Cheers, I agree with most of the points there, before the 8 I come from a long line of BMWs and would happily go back, got a good main dealer and a good independent nearby, and the family personal mechanics are well used to working on BMWs - there are several in the family.
Getting in and out - basically I have a ruptured front quad muscle, meaning it's detached from the knee, so pulling my right leg up towards my chest to swivel out the car is becoming more and more awkward, and let's not mention trying to get my socks on
If I could just swivel out then that would be better.
MLs, I quite liked the interior when I went to see one 12 months or so ago.
XC90s - I know what you mean, but conversely, they seem to be considerably cheaper.
RR - just too big and expensive to run for my taste
Porsche - against the grain I do quite like them, but too thirsty by far, can't afford a diesel
Q7s - definitely some in budget (will look up to 20k)
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...26dy?logcode=p
which brings me back to the X5, still top of this list at the moment I think