X5 pricing announced by BMW
We've already provided you with every diminutive detail about BMW's new full-sized SUV, except one, price.
Well, today BMW released the final piece of the X5's puzzle. Pricing for the 3-liter, inline-six model will start at $45,595, an increase of $2,400 over the current model, with the 4.8-liter V8 setting you back $55,195, or about a $2,000 bump over the current 4.4-liter model. Both prices include the prerequisite shipping, handling and various markups.
Sales are slated to begin this November for what BMW has trademarked as the Ultimate Sports Activity Vehicle.
[Source: The Auto Channel]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Michael Karesh 10:22AM (8/15/2006)
Is the full price list, including prices for options, posted anywhere?
Once I get that list, price comparisons will be available here:
http://www.truedelta.com/models/X5.php
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Michael Karesh 10:27AM (8/15/2006)
Just noticed that they've fitted a double wishbone front suspension. Do any other current BMWs use an upper A-arm rather than a strut? I've always been amazed by the handling they could extract from struts, which are generally used because they're cheap, easy to assemble, and package tightly.
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Joel 10:28AM (8/15/2006)
They killed the stick!? :-(
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Michael Karesh 10:46AM (8/15/2006)
But of course!
There's a law against a vehicle with three rows of seats having a stick.
Or maybe it just seems that way.
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MikeW 10:48AM (8/15/2006)
So two SUVs and neither uses the N54. Madness.
I thought BMW would at least put a stripper N52 as the base X3 engine and offer the twin turbo 3.0 as the big step up.
And the nice N52 as the base X5 engine, with the 4.8 for those looking to put down the 345hp Q7.
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G 10:55AM (8/15/2006)
Remember people, BMW is no longer the ultimate drving machine, so there is no need for stick. We can just sit back and watch as each prodcuct gets blander and more profit-focused.
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rwdmtparkingonly 11:04AM (8/15/2006)
The mazda 5 has three rows and a stick, and while there one can also pick up a miata, which has an SLA suspension at all four corners (in response to #2).
All of this can be had for less than the base price of an X5, which probably doesn't include leather (the pleather is actually more durable, but vynl is not acceptable in a >45K car).
Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I think bmw doesn't offer cloth in this country because if they did nobody could be upsold to optional leather, especially given the quality of German cloth.
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RDL 11:04AM (8/15/2006)
Overpriced hunk of metal.
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SherbornSean 11:13AM (8/15/2006)
G,
You are being really unfair to the “Company of Ideas.” I can just imagine a brainstorming session around the X5 introduction:
“Hey, hey, I have an idea, let’s lose the manual transmission, ‘cause Americans are too stupid to drive a stick and nobody misses it in the M5!”
“Oh wait, here’s an idea, let’s use as a styling theme whatever Chris keeps in that circular file under his desk.”
“Oh, here’s an idea, let’s tack on an extra 3 grand to the price, since there’s really no competition in the midsize premium SUV category.”
“Yeah, and in case anyone notices that the X5 is really an overweight station wagon with lousy handling and ride, we’ll call it an SAV. No, no wait, the ULTIMATE SAV – that’s the ticket!”
It’s all about the ideas, man.
Anyhow, the patriotic American in me is sad that GM has yet to figure out that there is a profitable market niche for Pontiac as the old BMW – a company focused on performance, rather than luxury. Oh well.
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christine 11:18AM (8/15/2006)
come on people, the "Ultimate Driving Machine" label was never removed from BMW. http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/09/bmw-still-the-ultimate-driving-machine-after-all/
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Dave T. 11:23AM (8/15/2006)
really productive comments here. the price increase is minimal based on the improved engines alone. Let alone all the other gizmos included. And really what suv of this size does offer a stick? Land rover and mercedes don't do they? I haven't checked I'm just guessing. It's just more of the mentality that automakers should make mass marketed vehicles for you, the enthusiast, when they make their money from the masses. Except it. Get a range rover sport supercharged if you want performance. oh wait, that's not stick either.
or a Jeep SRT8. Oh wait that's not stick either.
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Storm9 11:27AM (8/15/2006)
How many soccer moms drive stick? wtf is wrong with you people?
If you want a stick M5 get the 2007 model! It will have 6speed manual.
