Mercedes cars.
#66 of 1507 It's a tough one... by ms_joanne
Jan 10, 2001 (5:20 pm)
I think the 3.0i has wonderful power but real power freaks will always go with the 4.4. As I don't have a 4.4 it's hard for me to say yeah or nay. If you go to www.bimmer.org/x5/messages there are alot of bimmer folks there and this topic is discussed often. Check through their archives to see what has been said and then if your questions haven't been answered post one of your own.I find it hard to see a $10k difference as I think the 3.0 has all the power and prowess one could ask for. But that's just this one gal's opinion.
Good luck!!
#68 of 1507 X5 seats and trim by gemni1
Jan 10, 2001 (7:22 pm)
ms_joanneYou seem to be well informed about this topic so I have another question for you. The brochure shows a picture of the X5 with a light brown/black trim, I don't like it, is this standard? What trim does your Alpine White/Black X5 have?
Also, on the www.bimmer.org/x5/messages site I saw an interior trim that was titanium aluminum (silver), is it possible to get this in the U.S.? Did you opt for the leather or the leatherette seats (is it worth $1,450)?
#69 of 1507 Different trims available by ms_joanne
Jan 11, 2001 (6:21 am)
I have the black leatherette. You can't tell the difference between leather and leatherette. I think, and you'd have to confirm this with a dealer, that the only time you get two toned seats is if you get the sport or luxury package with leather seats. Read the specs for both of those packages in your brochure.I considered the leather seats but I didn't see the need to pay an extra $1450 and it just seemed kind of weird to me to have leather seats in a SUV (SAV, whatever). I've always preferred cloth myself.
Both the leather and leatherette were very nice. I think you'd like either. Only difference I could really tell was one smelled and the other didn't. Leather has a very specific smell. I think it's supposed to be a little more maintenance to care for, too. Not sure about that one.
I don't know if that was too helpful.
#70 of 1507 TRIM...Duh by ms_joanne
Jan 11, 2001 (8:47 am)
I misread your message the first time!My X has the black high gloss trim and it looks GREAT!! I am not a wood person so I really didn't want wood trim. I think the black dash top, with the color coded dash front and interior, and the wood, and the titanium door handle trim is WAY TOO BUSY! My X has a complete black interior (except the headliner and roof framing which is gray) and the black gloss trim with the titanium door trim. It looks sporty as heck! If I had a digital camera I'd take pix and post it. I think the interior is awesome!
If you don't get the premium package you get the color coded trim to match your interior color. The premium package allows you to get the light or dark color wood trim. The titanium is only offered in Europe, not in the states.
Honestly, I like the black. I don't think, however, I would like the others. I saw the sand with the sand high gloss and titanium and didn't much care for it (but then again, I dislike a tan interior anyway so that probably plays a part in it). Gray would probably look pretty good.
To further the question about leather seats, I am not a PETA nut or anything but I just didn't see the sense in leather when the leatherette is soooooo nice. Why kill the cow for his skin. I don't mind eating him but.... I know, I'm a hypocrite. What can I say.
I think that might have answered it properly now. <grin>
#71 of 1507 why the X5 is the safest vehicle around by kpfleger
Jan 11, 2001 (10:06 am)
In case anyone is interest in a personal X5 review, of sorts, I put together a couple webpages that describe why I think the X5 is safest, fun-to-drive vehicle you can currently buy. You can check them out at:http://www-cs-students.Stanford.EDU/~kpfleger/auto/
Those of you who also read the excellent X5 message board at bimmer.org might have seen this already when I posted a pointer there a while back. Also, last night I created a new topic in the news and views section here at Edmunds to discuss the safest vehicles (X5 and others).
Note that while I have test driven one, I don't own one. The point of the pages is not to give personal driving impressions. Lots of posts on this board and numerous reviews on other websites (which I provide links to) give plenty of those. The point instead is to collect much of the useful info that is out there into one place, with a little discussion and with lots of pointers back to the original sources, all to explain why the X5 has to be considered by anyone looking for the safest possible vehicle that is also fun to drive. (For me, "fun to drive" includes the requirement of a manual transmission, though much of what is discussed on the pages applies to people looking for safe, fun-to-drive automatics as well.)
-Karl
#72 of 1507 ms joanne by rkuehn
Jan 11, 2001 (3:52 pm)
Can you provide any more details of your comparison of leather vs. leatherette? Just what is leatherette? Any differences in look or feel? Does one have to be snob to readily tell the difference?And on the high-gloss vs. wood trim (I don't like wood either). Pretend you want a tan interior. Would the tan or black high-gloss look better? Gotta hunch the black, especially given the size of the center console. That would be a big piece of tan... whatever it is (plastic?)
Can you remind what your pricing was vs. MSRP & invoice?
#73 of 1507 Hmmm... by ms_joanne
Jan 11, 2001 (7:00 pm)
I don't know if I can say what the difference is. Leatherette is some kind of man-made material. It looks and feels like leather. The leather is maybe a little thicker with a tad more graining to it. Other than that I can't say. If you go to your BMW dealer ask him to show you leatherette in any of their vehicles...even if it's not an X. Same stuff.If you get a tan interior you don't have a choice of trim...you will get tan high gloss. I got black interior so I got black high gloss. The only trim on the console is on the ash tray cover, around the shifter and back to the armrest which is covered in leatherette. If you go to www.bimmer.org and search the archives this guy posted pics of his tan/high gloss interior. Gosh, what was his name? Let me think...it will come to me and I will post it. See if you can search for interior or high gloss. Also try heat controls as he didn't have the dual climate controls he had the rotary dials for heat and AC.
I got $1000.00 off list plus Red Star service (which is where they bring you a loaner, pick up your X, and then deliver your car and take the loaner back). The guy I talked with was excellent and will offer that same deal to anyone I refer.
Hope that helped!
#74 of 1507 ms joanne by rkuehn
Jan 11, 2001 (7:52 pm)
I assume they'd let me have tan interior w/ black trim if I ordered the vehicle? Can't imagine they'd object, when I took the factory tour they made light of willingness to accomodate special details that weren't unrealistic. I think a black-and-tan interior would great, but I've seen the tan trim in a 3-series brochure and thought it was not quite right... better with black, I think. And then there's the aluminum someone else mentioned. Destined for europe or not, they're all made in the same place!I will search bimmer.org. Thanks.
Anyone have/seen an X5 without sunroof? Brochure states no sunroof adds 1" of headroom, 39.9" vs. 38.9".
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