Glos Guy, you are correct in stating that the paint choice is more difficult to finalise than the engine choice. Your description of MGM paint is likewise the reason I chose Dravit Grey as it has very similar ‘chameleon’ type changes dependant on light. Unfortunately, for me BMW, whilst undertaking their ‘wise’ marketing reviews decided to move Dravit Grey from the standard metallic paint palete into the individual Paint palate which attracted a price 300% increase! Had I realised that MGM paint had been still part of the standard paint palate I would have chosen that colour, which was incidently the colour of my loaned demonstrator.
My 50e as mentioned has approximately £30k of options and accessories including the Carbon Fibre M-Performance part bodykit. It is not uncommon for the average X5 options list to be above £15k.
Fuel/energy economy and performance has been excellent with the battery costing me approximately £2.50 per charge, taking 3- 3.5 hours, which in the summer provided 70+ miles of travel. In the winter that has dropped to about 55 miles. Technology wise I am still going through things as and when I need them. There are menu’s, sub menu’s and the like and it can and often does get too much.
I have the merino leather with the optional ‘M’ Sports Seats which are beautiful and soft but they require additional care. I have found that entering and exiting the car is sometimes a little difficult unless the air suspension is lowered to the lowest level and it is something I do all the time. However, I am not sure why the lowest level setting is not a default setting for entering and exiting the car?!
I am not sure if you propose to fit any additional security, tracker or full steering lock but I would strongly advise it as the X5 is extremely desirable in other countries and is the reason many get stolen. I have a ‘Diamond Edition’ Disklok fitted to mine which although is a strong deterent it somehow would not stop the determined proffessional car thief if they decided to tow or lift the vehicle.
An event I will not forget during my weekend test drive was whilst driving through Studley in Warwickshire during the final 20 miles of a 600+ mile test drive I got caught speeding by a Average Speed camera……35mph in a 30mph!:(
Tyre wear hasnt been a problem although I have only just reached 2,000 miles. I do not have rear wheel steering which is great for turning at junctions or in tight spaces. Im not sure what you could expect with tyre wear with this technology but I am guessing it will be minimmal.
At 1,500 miles my wife was driving during heavy rain and darkness and hit a 8″ deep pothole along with 26 other cars that evening which resulted in my X5 requiring to be recovered to BMW for a new tyre and a 4 wheel alighnment relieving me of the best part of £500.00. Other vehicles had 2 wheels and tyres blown which resulted in Warwickshire police closing the dual carriageway due to the number of cars disabled with blow outs. So even with 22″ wheels we are not imune to the craters that are prevalent on our third world roads so be very careful as any diffence in tyre wear + or – 2mm will require the tyres to be replaced in pairs or potentionally a full set, which is not cheap and something tyre insurance does not cover.
I look forward to seeing some pics of your car when it arrives!