[ATX78703]

Haha. My wife just did this exact same thing. The 2011 x5 is gone and we are awaiting a 2014 ML350 in a couple of weeks. Look, we very well knew what were giving up (and conversely what we were gaining by switching brands). Unfortunately, my wife was not going to order an f15 without test driving first and there was a little time crunch involved.

The bottom line is the e70 was absolutely terrible on bad roads, potholes, etc. I felt like it was going to snap the 2 kiddo's necks in the 2nd row car seats and it had to be replaced for a vehicle with a smoother ride. The ML does that no problem, not to mention the ML is a significant better value. If you want to be blasting by people, you should probably pony up for the ML 550. I agree performance wise, there is no comparison between MB's 3.5V6 and BMW's N55. Even on a 5000 lb SUV, the X5 never felt underpowered. Wait it out a few months, see what you think - that swaplease website works ok.

Originally Posted by NorCalAli

Thank you Dencoop. I'll check it out. I'm feeling a bit better now. It's been two weeks and the new car is trying so hard to make me like it Maybe I'll see how I feel in a month or so. If I like it and learn to appreciate it as being different from my X5 perhaps I can stick with it and go back to an X5 in four years. I'm already driving differently. Very timid and careful as it's so underpowered compared to my old V8. Sigh......better gas mileage I guess.. It's just a pretty girl car that is safe, reliable and elegant and different than my performance pirate car.

Originally Posted by NorCalAli

New member/ poster here. I want to share my story in the hopes somebody can give me advice on my problem. (BMW therapy anyone?)

I traded in my BELOVED 06 4.4 X5 for a new, pretty 2014 ML350. I cried when we drove off and left my Beemer (who does that? Most women would be so happy that their hubby got them a Benz) but I am secretly so sad. I MISS my X5 horribly.

The ML, while pretty and pearly Diamond-White with a pretty beige interior and all the bells and whistles is not even close to my X5. It's underpowered (but I knew that when we chose a V6) and it handles badly compared to the X5. Maybe it handles good but it's just different from my BMW. It rides soft and luxurious and is quiet but I think I hate it! and, I have FOUR years to go on it's lease!

Do any of you Beemer fans know if I can get out of the lease? My black beauty 06 has now been sold (soooo sad) but I want another X5.

I feel guilty, like I'm some kind of an ungrateful harpy wife for not liking it knowing that many women would die to have such a lovely car.

It's nice, but not even close to my X5. I can't drive like a pirate-wench any longer, when I come up fast on some idiot in the fast lane they don't move out of my way any longer.....when I aggressively pass and/or change lanes it handles poorly at best even with all the lane sensor alarms etc. The standard stereo (I didn't opt for the Harmon Kardon one) SUCKS and even though it's not a diesel, it makes a "tickah-tickah-tickah" noise like it's a diesel when it idols. I do love it's power liftgate with auto open/close but I'm still sad and lonely for my X5.

What do I do? just wait it out and go back to the X5 after the lease is up?

Figured somebody here may have advice. Ugh.....I miss my beemer so much hit makes me sad. I've even felt like crying but that would be lame. It seems like everywhere I go, there are beautiful black X5's whizzing by.....and my gorgeous Benz can't keep up.... Has anyone else had this problem?

Any advice would be great.