Note: my roof bars (original posting) are now for sale if anybody would like them. £50. Can deliver in the south east of England, otherwise you collect when next in London. Only fit E70 SE (pre or post 2010 facelift), i.e. the raised roof rails. Found them fantastic, but no need for them any longer...

Just recorded my best consumption figures yet : 630 miles from one £119 tank of fuel. Average of about 33mpg. Now at 6500 miles.

Just fitted these quality aerofoil cross-section roof bars: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5099/5433598257_4cd3b49d39_b.jpg Prorack WhispBar by SimonD2011 , on Flickr ProRack WhispBars from New Zealand. http://www.whispbar.eu/ £149.00 from http://www.roofbox.co.uk They look good, generate zero nois...

"Pampered by the dealer". I actually feel fortunate with my experience with this particular guy in North London. I will not name him. I've bought several new BMWs off him over the last 5 years. We now "know" each other - he has a direct financial interest in keeping me happy (i.e...

Fascinating thought, Chompers. Why buy new? This obviously has more to do with psychology than economics. A certain personality type (extrovert, egotistical, feeling rather than thinking, am thinking along Myers Briggs lines here) will want to buy new because of the feeling the process engenders. We...

Was playing around with the latest industry car residuals data. Makes interesting reading. Knocked-up a spreadsheet comparing prestige SUVs. The BMWs come out especially well... http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5291/5432783131_c02365843a_b.jpg Residual values JPG by SimonD2011 , on Flickr Glad to see ...

This is obviously a fundamental design "feature", not a bug. The reason? I'll guess that the radar is tracking many stationary objects coming towards you all the time (overhead gantries, road signs, stopped cars in other lanes), and to eliminate "noise", the software has to simpl...

[quote=""gmc15""]Hi Simon and welcome

Any pics of the car then? - not the Prius though

Graeme.[/quote]

Piccy here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59135656@N06/5415177521/

DMS quoted me £825 + VAT to fit this kit. 2.5 hours installation time. Nearest dealer to North London in Welwyn. 1.5 to 2 mpg improvement. Over 10% torque increase. Hope the gearbox cogs don't lose their teeth! We DO need a third turbocharger ...... BMW about to announce 45d engine: http://www.bmwb...

Hi all - I'm Simon - Central London - just picked up my 2011 BMW X5 40d SE. Enjoy German cars, web forums and technical talk. I'm quite into environmentalism - I'm not a "flat-Earther" / CO2 denier - and proudly park my Toyota Prius Mk3 at the front of my house in right-on, lefty Islington...

[quote=""MJim""]Hi SimonD - I'm going for Active Cruise, and HUD - what were the near misses ? Was it down to people cutting in or did the system not read the traffic ahead correctly? It's a shame the actual economy is way off the BMW figures - and quoting combined figures so far...

After 4000 miles, I'm seeing about 34 mpg on the motorway. But only when I use the active cruise control, which accelerates and brakes for you, based on the traffic ahead. The electronics are alot more gentle at applying the throttle than I am. This is really great technology for fuel saving (though...