bravo

So I got to use the third row alot over the Christmas new year break. It was basically up the entire time. Observations: - The third row is pretty easy to put up or down. - It isn't really for adults. Except for smaller, fit ones for a short trip. That's ok as I wasn't expecting much better. But perhaps a tiny little better than it actually is. - No ISOfix or dedicated top tether anchor for kids carseats relying on the cargo tie down points. Considering you will mainly stow kids there, this seems an oversight. Fortunately we own really good belt-secured seats so it wasn't a major. Although the seat cushion should be a fraction larger to make a better car seat base. Also the cargo tie down points are substantial as top tethers, but just could be in a better location. Totally fine safety wise, just not very convenient. - Getting in and out is a pain. Either the seat in front tilts forward making a low, but narrow gap, or the back folds forward creating a high, slightly sloping wide opening. Kids preferred the latter. I would have preferred using the former. - For day to day running around it is actually good having them up as the boot space is much smaller and things don't roll around as much if not ties down. - I need a roof box if ever plan to go away for more than overnight with 6 people. Graham @Apex I missed your comment about the caravan last time. As someone who grew up on boats and going out on a launch for family holidays I never thought I would be a caravanner, assuming I would be a boatie. But the maintenance is less on a van, the weather less of an issue, it's less work to launch and retrieve, you can go much, much further, it's cheaper and it's a far better option with young kids who get bored on a boat eventually. Three weeks in a boat with kids would be torture, in a caravan it's almost enjoyable 🤣. So with a busy life and little ones, right now a caravan is awesome. And we like to go to music festivals with the kids. Once you do a 3 day festival in a caravan, you will never, ever go in a tent ever again. Snobbery I know, but the honest truth. @Moupe with your top down camera issue. If when you want it you push the reverse camera / system button in the centre console, then press down on the idrive controller it changes from rear view to top view mode. Easier than going thru idrive menus.

Toyota's are overpriced in my opinion. Yes they are very good, but the price is now out of step with the product. Dad checked second hand prices for his 2017 70 series the other day and it's more than he paid for it as a low miles demo from the dealer at 1 year old. The other thing with the x5 is I went for the 7-seater version. We only have 2 kids but when they have friends over or my parents are in town, we can all go in 1 car. Have used them 2 or 3 times so far but expect more over the summer hols.

Thanks Graham. I think the car suits our lifestyle and my taste in vehicles so you are probably right. There are other cars that do the things this car does better but there is a very short list that can do all of them to a decent standard What are you driving these days. I'm trying to remember what you had when I was last frequently here. I definitely remember the Megane. What did you have after that?

My camera still works as normal when the sensors detect I am close. Maybe check if there is something you can tweak with coding? I was able to directly compare towing with this vs my father's V8 diesel 70 series landcruiser (2017) which has been chipped. In nearly every way I prefer the BMW. The torque converter makes up for what it lacks in low range gearing. It handles better, brakes better and performs better. Both have the same redarc braking system installed. The landcruiser is 1000 times better off road and will outlast the BMW by a long way no doubt but it's such an agricultural and unrefined beast I couldn't have done 3,000kms in it like we did on holiday.

Oh and for anyone interested I average about 10.3-10.5l/100km combined cycle that includes my commute which is 50km return about half at highway speeds and half in traffic. Towing the caravan averaged 16.5l/100km. Caravan is 2.5 tonnes fully loaded.

Hey, thanks for posting. I'm really enjoying the X5. One of the first things I did was replace the grill. The factory one was just ugly as you say. I retrofitted Android Auto/Carplay myself with an Andream mmi unit. It works really well and uses the iDrive controller rather than a replacement touch screen. Having used Android Auto with a touchscreen in my Passat, I prefer using iDrive in this car. Partly because of where the screen is mounted being just a tiny bit of a stretch, but also because I find I can keep my eyes on the road more as I don't have to look at the screen so closely to touch the right spot. I just have to glance at it briefly to see when the correct control is highlighted. It's maybe a smidge slower to navigate but feels much safer. The car is great to drive and really is a jack of all trades. We towed our caravan 3,000kms with it last month on a holiday from Auckland down into the south island, down to Arthur's Pass and then back up the west coast. It tows so effortlessly. I've had it a little bit off road here and there. It's definitely not a great off road SUV but it's ok to get you out of trouble or along the odd back country track here and there. I wouldn't want to take it proper offroading, especially with the factory wheels and road tyres, but that isn't why I bought it anyway. It goes really well and is quite economical on fuel. It can feel a bit heavy and big on tight twisty roads when trying to press on but once I got the hang of the very different handling from all my previous cars, it is possible to make alarmingly quick progress! I also recommend getting a coding app and doing a little bit of coding to change some of the more annoying "features". Like remembering the Auto start/stop setting on start-up so I don't have to turn it off every time I start the car, remembering the AC settings when the car is switched iff so I don't have to turn off AC everytime I start the car if I don't want it on, adding in towball zoom on the reversing camera as I have a non-factory towball etc. I also got the Msport logo for the idrive start-up splash screen turned on and messed about with the active driving sound settings a little. I know it gets mocked a bit, and rightly so, but now at least it doesn't sound so fake when I put the car into sport plus. Anyway, it's been a fun few months with the car so far and I've put 10,000kms on it ready. Here's to many more enjoyable kms... Check out the cheeky Kea on the roof racks in the first pic. I managed to avoid them tearing the car apart fortunately.

