F15 X5 - optimal spec?

[Ice_blue_tvr]

Looking at f15s, particularly 7 seat equipped ones (ruling out an x5m).

Spec seems hit and miss, ideally I want the lci nbt, pano roof and 360 cameras.. Thankfully they all seem to have hk audio specced and heated seats etc (were these standard?). Also, are things like folding mirrors and edc standard on these models?

Would love a v8, but anything 3litres/6cylinders upwards will do. Ideally 40d upwards.

Budget hovering around the £30k mark..

Any particular engine/option that needs to be considered more seriously?

[contractor]

HUD. Since getting it on a car in 2009 it's been a must-have deal-breaker ever since.

[Ice_blue_tvr]

Hud would be great, but Tbf, it's seems hard enough finding a car with pano roof, surround camera, and digital dash.. Let lone those options in a 7 seater with a 40d engine..

[rayyan171]

M50d will generally have better options, VDC or even Adaptive Drive, a lot of them have the Adaptive LED lights too.

[Ice_blue_tvr]

Not a bad shout, but even they seem hit and miss with options.. Probably one of my biggest gripes with bmws (and German cars in general).

[Cheburator mk2]

I have an early 50i...

It won't help you, but I am yet to see another with a spec even remotely close to mine...

Leather dash - plastic ones look naff
Comfort heated and ventilated front seats - need I say more
Comfort heated rear seats - kids love them
4 zone HVAC - makes things inside nice
HUD - had one in my E61 M5, since then an absolute must in my daily
BMW Adaptive LED headlights - wouldn't have a modern car with xenon lights now
BMW LED fog lights - they illuminate road hazards picked up by the Active Safety system very well
Night vision - super useful going down A and B roads at night or bad weather
B&O Sound - a step change on the HK
Ceramic finish on the controls - makes them nicer to the touch
Panoramic roof - lifts the interior no end
Active Safety - applies brakes if you gonna hit any idiot stepping out on the street of S London, radar cruise control etc
Dynamic Drive - active ARBs and adjustable suspension work wonders to make this lump stupidly fast cross country
Soft close doors - essential with a 7 and 10 years old
Electric towbar - bike carrier, race car and trailer etc
Surrond View - helps through width restrictions


Being an early car, it doesn't have the digital dash, but to be fair I see it as a gimmick... I's rather have the above... I see it as my forever sensible family car. Enough tech - the Connected Drive is just about passable, the rest is superb, it can be mapped to 575bhp for £450 and it is still under BMW Warranty... Why should I not aim to cover 150k miles in it?

Last but not least - the V8 is epic. It's thirsty, but 4.6 0-60 does require sacrifices...

[farbbm]

Spent some time looking for my optimal spec. Finally went for a 2015 40d M Sport in Carbon Black, with contrasting Ivory White/Black interior.

And had the following options :

Cold weather pack
M Sport Plus Package (20" Double M spoke wheels, Sun protection glass, HK speaker system, Speed limit display)
Head Up Display
Reversing camera with surround view
Third Row setting (Didn't really need this but most come with them)
Pano Roof

Also purchased a set of BMW rubber mats for £85 and a Travall boot liner for £40, both well worth having with a young family.

[Ice_blue_tvr]

Cheburator mk2 said:

I have an early 50i...

It won't help you, but I am yet to see another with a spec even remotely close to mine...

Leather dash - plastic ones look naff
Comfort heated and ventilated front seats - need I say more
Comfort heated rear seats - kids love them
4 zone HVAC - makes things inside nice
HUD - had one in my E61 M5, since then an absolute must in my daily
BMW Adaptive LED headlights - wouldn't have a modern car with xenon lights now
BMW LED fog lights - they illuminate road hazards picked up by the Active Safety system very well
Night vision - super useful going down A and B roads at night or bad weather
B&O Sound - a step change on the HK
Ceramic finish on the controls - makes them nicer to the touch
Panoramic roof - lifts the interior no end
Active Safety - applies brakes if you gonna hit any idiot stepping out on the street of S London, radar cruise control etc
Dynamic Drive - active ARBs and adjustable suspension work wonders to make this lump stupidly fast cross country
Soft close doors - essential with a 7 and 10 years old
Electric towbar - bike carrier, race car and trailer etc
Surrond View - helps through width restrictions


Being an early car, it doesn't have the digital dash, but to be fair I see it as a gimmick... I's rather have the above... I see it as my forever sensible family car. Enough tech - the Connected Drive is just about passable, the rest is superb, it can be mapped to 575bhp for £450 and it is still under BMW Warranty... Why should I not aim to cover 150k miles in it?

Last but not least - the V8 is epic. It's thirsty, but 4.6 0-60 does require sacrifices...

Jealous of that spec.. Nothing has come up anywhere near that ..

Some cars have odd option choices.. I've seen one with individual paint and leather, but nothing else.. One with 4 zone climate, and nothing else.. Another with pano roof, surround cam, digital dash but basic audio!

I originally wanted a v8.. Still open to one tbh.

[Cheburator mk2]

Ice_blue_tvr said:

Jealous of that spec.. Nothing has come up anywhere near that ..

Some cars have odd option choices.. I've seen one with individual paint and leather, but nothing else.. One with 4 zone climate, and nothing else.. Another with pano roof, surround cam, digital dash but basic audio!

I originally wanted a v8.. Still open to one tbh.

The options were £32k...

Word of warning - the V8 is thirsty despite the stop/start and the ZF8 I see 15mpg in town and max 25mpg on a run. But it's EURO 6 thus London/other EU Cities proof. The 6-cyl diesels are brilliant, but I am never too sure what the Gubberment would do...

[Ice_blue_tvr]

Cheburator mk2 said:

The options were £32k...

Word of warning - the V8 is thirsty despite the stop/start and the ZF8 I see 15mpg in town and max 25mpg on a run. But it's EURO 6 thus London/other EU Cities proof. The 6-cyl diesels are brilliant, but I am never too sure what the Gubberment would do...

Better mileage than I expected

You did well on those options!!

Another thing that grinds my gears is dealers who advertise their cars as "fully loaded", "high spec" or even "over £2k of optional extras! ". Which guarantees the car is poverty spec and barely "loaded".

Edited by Ice_blue_tvr on Wednesday 26th May 17:51

Edited by Ice_blue_tvr on Wednesday 26th May 17:51