Newbie looking to buy X5

I'm looking to buy a 2008 X5 3.0 but have a couple of questions on which packages and options to take.

Currently thinking of the Rear Climate, Cold Weather, ipod interface, and either PDC standalone or with the Tech package.

The BMW website mentioned Dual power outside mirrors as standard. Are they Heated and power folding?

The Tech package comes with voice activiation which allows dialing phone calls hands-free. How's that different than Bluetooth on the BMW Assist option?

We live in NYC so we'll be doing mostly parallel parking. Any experiences with how' the PDC and the rearview hold up in urban parking situations?

Also, any recommendations on dealers? I took a test drive at LifeQuality and they are quoting $1000 above invoice.

Thanks.

I'd recommend getting the premium package too. There is an unadvertised "options credit" on the X5 where the dealership gets incentive money for free. If you negotiate, you can get them to give it to you while they still maintain their profit (ends 06/30). The premium package does include the power folding mirrors (though it could possibly be a standard feature. I have no confirmation on that). Not sure if they are heated, but I think they are.

Also if possible get the car before June 1st. There will be a slight price increase. (do a search under "June Price Increase" for more details).

Voice activation allows you to call out commands to control the navigation. Record voice notes. And make phone calls without picking up your phone or using iDrive. Unlike with the standard Bluetooth on BMW assist where you can't just press the "voice activation button" and call out a name. (Voice Activation is like the Sync feature that Ford advertises in their commercials).

Lots of people say that the rearview camera is a joke on the X5. Poor resolution and worthless at night. I like the pathlines that adjust as you turn the steering wheel. Definitely worse than competitors, but better than not having it at all.

I like the overall experience of the PDC. A must have. I really enjoy the graphically look. Must better than the Mercedes dot-line indicators in their cars.

If it's actually $1000 above raw invoice, not above invoice + maco + training. Than that's a good deal. But if you get it with premium package, ask for about $1500 UNDER raw invoice.

Thanks MTech8 for your reply.

I looked at the memo on the June 1. Sounds like old pricing is only available on dealer stock or wholesale orders they placed prior to June 1. Retail order cut off was May 9. Dealer I talked to earlier during the week was quoting June 1 prices on a factory order.

Could you elaborate on Voice Activation again? I was a bit confused by your response. With just the Tech Package and no BMW Assist, what can I do with Voice Activation? How does the car interface with my phone (via Bluetooth or cable)? Finally, can I answer calls with just Voice Activation?

I’m looking at the Rearview camera because of the pathlines. The manual illustrated an example of using the pathlines to accurate back into a spot. Sounds great. However, most of parking will be parallel parking. Not sure if pathlines are useful for this. I appreciate any experiences out there especially parking at night on city streets from owners in the New York Metro area.

Can anybody else confirm if power folding is standard or part of the premium package? The BMW website stinks in that it makes no mention of this feature at all. The PDF manual has both feature listed but I don’t know if it is referring to US production models.

Finally, what is MACO and training?

Voice activation is where you press a button on the steering wheel. The system will ask you for a command. You then say a command in the following categories:

Communication
ie: to view missed calls >> say "Missed calls"

Navigation
ie: to open navigation system >> say "Navigation"

Onboard Info
ie: To view car data >> say "Car data"

Entertainment
ie: To go to FM channel >> say "FM"

Climate
ie: To open vent settings >> Say "Vent Settings"

iMenu
ie: To open doors >> Say "Door Locks"

The list of commands is quite extensive. Essentially, you can perform the same actions via the iDrive controller. The purpose of the voice activation is to allow you to not have to touch the nob and not have to look at the screen so that you can keep your eyes on the road and both your hands on the steering wheel.

The voice activation system is not limited to controlling your phone (that is only the communication part of the system).

Bluetooth is the means by how your phone is connected to the iDrive system. You can purchase a snap in adapter for specific phones. BUT the phone is still connected via bluetooth. The only thing the snap in adapter does is allows you to put the phone in nice place in the center storage area, allows the phone to be charged while the car is on and use the cars external anteanna vs the phone.

I never answered the phone via voice commands. But there is a button on the steering wheel right by the voice command button that you can answer and hang up with.

MTECH8 you said you can "Record voice notes." I haven't heard of this feature in the E70. How do you do this? Thx.

Originally Posted by pureflames

MTECH8 you said you can "Record voice notes." I haven't heard of this feature in the E70. How do you do this? Thx.

Pureflames. My bad. You got me on that one. That info I got off of BMWUSA.com's website (in the build a car section when you mouseover the voice activaiton cell in the Tech package.

There are a lot of features of the car that I have not fully experimented with yet. But included in my previous post assuming that information was accurate since it was documented as such. (See attached cropped screen shot with the information highlighted).

I did find an owners manual for voice control (attached voice control pdf) via google search. It was printed in 2000, but it does talk about recording voice notes on page 13. Figure it might be the same thing for the X5's voice activation system.

I've also read on a forum (can't remember which) that the iDrive has other features that are not documented in the manual. An owner that picked up his/her car at the PCD said that when the BMW specialist was going through the features of the car with them confirmed this fact. The example that was stated was that you can quickly hop to another section (ie: communication/climate/navigation/entertainment) by simply moving the iDrive controller to that direction and holding there for a longer period of time. This will take you there without having to press the menu button again. Sounds like a shortcut that programmers program in for their own testing purposes. I have not confirmed this fact yet, but believe it to be true.

Originally Posted by MTech8

Pureflames. My bad. You got me on that one. That info I got off of BMWUSA.com's website (in the build a car section when you mouseover the voice activaiton cell in the Tech package.

There are a lot of features of the car that I have not fully experimented with yet. But included in my previous post assuming that information was accurate since it was documented as such. (See attached cropped screen shot with the information highlighted).

I did find an owners manual for voice control (attached voice control pdf) via google search. It was printed in 2000, but it does talk about recording voice notes on page 13. Figure it might be the same thing for the X5's voice activation system.

I've also read on a forum (can't remember which) that the iDrive has other features that are not documented in the manual. An owner that picked up his/her car at the PCD said that when the BMW specialist was going through the features of the car with them confirmed this fact. The example that was stated was that you can quickly hop to another section (ie: communication/climate/navigation/entertainment) by simply moving the iDrive controller to that direction and holding there for a longer period of time. This will take you there without having to press the menu button again. Sounds like a shortcut that programmers program in for their own testing purposes. I have not confirmed this fact yet, but believe it to be true.

yes, I can confirm that you can hold the idrive knob as described to shortcut through. Any other shortcuts anyone knows about?

MTech8,

Do you have any more information on the incentive? Is it only for the Premium package?

Check in the Ask-A-Dealers section. A couple threads talking about it.

X5 and 5 series of premium package. 3 series is auto transmission.