Thanks for the info @NosherN We haven’t gone as bold as you with the options, partly because the M60i has additional standard kit over the other models, but also because having been through all the options in great detail (many times 😂) I am only getting the options that will enhance my enjoyment of the car. There are also some that I would actively avoid!
It miffs me that you now have to pay extra for things that were once standard on the X5. The standard metallic paints used to be free but are now £795, but we didn’t want a white one! There are some lovely individual colours but the price is obscene and you’d never get that money back. I would have been happy to pay for the two additional cost colours (Dravit Grey and Tanzanite Blue) had we preferred them to the normal cost colours, but we narrowed down to Manhattan and Marina Bay Blue having seen all the colours on X5s at the dealership (they have hundreds of cars on site). I know what you mean about Dravit Grey. They had a used one under a canopy and it looked very dark grey, but when it was moved out into the sunshine it seemed to have a yellow hint to the grey (if that makes sense).
As previously mentioned, we’ve gone for the 22” gloss black alloys with standard tyres to complete the exterior look, but I’m adding a tyre and alloy insurance as that’s a risky choice!
Another thing that used to be standard was leather trim, and I find it outrageous that this is now a £2k option on a car of this value. However, we both decided that we really liked the Silverstone (very light) with black interior most, which only comes in Sensafin, and we prefer it to the pale leather interior, which turns all the lower dash and other interior plastics cream, whereas we prefer them to be black.
We have had panoramic sunroofs on several cars (including our current one) and never open them. The ones that we’ve had have been the cause of creaks in cold weather and the X5 one seems prone to leaks. I think where they work best is if you have kids (as you can only see out of them from the rear seats) or have a black interior (which makes the rear very dark without a sunroof). With all of this in mind, but particularly having the pale interior, we are skipping the panoramic roof this time.
Seat wise we are going for the Comfort seats. I am of ‘generous build’ (😂) and having sat in an X5 with the M seats they were way too snug for me, but if you can fit into them (as you obviously can) they do look great.
The M60i comes with a few things as standard that we would have otherwise added (M Sport Pro pack, Harman/kardon, sun protection glass, fine wood trim black with metal effect etc), but we are also adding acoustic glass, technology pack (HUD, augmented navigation, parking professional etc) and comfort pack (heated steering wheel, front door armrests & centre console, heated rear seats, heated & cooled Cupholders).
Like you, we found the air suspension to be very useful for entry and exit (and lessening the soiling of trousers on the stupid protruding side sills), so we are also adding that. Unlike the 50e (where it’s still standard) it’s now an extra cost option on the other models, but thankfully a bit cheaper on the M60i (£1,200) than the diesels (£2,000).
Finally, I’m adding the 5 year servicing pack (which I’ve negotiated down from £1,640 to £1,100) and an extended warranty to cover years 4 and 5 (just in case we decide to keep it longer term).
In all honesty, there are no other options that I want, and I specifically don’t want the Driver Assistance Pack, as our current car irritates the hell our of me with all the nanny state interventions! I am an odd person in that, having had both, I prefer old fashioned standard cruise control to the adapted version 😂. As it stands, the car with my chosen options is up to £110k (😰) but all the discounts and exemptions bring that down to a slightly more palatable £70k, which thankfully wipes out the dreaded first year depreciation!
Still no news on a build date, which is now irritating me. If things don’t progress I may bin the M60i and get the 40d that they have also specced to my choice and is now locked down for build, as that’s likely to arrive in April. Regardless of what I end up with, I’ll post some photos for you as requested when it eventually arrives!