I miss the E60 550i but love the X5 that replaced it. I just did a trip to Gatlinburg, TN and the surrounding area in early October. We did 200 mile a day driving the great roads around there including the Tail of the Dragon.
The X5 did remarkably well, very nearly a match for the old 550i and the M3s and M6s in our group. They really had to work to pull away from me or even just keep up. Here are some photos from the whole trip Fall trip pics and a few from our group on the TOD, Moonshine Photo Thumbs. I need to purchase a few of the X5 in action.

I got 19.5 mpg on the way to Gatlinburg but after 1100 miles of hard driving and mountain passes, I was down to a 15 mpg average. I have 3800 total miles in 2 short months. The relatively poor mpg is a downside but the performance and sound of the TT V8 are worth the extra trips to the gas station.

Here is one pic taken along route 64 on the way home.

 

Nice pic ... What are you finding your normal cruising range in your X5 to be? I've not looked at the specs yet and wonder if they managed to fit in a larger fuel tank - I bet it'd be a nuisance to have to hunt for a gas station every other day?

 

It's got a 22 gallon tank. If I get 20 mpg cruising, I should get 400 miles to a tank. Around town is about 300 miles a tank. On the trip, I could certainly go further than the V10 M6s. They would always need a gas stop first.

 

thats a nice size tank, Im wondering what the M3 has now that I think about it . My 550 I think has an 18 gallon tank.

 

M3 has a 16 gallon tank, and it empties quickly!

 

Great looking X5 Richard! I really like those wheels, are they part of the M Sport package?

 

Those wheels are the standard 19s with the M Sport package. There are also 20s available. I would have preferred the 20s for their looks and 1 inch extra width as well but the 19s are a great ride/handling balance.

 

quicker then the 550 Ken? oye, lol

 

Unfortunately yes! But it is so much fun I don't care...

 

touche