It's very quiet in here these days. If a mod or admin sees this, do you mind DMing me traffic and engagement stat's if the reports are available? And if it is pretty low numbers, is it because reddit? Or some other reason or platform? I'm a dumb millennial who failed to keep up.

Where to buy used parts for BMW in Auckland these days? Or are you wrecking an F15? I'm after the driver's side a/c vent, ideally with the metal-look trim still attached but also ok if not. Photo of the part with trim missing shown in attached images as well as the part fitted in the vehicle with trim.in place. Also after the small plastic airbag cap badge thing from the c-pillar. Photos also attached.

Thanks William I was thinking to go have a chat to MTech. Bellars was a good workshop back in the day when I was a BMW nut and so that's a good call to check them out too. Thanks

My mechanic has just sold his business and I've just moved out of my VW back into a BMW although my wife still has a mk 6 Golf. I am thinking of changing where I take my cars to be serviced to better suit where I live and work and what I drive now that I have to start a new relationship again anyway. I live in Swanson and work 2-3 days a week in Takapuna. Recommendations? West is best but southern North Shore ok too. Customer service and quality beats out price but it shouldn't be moonbeams either.

Ah right. Well that's the McDonalds model afterall (real estate worth more than the business). Good on you. I hope retirement suits you. My folks have also retired since last time you and I caught up. They are living the life I tell ya!

I'll report back how I go with the 50d on mileage. Computer says average of around 10.5l/100km which surely is mostly some short trips and sprirted test drives while it has been at the dealer. I averaged around 15l/100km on my test drive but I was giving it the beans. I was hoping for about your results so maybe I'm a little optimistic then. I get around 11l/100km in the R36 average use which is mostly my 50km return commute from west Auckland to Takapuna in moderate traffic during peak shoulder as I choose my own hours and can avoid rush hour most of the time. I expect the x5 will still beat it by 20% or more and even with RUC costs I should be way in front despite better performance and a heavier vehicle. The other car I was looking at was similar age Porsche Cayenne GTS (4.8L v8 petrol). But fuel consumption, cost of repair and only 5 seats plus the wife being pretty brutal about her opinion on both the styling and her perception of the image that comes with a Cayenne winning on the day. That said, I reckon I made the right decision and the bimmer feels far more modern than the Porsche in the cabin especially.

Thanks mate. I hear that you sold the business? Retirement or change of scene?

After many years away, I'm back in the bimmer fold picking up a 2014 F15 X5 M50d today. Some of you will possibly remember me from the many years I was an active member, mod and admin on this forum until career, wife, kids and a lack of a bimmer in the drive meant I stepped away. For those who don't remember my last BMW was a supercharged 1989 e30 325i tech-II 4-door. I'll rustle up some pics.. Since then I've had a handful of company cars and then an R36 Passat (4 sale!) before towing and family needs pushed me into an SUV and ultimately the M50d. Who else has one of these? How has your ownership been? I have some cosmetic mods plus an upgrade to OEM-look Android Auto planned for the M50d but that's all at this stage. It's good to be back....

Another bimmersport old-timer here to pay his respects... Atta was a legend on this forum. Always leading the way with mods and owning one of two 340i's in Christchurch around that time along with Riley's Lexus-powered one. I remember one visit I had to Christchurch and I rode in Attas and the same weekend saw Riley's in the late stages of the build. It was running but not ready for test drives. Atta was a good guy and we're all worse off for his passing. Please help support his family through the givealittle page. Perhaps on the page where it asks for a name put bimmersport as your last name, and your avatar, name or anon for your first name? His wife knows what bimmersport is and maybe the show of support from the community might help in some way? So long to a cool BMW friend I met on the internet...