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Hung2 11:31AM (8/15/2006)
Michael - I'm glad you caught that. I was having that discussion with a friend of mine on Friday. I find it interesting that BMW would opt for a double wishbone as the front end on the new X5 instead of struts. I know of know other BMW that is using double wishbone as the front suspension.
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rwdmtparkingonly 11:37AM (8/15/2006)
In an intellectually honest world the current BMW slogan would be "The Ultimate Client-Impressing Machine."
Since our country no longer makes anything, and now depends solely on people selling professional services to eachother, the ability to impress clients is something that people will pay a high premium for.
Besides, "The Ultimate Driving Machine" leaves BMW very vulnerable to challenges from corvettes and miatas, somthing that they just can have.
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SherbornSean 11:38AM (8/15/2006)
Dave and Storm,
You are both factually correct that the X5 has no real competitors offering a stick, and for good reason -- rare is the person looking to plop down $40-50K on a peoplemover who is willing to row their own.
But I am one of those people, and the choice is no longer there for me. My concern is that there is a trend within BMW (in the US at least) away from the vinyl clad, plainly styled, stick-shifted driving machine to a luxurious, high style, high price vehicle that all but drives itself.
And yes, Christine, you are correct that BMW has not completely abandoned the Ultimate Driving Machine tagline; it just doesn't seem to ring as true.
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freethinkr 12:13PM (8/15/2006)
There was once a car company who once thought outside the box and decided to produce a drivers machine. In fact they did it so well that the entire automotive world either sought to challenge them or copy them. Someone earlier posted that this company caters to the masses, I however, don't have a problem with catering to the masses. I have a problem with the lack of a choice. Everyone can't drive a stick, everyone doesn't want to drive a stick. I however, would like a choice in the matter especially if you want me to pay 50k. People who prefer an automatic have plenty of choices, I would like to have my choice in the vehicle i like. Sadly if the trend continues we'll all be driving automatic cars. It seems to me that the same company that started out to create the ultimate driving machine should stick to what makes an ultimate driving machine. Anyone who has ever truly driven a stick will tell you there is no more fun than changing your own gears, especially at highway speeds. For an asking price of upwards of 50k let me have a say.
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Dave T. 12:50PM (8/15/2006)
Sherborn,
The trend inside BMW is pure profits. like every automaker. These guys aren't dumb. they spend more money offering a stick than they would by not offering it. So guess what? they don't offer it. I drove the X3 when it first came out with a stick and it was horrible. Just horrible. My mother in law leases an X3 with the auto and it is far superior. Just because of how you drive a vehicle like that.
Plus autos are getting so much better these days. I can floor most high powered autos I test and get a great rush. Some of the newer paddle shifters, especially the VW GTIs, are superior to the available 6-speed. So as long as there are thrills in the vehicles that warrant the stick I'm happy with getting a stick option. An X5 to me doesn't warrant that. if you get the 4.8 and floor it out of a tollway I don't think you'll miss the stick much. The sucker will still move. and I certainly thought the RR Sport Supercharged was thrilling to drive sans stick. You just need some seat time in some of the newer autos to really enjoy how far some of them have come. But yeah when I'm in a vette or something I want a stick too.
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Chance 12:50PM (8/15/2006)
To all who posted regarding BMW dropping the manual from the lineup. Even if it were still offered are you telling me you would have actually considered buying a manual transmission X5?
Gimme a break. I would imagine the manual accounted for roughly 1% of all X5 sales in North America sinced the models' introduction. From a financial standpoint I want someone to tell me why it makes sense for BMW to tool and equip the Spartanburg plant to allow for continued production of a manual X5 which people rarely buy in the first place. On top of that, it is one more model configuration they must spend money on in order to get certified. All of this adds up and at the end of the day the cost on going to be passed on to the customer.
At the end of the day, if the business model does not make sense for the company, i.e. turns a profit, then it makes little sense for the company to pursue it any further.
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Roger 2:17PM (8/15/2006)
The current price of an X5 3.0 with auto is 44470 since auto is not standard for 2006. That would put the new 3.0 model 1124 more not 2400.
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David P B 2:21PM (8/15/2006)
It is getting kinda old people taking lux SUV's and being like "oh damn u can get a mazda or chevy for way less"
No kidding! We all know that. I would think anyone on a blog about cars would have some understanding that it is worth paying a little bit more to get something nicer and what you want.
If you don't like having a BMW, awesome, don't get one!
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